LACE'EM UP. It's time to hit the open courses again this fall as cross country season is under way. The best of the best if Goose Creek CISD ran their way to the 2021 VYPE Fall GCCISD Media Day. Let's hit the trail!
THE FIVE: Atascocita track, Katy softball, Seven Lakes soccer among others the talk of H-Town
25 Mar, 2024
By Jackson DiPasquale
SPEED CITY
The city of Houston is setting new track and field standards on the oval this spring. The Atascocita Eagles set a new national record for the 4 x 100 over the weekend running a 38.92 at the event. Tory Blaylock, Landon Fontenot, Jordan Parker and Jelani Watkins (LSU-signee) have etched their names in history. The Eagles also have the fastest time in Texas in the 4 x 200 relay. Watkins has run a 10.22 in the 100-meters at the Bluebonnet Invitational, the second fastest time in Texas as well. Remember Klein Forest and FB Marshall won State Track last season. Is it Atascocita’s turn this year?
JAEDON'S JOURNEY
Jaedon Ledee’s basketball journey has been an interesting one. He started at McCullough Junior High, the feeder to The Woodlands, before transferring to Kinkaid. At Kinkaid, he became a national recruit and signed with the Ohio State University. From Ohio State, he transferred to TCU for two years and then to San Diego State. He has flourished out west, especially this season. He was the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and averaged 21.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He has averaged 29 points in the NCAA Tournament and picked up All-American honors along the way. He helped lead SDSU to the National Championship Game last year and his team is in the Sweet 16 this season. The next question is, where will he get drafted?
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HOLD THOSE TIGERS
The Katy Tiger softball team has that look in their eye. After being bounced early in the postseason a year ago, the Tigers are back for blood. At 23-1-1 and undefeated in district play, coach Kalum Haack has a chance to win his third State Title (2015 and 2019) come late May. Pitcher Cameryn Harrison is the eighth-ranked player in the country and is headed to Arkansas. Ashtyn Reichardt gets it done at the plate and is also headed to play for the Razorbacks. EK Smith is a sophomore and on the USA National Team. Don’t sleep on Montgomery Henderson (Oklahoma State) or Lauryn Soeken (LSU) as they have put up dominant performances this year.
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RINK IS ROLLING
Cy-Fair’s Landon Rink is a national recruit as a defensive lineman. The 6-foot-2 junior showed off his prowess at the Under Armour Camp in Houston a few weeks ago. His performance earned him a invite to the Under Armour All-American Game in January. Rink likes Texas A&M, Penn State, Oklahoma and Ohio State so much that he will going to official visits to those schools. He was at USC this weekend.
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ON THE CUSP OF HISTORY
Seven Lakes boys soccer can make big-time history this postseason. The Spartans, led by coach James Krueger, are the defending Class 6A State Champs. If they reach the State Tournament, Seven Lakes will be the first Class 6A team to advance to State three straight seasons. If they win State, they will be the first team to ever win back-to-back Class 6A State titles. The team is led by Aiden Morrison and goalie Ben Aviles Vera.
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After going 15-7 during the regular since, and claiming the team's first district championship since the 2019-20 season, Fulshear is heading back to the playoffs!
VYPE's Matt Malatesta caught up with head coach Daniel Engel, as he and the Chargers prepare to face Waltrip in the opening round, with the ambition of making a deep playoff-run.
Check out the interview below!
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Justin Hartojo (VYPE)
The South Houston area is loaded with talented athletes who give it there all in their respective fields of play.
Welcome to the VYPE Playmakers powered by UTMB Health, where we’re highlighting five standouts from this past week who stole the headlines.
Here are the UTMB Athletes of the Month, as the Winter season wraps up, and we transition to the Spring.
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Emma Merritt, Pearland Girls Soccer
Photo acquired via Twitter (@emmammerritt)
The Lady Oilers have surged on the pitch this Winter, as they re-claimed the District 23-6A title to cap off an exceptional regular season.
Their 16-3-3 (11-1 in district) record places Pearland firmly within the top-10 of our rankings as teams state-wide prepare for the upcoming UIL playoffs.
Coach Elise Cox's club is emboldened by a high-powered offense, led by senior Emma Merritt. As the center forward for the Oilers, Merritt is naturally one of the team's top scorers.
She possesses a keen eye for positioning off the ball, quick reactions during the attack, and a particular skill in finishing that will be essential for Pearland, as they look to make a deep run in the postseason.
It all begins when they kick off against Clear Falls this upcoming Tuesday.
Blake Encarnacion, Friendswood Baseball
Doug Brown (VYPE)
The first half of the baseball season has seen Friendswood pick up right where they left off in 2023.
With their current record of 17-3-1 (2-2 in district), the Mustangs seem poised for another potential district title.
While there are a number of stellar bats in coach Robert Benavides' lineup, his ace on the mound -- senior Blake Encarnacion -- has been a true difference-maker in the tight matchups they face.
The Nebraska-signee has been throwing in the low-90's, along with a number of pitches in his arsenal, which means there's no surprise that he has had a knack for racking up strikeouts.
While they are coming off a close losses against district opponent Santa Fe, Friendswood will still likely have the opportunity to rally in their remaining district schedule.
Peyton Tanner, Brazoswood Softball
Justin Hartojo (VYPE)
Brazoswood is off to yet another hot start to the Spring, having gone 18-7 thus far, which includes a 5-0 beginning to their district campaign.
That shouldn't come as a shock, considering the majority of last year's roster that finished as Area Finalists has returned to the fold.
The key piece, of which, Tennessee-signee Peyton Tanner, is looking every bit as dynamic as she was when earned District 24-6A honors in 2023.
As the Lady Bucs continue with the district portion of their schedule and seek their 20th-consecutive playoff appearance, it is almost a guarantee that Tanner will have a major role.
Alex Escobar, Dobie Soccer
Photo acquired via Twitter (@DobieBoysSoccer)
What a milestone-year it has been for the Dobie Soccer program.
Currently touting a record of 17-2-2 (11-1 in district), the Longhorns capped off the regular season by clinching the team's tenth-straight District 22-6A championship.
Here's another crazy stat for you -- over the span of that time, Dobie's overall record is 112-7-16 (W-L-T).
Suffice it to say, coach Justo Manrique and company are well within the conversation of being one of the best teams in Houston.
Therefore, it should go without saying that one of the leading scorers for the Longhorns -- senior forward Alex Escobar -- is a player to keep on notice.
As a captain for the squad, it will be up to him to provide the necessary experience with the playoffs on the horizon.
Katiana Maldonado, Lutheran South Academy Softball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
As expected, Lutheran South (12-1; 2-0 in district) has been a force to be reckoned with the open the Spring.
Under the direction of head coach Nicole Andrade, the Pioneers have displayed a number of exceptional performances by stars such as Addison Smith, Bri Collazo, and Lauren Brown.
However, it will be up to the veteran leadership -- particularly that of senior Kat Maldonado -- to propel LSA beyond last year's mark of reaching the TAPPS-II Regional round.
Following a 2023 second-team, all-state nod, Maldonado hasn't skipped a beat, and will be vital in the remainder of their district schedule and likely playoff berth.
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