2008-09: The best year ever for LH sports?

Having followed Lake Highlands sports since I was a wee Wildcat, I’ve seen a lot of accomplishments over 40-plus years. State championships, record-breakers, newsmakers – LH has had it all in terms of sports success. However, last season may have topped them all in terms of overall athletic success.

LH finished third overall among 5A schools in The Dallas Morning News’ area HS All-Sports Awards, behind only first place Southlake Carroll and runner-up Plano West. LH probably won more district titles in 2008-09 than in any other school year.

Obviously, moving into a new district 9-5A, and away from the huge Plano and Allen schools, in 2008-09 had something to do with the unprecedented success, but it wasn’t everything. Deep runs into the playoffs by several programs disproved any theories that LH merely benefited from a softer district. The question is, can LH top itself in 2009-10?

“To have all the district champs we had, and then to have all the teams push far into the playoffs, it was really an honor as an athletic director,” LH’s Scott Smith said. “We’re looking forward to being just as successful this year, because if you look at all of our rosters, we have a lot of kids coming back and we haven’t had a lot of turnover in our coaching staff.”

A partial list of LH’s sports accomplishments in 2008-09 is on the jump.

Boys Cross Country: District champions, Austin Roth individual district champ.

Girls cross country: District runner-up.

Volleyball: District champions, state finals.

Football: District champions, third round of the playoffs.

Team Tennis: District champion.

Boys basketball: District champion.

Girls basketball: District runner-up, bi-district champs.

Gymnastics: Sarie Morrison repeats as state all-around champ.

Softball: District champions.

Girls soccer: District champions, Regional semifinalist.

Wrestling: Isaac Grieder state runner-up at 160, three state qualifiers.