PCP_B_050412

THE PLAID REPORT Each Friday, sports editor Chuck Cox provides the inside scoop on all things Scots. Sign up at parkcitiespeople.com.

PARKCITIESPEOPLE.COM MAY 4, 2012 | 1B

Sp or ts

BY CHUCK COXStaff Writer

When it comes to the state lacrosse champion-ships, Highland Park is used to being a shoo-in.

But the Scots are plenty happy to be this year’s mystery guest.

A f t e r a n u p - a n d -down season that landed Highland Park in a must-win game with Episcopal School of Dallas just to earn a spot in the super regionals, the Scots made

the most of their opportu-nity. They avenged a loss to The Woodlands, 10-8, in Saturday’s semifinals, and then crushed Austin High, 11-2, on Sunday at Franklin Stadium to punch their ticket to Georgetown.

The Scots (10-7) will battle Jesuit (16-1) in the state semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at East View High School. The win-ner will take on the St. Mark’s-Houston Christian winner in the title game at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. The top-ranked Rangers beat the Scots, 14-7, earlier this season.

“Everything we did in the regular season was for state,” Highland Park head

coach Derek Thomsonsaid. “We called this ournew season. I don’t reallycare what happened in theregular season. I’m proudthat the kids are learningto win. They’re not beat-ing themselves. Based onour schedule, we found outwhat we needed to workon — and then correctedit. We’re starting to peak atthe best time of the year.”

After fal l ing to TheWoodlands, 8-6, on March23, the Scots did not let alate lead slip away this timearound. Junior attackmanBryce Green had a hat trickin Saturday’s victory. Thatset up a rematch with the

STAFF PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY

Highland Park’s Robert Menke (27) jostles for a loose ball with Austin High’s Winslow Blow.

Surprising Scots HeadedTo State LAX TournamentHighland Parkto face Jesuitin semifinals

See LACROSSE, Page 3B


LAKEWAY — The H i g h l a n d P a r k m i x e d d o u b l e s team of sophomore Connor LaFavre

a n d f r e s h m a n M a rg o Taylor was making its first trip to the Class 4A Tennis St a t e C h a m p i o n s h i p s this week at the World of Tennis.

But that didn’t stop the duo from looking like a pair of seasoned veterans. LaFave/Taylor mowed down the competition, beating the Austin Lake Travis team of Jaxon Immler /Remi Immler , 6-1, 6-1, in the quarterfinals; the League City Clear Falls team of Krishna Jana /Rachel Cunningham, 6-1, 6-1, in the semifinals; and the Boerne Champion team of Jared Fellows/Brianna Fellows, 6-1, 6-2, in the finals . Theirs was the only title among the five Scots doubles teams that advanced to state.

“We played really well throughout,” LaFavre said. “After regionals, we prac-ticed really hard and got really ready. [Head coach] Dan [Holden] was like, ‘This was a business trip.’ Going on to the court, there were a little nerves because there were a lot of people. Once we started warming up, we were fine. It feels good. The games were close. It was closer than what the scores indi-cated. We just played really good.”

Taylor said she and LaFavre were both feeling strong about their chances of bringing home a state championship heading into the tourney.

“It feels cool,” Taylor


AUSTIN — Evenafter having justwon his first statetitle as a sopho-more, Highland

Park’s Scottie Scheffler remained a man of few words.

“Yeah, it’s nice,” Scheffler said. “I hit it pretty well, but I didn’t putt that great. I missed the putts I had to make.”

S c h e f f l e r o p e n e d t h e C l a s s 4 A S t a t e Championships with a four-under 68 on Monday to give him the lead. And even though he shot a 72 on Tuesday, Scheffler was still three strokes bet-ter than second-place Klein Koltz of Austin Lake Travis, which won the team title with a 588 (300-288). Highland Park finished second with a 601 (302-299).

