GAMES
RANKINGS
2020 VYPE Austin Girls Public School Cross Country Preseason Rankings
The 2020 UIL cross country season is approaching, so it's time to release the VYPE Austin girls public school team rankings.
UIL 5A-6A Top 5
No. 1 Austin Vandegrift: The Vipers finished sixth at the 2019 UIL 6A state meet and can top that mark with 10th-place finisher Gemma Goddard leading four experienced state runners.
No. 2 Dripping Springs: The Tigers recorded a seventh-place finish at the 2019 UIL 5A state meet and will find more success with their five returning state runners.
No. 3 Cedar Park: The Timberwolves earned a ninth-place finish at the 2019 UIL 5A state meet and can top that with their six state experienced upperclassmen.
No. 4 Georgetown: The Eagles have five state returners from their 11th-place finish at the 2019 UIL 5A state meet, including fourth-place finisher McKenzie Bailey.
No. 5 Liberty Hill: The Panthers may be making the jump from UIL 4A to UIL 5A, but their track record points to more competitiveness in 2020 because they finished fifth at 2019 state and have fourth-place finisher Zaila Smith leading five state experienced runners.
UIL Small School Top 5
No. 1 San Saba: Seniors Brighton Adams and Courtnee Cash finished the 2019 UIL 2A state meet as the seventh and 11th best runners and will team up with four other experienced state runners in keeping last year's bronze medalist team in the mix for the 2020 UIL 2A state championship.
No. 2 Lago Vista: The Vikings are on the rise after finishing fifth at the 2019 UIL 3A state meet and will achieve more with their state experienced five seniors and one sophomore.
No. 3 Salado: The Eagles finished 10th at the UIL 4A state meet in 2019 and have that season's individual state champion, Jaci McGregor, leading a quintet of experienced state runners.
No. 4 Austin LBJ Early College: The Jaguars finished 14th at the UIL 5A state meet in 2019 and have a young Sophia Dale leading a quartet of state experienced runners, so expect them to pounce on the UIL 4A competition in 2020.
No. 5 Harper: The Longhorns finished seventh at the 2019 UIL 2A state meet and will remain a force with their seven state experienced runners.
Others to Watch
Westlake: The Chaparrals lost their top two finishers from an 11th-place team finish at the UIL 6A state meet, but they'll stay competitive with four other state qualifiers returning as upperclassmen.
Buda Johnson: Seven state experienced runners, including 2023 prospect Kyra Gaddy, help the program make the move to UIL 5A after leading it to a UIL 4A 11th-place finish during its 2019 inaugural season.
Mason: The Cowgirls finished 11th at the 2019 UIL 2A state meet and will stay competitive with their six state experienced runners.
Rogers: The Eagles finished 16th at the 2019 UIL 3A state meet and their state experienced three juniors and three sophomores will keep them in the mix during the next two seasons.
For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen) and VYPE (@VYPEATX) on Twitter.
Looking to get more involved? Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program. To sign up for the VYPE U Program, apply at VYPEU.com.
Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.
Travis County's Decision Puts Top TXHSFB Matchups In Jeopardy
The return of Austin area high school sports took a major blow with a Tuesday announcement from Dr. Mark Escott, the Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority and Public Health Medical Director. In wake of continual COVID-19 concerns, he pushed back the return of county public and private school on-campus face-to-face teaching, learning and extracurricular activities until after September 7th. The Central Texas institutions that fall in the county's borders join other delayed returns to Texas school campuses, including those in Houston ISD, El Paso, Hidalgo County and other communities.
So, what does that mean for the start of the 2020 Texas high school football season? Well, if the UIL schedule isn't pushed back, Travis County would miss dozens of varsity games during the first two weeks, including the top affected matchups below.
No. 1: Westlake vs. Southlake Carroll at Arlington's AT&T Stadium
The opening week matchup was supposed to feature top 10 state ranked teams and a father-and-son head coaching duel between Westlake's Todd Dodge and Southlake Carroll's Riley Dodge.
No. 2: Lake Travis vs. Arlington Martin at Arlington's Globe Life Park
It looked like the teams, who are ranked between ninth and 11th in the preseason state rankings and split 35-14 victories in 2018 and 2019, were going to meet for the third straight year in the season opener.
No. 3: Lake Travis at Converse Judson
Not only would this have been an explosive matchup between two of the state's most storied programs in Week 2, but one of these teams would've taken a 3-2 series edge since 2016.
No. 4: Westlake vs. Euless Trinity
Like its Battle of the Lakes rival Lake Travis, defending UIL 6A Division II state champ Westlake would've faced its second top-25 team and state power opponent by Week 2.
No. 5: Austin Vandegrift at Cedar Park
The annual Leander ISD rivalry between state ranked 6A and 5A teams is also expected to not take place in the season's opening week.
Other notables: Austin LBJ Early College at Manor (Week 1); Bastrop at Manor (Week 2); Cameron Yoe at Lago Vista (Week 1); Taco Shack Bowl: Austin Anderson at Austin McCallum (Week 1); Cibolo Steele at Pflugerville Hendrickson (Week 1)
For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen) and VYPE (@VYPEATX) on Twitter.
Looking to get more involved? Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program. To sign up for the VYPE U Program, apply at VYPEU.com.