INSIDE DSISD
The latest news from Dripping Springs ISD
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6, 2023
DSISD TO HOLD STATE OF THE DISTRICT PRESENTATION
Dripping Springs ISD will hold a “State of the District” presentation for parents and community members on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Dripping Springs High School auditorium.
Superintendent Dr. Holly Morris-Kuentz, Deputy Superintendent Elaine Cogburn and Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Innovation Dr. Karen Kidd will each share information on topics including the district’s vision and goals, current academic performance and extracurricular achievements of students, available Career and Technical Education (CTE) programming, the financial status and health of DSISD, and future planning for growth.
Attendees can park in the D lot which is between the high school and Tiger Stadium. Because students will not be on campus, it is not necessary to check in at the front office.
DECA QUALIFIES 47 STUDENTS FOR STATE CONTEST
Dripping Springs High School qualified a school-record 47 students for the state DECA competition after a successful district contest on Saturday, Jan. 28 at Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock.
The 47 state qualifiers surpassed the previous school record of 43 set in 2022. This is the fourth time in the last five years the program has set a school record for state qualifiers. The state DECA competition will be held Mar. 9-11 in Dallas.
DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.
Click here to see a list of state qualifiers.
RELAY TEAM QUALIFIES FOR STATE SWIM MEET
Dripping Springs High School’s 400-yard freestyle relay team of Athena Turner, Macie McCurry, Anna Hoskovec and Laurel Hoskovec qualified for the UIL 6A State Swim Meet following their performance at the Region VII-6A Championship on Saturday, Feb. 4 in San Antonio.
The girls’ 400 freestyle relay team will represent DSHS at the state meet for the seventh consecutive season with Turner and McCurry competing for the second time and Anna Hoskovec making her third trip in the event. In 2022, the relay placed third in the 5A State Meet.
The Tigers timed 3:34.23 to place sixth at regionals and were one of eight quartets called up to the state competition to comprise the 24-team field.
At the Region VII-6A Championship, the same quartet set a school-record time in the 200-yard freestyle relay with 1:38.12. The boys’ team of Wyatt Johnson, Gage Hembree, Jordan Ledbetter and Nolan Granger also timed a new school record in the event with 1:28.45.
The 400-yard freestyle relay team will compete in the state prelims on Friday, Feb. 17 at the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin.
BOYS' WRESTLING WINS DISTRICT TITLE; 21 WRESTLERS ADVANCE TO REGIONALS
The Dripping Springs High School wrestling teams came away with first- and second-place finishes while qualifying 21 wrestlers for regionals at the District 14-6A Meet on Monday, Feb. 6 at the Delco Center in Austin.
The boys’ team captured a fourth consecutive district title with 277 points, finishing 46.5 points ahead of second-place Lake Travis. Six Tigers collected top honors including Abel Silverman (113 lbs.), Cole Sides (120), Hagen Shipley (126), Shane Bookbinder (150), Ben Lourens (190) and Alec Rill (215). Lourens was also named the meet’s Most Outstanding Male Wrestler.
Four Tigers finished second in their weight class including Jackson Shipley (106), Taylor Van De Walle (132), Gavin Wahl (165) and Raphael Siewen (285). In all, 13 boys qualified for the regional meet with Connor Johnson (138), Charlie Clarno (144) and Connor Udemi (175) also advancing by placing in the top four in their respective classes.
On the girls’ side, the team fell just half of a point short of a district title to Austin Bowie with 96 points. Addison Williams (126) and Harlan Jack (145) each finished second in their weight class to lead Dripping Springs. All eight competitors for the girls advanced to the regional meet with Emma Gonzales (100), Makaylee Cluver (107), Carson Crow (114), Araceli Gonzalez Martinez (120), Ivone Rios Galindo (132), and Adriana Quevedo (138) also qualifying.
The Region IV-6A Championship will be held Feb. 10-11 at the Blossom Athletic Center in San Antonio.
REGIONAL QUALIFIERS
Boys
Jackson Shipley - 106 pounds
Abel Silverman - 113 pounds
Cole Sides - 120 pounds
Hagen Shipley - 126 pounds
Taylor Van De Walle - 132 pounds
Connor Johnson - 138 pounds
Charlie Clarno - 144 pounds
Shane Bookbinder - 150 pounds
Gavin Wahl - 165 pounds
Connor Udemi - 175 pounds
Ben Lourens - 190 pounds
Alec Rill - 215 pounds
Raphael Siewen - 285 pounds
Girls
Emma Gonzales – 100 pounds
Makaylee Cluver - 107 pounds
Carson Crow – 114 pounds
Araceli Gonzalez Martinez - 120 pounds
Addison Williams – 126 pounds
Ivone Rios Galindo – 132 pounds
Adriana Quevedo - 138 pounds
Harlan Jack – 145 pounds
STUDENT-ATHLETES SIGN NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT
Nine Dripping Springs High School senior student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent on Monday, Feb. 6 to continue their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level. A total of 24 students from the Class of 2023 have now signed NLIs.
Below is information on each of the nine students who signed Monday.
