Opinion: Random Musings June 4

The second half of the '70's was a little tough. Did not get the benefit of a two-year lag time before moving up to 2A in 1976. DS played in districts with higher enrollments. Ironically, DS actually jumped to 3A in '78. That reclassification had nothing to do with enrollment. Class B schools did not like being referred to as B schools, so to remedy that, the UIL reclassified them as 1A and bumped everyone else up an A in classification.

Football: Even though the teams played very hard, the competition usually had the better of it as the top district teams were Randolph and Hays. The 1976 team had a 2-7-1 record. Seniors on that squad were Kerry Prescott, Harvey Bryant, Tommy Johnson, Don Watson, Gary Preslar, Tony Mathis, Mike McNair and Kent Byers. The next year (77) the team played much tougher and came away with a competitive 4-6 season. The big play of the year was when Randy Burke came off the bench with a sprained ankle to kick a 35-yard FG to defeat SA Cole 17-15. Also, Tim Fitzharris picked up a touched punt and returned it for a TD for the 14-12 win over Comfort. Seniors for that year were Clay Cox, R. Burke, Bart Johnson, Jay Johnson, Brent Cummings, Mike Mathews, Tim Fitzharris, Charles Tharp, Nolan Meinardus, Kurt Knauth, Bryan Hawkins and Kevin Flack.

The 1978 team finished 2-8. Memorable play of the season was when Robert Fortenberry broke through the line and took the ball from the QB and went in for a TD. Seniors that year were Vern McCarty, James Godwin, Ray Duvall, Richard Falcon, Jeff Thurman, Terry Burklund, Calvin Myers, Ronny Burke, Jimmy Lumpkin, Dewayne Sanders, Mike Van Straten, Wesley Biesenbach, Tommy Gillis, David Law and Randy Lindholm. The 1979 team was a junior-laden squad with the leadership expected to come from seniors Mark Watson (QB) and Chris Harvill (RB). By mid-first quarter of the first game, both had been lost for the season with injuries which much influenced the 2-8 season. Other seniors were R. Fortenberry and Brook Whitaker.

Boys basketball: The 75-76 team continued their winning ways with a 14-11 record. Seniors on the team were Val Sanchez, Tem McCutchen, Keith Harvill and Tommy Moore. In '77, the Tigers struggled to an 8-18 record with only K. Prescott and K. Byers being seniors. Coach Poe Shelton took over and his first season resulted in a 12-14 record. Gerald Reid, Tommy Williamson, K. Knauth and C. Tharp were seniors. Things went much better in 1978-79 with a 17-8 record. Architects of that season were Ro. Burke, C. Myers, J. Godwin, Jimmy Naumann, Jamie Rose, Ottis Poston and Terry Malott. M. Watson and C. Harvill were able to mend in time for basketball and along with B. Whitaker and a good group of juniors forged a 21-6 record but missed out on a trip to the playoffs with a one-point (40-39) loss to Manor in a three-way playoff.

Girls basketball: The girls had two more good years but could not get out of district. The last three years could not get past 7 win seasons, plus the rules changed and girls began to play five-girl basketball in 78-79. In '76, they turned in an 18-12 record but could not get past Marion. Mary Clare Dodson, Dorothy Pfullman and Ann Andrus were seniors. Next year it was Hays and Bandera blocking the way of their 14-11 record. Seniors included Lisa Shelton, Tammy Shipp, Barbara Batterton, Evelyn Braswell, Amy Knauth, Tammy Gillis, Yolanda Nevarez, Liz Winans and Cindy Reid. 1977- 78 was a downer at 7-21. Seniors were Gay Lynn Dodson, Tammie Burrier and Paula Smith. The next two years were 7-18 years. In 78-79 seniors were Joy Davis, Mae Collier, Bertha Nevarez, Melony Chandler and Barbara Hall. The next years seniors were Shari House, Denise Cox, Kelli Luedecke and Linda Garza.

Boys track: The next fews years represented teams with more quality and less quantity. In 1976, injuries decimated members of the returning state mile relay. Only Tem McCutchen remained and he put his heart and sole into the 880 dash by forcing the first quarter and hanging on for the second. This got him back to state and he was nipped at the finish line to deprive him of a bronze medal. Two years later Randy Burke set the school record in the shot put that still stands. A year later Scott Piland became the only person I knew that did not exaggerate what he could do in track when he arrived. He told me he could pole vault 12-feet and sure enough he did to set a record that stood until the last couple of years. Others that made a mark in track were C. Cox, T. Fitzharris, W. Biesenbach and T. Gillis along with many others.

Girls track: Girls track became popular during these years and earned trips to regional. Among them were Tami Purcell, Sheryl Bagley, C. Reid, M. Chandler, Laura Willhoite, L. Garza, Dixie Norris and D. Cox.

Volleyball: The program had been making steady progress and it got on the right course when they tied for the title but lost the playoff with Smithson Valley in 1976, They would win district in 78, 79 and 80 but could not get past the bidistrict opponent. Many of the same people in basketball also played volleyball. Some of the contributors were Kathy Holt, G. Dodson, J. Davis, K. Luedecke, B. Nevarez, P. Smith, T. Burrier and D. Cox.

Golf: The boys team gained titles in 1976 and 1979. Among those in the program those years were Doug Cauthen, Mike McQuiddy, Bryan Hawkins, Danny Crowder, Robert Ferguson, Larry Glosson, David Crowder, Jon Ramey, Gary Crowder, Larry Ray, Keith Oliver, Ernest Villarreal, Kurt Knauth and Shannon McBride. LoAnne Lyle was one of the girls that played golf.

Tennis: Taking single titles in this time span was Michelle Seymour in 1976 and Steve Prince in 1980. Tennis has always been popular with many playing but some of the better ones were Kevin Flack, Janis Cowman, Ronnie Burke and David Crowder.

Always in trying to remember, one usually misses something that should have been said. Was remiss in not mentioning the monumental victory over Hays in 1973. It was homecoming and the team members got hyped up. Put signs all along the path Hays would take getting there and proceeded to carry through with a sound defeat that would represent the only win over Hays until recently. Also, just missed off the '74 roster a player that was instrumental in the '73 season and his senior year. That is Ricky Lindholm.

The two DS 2020 soccer teams racked up on more awards to players and coaches. TASCO just announced their picks for All-State and All-Region honors. Dripping Springs did very well in both, although the girls seems to have been slighted somewhat and did not reflect their record.

Boys: All-State First Team: Goalkeeper: Desi De la Cruz; Midfielder: Juan Galindo. All-State Honorable Mention: Midfielder: Adam Knutson. All-Region First Team: Defender: Jalen Chavez. All-Region IV Coach: Josh Hill.

Girls: All-State Second Team: Forward: Sofia Picucci. All-State Honorable Mention: Goalkeeper: Elizabeth Jones; Defender: Emma Jones. All-Region Second Team: Midfielder: Taylor Waters. All-Region IV Assistant Coach: Kim Harlow.