Sophia Hemschot Maddy Helton
Lindsey Hosch
Katherine Huang
COURTESY PHOTO
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APRIL 2020
PARK CITIES PEOPLE | LADY SCOTS
Highland Park sophomore Lindsey Hosch won a silver medal in the 100 breaststroke at the Class 5A state meet in February. (PHOTO: ROB GRAHAM)
YOUNG SWIMMERS LEADING RESURGENCE FOR BLUE WAVE
Heyday difficult to match, but top Lady Scots bring versatility, motivation By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
A
s a freshman, Lindsey Hosch reached the Class 5A state meet, and she wasn’t even swimming her favorite
event. Hosch was pleased but not satisfied with that showing in the 100-yard butterfly. She wanted to return in the same race, but add her best event to her state repertoire. The efforts of the Highland Park sophomore paid off with a silver medal in the 100 breaststroke at this year’s state meet. She also made the finals in the butterfly and in two relays. “I wanted to shift my focus because I like to swim breaststroke and thought I
could do really well at it,” Hosch said. “I know I have the most potential in breaststroke, but I like training fly, too.” That versatility is common among the Blue Wave’s top swimmers and is a primary reason why a youth movement has fueled the HP girls to recent success. At the beginning of the season, Hosch was finishing around 1 minute, 7 seconds in the 100 breaststroke. Her final time at state was 1:03.9, which broke a 14-year-old school record and was less than 0.5 seconds behind state champion Jess Yeager of Georgetown East View.
In the girls 200 medley relay, the Blue Wave came in fifth with Hosch, Maddy Helton, Sophia Pan, and Katherine Huang. And the 200 freestyle relay team of Hosch, Huang, Morgan Rehme, and Alicia Bi was eighth overall. “We’re all really close,” Hosch said. “We motivate and push each other. It’s a great group of girls.” W hile Hosch placed seventh in the 100 fly, Helton took fifth place individually in the 100 backstroke. HP was sixth in the girls team standings. That’s not quite at the same level as the
Next year, we should be even better. Lindsey Hosch
Blue Wave’s heyday during the first decade of the 21st century, when the girls claimed an unprecedented 10 consecutive 4A state championships — a record for any UIL sport that will be difficult to match. The streak began in 2001, which was the second year after the UIL created separate 5A and 4A classifications for swimming. HP later made it 12 titles in 13 years after winning again in 2012 and 2013. It will be difficult to replicate such historic achievements, but Hosch and her teammates hope to continue making a splash in 2021. HP will lose only one of its six state qualifiers to graduation. “I think that will motivate us more,” Hosch said. “Next year, we should be even better.”
LADY SCOTS | PARK CITIES PEOPLE
APRIL 2020
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Growing Youth Program Helps Success Stick in Lacrosse
Swords, a former college coach, found renewed passion at high school level
Highland Park made its first appearance at the state tournament in 2018 and defeated powerhouse ESD earlier this season. (PHOTOS: CHRIS MCGATHEY)
By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
When she joined the Highland Park girls lacrosse program six years ago, Lellie Swords found a handful of talented players without a foundation for sustained success. She knew that if HP was going to continue moving up the ranks in one of the fastest-growing high school sports in Texas, she needed to rebuild the club’s deteriorating youth program. “I found out that our youth numbers had declined,” Swords said. “We’ve really made an effort to share our game and get more girls involved in lacrosse.” Her efforts began to pay off almost immediately, as increased depth and experience propelled the Lady Scots into the Texas Girls High School Lacrosse League state tournament for the first time in 2018. Another milestone came in March
when HP scored its first-ever win over defending state champion ESD. That could boost the Lady Scots toward a return trip to the state tournament this spring, with Swords crediting this season’s resurgence to a dedicated six-player senior class. “They’ve elevated the program since they’ve arrived. They really want to win and make a name for Highland Park. They want to make sure they make their mark.” HP has 28 players in the high school program, up from 19 last season. That allows the school to field both varsity and JV squads. Plus, participation in the yearround youth program has increased, with the middle-school numbers reaching an all-time high of 46 athletes.
The idea is to implement teaching and coaching philosophies to younger players — in many cases, future Lady Scots — who compete in year-round leagues and tournaments. The quality has steadily improved, with seniors on the current Lady Scots roster already signed to play college lacrosse at nationally prominent programs such as Michigan, Denver, and Bucknell. “These kids see that it’s all translating,” Swords said. “There are definitely more opportunities for girls in lacrosse.” Swords said she’s happy coaching lacrosse at HP after spending almost two decades in the Division I college ranks, including five as the head coach of the
We’ve really made an effort to share our game and get more girls involved in lacrosse. Lellie Swords
upstart University of Cincinnati program from 2008-12. “I didn’t have the same passion for coaching in college,” said Swords, who wanted to spend more time with her three children. “I still loved lacrosse, but I didn’t love the fact that I had to be on the road so many days out of the year.” Shortly after she resigned from Cincinnati, Swords worked at a friend’s threeday lacrosse youth camp in Frisco. She knew that’s when she wanted her family to move here. Swords spent her first year in the Dallas area as an official for college games — something she still does — and helping out local club teams. Then she came to HP, first as an assistant coach for one season before taking over the top spot. “It’s been the best decision for our family,” Swords said. “I’ve had some really tremendous athletes come through our system. I wouldn’t trade it.”