“He’s played well all year long,” Highland Park head coach Jeff Loyd said of Scheffler, who finished second at state as a fresh-man. “He’s been such a good player and a good leader for us. He’s done a great job. You get a little spoiled. He posts so many good numbers. It’s kind of like today when he shot a 72. At the turn, when I heard he was one-over, you kind of blink and say, ‘Are you sure?’ I’m really happy for him.”

Also for Highland Park, Jake Potter finished tied for 14th with a 149 (74-75), while Charlie Click (81-75) and Guy Griffith (79-77) both shot 156, and Levi Pettit shot a 161 (81-80).

“I’m proud of the guys coming out,” said Griffith, the only senior on the

UNDERCLASSMEN ON TOPSophomores, freshman bring home state championships

See TENNIS, Page 5B See GOLF, Page 4B

Mixed doublesteam rolls past

competition

Scheffler rides fast

start to title

STAFF PHOTOS: CHRIS MCGATHEY

Highland Park sophomore Scottie Scheffl er watches his fairway shot land just shy of the hole during day two of Class 4A state tournament play at Jimmy Clay Golf Course in Austin on Tuesday. Scheffl er won the state championship.

Scots sophomore Connor LaFavre steps into a backhand during mixed doubles play.

Highland Park freshman Margo Taylor returns a serve during the mixed doubles state quarterfi nals on the way to winning state.

Sports2B | MAY 4, 2012 PARKCITIESPEOPLE.COM

CALENDAR

SCOREBOARDBASEBALL

Final District 10-4A standings District Overall W-L W-L-TRockwall-Heath-xy 11-3 25-7-0Highland Park-x 10-4 21-9-1Rockwall-x 10-4 22-8-0McKinney North-x 7-7 17-7-0Wylie East 6-8 10-12-1Wylie 5-9 10-16-0McKinney 4-10 8-16-0Pearce 3-11 5-14-1x — clinched playoff berthy — clinched district title

Last Friday’s resultsHighland Park 3, McKinney 2Heath 14, Wylie East 0Rockwall 7, Pearce 0McKinney North 4, Wylie 1End regular season

Class 4A State Playoffs

Region II, Bi-districtHillcrest (22-7-1) vs. Seagoville (10-12)

Game 1 — Late ThursdayGame 2 — 5 today at SeagovilleGame 3 — Noon Saturday at Pleasant Grove

(if necessary)Rockwall (22-8) vs. Frisco Centennial (21-7)

Game 1 — Late ThursdayGame 2 — 7:30 tonight at HebronGame 3 — 1 p.m. Saturday at Hebron

(if necessary)Rockwall-Heath (25-7) vs. Frisco (14-11-1)

Game 1 — Late Thursday Game 2 — 7:30 tonight at FriscoGame 3 — noon Saturday at Highland Park

(if necessary)Adamson (14-7) vs. Woodrow Wilson (13-8)

Game 1 — Late Thursday Game 2 — 7 tonight at Randall ParkGame 3 — Noon Saturday, Randall Park

(if necessary)Hendrickson vs. Red Oak (16-10)

Game 1 — Late ThursdayGame 2 — 7 tonight at Pfl ugerville HendricksonGame 3 — 2 p.m. Saturday at Red Oak

(if necessary)Texas High vs. Nacogdoches

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PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Even before he swung his first club as a Highland Park Scot, Scheffler’s name was on the radar in the golf world. Last year, he finished second in Class 4A as a freshman. This year, he went on and grabbed his first state championship. Scheffler shot a 4-under 68 in the opening round on Monday. He followed that up with an even-par 72, which gave him a three-stroke win over Lake Travis’ Kelin Koltz.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLERGolf, Sophomore

sponsored by:

TODAY■ Gymnastics at state meet (at San Angelo)

SATURDAY■ Gymnastics at state meet (at San Angelo)■ Boys lacrosse vs. Jesuit (at Georgetown),5:30 p.m.

