Cypress School News

News Source: CFISD News & Bridgeland High School Media

Cypress Swimmers and Divers Place at State Swim Meet

Two Cypress swimmers placed in the top 10 and three others finished in the top 20 at the UIL Swimming and Diving Class 6A State Meet, held Feb. 14-15 at the Texas Swim Center in Austin. Bridgeland High School junior Jackson Dement led CFISD swimmers by finishing sixth in the 500-yard freestyle (4:29.86) followed by Cypress Ranch High School senior James Gavin finishing eighth (4:34.95). Top-20 male finishers included Cypress Ranch senior James Gavin – 15th place, 200-yard freestyle (1:41.12). Top-20 female finishers included Bridgeland freshman Emma Kinsey – 10th place, 100-yard butterfly (56.39), and Bridgeland junior Hanna Vinklarek – 17th place, 1-meter diving (224.35).

Bridgeland junior Jackson Dement (left) and Cypress Ranch senior James Gavin (right)

Cypress Ranch Girls Basketball Win District

The Cypress Ranch High School girls’ basketball team won this season’s District 14-6A championship. Despite being the No. 1 seed going into the postseason, the Mustangs lost to Leander Vandegrift, 58-47, on Feb. 18 at Brenham High School.

Salyards Seventh Grade Student Wins Second Middle School Spelling Bee

Salyards Middle School 7th grader Shawn Ray won first place in the 19th round of at the annual districtwide Middle School Spelling Bee held Feb. 13 at the Berry Center by correctly spelling the word irascible. Ray also won in the 24th round of last year’s Middle School Spelling Bee. The Salyards student will compete in the Houston Public Media Spelling Bee, to be televised Feb. 29 from the University of Houston.

Cypress Ranch Boys Wrestling Team Wins District

Salyards Middle School 7th grader Shawn Ray won first place in the 19th round of at the annual districtwide Middle School Spelling Bee held Feb. 13 at the Berry Center by correctly spelling the word irascible. Ray also won in the 24th round of last year’s Middle School Spelling Bee. The Salyards student will compete in the Houston Public Media Spelling Bee, to be televised Feb. 29 from the University of Houston.

Olivia Mottley, Cypress Ranch Senior, ranked No. 10 @ 122 Nationally, committed to Life University in Marietta, Georgia on December 22, at Senior Nationals & Olympic Trial Qualifier held in Fort Worth, Texas. Life University coaches first met Mottley at Women’s inaugural Super 32 in 2017. Coached by her older brother Jourdan, who also wrestled for Cy Ranch, Mottley placed 5th in her first freestyle wrestling tournament and caught the attention of Life coaches. Mottley later went on to place 4th at Super 32 in 2018 and again in 2019. She is the only Texas girl to have wrestled and placed three times in Super 32 since women were added in 2017. Mottley also currently holds the highest number of wins in a high school season at 60. She is also a Fargo All American, Folkstyle All American, Athena Nationals Runner up, National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) All American, District Champion, Regional Champion, and placed 3rd & 5th in State. Mottley is a part of the Cypress Ranch girls team that won the State Wrestling Championship in 2018. Mottley’s mother said Olivia started her school athletic career as a cheerleader for the Eagles in elementary school and now has come full circle committing to wrestle for Life University’s Running Eagles. Olivia Mottley Signs with Life University Women’s Wrestling

Pictured left to right. Christian Flavin, Asst. Women’s Wrestling Coach, Life University, Olivia Mottley, Cypress Ranch Senior, Ashley Sword, Head Wrestling Coach, Life University

Berry Center Hosting Regional Basketball Semifinals and Championship.

The Richard E. Berry Center will serve as host of the Region III6A Boys’ Basketball Tournament March 6-7, with the winner advancing to the UIL Basketball State Championships. Semifinal games will be at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday, March 6. The regional championship will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 7. The winner of the regional championship will advance to the UIL Basketball State Championships, March 12-14 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Visit http://uiltexas.org/basketball for more information.

Sunset at the 17th Hole

Kasey Sampson, a sophomore at Cypress Ranch High School, captured this view from the 17th hole of the South Course at BlackHorse Golf Club. A photography student with less than a year’s experience, Kasey utilized a Sony DSLR A33 for this shot. The photo was entered into a Technology Student Association regional competition and Kasey advanced to the state competition. His T.S.A. Instructor is Kristi Grove. His Photography teacher is Joseph Fertitta. Kasey’s parents are Shannon and Tonya Sampson. The Sampsons are residents of Blackhorse Ranch South.