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Foster senior Elizabeth Waldrop
THE 411: Foster's Waldrop Happy Proving Doubters Wrong
"BE QUICK," FOSTER SENIOR MIDDLE BLOCKER ELIZABETH WALDROP TELLS HERSELF AS AN OPPOSING TEAM PREPARES TO ATTACK.
She almost has no other choice.
Standing 5-foot-9, Waldrop is undersized for a middle. Therefore, she is often underestimated by others. But she is quicker and more agile than her taller opponents, so the element of surprise is often on her side.
"I can jump up right in front of the hitter and block them unexpectedly," Waldrop said. "Being underestimated really pushes me to work hard and prove people wrong."
Waldrop led the Falcons with 51 blocks last season, adding 57 kills and four aces.
The senior, who loves playing volleyball because of all the positive energy and friendships created, talked more with VYPE.
VYPE: What are your expectations for your team and yourself this year?
WALDROP: I expect my team and myself to walk and play with confidence. Certain teams can be intimidating and tough competitors, but as long as we play our best and stay focused on coming out on top, we can do it. We can't be scared or doubtful of competition.
VYPE: What is your pregame routine?
WALDROP: Despite country (music) being my favorite genre, I never listen to it before a game because it does not prepare me mentally. I usually listen to the "beast mode" playlist on Spotify. I eat a Chick-fil-A sandwich with fruit and a chocolate chip cookie. I also do my signature hairstyle, which is two braids that lead into a ponytail or a bun. And then right before we warm up, I do some jump rope to get my legs nice and juiced up for some vertical action.
VYPE: What is something people don't know about you?
WALDROP: A lot of people don't realize how competitive I really am. I try to hide it with new people, because I can be way too competitive to the point where I am scary. But it's always a misunderstanding, because I'm very friendly and sweet. Just a tad bit too competitive!
3 Things to Watch: Foster
WANTED — REGIONAL TOURNEY: Foster is hungry to get back to the Class 5A Regional Tournament. The Falcons made it in 2018 but have fallen in the Area Round of the playoffs each of the last two seasons. The team motto this season is "Whatever it Takes".
LOOK OUT FOR K.J.: Junior outside hitter Koryn Johnson could be the next big Falcons star. She totaled 92 kills with 92 digs last season and is the team's top returning attacker.
VASQUEZ A DIFFERENCE-MAKER: Senior outside hitter/defensive specialist Kalani Vasquez is another key playmaker after compiling 19 aces and 142 digs last season, a perfect complement to Johnson and senior middle Elizabeth Waldrop.
Austin Yeager, Foster
THE DECISION: Yeager builds success story on return to football
RICHMOND FOSTER SENIOR AUSTIN YEAGER STARTED PLAYING FOOTBALL WHEN HE WAS NINE YEARS OLD. HE STOPPED, HOWEVER, ONCE HE GOT TO HIGH SCHOOL.
The 6-foot-6, 300-pounder chose instead to focus his efforts on basketball and theatre, the latter which Yeager participated in from sixth grade through his sophomore year, going to Broadway performances and performing in two musicals.
But all of that changed in May of 2020, when Foster football coach Shaun McDowell saw Yeager's name come across his phone's caller ID.
"He told me, 'I want to play football next year,'" McDowell recalled. "I'm like, 'Heck, yeah, come on!' We started working out that June. He was there every day and has been working every day since."
At that time, Yeager was at a crossroads in his athletic career.
"When the time came to think about playing college ball, I was conflicted," Yeager said. "A lot of the high school coaches were telling me that would get (football) scholarships just merely based off of size, so I decided to take their word for it."
Because of his physical gifts, Yeager and Foster's coaches ultimately felt he had a stronger future in football.
"He was raw," McDowell said. "He's still raw. But what makes him so much fun is that he's very coachable and his work ethic is second to none. He's the epitome of what you want as a coach out of an athlete. He's the man."
Look at him now, as McDowell likes to say. Yeager committed in June to play football for NCAA Division
I Incarnate Word in San Antonio, with only 11 games of varsity ball as an offensive tackle to his name.
"His potential is unlimited," McDowell said. "You're talking about a guy who's continuing to learn the position and continuing to learn the game. We'll move him to the left tackle from the right tackle (this) year. I'm really excited about him."
Yeager wants to one day open his own gym and inspire people to better themselves. He felt football could open the door to that opportunity, starting with college.
3 Things to Watch: Foster
BATTLE FOR QB1: Who will lead the Falcons' offense? Coach Shaun McDowell said a fall camp competition between juniors J.T. Fayard (6-4, 190) and Landon Godwin (5-8, 165) will decide it.
EMERGING OJIAKU: Junior defensive back Ashton Ojiaku is someone to keep an eye on this year. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder earned a scholarship offer from Houston in July, and more are surely on the way. He had 44 tackles and an interception last year.
HOME SWEET HOME: Foster starts the season with four consecutive home games at Traylor Stadium, versus Lamar Consolidated, Fort Bend Travis, Paetow and Milby. In fact, six of the Falcons' first seven games are at home, which could bode nicely for a reloading team that graduated all of its top offensive skill players.
