GAMES
RANKINGS
THE HOME STRETCH: Lutheran South advances to State Meet
It’s that time of year again.
The TAPPS Track & Field season is finally reaching its thrilling finale with the State Meet taking place next week.
As the highest ranking private school teams in the state converge, Lutheran South Academy will be represented on the grand stage with a plethora of their top performers seeking to make their claim as the best of the best.
After showing up the competition at the South Regional Meet in San Marcos yesterday, LSA will have over a dozen athletes traveling to Midway Panther Stadium in Hewitt, TX with fans in tow eager for the opportunity to become State Champions.
Here are the Pioneers who have qualified for the final meet of the TAPPS season..
2022-23 LSA Girls Track & FieldBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
TAPPS South Regional Meet Results/State Qualifiers
Boys 4x100 Relay (4th Place-44.04): Blaine Birkelbach (Sr.), John LeBlanc (So.), Jacob Howard (Sr.), Jaylin Lowery (Sr.)
Boys 4x400 Relay (3rd Place-3:29.53): Jonah Weber (Jr.), Cole Noack (Jr.), Nathan Robert (Jr.), Matthew Gaitan (Jr.)
Girls 4x200 Relay (4th Place-1:48.75)
Boys 110m Hurdles (2nd Place-16.26): Alec Salerno (Sr.)
Boys 800m Dash (1st Place-1:57.37): Marcus Gaitan (Jr.)
Boys 800m Dash (2nd Place-1:57.78): Matthew Gaitan (Jr.)
Girls Discus (2nd Place-122-5): Rachel Bell (Sr.)
Boys Shot Put (4th Place-43-5.5): Kris St. Clair (Jr.)
Boys Long Jump (1st Place-21-4): Ben Hughes (Jr.)
Girls Pole Vault (2nd Place-10-0): Alma Martin (So.)
Boys Pole Vault (2nd Place-13-0):Wilson Klein (Jr.)
Boys Discus (2nd Place-133-0): Kris St. Clair (Jr.)
Boys Discus (3rd Place-132-6): Cole Noack (Jr.)
Competition takes place this upcoming Friday and Saturday, so expect Lutheran South to cap off their prodigious Spring on a high note.
THE PLAYMAKERS: Springing Into Action powered by UTMB Health
The South Houston area is loaded with talented athletes who give it their all in their respective fields of play.
Welcome to the VYPE Playmakers, powered by UTMB Health, where we’re highlighting five standouts of the Houston area. Here are the UTMB Athletes of the Week!
Bryan Shelton, Clear Falls Basketball Head Coach
Jamie Wight (VYPE)
The Clear Falls basketball team made school history, reaching the Class 6A Region III Finals. They just fell short of State against No. 1 Beaumont United. Well, what will first-year head coach Bryan Shelton do for an encore? Shelton played at Clear Brook and the University of Houston and is now one of the hottest young coaches in the state of Texas, earning District 24-6A Coach of the Year honors. Stay tuned
Gigi Solis, Dawson Softball
Juan De Leon (VYPE)
Every great softball team needs an ace. The Dawson Eagles have one of the best in the nation in Gigi Solis. The No. 38 player in the nation, as ranked by Extra Innings Softball, has signed with Southern Mississippi. She has a great rise ball and a crafty curve ball which are nasty. Solis hopes to lead the Eagles deep into the postseason for her senior season.
Dillon Lester, Deer Park Baseball
Justin Hartojo (VYPE)
Deer Park baseball is a big brand in the state of Texas. The Deer are a power program with several of their stars in the college game. Dillon Lester will be the next big recruit, having already signed with Baylor to be their backstop for years to come. Lester is also solid at the plate able to hit for average and power from the right side.
Wilson Klein, Lutheran South Academy Track & Field
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
The most notable cause for celebration for the Pioneers recently was when junior Wilson Klein burst onto the scene in the Pole Vault event, (15’ 1’’) setting a new school record in a recent meet. This achievement not only solidifies Klein’s name in LSA’s history but also ties him with the No. 16 ranking in the state of Texas, propelling him into TAPPS State contention.
Mileka Loydrake, Clear Brook Girls Basketball Head Coach
Photo acquired via Clear Brook GBB Twitter: @CBHSLadyBBall
Clear Brook ran through District 24-6A with an undefeated record led by first-year head coach Mileka Loydrake. Loydrake played at Clear Springs under the direction of legend Pam Crawford before playing at UH and St. Edwards. The Wolverines reached the Regional Quarters before falling to Pearland. The District 24-6A Coach of the Year is building a power program in south Houston and will return her top two stars next season – Kamryn McLaurin and Rezia Castillo.