thleticsState Champions! After having their spring seasons cut short last year due to the pandemic, Tiger athletes came roaring back ready to compete and win, claiming 12 team or individual state titles—the most in school history! BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS BOYS BASKETBALL In a comeback 52-48 victory, the boys basketball team overpowered Newman to claim the LHSAA Division III state title at Burton Coliseum on March 12. The Tigers, who finished the season 18-11, have played in five consecutive state championship games, grabbing the state title three times in last four years, including last year’s win over crosstown rival Episcopal. Prior to the championship game, senior Becket Pricer received the 2021 Horizon Award presented by the LHSAA to a student who displays outstanding citizenship, leadership, and academic achievement. Standout senior guard Carlos Stewart, who has committed to play for Santa Clara University next year, was named Division III Outstanding Player and garnered numerous post-season honors, including Gatorade Louisiana Player of the Year, Max Preps Louisiana High School Player of the Year, NAACP Player of the Year, Advocate Star of Stars, and USA Today High School Sports Award State Winner for Boys Basketball. Coach Jonathan Pixley, who announced his decision to retire at the end of the school year, was named District Coach of the Year and 2A State Coach of the Year. In addition, the boys team had players named to the Academic All-State, All-State, All-District, and All-Metro teams (see full list on page 29).
PATRICK MURPHY WINS TWO STATE SWIMMING TITLES Two-event winner Patrick Murphy ’22 led the way as the Dunham Tigers finished fourth in the Division IV boys competition at the LHSAA State Swim Meet held November 18-19, at the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana in Shreveport. Patrick won the 100 breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley, setting a new pool record with his breaststroke time of 59.49. The four-man Tiger relay team of Patrick Murphy, Reed Jantzi ’22, Baron Hingle ’21, and Hayden Hingle ’24 came in third in the 400 freestyle relay. With just four team members, the small but mighty team finished in fourth place overall out of 17 teams, all with much larger rosters. Other individual highlights from the meet included top ten finishes for Reed Jantzi who finished in second place in the 100 backstroke and fifth place in the 100 butterfly. In post-season, Baron Hingle was named to the Academic All-State Team, and Patrick Murphy was selected for the All-Metro 1st Team. 24