Whitehouse vs. Mount PleasantForney (23-8) vs. Cedar Ridge

Game 1 — Late ThursdayGame 2 — 8 tonight at BaylorGame 3 — 2 p.m. Saturday at Baylor

(if necessary)North Dallas (21-5) vs. Spruce (11-10)

Game 1 — Late ThursdayGame 2 — 4:30 today at SpruceGame 3 — 11 a.m. Saturday at Reverchon Park

(if necessary)Highland Park (21-10-1) vs. Creekview (12-12)Late Thursday

Frisco Wakeland (21-8) vs. McKinney North (18-8)

Game 1 — Late ThursdayGame 2 — 7:30 tonight at Carrollton’s Kelly FieldGame 3 — 1 p.m. Saturday at Carrollton’s Kelly Field (if necessary)

Bryan Adams (12-9) vs. Molina (13-8)4:30 today at Reverchon Park

Corsicana (21-8) vs. HuttoGame 1 — Late ThursdayGame 2 — 7 tonight at CorsicanaGame 3 — 2 p.m. Saturday at Waco ISD Complex

(if necessary)Hallsville vs. Sulphur Springs

Sherman (18-7-1) vs. Longview Pine TreeGame 1 — Late ThursdayGame 2 — 1 p.m. Saturday at MabankGame 3 — 30 minutes following Game 2

(if necessary)Bryan Rudder vs. Waxahachie (16-12)

Game 1 — Late ThursdayGame 2 — 2 p.m. Saturday at Waxahachie’s Richards ParkGame 3 — 30 minutes following Game 2

(if necessary)


ARLINGTON — When Highland Park’s Natalie Rathjen made her first trip to the state track and field

championships , she was battling a hip injury that led to her finishing last in the 3200-meter run.

Now that the sopho-more’s fully healthy and has another year of experience under her belt, Rathjen is primed and ready for another shot at a state title — especially considering she’ll have two of them.

Rathjen won the 3200

(10:53.37) to go along with a second-place finish in the 1600 (5:04.81) at last week’s Class 4A Region II Championships, earn-ing her slots in both races at the May 11 state meet in Austin. Teammate Gabby Crank was the only other Highland Park athlete to qualify for state. The fresh-man got second in the 800 (2:17.97).

Crank, Rathjen Earn Class 4A State Meet Berths

As a team, the Lady Scots finished in third place with 37 points. Lancaster won the region with 106 points, followed by Carrollton Creekview with 59 points.

“It ’s definitely been a windy weekend,” Rathjen s a i d . “ I t ’s h o t t o d a y [Saturday], but we were actually really lucky with the weather last night. It was nice. I usually just try to go out and relax, and then work like you do the middle mile in the 800. That’s usually always my strategy.”

That strategy paid off. Rathjen beat second-place Madie Zimmerman of Frisco Wakeland by more than 10 seconds in the 3200, while finishing a little more than two seconds behind Meghan Shea of McKinney in the 1600.

Rathjen is hoping her

experience running at state last year will pay dividends this time around.

“I definitely think that will help,” she said. “It won’t be a totally new experience.”

Crank, whose s is ter Madeline finished fifth in the 800 at last year’s state meet as a senior , was thrilled to get a chance to follow in her sister’s foot-steps at her first regional meet. Her regional meet time was a personal record.

“I’m really excited,” said Crank, who also got sixth in the triple jump (36-11) and ran on two relay teams. “She’s [Madeline] my role model. I’m just glad to have such a great team and be there to support it.”

The Lady Scots didn’t finish higher than fifth in any of their other six events. But head coach Susan

Bailey was elated with herteam’s performance.

“Every kid ran great,”Bailey said. “We had lotsof [personal records] yes-terday and today. That’swhat it’s all about — doingyour best and stepping upto the plate. They definitelystepped up.”

Bailey said she expectsa drastically different statemeet for Rathjen this timearound.

“She will be much better,”she said. “She’s been downthere and gone throughtwo years of cross countryand two years of track now.She’s ready.”

The Flying Scots had arough meet, failing to earna state berth in any events.Jack Beitter had the topfinish for the boys. He gotfifth in the 1600 (4:37.19).

