Featured Volleyball 

Burnet Lady Dawgs changes goals, prepares for another march

Every part of The Doghouse and the auxiliary gym at Burnet High School were being utilized in helping the Burnet volleyball staff make evaluations to determine roster spots for the 2022 season. Head coach Crystal Shipley had an obstacle most coaches welcome. Everywhere she looked, she saw talent among the 47 athletes in grades 9-12, a testament to the Lady Dawgs themselves for their dedication to being their best and to their coaches for instilling in them a love of the sport. It also helps that the Lady Dawgs added…

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Featured Football High School 

Faith Academy of Marble Falls remains motivated and committed to staying among the state’s best

Being in shape is vital to a team’s success, especially in six-man football. That’s why Faith Academy of Marble Falls head coach Stephen Shipley called for running plays with long yards towards the end of practice. Then just when the Flames thought they were done for the day, Shipley lined them up again to run 40-yard sprints. After all, if the Flames want to add another memorable season to their history, it starts with being in better shape than their opponents. That will especially be important considering Faith returns three…

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Featured Football High School 

Offseason preparation shows during Burnet football’s training camp

The intensity and enthusiasm were contagious at Bulldog Field Tuesday, Aug. 2, the second day of fall training camp for the Burnet Bulldogs. The players and coaches accomplished plenty, which compelled head coach Bryan Wood to call an end to the session 15 minutes earlier than was originally planned, a reward to the players for their commitment to getting a lot of work done with the attitude, attention to detail and commitment Wood wanted to see. The Bulldogs had 64 players in grades 10-12 participate with another 45 freshmen who…

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Football High School Volleyball 

The Point After: Marble Falls fall sports want to earn respect

Spending a few hours at Marble Falls High School Aug. 1 allowed me to observe some of the athletes donning the purple and gold for the football and volleyball teams and talk to head coaches about their impressions of the first day. On the artificial turf at Mustang Stadium were other media members who are as curious about this year’s football team as me. After all, on paper it looks like a full-on rebuild with senior tailback Caleb Vidal being the only returning starter on offense, while a couple more,…

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Featured Football High School 

Marble Falls Mustangs exhibit the traits coaches want to see on first day of training camp

The Marble Falls High School football team was on the artificial turf at Mustang Stadium at 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1, to officially kick off the 2022 campaign on the first day of training camp. More than 70 players in grades 10-12 wore gold helmets and were in either a purple or yellow jersey. The morning session lasted a little more than two hours and head coach Brian Herman saved the best for last – a series of gassers that forces the players to run from one sideline to the…

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Featured Football High School Running Tennis Volleyball 

Ten Highland Lakes Sports Insights

Welcome to this weekly column where readers will find a summary of sports across the region and the impressions left on this writer. Training camps start for fall sports on Monday, Aug. 1. Here are questions each team will answer in the next few weeks. Listening to a couple of the Marble Falls Mustangs talk about their new District 13-4A Division I opponents tells me they understand this district will be much more challenging than the one they were in the last two years. With so many new faces starting…

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Featured Football High School 

Home visits give Burnet families insight into 2022 players’ goals

After the 2021 season concluded, Burnet High School head football coach Bryan Wood took stock and evaluated himself on what he can do better. Top of the list was to strengthen relationships with his players and their families. So he took what might be an unusual step for a high school coach. He offered to meet with his players’ families at their dwellings for home visits. “The comments I’ve gotten are that people are excited about them,” Wood said. “It helps our kids and the football team. I’ve had a…

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Basketball Cheer Featured Football High School High School 

Marble Falls Cheer earns camp awards, proving it is among the best in the state

The Marble Falls High School cheer squad showed once more why it is one of the best in the state thanks to earning numerous awards at the Universal Cheerleaders Association Cheer Camp July 23-26. Marble Falls won the the cheer dance category and finished second in the cheer category while competing in the large team division for squads with at least 20 members. Other honors include winning the Coveted Banana for the Most Spirit on the camp’s first night, capturing the spirit stick every night, and earning a blue ribbon…

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Featured Volleyball 

Former coach inspires Burnet volleyball players to keep adding to program’s history

The Burnet High School volleyball program conducted its annual team camp July 18-21 led by a familiar face known for making history — Thrall High School girls coordinator and head volleyball coach Bethany Grissom. Grissom was the Lady Dawgs head coach a decade ago when Burnet reached the Class 4A Region I tournament, which was the first time in the history of the program to win three playoff matches. That history was matched by the 2022 Burnet squad that reached the Class 4A Region III tournament. Grissom guided Thrall to…

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Featured Football High School 

Marble Falls football gets an early start with coaches reporting July 25

The Marble Falls Mustangs football coaches reported for their first official day Monday, July 25, in preparation for fall training camp that starts next week. Head coach Brian Herman has several items on his to-do list beginning with the most obvious — ensuring everyone on staff knows each other. He also has given each one a coach’s handbook that includes each coach’s duty throughout the season as well as other data each staff member needs. “It tells who’s in charge of shoelaces to who does laundry and what assignments they…

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