Veteran track coach Buzz Andrews leads his Lake Highlands boys’ and girls’ teams into the cross-country district meet Oct. 31 at Richland College. The boy’s team is ranked second in District 11-5A, trailing only top-ranked Plano High School.

Senior David Brummel recently ran a three-mile 16:15 at the Lake Highlands Invitational meet. His time placed him fourth, while teammate Claude Medwick was hot on his heels with a time of 16:33. Other key runners include Josh Urquhart, Brad Grundy, Russell Field and team captain Preston Evans.

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The top two teams advance to the regional meet, and the fastest five individuals also qualify.

The girls’ team is paced by captain Lisa Drake, who recently clocked a season-best 13:29 in the two-mile run. Caren Vaughn posted a 13:41. Dianne Larsen, Laura Bruck and Ashley Wakefield also have been impressive during the fall campaign.

Down the road, Andrews is looking forward to the spring track season, when he will supervise the sprinting talents of Corey McLane and Dewanna Allen.

McLane, an integral part of the varsity football team, is the defending Class 5A champion in the 100-meter. Allen, only a sophomore, ran a torrid 56-second quarter-mile last year as a freshman.

Junior High Football Teams Gear Up For Forest Meadow

Ninth grade – The LHJH freshman squad has compiled a 5-1 record this season under the guidance of coaches Mike Sweeney and John McPherson.

Utilizing a powerful wishbone attack patterned after the high school team’s, speedy quarterback Marcus Stiggers and running backs Terry Snow and Parker Lane have been difficult to stop.

Josh Frier leads the team in receptions, while Jeff Barnett, Mike Christina and Trent Stout also have played key roles. The Wildcats have a trio of outstanding place-kickers, including Josh Dulworth, Jeremy Hancock and Greg Ault.

Sweeney pointed to his team’s improvement and determination as key factors in its success. Lake Highlands is peaking for a possible city championship clash against coach Al Troyer’s equally impressive Forest Meadow Chargers (6-1) Nov. 5 at Wildcat-Ram Stadium.

Eighth grade – The eighth-graders at LHJH have won four of their first five games. Second-year coach Harry Everett and his squad have two games remaining, including the season finale against cross-town rival Forest Meadow. The Wildcats outscored their opponents 136-48 while building a 4-1 record.

Quarterback Devon Hightower has thrown four touchdown passes and the entire offensive line, led by Josh Reynolds, has been solid all year.

Defensively, Aaron Ball, David Heaton, Brook Knight and Gabe Gilder have put the collective clamps on the opposition’s offensive attack.

Seventh grade – Quarterback Peter Dawson has led the Wildcats to a 4-1 record. Dawson sprinted up the middle for a spectacular 99-yard touchdown run against Liberty Junior High in a recent victory.

Coach Mark Pace’s team finishes the season with a game against Richardson West Junior High, and a season-ender Nov. 4 against…you guessed it, the Chargers from Forest Meadow.

Caleb Ferguson also caught a 65-yard touchdown pass from Dawson against Liberty, and he leads the running attack along with Kipp Collins. Kelan Dorsey has two touchdown receptions of more than 50 yards,

Other top players include Greg Schnos and defensive specialists Craig Redden, Stephen Gaines, and Brandon Dailey. Gaines had six sacks against Liberty.

Junior High Girls V-Ball Report

The Lady Wildcats (4-4) are gearing up for the district tournament Oct. 30-31 at Liberty Junior High. Coach Deanna Harris praised her team for their hustle as they look to leap over the .500 mark.

The squad is led by Aimee Ribo, who is 5-foot-8-inches tall and full of spikes. Other leading hitters include Erin Aldrich, Amy Clark and Susan Neill. Setters include Meredith Reed, Sunny Williston, Jordan Young and Misty Benson.

Once the season is over, Harris immediately bounces to the basketball court as she coaches the girls’ ninth-grade team. The hoopsters start practice Nov. 2 and play their first game Nov. 19.