Varsity Wrestling
After winning the district title last year, finishing second in the regional and eighth in the state, Lake Highlands varsity wrestling coach Pete Grieder is in the midst of a rebuilding year.
“We’re very young this year,” Grieder says as he peers down the hall, presumably searching for any other athletes tough enough to withstand six straight minutes of non-stop mat action.
“We haven’t reached our potential yet because we’re inexperienced on the varsity level.”
One wrestler that has risen to the occasion is senior co-captain Eddie Powell, who has a season record of 18-4, including 14 pins (at press time). Powell is one of the area’s top-ranked grapplers in the 140-pound division and finished fourth in a recent 26-team Tri-State meet.
Junior Greg Donahoe has compiled a 13-9 mark in the 160- and 171-pound weight divisions, finishing fifth in the Tri-State meet. Chung Choi also is over the .500 mark with a 7-5 record in the 112-pound group and was the fourth-best wrestler in the meet.
Co-captain Eric Reed continues to provide solid leadership for the Wildcats, who are looking to peak for the Jan. 2 district meet.
For information about the Lake Highlands Wrestling Club, which is designed for wrestlers from the seventh through 12th grades, call Grieder at 414-1659 or Emery Powell at 343-3531.
Varsity Swimming
The Lake Highlands boys and girls swimming teams finished ninth and 21st, respectively, in the T.I.S.C.A. swim meet last month at Loos Natatorium in Addison.
More than 1,000 swimmers from 60 boys and girls teams participated in the meet, which attracted teams from throughout the state, including all major metropolitan areas except Houston and San Antonio.
The following swimmers placed in the finals: 50 Freestyle, 13th place, Jim Fields, 23.12; 100 Freestyle, 10th place, Jim Fields, 50.88; 200 Freestyle, 8th place, Sam Williams, 1:54.08; 10th place, Jordon Soose, 1:55.42; 200 Freestyle Relay, 10th place, Jim Fields, Tom Quigley, Sam Williams and Ben White, 1:35.52; 100 Backstroke, 7th place, Tom Quigley, 58.60.
Also, 100 Breast, 15th place-Ben White 1:06.52; 100 Butterfly, 3rd place-Tom Quigley 53.85; One meter diving, 14th place-Dawar Nawab; Girls 400 Freestyle Relay, 14th place, Leigh Jenkins, Liz Tabor, Elaine Prokup, Ginger Grinsfelder, 4:25.63.
Lake Highlands Boys Varsity Basketball
At 7-3, the Wildcats are off to a solid start this season under Jimmy Roe. Star forward Sea Lonergan was sidelined for the first few games because of a foot injury but has bounced back quickly.
Lonergan is averaging 19 points and eight rebounds per game. In a recent performance against Garland in the Coca-Cola Tournament, he scored a season-high 29 points to lead the Wildcats to a 61-57 victory. Lake Highlands went on to take third place in the tournament after falling 61-57 to arch-rival Plano.
Forward Ryan Baldrich is averaging 17 points a game and played solid defense according to Roe. Guards Sheldon Croomes (six assists per game) and Mike Elam are continuing their consistent play as the Wildcats prepare for their district opener on January 2.
Lake Highlands Varsity Girls Basketball
It’s a rebuilding year for the Lady Wildcats under Kim Kromdyk, but the play of senior Tatraes Cooper and sophomore Elizabeth Hughston has been impressive.
Cooper is averaging 12.3 points through the first 10 games, along with a 6.9 rebound average from her point guard position. Add nearly three assists per game and it’s easy to see why she has been the most productive player on the Lake Highlands roster.
Hughston started the year on junior varsity but has been promoted to a starting spot in the varsity, due to her consistent play and hustle. At 5-feet, 4-inches, the off guard leads the team in assists and has excellent court sense, according to Kromdyk.
Lake Highlands Junior High Girls Basketball (Ninth Grade)
Two twin towers of power have led the Lake Highlands Junior High girls to a 7-1 start under coach Deanna Harris, including a 47-31 rout of old nemesis Forest Meadows.
Erin Aldrich, at 6-0, is averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds per game, while 5-9 Celeste Rauch is supplying 15 points and 14 boards. Aimee Ribo, Audrey Johnston and Sunny Williston have also played well, resulting in a 4-0 district mark. All five starters played volleyball earlier in the year.
Aldrich and Rauch, along with Forest Meadow’s Jana Podhrasky, give Kromdyk a reason for optimism down the road at the high school level. “Realistically, I could use them right now,” Kromdyk says.