Email [email protected]

Lady Scots tocompete inAustin May 11

STAFF PHOTOS: ALANA HARRISON

From left: Gabby Crank runs during the 800-meter preliminaries; Rebecca Herring runs in the 400-meter dash preliminaries; and Amanda Thatcher competes in the 300-meter hurdles preliminaries.

SportsPARKCITIESPEOPLE.COM MAY 4, 2012 | 3B

Maroons, whom Highland Park beat, 16-7, in its sea-son opener. Once again, it was a blowout. And Green continued his torrid play with four goals and two assists.

“We’ve come out with such great team chemis-try,” Green said. “The guys are playing for each other. You ask anybody in the huddle, and everybody’s just loving on everybody. It’s great. We knew if we could even get a playoff

game, we said, ‘If we get in, we’re making a run. It’s coming.’ Everybody’s working.”

The Scots won three consecutive state champi-onships from 2008 to 2010 before an injury-plagued season doomed last year’s squad. Highland Park has won five state titles over-all. And the Scots know No. 6 won’t come easy.

“Jesuit is a whale of a team,” Thomson added. “We have our work cut out. I’m happy for these seniors. There are a lot of people who have been

second-guessing us. We’ve watched practice all year and knew the talent we had. We’re back where we belong. This is the goal we set every season.”

H i g h l a n d P a r k ’ s Division II team also earned a trip to state by beating Flower Mound, 8 -7, i n S u n d a y. T h e Scots (10-3) will play St. Michael’s at 3 p.m. Saturday in the semifinals. The Division II champi-onship game is at 1 p.m. Sunday.


LacrosseContinued from Page 1B


Highland Park’s Domenic Massimilian (8) eludes a check from Austin High’s Anthony Miller during Sunday’s North Super Regional fi nals at Franklin Stadium.

Highland Park midfi elder Domenic Massimilian (8) tries to slow up Austin High’s Reed Mershon.

Scots midfi elder Daniel Wenz drives the ball upfi eld as teammate Robert Menke (27) looks on.

Scots attackman Grayson Miller (9) gets a shot off in traffi c.

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team. “We were down two yesterday. They played hard; it’s just that they [Lake Travis] came ready.”

The Scots have finished either first or second at state for each of the last 13 seasons, which includes a run of nine state titles.

“You have to tip your hat to Lake Travis,” Loyd said. “They just did a phenom-enal job. We’ve finished first or second the last 13 years. That’s nothing to hold your head down about. It’s always tough for us when you come in here with a chance to win and you don’t.”

Even with a second-place finish, most of the team seemed pretty disap-pointed with missing out on what would have been its first state title since 2010.

“We did good with what we had,” Potter s a i d . “O bv i o u s l y, we

didn’t come out on top. That’s the ultimate goal. A ny t h i n g e l s e i s n o t acceptable. You come out with a new, positive out-look and things to work for in the offseason. Other than that, you can’t really get much out of it. We’ll come back even hungrier next year.”

But with four returners , Highland Park should be in the mix once again .

“We had a young group with three sophomores

and one junior in thelineup,” Loyd said. “We’vegot four that are going tobe returning who knowwhat to expect and whatit’s about.

“That’s really impor-tant, especially whenyou’re coming down hereand playing some of thelocal teams on a coursethey’re really familiarwith. It helps to have thatknowledge.”


GolfContinued from Page 1B


Highland Park’s Jake Potter stares down his tee shot at the beginning of the second round of the Class 4A Championships on Tuesday at Jimmy Clay Golf Course in Austin.

The Highland Park boys golf team ended with a score of 601 at the Class 4A state tournament in Austin. Sophomore Scottie Scheffl er came away with his fi rst state championship individually.

Charlie Click watches his tee shot after his follow through.

Highland Park head coach Jeff Loyd talks strategy with Guy Griffi th on a short par 3.

Highland Park’s Charlie Click putts on a par on his way to a second-round total of 75.

SportsPARKCITIESPEOPLE.COM MAY 4, 2012 | 5B

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The epicurean kitchen was taken to the studs in 2005 and features a large center island with wood counter tops, custom cab-inetry including pull out drawers for storage and glass front displays, gran-ite countertops, stain-

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The kitchen and break-fast room overlook the large family room with v a u l t e d c e i l i n g s a n d exposed wood beams.

