DFW Volleyball Private School Contenders

Aug 01, 2019

With the summer winding down, that means we're gearing up for the 2019-20 academic year. With the calendar focus shifting means the start of the volleyball season.

Following our look at the private school sleepers and dark horses, it's time to take a look at the 2019 contenders for both the Southwest Preparatory Conference and TAPPS.

SPC

Hockaday: After a 34-win campaign and fourth-place tournament finish in 2018, Hockaday is reloaded and ready to capture the North division crown again and get past the SPC semifinals. With one of the nation's best seniors and All-SPC middle blocker, Leilah Smith, along with Halle Bland, who was another All-SPC selection, Hockaday will be a force this year. The program only graduated four seniors from last year's squad and features seven seniors for this year.

Episcopal Dallas: Just like Hockaday, Episcopal Dallas looks to get to that last match of the year after falling in the SPC semifinals the last two years. Episcopal Dallas will only have two seniors on this year's squad but will also have seven juniors returning from a team that finished second in the North.

TAPPS

6A

Prestonwood Christian: When you win a TAPPS title and you bring back some fundamental pieces from that team, it's safe to say your chances to do it again are pretty high. That's where Prestonwood sits this year after taking the 6A crown last year. The senior duo of Caroline Stogner and Noelle Piatas form one of the best hitting units in the state and have the ability to guide the team back to a state appearance.

Bishop Lynch: Falling to the eventual state champion and district rival in the state semifinals while returning six seniors this year puts Bishop Lynch in great position to make another deep run after a 28-12 campaign. The way to a 6A title this year will be getting over that Prestonwood hurdle - going 0-3 against the Lions last year.

5A

Carrollton Prince of Peace: Prince of Peace was a final four team a year ago after going 19-14 and are well positioned to make another run at the state crown. Prince of Peace brings back seven seniors to this year's team and will be a force to contend with again.

4A

Arlington Grace Prep: Where does a team that cruises to a 4A TAPPS State Championship, finishes 43-6-1, goes undefeated in district play and only graduates three seniors? Most would say down, but it's quite possible that Grace Prep builds on that with three returning seniors and four returning juniors to the 2019 squad.

District 15-6A will be uber-competitive in 2019

Klein Collins

By Bradley Collier

DISTRICT 15-6A

PRESEASON RANKINGS

The Woodlands

Klein Oak

Klein Collins

Klein

College Park

Klein Cain

Oak Ridge

Conroe

Klein Forest

…

VYPE's PRESEASON AWARDS

MVP

Tyson Thompson, Klein

…

OFFENSIVE MVP

Bryeton Gilford, The Woodlands

…

DEFENSIVE MVP

Dwight McGlothern, Klein Oak

…

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Christian Pack, Conroe

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SLEEPER TEAM

College Park

…

THE PROSPECTUS

When this district was formed at the last UIL realignment, there was a lot of oohs and aahs because of the powerful Klein ISD and Conroe ISD colliding week in and week out . The 2018 season lived up to the hype of this district being really good. Now, looking towards 2019 expect more of the same as the powers will shift a bit, especially in the middle of the playoff race.

The Woodlands Highlanders

Programs come and go, but The Woodlands remains a constant. The Highlanders will be explosive on offense with either Matt Mills or Lake Travis move-in Peyton Janacek running the show at QB. Running back Bryeton Gilford carried the load, rushing for over 1,200 yards and will have solid line with Jett Duncan and Cody Johnson to open holes again. The X-factor will be athlete Kansas-commit Malik Johnson, who is special with the ball in his hands. Baton Rouge move-in Theodore Knox will also help ignite the offense as a national recruit at WR. DT Caleb Fox will anchor the defense along with DB Carter Doucet.

…

Klein Oak Panthers

Klein Oak also received a move-in as super freak Dwight McGlothern is now a Panther. The four-star defensive back can also play receiver and may become QB Montrell Bolton's main man. Charles Garrett will be the featured back. Klein Oak was hit by graduation on both lines and will need to develop some bigs down inthe trenches. Dominic Morris will patrol the secondary,Nathan Herscher is an all-district returning linebacker and Dylan Scott and Chanstyn Thomas are solid upfront.

…

Klein Collins Tigers

The Isaiah Spiller and Carter Rhyne-era is over at Klein Collins. Klein Collins brings back 11 total starters from last season. The Tigers will do it on the ground again with Braelon Bridges (644 yards, 9 TDs) and Johnathan Lewis. AJ Townsend (41 tackles) leads the defense at the end along with defensive backs Donald Lee and Trent Wilridge (67 tackles, 2 INTs) and defensive lineman Zechariah Ivery (23 tackles). Collins has always reloaded and coach Adrian Mitchell is ready to continue to put his stamp on this program in year two.

…

Klein Bearkats

Klein's Mr. Everything, Tyler Thompson, is all over the field. He had nearly 900 yards receiving, returns kicks and is a talented cover-man in the secondary. QB Bryce Corriston will have a year of varsity experience, and Gabe Cossey and Aaron Chambers are his trusted bodyguards on the line. Laiton Turner will tote the rock and Jackson Miller is a trusted tight end. Defensively, it starts with Baylor-commit Will Garner, Josh Blalock and Roderick Martin.

…

College Park Cavaliers

College Park has 14 returning starters and none bigger is Texas A&M-commit Joshua Bankhead on the offensive line and his buddy Nathan Heidecker. Music to the ears of returning RB QuaJon Charles and WR D'Majai Bailey. It's about the defense, however, as coach Lonnie Madison returns Perry Irchirl and Sam Alvarez in the secondary. Dylan Hazen is a solid LB, while Caleb Williams will get a push up front.

