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VYPE U: Q&A with Westlake Star Michael Taaffe

Will Turboff
Oct 20, 2020

Michael Taaffe after coming up with a big play in the 2019 6A Championship Game

UIL

Many people heard the name Michael Taaffe for the first time during the 2019 6A Division II Championship game, when Austin Westlake captured their first title in nearly 25 years, but I've gotten to know Michael very well personally in the past few years. Michael dominated in Westlake's 24-0 win over Denton Guyer in AT&T Stadium, a performance that earned him Defensive MVP. To nobody's surprise, he is having more showings like that in his senior season.

Recently, I had a chance to catch up with Taaffe about a number of things, from the recruitment process, to his legacy and expectations for the Chaps this season.


VYPE: What was your off-season workout regimen like with the restrictions that UIL put on summer practices?

Taaffe: This off-season was the weirdest in the history of football, so mainly just making sure that I got what I needed to get done. Our strength and conditioning coach would send the team workouts and runs everyday, and he would make sure that we got those done. Me and a couple of other DB's would do them in someone's garage everyday and it turned out better than how we thought it was going to go.

VYPE: Offers are starting to come in from D-I Schools, what has that process been like?

Taaffe: To be honest, the process has been very stressful. The one thing that has been the hardest is realizing that these schools are really great schools for academics that are making offers, so it's not only my play on the field that they are looking for, but also how well I do in the classroom.

VYPE: Describe how that Championship game in AT&T stadium felt and what it meant to you to earn Defensive player of the game?

Taaffe: That was easily the best game and the most memorable game I have ever played in. Being out there and our team doing so well was incredible. The award that I got was really amazing, but I barely take any credit for that. It was the D-Line and linebackers that were putting pressure on the quarterback and the other DB's playing lights out to help me play good individually.

VYPE: There are some big names to come out of Westlake football, guys like Nick Foles, Drew Brees and Sam Ehlinger, how are you going to make sure you're in that conversation before it's all said and done?

Taaffe: Yeah, those names will always be remembered in the Westlake community. Kids like myself looked up to those players and were inspired to be like them. I hope that I can put as much production as they did on the field, but if not, I want to be able to give back to the community as much as they did, because they are all guys that loved Westlake and gave a lot back to this community.

VYPE: Last question, Why do you think Westlake can go back-to-back this year?

Taaffe: Simple, we have playmakers, and love for this game of football. We have guys that can ball out as individuals and we have guys that can ball out as individuals, and that helps our team as a whole a lot more than having guys that just know their assignment. And not only are our guys playmakers, we all have a burning desire to play this game, knowing how much we got stripped away from us and if we aren't careful how much more could be taken away.
austin high school sports austin texas high school sports austin westlake chaparral football austin westlake chaparrals austin westlake football austin westlake high school chaparral football football high school football michael taaffe uil football vype westlake westlake football texas high school football

Who goes to State? Region IV Finals Preview

VYPE
05 Mar, 2021

This basketball season has been full of twist and turns but we are almost to the finish line. The Regionals finals are upon us and whoever wins these matchups is going to the state tournament.

Region IV - 6A

In Region IV - 6A, the Westlake Chaps will match up against San Antonio Clark. The last time Clark was in the playoffs was the 2016-2017 season but this year's squad is a confident team and a team that knows how to win close games. Clark has won every game on this Cinderella playoff run by less than 10 points. Austin Westlake has Kansas signee KJ Adams but Westlake is solid from top to bottom. The last time they lost a game was before Thanksgiving, so the Chaps look to continue the winning streak all the way to state. Expect this one to be a tough and hard-fought match-up between these schools.

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austin high school sports austin texas high school sports san antonio texas high school sports playoffs region iv basketball playoffs austin westlake kj adams kansas basketball san antonio clark mcallen leander glenn boerne somerset

RECRUITING: Westlake's Klubnik verbals to Clemson University

Joshua Koch
04 Mar, 2021
Cade Klubnik Twitter

When you step up to take snaps from under center at Austin Westlake High School, you stand in the spot many greats have before you.

Names like Drew Brees, Nick Foles - both Super Bowl Champions - and Sam Ehlinger come to mind. Now, after his junior season, Cade Klubnik is in that group.

Klubnik stepped into the starting role this past season for the Chaps, replacing Kirkland Michaux, and didn't miss a beat. The junior led Westlake to a perfect 14-0 record, including a win over back-to-back state champion North Shore in the state semifinals, and claiming the Class 6A Division I State Championship in January.

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clemson university clemson tigers dabo sweeney austin westlake westlake football westlake chaps austin texas high school sports austin high school sports texas high school football txhsfb austin high school football houston high school football usa recruiting texas recruiting usa texas recruiting texas austin recruiting cade klubnik

East View's Bethany Garrett Breaks Strikeout Record presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors

VYPE
03 Mar, 2021
Picture from Twitter.com (ev_patriotnation)

Records are meant to be broken.

Senior pitcher Bethany Garrett did just that becoming the all-time strikeout leader at East View High School on Tuesday night. Garrett led the way with eight strikeouts as the Patriots took care of business against Liberty Hill, 10-0, to start district play.

Breaking East View HS Strike Out record last night, Congratulations to EVHS pitcher #10 Bethany Garrett. @EVHSSoftball @FlxAtx @VypeATX #txhssoftball #softball pic.twitter.com/CCfqfUkFoT
— EV Patriot Nation (@EvPatriots) March 3, 2021

Garrett, a four-year varsity member, currently stands at 568 Ks and counting.

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austin high school sports austin texas high school sports east view east view softball bethany garrett east view softball bethany garrett
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