INSIDE DSISD

Congratulations on a fantastic 2022 season!

The Dripping Springs High School volleyball team captured their third UIL State Championship in program history on Saturday, Nov. 19 with a 3-0 victory over Katy Tompkins in the UIL 6A title match at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland.

Behind a balanced offensive attack, the Tigers hit .315 with 41 kills and just 12 errors to capture their first state championship since 2015. Senior Mackenzie Plante (14 kills), freshman Henley Anderson (10 kills) and senior Natalie Arnold (7 kills) were nearly flawless accounting for more than 75 percent of the team’s offensive production. Defensively, sophomore Ashley Euston totaled four of the team’s 10 blocks and senior Taylor Tjelmeland recorded a team-high 11 digs.

The opening set was point for point most of the way before the Tigers reeled off five consecutive points to grab a 21-18 lead. The Falcons fended off three–straight set points, but a block by Euston and sophomore Riley Certain and a Plante kill sealed the 26-24 set win for Dripping Springs.

The Tigers carried that momentum into the second frame by opening up an 11-4 lead and never looking back en route to a 25-15 victory. In the third set, Dripping Springs recorded a match-best .393 hitting percentage, once again opening up a large lead early on before Anderson registered the match-winning point in a 25-19 set win.

Plante was named the UIL 6A Tournament MVP, adding four digs, three service aces and two blocks to her stat line against Tompkins. Anderson and senior Ava Williamson were selected to the All-Tournament Team for their performances. Anderson led the Tigers with 19 kills in a 3-1 win over The Woodlands in the semifinals while Williamson followed with 13 kills.

The Tigers, making their sixth state tournament appearance in the last 10 years, finished the season with a 43-13 record to tie for the third-most wins in school history.

The Tiger football team tied a school record last week with their 12th win of the 2022 season in a 45-0 victory over Harlingen at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Dripping Springs will face Austin Vandegrift in the state quarterfinals on Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:00 p.m. at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and can be purchased at this link. Purchases after 4:30 p.m. on Friday are $12. DSISD passes will not be accepted.

Eight Dripping Springs High School choir students qualified for the area round of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) auditions on Tuesday, Nov. 15 in Austin.

Placing in the top five of their respective voice parts to qualify were Anika Chalak (Soprano 2), Michelle Hinojosa (Alto 2), Isaiah Hoffman (Tenor 2), Amelie Lawrence (Soprano 1), Camryn Molfino (Soprano 1), Sloane Ruley (Alto 1), Portia Schaeffer-Preston (Soprano 1) and Colin Tuohy (Tenor 1). Ava Azua (Soprano 1), Preston LeBas (Tenor 1) and Daniel McIver (Bass 1) were named area alternates. A total of 18 DSHS students competed in pre-area auditions. The area competition will take place Saturday, Jan. 7 in San Antonio.

On Saturday, Nov. 5, 20 DSHS students (pictured above) performed as part of the Region 18 choir at the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center after qualifying in October. Students participated in a clinic and performed a concert under the direction of the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Dr. Yoojin Muhn.

AREA QUALIFIERS

Soprano 1

Amelie Lawrence, 1st Chair

Portia Schaeffer-Preston, 3rd Chair

Camryn Molfino, 4th Chair

Soprano 2

Anika Chalak, 2nd Chair

Alto 1

Sloane Ruley, 4th Chair

Alto 2

Michelle Hinojosa, 5th Chair

Tenor 1

Colin Tuohy, 2nd Chair

Tenor 2

Isaiah Hoffman, 3rd Chair

The DSHS JROTC Military Club is once again partnering with Toys for Tots and the Marine Corps to help raise toys and money for Austin children. All eight DSISD campuses are serving as drop-off locations for new, unwrapped toys until Thursday, Dec. 1. Families can also donate directly, preferably to the Austin campaign so donations stay local and help kids in our area. Please contact lauren.milner@dsisdtx.us for more details.