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The new master was added in 2005. It includes vaulted cei l ings with wood beams and a sepa-rate study or exercise room overlooking the backyard and covered porch. The master bath is complete with Carrera

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Open Spaces And Beautiful DesignBRIGGS FREEMAN SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

The culinary kitchen and breakfast room overlook the large family room with vaulted ceilings and exposed wood beams.

PHOTO: ALLISON SLOMOWITZ

Ryan Romo and the Highland Park Scots opened the Class 4A state playoff s with a one-game showdown in bi-district against Carrollton Creekview on Thursday night at Grand Prairie’s QuikTrip Park. Highland Park (22-10-1) wrapped up the regular season with a 6-4 road win at McKinney on Friday. The Scots then beat Rock-wall, 3-2, in a game for playoff seeding on Saturday. The winner of Thursday’s game will take on the North Dallas-Spruce winner in the area round next week.

SCOTS OPEN PLAYOFFS VS. CREEKVIEW

said. “I felt like we were real l y wel l - prepared. I h ave c o n f i d e n c e i n him. We play really well together. We came out and played our best. It was fun. We like when people watch — it helps.”

In girls doubles, defend-ing state champions Sarah Cannon/Alin Piranian fell to the Lake Travis squad of Ryan Brown/Courtney Schulte, 7-5, 6-4, in the finals, after jumping out to

a quick lead in the first set. The loss ends Highland Park’s run of consecutive state girls doubles champi-onships at seven.

“O u r wo r s t m i s t a ke was not pressing at 4-0,” Piranian said. “That should h av e b e e n w h e r e w e twisted the knife and ran away with it. After that, we never got back in it. We were not prepared for that match. I would have liked to have ended [my career] with a win. But what can you do? I guess you learn and grow from it.”

Cannon, a junior, said

she thought mental mis-takes got the best of her and Piranian.

“They played wel l ,” Cannon said. “I don’t want to take anything away from them — they won. We obvi-ously could have executed a little bit better and not made as many errors. One team has to. It just so hap-pened we were the team that did it.”

The girls doubles team of Abby Zidel l/Darby Strickland also lost in the quarterfinals.

In boys doubles, the team of sophomore Hunter

Holman and junior Luke St a i n b a c k l o s t t o t h e Lake Travis team of Sam Laudon/Oliver Seifert, 6-4, 6-3, in the finals. The team of John Daseke/Avery Schober lost in the quarter-finals.

“We performed pretty well,” Stainback said. “We started off a little slow [in the finals]. We almost got the first set. In the second set, we were on serve for a while. They broke us to go ahead. They were playing really solid and aggressive.”

Holman was excited to get his first opportunity

to play in the spring state tournament.

“It’s great to not make the tournament and then coming back and make it all the way to the finals,” Holman said. “I was more loose than I thought I would be.”

Even with just one state title, there are plenty of silver linings for Highland Park. Piranian was the only senior among the 10 to make it to state. And Lake Travis will be in Class 5A for at least the next two years.

“It was a great spring

and a great tournament all around,” Holden said. “We always stress the spring as a building block-type thing for the fall. We got exactly what we needed out of this. Both of those boys doubles teams are com-ing back intact. And both got extremely valuable experience. The future is bright for HP tennis. We’re blessed with a lot of great kids that work hard. We just came up short to a cou-ple of very good teams. I’m excited.”



Alin Piranian keeps her eye on the ball during the Class 4A girls doubles state championship match against Austin Lake Travis on Tuesday at Lakeway’s World of Tennis.

TennisContinued from B

Luke Stainback stoops low to dig out a forehand during the boys doubles state champi-onship match against Lake Travis.

Avery Schober volleys a shot at the net during a boys doubles state quarterfi nal match.

Abby Zidell reaches out with her racket for a ball dur-ing a girls doubles state quarterfi nal match.

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