Burnet girls finish productive spring, June
CAPTION: Landry Davis (front left), Marlei Faz and Allison Morrow (front, right) quickly step on boxes under the watchful eyes of cross country head coach Simon Hairston. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
The Burnet Consolidated Independent School District athletic department is enjoying a well-earned break after a very busy two months of activity.
For the Lady Dawgs, it may have been even longer.
After all, the volleyball program had been traveling to Copperas Cove in March and April and to Georgetown in June for spring and summer leagues, while the basketball program headed to Lampasas for its summer league in June.
“The competition was tough,” volleyball head coach Crystal Shipley said. “My two teams were split up pretty evenly, keeping seniors with incoming freshmen to start a bond with them. Sophomores and juniors were together. This allowed me to see leadership and allow all to get a lot of touches.”
In addition, girls athletics coordinator Shipley has been hosting open gyms after summer strength and conditioning concludes, continuing a trend that was started during the spring semester.
“Just getting those touches in is important,” she said. “Getting to play is fun; not having to go through all the drills, just getting to play and do the drills they love. It starts to build the excitement for a new season again.”
Shipley noted she was looking for more from the Lady Dawgs besides getting on the volleyball court.
“Definitely leadership, but always looking for big energy and attitude – all things they can control ,” she said. “They know the standard and that helps. Having consistent leadership allows kids to know what is expected all the time. They know what to expect from me and they know what I expect from them.”
She commended the athletes for their commitment to playing in the leagues and for their participation in the summer strength-and-conditioning program, which Shipley created. The Lady Dawgs are lifting weights and then attacking drills that force them to be faster and more agile.
The workouts are not for the faint of heart. They include jump boxes, miniature hurdles, on-the-turf step ladders and mini trampolines. In addition, Shipley will get on the turf with her athletes and lead them through various arm, hip and leg movements designed to help them stop, plant and turn in a hurry.
She along with cross country head coach Simon Hairston and Burnet Middle School coaches lead the workouts that force the Lady Dawgs to be faster and more explosive, no matter the sport.
When athletes put on the Kelly green, they know they are playing to a standard that has been established for generations. While competing at that high commitment may not be for everyone, Shipley noted these Lady Dawgs don’t shy away from it and strive to meet it.
“We talk all the time about not just ‘being at the standard, but rising above the standard,'” she said. “The ones that buy in are the ones you see grinding until the very end of the dog fight.”
She said she can see the athletes are starting to look toward new sports year as it draws closer.
“The excitement I see with the girls,” she said. “Starting a new season and new year is always so fun. The energy is high and that is my favorite.”
The coordinator noted that when the Lady Dawgs resume their summer training at 7 a.m. Monday, July 7, they are nearing the end.
“We only have three weeks of workouts in July so showing up is so important to get them ready for the routine of the seasons — volleyball, cross country, tennis — or even offseason,” she said. “It allows the girls to get their bodies ready for the seasons ahead.”
CAPTION: Lexie Clark jumps on a mini trampoline. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