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APRIL 2020
PARK CITIES PEOPLE | LADY SCOTS
Row Your Boat to College Scholarships DUC offers female athletes a winning alternative By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
When the Highland Park Crew Club started in 2002, girls were the first athletes to put their oars in the water. The club has grown significantly since then, merging its program with Dallas United Crew several years ago, but female boats have remained at the forefront. Besides providing a viable alternative sport for athletes in the Park Cities, the club aims to enable another avenue to possible collegiate competition for its members. “We’ve embraced this opportunity to provide a path for young women to become Division I athletes,” said Steve Perry, director and head coach for the club’s high school programs. Since 2012, DUC has placed 56 rowers with Division I college programs — boys and girls combined — including half of its 2019 seniors. HP alumna Genevieve Collins, currently a Republican congressional candidate, was in that first boat in 2002. She went on to compete at the University of Tennessee. More recently, Rachel Craycroft made the roster as a freshman at Texas, which was the national runner-up a year ago. Crayroft was tall and athletic growing up but didn’t have the right physical tools or aggressive
At 87 Division I colleges, rowing is the biggest women’s team sport with the most scholarships. (COURTESY PHOTOS) mindset for basketball or volleyball. Her father went to college on the East Coast, where rowing is more popular, and thought she might be a good fit. Despite never trying the sport until middle school, Craycroft thrived in the rowing environment and won U.S. Rowing Central Region championships with her DUC teammates in four years. “It’s a different form of competition,” Perry said. “It’s about how hard you can push yourself. There’s a complexity and a dynamic that’s different from other sports. You don’t really have that one-on-one aspect. It’s much
more internal as a team.” HP Crew Club merged in 2013 with DUC, which is based at White Rock Lake and includes athletes from 24 different high schools. Since the transition from a scholastic program to a club program, however, almost half still hail from the Park Cities. DUC has programs at multiple ages and skill levels, including a robust middle-school
program for children who get an early start in the sport. At the high school level, newcomers join a novice team to gain experience and compete against other beginners. Varsity athletes face a challenging travel schedule in both the fall season and the spring sprint season. In a fiveweek span, DUC planned to take boats to regattas in San Diego and New Jersey, and the
We’ve embraced this opportunity to provide a path for young women to become Division I athletes. Steve Perry
Central Region Championships in Oklahoma City. The USRowing Youth National Championships are slated for June in Sarasota, Florida. On many trips, the local rowers visit college campuses on both coasts and talk with coaches to become acquainted with programs at the next level — many of which have heightened academic expectations, even if they’re not in the Ivy League. “You need to have the grades,” Perry said. “You need to meet a certain standard.” Once they hit the water, they will try to add to the club’s already impressive trophy haul.
LADY SCOTS | PARK CITIES PEOPLE
APRIL 2020
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Academic Achievement, Outstanding Character, Leadership Ability How the Tracy Wills Invitational serves Scots athletes past, present, and future By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
When Highland Park athletes compete at the annual Tracy Wills Invitational track and field meet, they’re racing for more than medals and personal bests. The meet is named for Wills, a beloved former HP runner and honor student who died of pneumonia during her freshman year in March 1995. “This is a great day, no matter if they’re happy with the results or not because we’re honoring Tracy,” said HP girls track coach Susan Bailey. “We’re doing it for a teammate that we’ll never know.” The meet, which began in 1997 and is held each March at Germany Park, is the only home meet each season for the Lady Scots. It typically attracts other top girls programs from throughout the Dallas area. This year’s event took place on March 7. Although it’s been more than two decades since Wills’ death, her spirit lives on through her namesake competition. Bailey said she stresses as much at the pre-race coaches’ meeting. Former longtime HP track and field coach Jerry Sutterfield stops by occasionally to visit with the Lady Scots, and Wills’ father remains a regular attendee. Plus, proceeds from the meet benefit the Tracy Wills Scholarship, which awards funds annually to an
Unlike sports such as football and basketball, Highland Park track only has one home date a year. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY) HP senior who exemplifies academic achievement, outstanding character, and leadership ability. “We stress that to our kids,” Bailey said. “The kids have a great attitude about it. They really care. They’re continuing the legacy.” The meet’s outreach extends to
encouraging young girls in the Park Cities to become active in running and introducing them to the school’s robust track and field program. That’s why it is touted as a community event complete with a “fun run” for girls in kindergarten through eighth grade, who scam-
per between a half-mile and a mile around the track. Bailey typically allows her team captains to administer the exhibition run themselves. Planning and organization for the annual showcase take place yearround thanks to a network of parent volunteers, city officials, and HP
alumni. They keep the meet running smoothly behind the scenes. “It doesn’t matter if we have a small meet or a big meet. It’s the same amount of work,” Bailey said. “Football and basketball have all these home games every year. We only have one.”