…

Klein Cain Hurricanes

Klein Cain took its lumps last season, but there is a hurricane warning on the horizon. Coach Clancy returns QB Luke Pardee and RB Aaron Jordan this season, but the future is sophomores Jaydon Blue and Carson Roper. They could play a role in 2019. The main man on the line is Cedric Melton (Arizona-commit), who will be the first DI football recruit at the new school. The issue will be the trenches like most young teams. The defensive will have Bryson Culton and Isaac Hudson.

…

Oak Ridge War Eagles

With the opening of Grand Oaks, Oak Ridge will suffer after graduating a huge senior class. But a new coach will lead the War Eagles this season as Mark Schmid comes out of a hiatus of coaching to lead Oak Ridge for the 2019 season. Back in the nest are Alton McCaskill at RB and Kavon Thompson at WR on offense and Aiden Chambers on defense. Helping Chambers will be Treyvion Thomas and KC Ossai.

…

Conroe Tigers

Conroe coach Cedric Hardeman will try to continue building his program, which is based on an explosive offense. Jay Smith has graduated and it looks like Christian Pack will take over the reins. Michael Phoenix, Josh Denman, Tre McGee and Marcus Thomas will be the receiving options. Adan Pavon and John Cisnerros will hold the line. Dominique Ratcliff will come off the edge at DE, while Alex Morrison, Dakerric Hobbs and De'Shaun Ellis will patrol the secondary.

…

Klein Forest Golden Eagles

Klein Forest won the Class 6A state championship in track and was in the state game in hoops. Can that rub off on the football team? Klein Forest brings back 12 total starters from a team that went 1-9 a year ago. Despite the rough season, the Golden Eagles bring back Maurice Westmoreland, who was a key to the Klein Forest track and field state title in the throws. He rushed for 350 yards last year to go with 36 tackles and three sacks. It will be tough sledding in this brutal district, but the Eagles could squeak out a few wins. Other key returners include Saul Mena(TE), Delvin Jones (QB), Myles Rhodes (QB) and Dylan Hamilton (ATH).

the woodlands high school klein collins high school conroe high school klein cain high school klein oak high school oak ridge high school college park high school uil txhsfb klein high school texas high school football

The Katy Tigers Dynasty Door Closing?

https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/katy/sports/article/TEAMS-OF-THE-YEAR-Katy-football-No-1-after-9436149.php

Katy High School is a school that is well-known through out the state of Texas for their profound and dominate football teams. The name "Katy Tigers" used to fill their opponents up with fear because they knew how talented and massive Katy was, but is that name now losing its juice?

Be The Good

Baytown Lee's Haynes gets job done despite hearing impairment

By Susan Passmore

Cheering from the crowd doesn't distract Billy Haynes when he's on the football field.

In fact, he doesn't even hear it. But the senior defensive lineman for the Robert E. Lee High School Ganders, hearing impaired since birth, gets the job done. Using signals his coaches created and a little help from his interpreter, Billy gets the information that allows him to be an integral part of the REL defense.

"Instead of communicating verbally, we do a few things like pat his shoulder pad if he has to change his normal alignment. He knows to make adjustments," said Tim Finn, athletic coordinator and head football coach. "He's a super kid, hard-working, dependable – what I refer to as a maintenance-free student athlete. He takes care of academics, has no behavior issues, is here on time every time, works out hard and he's a good teammate."

Billy loves football and doesn't consider his hearing to be a limitation. He started playing when he was in seventh grade at Horace Mann Junior School and earned a spot on the REL varsity team as a sophomore.

"I like football because you get to hit people and not get in trouble, but also because we treat each other like we're family. The coaches communicate and talk to me like I'm one of their sons," Billy said.

Last year, when Billy realized that he might need a little help getting information about the plays, since he doesn't wear his hearing aid during games or practice, a deaf education interpreter was asked to sign for him during the games. Last year, Leticia Arredondo interpreted for him at practices as well as at games.

"The job was available, so I decided to take it. I've worked with Billy since he was in elementary school, so we have a good relationship. He has a passion for the game," Arredondo said.

Billy has no problem with relying on an interpreter when he needs clarification.

"I like it when she's out there. I can get all the information and find out what I need to do better," Billy said. "She has learned a lot more about football. Some of the other players take ASL classes and some just find it interesting, but I'm not the only player watching her when she signs."

Billy, who is friendly and exudes self-confidence, is grateful for the support he has always received from his family – Yvette and Quinn Haynes and brother Blake. He also credits the Tri-County East Regional Day School Program for the Deaf for helping him gain the confidence he needs to do whatever he chooses in life. Goose Creek CISD is the fiscal agent for the Tri-County East RDSPD, which provides services for deaf or hard of hearing students in 15 school districts. He attended Ashbel Smith Elementary before going to Horace Mann Junior and Lee High School, all schools housing the Deaf Education program, so he is proficient at sign language and communicates well verbally.

In his free time, Billy enjoys hanging out with his family and playing video games or games on the phone. He loves Patty Melts from Whataburger and hopes to go to the University of Texas after graduating from high school.

"If I can't go to UT, I'll go to any college in Texas. I really want to be a coach," Haynes said.

His prediction for Lee's upcoming football season?

"As long as we work together, big things can happen," Haynes said.

baytown lee high school goose creek cisd billy haynes hearing-impaired

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DFW Volleyball Private School Contenders

SPC

TAPPS

6A

5A

4A

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