Burnet Lady Dawgs complete busy June
CAPTION: Emma Warden (left) is one of several Lady Dawgs who committed to participate in a summer league. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
If it takes a village to raise a child, then it takes a group of dedicated and devoted athletes, coaches and families to contend for championships.
And that was on display throughout the month of June, as the Burnet High School the Lady Dawgs participated in soccer, softball and basketball summer leagues throughout the area on Tuesdays.
Soccer coach Doug Ketcham and the Lady Dawgs hosted a 7-on-7 league, while the basketball program traveled to Granger to compete in that summer league, and the softball program competed in a league that chose a different field to play on each week.
Girls athletic coordinator Crystal Shipley noted it takes dedication and commitment from more than the athletes.
“First, I would like to praise our coaches for finding summer leagues to play in and for soccer hosting,” she said. “They are finding ways for our athletes to get touches and learn in game-like situations. They are prioritizing team chemistry, and I love to see it.”
Ketcham and the Lady Dawgs invited Lampasas and Marble Falls to play where each program got two games a week. The players coach themselves, make their own substitutions and decide on a lineup, which helps cultivate leadership, improve communication and build bonds.
And it’s different ages who are playing.
Girls basketball head coach Kim Payten noted several of the Lady Dawgs who traveled to Granger are underclassmen. In addition to having some natural talent, those Lady Dawgs also have other traits coaches can’t teach: height, long arms, high vertical jumps and quickness to get to the ball. Those Lady Dawgs showed their willingness to play and didn’t allow outcomes of each contest, against some other programs’ varsity players, to discourage them. Payten indicated she left the gym each week encouraged by what she saw.
“I am excited about the incoming freshmen,” she said.
These athletes aren’t taking short cuts, Payten said, pointing out they’re still coming to campus four mornings a week by 7:15 a.m. to participate in summer strength and conditioning, which isn’t sport specific. In short, every Lady Dawg who desires to get stronger, faster and more agile is encouraged to attend.
Once strength and conditioning finishes at 9 a.m., the players participate in skills work that can be volleyball or basketball then organize pick-up games, which is the fun part of the morning. Others may head to a different venue to work on another sport. But Shipley has a rule. If a Lady Dawg wants to play in the pick-up games, she must attend strength and conditioning because the contests are the reward for going through the hard work.
Either way, the Lady Dawgs are doing all they can to put themselves in position to contend for a district title and playoff spot. Last year, volleyball and soccer advanced with both losing in the first round.
Shipley praised the families by being willing to transport their child to these venues.
“I love that so many of our girls and their parents are committed to getting to these games, especially the ones balancing two of those sports,” she said. “Everyone is buying in to the fact that this is the time of year when we grow and get better in all aspects of our game. Putting in extra is what gets you ahead. We can’t expect to come back in August better than we were in May if we don’t choose to put time in during the offseason.”
CAPTION: Gabby De Arcos is one of many underclassmen playing basketball who has a ton of natural ability and traits that are the building blocks for on-court success. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