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APRIL 2020
PARK CITIES PEOPLE | LADY SCOTS
Six Seniors Help Raise the Bar for Highland Park
Scots softball collecting dividends with talent fostered in Bombers program By Todd Jorgenson
translated into greater depth and quality at the varsity and the subvarsity levels for the Lady Scots.
People Newspapers
With six seniors returning from a team that advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season, Highland Park has higher postseason aspirations this spring. The Lady Scots carry over momentum and chemistry from last year’s District 11-5A runner-up squad. Many of those returnees have three or four years of varsity experience. “These girls have a lot of experience, and they know what it takes to get there,” said HP head coach Michael Pullen. “A district title is definitely within reach.” One of them is catcher Dawson Dabboussi, who in November signed to play college softball at St. Edward’s University in Austin. She became the first Lady Scots player to earn a softball scholarship in almost two decades. Ava Sims was last year’s 11-5A defensive MVP at shortstop. Center fielder Grace
These girls have a lot of experience, and they know what it takes to get there. A district title is definitely within reach. Michael Pullen The Lady Scots hope to carry over momentum and chemistry from last year’s District 11-5A runner-up season. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY) Brown has a strong arm to go with her speed in the leadoff spot. Ciara Fortenberry is a three-year starter in the outfield. Then there’s pitcher Lilly Reenan, who leads a talented sophomore class.
Pullen credits the program’s steady uptick in part to the growth of the HP Bombers youth program, which has developed into a reliable feeder system. Rising participation among younger players in the Park Cities has
Now the goal becomes for the current seniors to finish on a high note, and continue to raise the bar for the program. After all, HP has never advanced past the second round of the playoffs. “We’re hoping for the same success, if not better,” Pullen said.
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LADY SCOTS | PARK CITIES PEOPLE
APRIL 2020
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Seeing Greens: Lady Scots Drive With Experience on the Links By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
Depth and experience are keys to consistency in just about any team sport. That’s true even in golf, where individual scores fuel collective success. The girls golf team at Highland Park returns four of its five players from a quintet that reached the Class 5A state tournament a year ago. So there’s good reason for optimism about a return trip. “I fully expect to be back in Georgetown,” said HP coach Matt Claborn about the 5A event, slated for May 18-19 at White Wing Golf Club. “We’re playing pretty well.” Last spring, the Lady Scots placed ninth among the 12 qualifying teams, finishing 60 shots behind state champion Grapevine. But of the four returnees from that group,
elite 6A programs. Also, they won a fall event at the Golf Club of Dallas. HP has been led this season by sophomore Sophie Biediger, who carded a final-round 80 at the state tournament as a freshman. A pair of seniors, Nikita Nair and Julia Cary, have been with the program for four years, and also traveled to state in 2017. Meanwhile, two juniors have found success on the golf course after injuries prompted them to switch from other sports — Katie Laird from soccer and Sara Rogers from tennis. “It’s a pretty good and competitive group,” Claborn said. “We’re not as deep as we have been in the past,
but they have a lot of fire in them.” Aside from the favorable prospects for this year, HP also has a positive longterm outlook. Of the 20 girls currently in the program, nine are f reshmen who regularly compete in subvarsity and developmental tournaments. Plus, Claborn said a handful of eighth-graders in the Park Cities should bring competitive experience when they join the Lady Scots in the fall. “They have a year to learn and grow and figure it out. They’ll be ready to step in and help,” Claborn said. “We’re excited about the future, but we’re excited about this year, too.”
We’re excited about the future, but we’re excited about this year, too. Matt Claborn
Highland Park hopes to return to the 5A state golf tournament this spring. FROM LEFT: Sarah Rogers, Sophie Biediger, Nikita Nair, Katie Laird, and Julia Cary. (COURTESY PHOTO) three fired lower rounds on the second day, compared to the first. That finish provided some valuable momentum that has carried over to early tournaments this year. For example, HP placed sixth
against top competition at the Georgetown Invitational tournament on the same course in November. The Lady Scots also have competed in two 54-hole events (three rounds over two days) against some
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