Dylan Ducharme, Basketball, University of the Ozarks (Arkansas)
Dylan Ducharme is a three-year letterwinner for the Tiger basketball team. He has twice been named to the all-district team and led the Tigers in field goal percentage during the 2021-22 season. This season he has helped Dripping Springs to a 16-13 record as the Tigers are currently fighting for a berth in the state playoffs. He is the son of Jill and Shawn Ducharme. Coaches: Craig Swannack and Andre Pitts.
Michelle Hiller, Dance, SFA
Michelle Hiller is a two-year member of the award-winning Hi-Steppers dance team. She has also trained for seven years at local dance studios. She will compete and perform for the 19-time National Dance Alliance (NDA) champions at Stephen F. Austin State University. She is the daughter of Annette and Gerry Hiller. Coach: Tracy Neef.
Aiden Kane, Lacrosse, Manhattan College (New York)
Aiden Kane is a three-year starter for the Dripping Springs High School lacrosse team. As a junior, he broke the program’s single-season record for goals (58), assists (34) and points (92) while also leading the district in all three categories. In 2022, Kane was named to the all-district first team as an attacker while collecting academic all-district honors for the third consecutive year. He was named to the all-district honorable mention team in his first season as a starter and was tabbed D2 Varsity Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman. He is the son of Alison and Thomas Kane. Coach: Bill Cafferata.
Kaitlyn Marshall, Cheer, SFA
Kaitlyn Marshall is a three-year letterwinner for the Dripping Springs cheer squad and a three-time UCA High School All-American. As a senior, she helped the Tigers capture a 15th-place finish out of 71 schools at the UIL Spirit State Championship. She is a two-time All-Star Summit finalist and Worlds competitor and an NCA All-Star silver medalist. She has twice been named an academic all-district honoree and is the daughter of Desiree and Trevor Marshall. Coach: Mikayla Dorn.
Adam Newbill, Baseball, Ottawa University (Arizona)
Adam Newbill is a catcher for the Tiger baseball program. He has recently played club ball for the Rocky Mountain Oysters (Colorado) and locally for Boom, Phenom and the Lonestar Baseball Club. Since 2019, he was served as a umpire for the Dripping Springs Youth Sports Association. He is the son of Kathy and Keith Newbill. Coach: Chris Payne.
Nathan Prehar, Football, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Nathan Prehar was a three-year letterwinner on the defensive line for the Tiger football team. He was named to the all-district team three times while helping the Tigers to the state playoffs each season including a regional finals appearance in 2022. As a senior, he recorded 19 solo and 33 assisted tackles with 11 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. He returned an interception for a touchdown in a 45-0 regional semifinal win over Harlingen. He is the son of Lori and Troy Prehar. Coach: Galen Zimmerman.
Owen Rhodes, Lacrosse, Mercer University (Georgia)
Owen Rhodes is a three-year varsity letterwinner for the Tiger lacrosse program. Despite a shortened junior season due to injury, Rhodes was named all-district face-off after winning more than 80 percent of his face-offs. He is a three-time academic all-district selection. As a freshman, he was named D2 Varsity Most Improved Player. He is the son of Kasey and Abel Rhodes. Coach: Bill Cafferata.
Kylie Vu, Volleyball, Kansas Wesleyan University
Kylie Vu began her volleyball career at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory and was a starter at middle hitter for the Fightin’ Irish. She played two seasons for the SF Elite Volleyball Club before joining the Austin Juniors Volleyball Club after moving to Texas. She is the daughter of Shannon and Dan Vu.
Mai Zimmerman, Track & Field, Taylor University (Indiana)
Mai Zimmerman is a four-year member of the DSHS track and field program, and also competed in cross country all four years of high school. As a junior, she advanced to the area meet in the pole vault after placing fourth at the district meet. She is the daughter of Laura and Galen Zimmerman. Coaches: Kourtney Morris and Thomas Eckenrode.
HAYS FREE PRESS SEEKING VALENTINE'S DAY PHOTOS
Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch is looking for Valentine's Day-related photos - whether in the classroom or in the community - to be featured in next week's edition. Those interested in being featured can email photos to news@haysfreepress.com.
BOARD FILING PERIOD NOW OPEN
The window to file an application to be a Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees candidate for the May 2023 election is now open and runs through Feb. 17. Two seats will be up for re-election in 2023 – those currently held by Ron Jones and Barbara Stroud. DSISD trustees do not represent "places," but rather are at-large representatives.
An application form can be downloaded here. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17:
In person to: DSISD Administration Building (510 W. Mercer St.)
By mail to: DSISD, attn: Sheila Lamb, PO Box 479, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
By email to: sheila.lamb@dsisdtx.us
By fax to: 512-858-3099
An informational School Board Candidate Academy will be held Feb. 13 at 5:00 p.m. in the DSISD Central Office Board Room. Superintendent Dr. Holly Morris-Kuentz will share information about the role and responsibilities of Board members, and answer questions. Attending the meeting does not commit an individual to running for a trustee seat; it is informational in nature.
Board of Trustee candidates in Texas must meet the following qualifications:
Be a United States Citizen
Be 18 years of age or older
Not be mentally incapacitated (as defined in policy)
Have not been convicted of a felony (as defined in policy)
Be a resident of Texas continuously for 12 months immediately preceding the filing deadline
Be a resident of the district continuously for 6 months immediately preceding the filing deadline
Be a registered voter from the territory of the office sought
See Board Policy BBA Legal for details on the above qualifications and other specific requirements.