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The Dripping Springs High School Varsity boys lacrosse team has enjoyed a strong first half of the season. The team opened with convincing wins over Vista Ridge and Georgetown before dropping back-to-back games to perennial powerhouses Woodlands and Lake Travis. Since then, however, the Tigers have been on a roll, riding a five-game winning streak and climbing to No. 10 in the state rankings. In late February the Tigers traveled to Dallas, where they earned wins over Rockwall and McKinney. They returned home to dominate Kingwood 21–4 and followed that performance with a hard-fought victory over Anderson. Last week the Tigers accomplished something they had not done in eight years — defeat Austin High. The Tigers jumped out to a commanding 7–1 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, cruising to a 19–4 victory over the Maroons.
On the defensive side of the field, there were real concerns before the season began when returning long-stick defender Parker Zimmerman suffered an ACL tear at the end of the football season. After starting every game as a freshman last season, Zimmerman was expected to be a cornerstone of the defense. His loss forced second-year head coach Mike Staub and first-year defensive coordinator JT Kidd to make bold adjustments, including deploying an entirely new lineup of starting long poles: seniors Jackson Kinley, Hudson Ela, and Gage DeLoSantos. At the midpoint of the year the unit has gelled and is playing stout defense in front of returning All-American goalie John Ault, who has been outstanding in the cage. Senior Braydon Gardner continues to provide leadership and outstanding play at defensive midfielder. He has been joined by senior Lawson Attaway, who is new to lacrosse this season but has quickly proven that athletic skill position football players can immediately impact a lacrosse team — and earn college opportunities. Ironman senior Kaden Fults has taken nearly every rep at both long-stick midfielder and faceoff. His success at the dot has been a key factor in swinging momentum in the Tigers’ favor throughout the season.
Offensively, the Tigers have been led by a trio of senior attackmen: Ty Wittenburg, Jake Stockton, and Will Wright. The Tigers’ depth at offensive midfield has been key to their ability to finish games strong. Seniors Austin Garza, Logan Garza, Coyt Packer, and Max Kort—alongside sophomores Solomon Rand and Nolan Scott—have kept the offense humming, moving the ball crisply and adding scoring punch. Freshman Holden Wottrich showed early promise before being sidelined by injury.
Home game atmospheres have been electric all season. The dynamic DJ-and-announcer duo of Crissy Kinley and Fish Montgomery have kept the energy high, while a rowdy student section leaves no doubt for visiting teams that they’re deep in enemy territory.
Last Thursday, the DSHS Track stadium was packed as Austin High — the Class A state runner-up last season — took the field against the Tigers. The home team gave fans plenty to cheer about from the opening face-off. Senior Ty Wittenburg was nearly unstoppable, scoring six goals and adding an assist. Fellow senior Jake Stockton repeatedly attacked the left side of the cage for five goals of his own. Austin Garza, a Virginia Wesleyan commit, added three goals, and senior midfielder Max Kort scored twice. The Defense smothered Austin High’s normally potent offense leading to a 14-2 halftime advantage. Fults, Gardner, Attaway, and the trio of senior poles consistently kept the Maroons out of scoring range, and Ault cleaned up the rest.
The Tigers carry their momentum to Houston this weekend where they face Kinkaid and Cypress and then return home for two more games the following week. Head Coach Mike Staub would like to welcome the whole community to the final two games at the DSHS Track Field against Westlake on Wednesday, April 8 at 8pm and Vandegrift on Saturday, April 11 at 4:30.
Whether you’re a die-hard lacrosse fan or just curious to check out the sport for the first time, you are sure to be entertained by this dynamic Tiger squad.
