Random musings
As per the other decades, there were some major changes that took place in the Dripping Springs Independent School District and the sports programs during the '80's. First of all, during the 80-81 school year, it was learned the squabble between the Lake Travis and Dripping Springs landowners was settled by a lawsuit that allowed the Lake Travis area to break away from the district and form their own school district. At first, the plan was for the Lake Travis High School students to continue going to Dripping Springs High School until they built their school, but they changed their mind and decided to crowd in at the Lake Travis Elementary School instead. The split meant DS would have about 80% of the students and 20% of the property value. However, by the Fall of 1985, DSISD had passed a bond issue and built a new high school (present DSMS). It also meant the sports teams would be short-handed for 81-82 while playing in 3A. The next year DS would drop to 2A and be able to compete well again. Also the UIL started allowing second place teams to enter the playoffs.
Football: The 1980 football team would be the last one to compete with combined students. It had a good group of seniors and played well in a tough district to carve out a 4-6 record. A one-point loss to Blanco prevented a break even season. Seniors included Kelly Cauble, Alec Gould, Mike Clark, David McDaniel, Tim Wright, Tim Waits, Andrew Muennink, Walter Hudson, Mike Belvin, David Houston, David Runnels, Randy Whitaker, James Tucker, Richard Grumbles, Bill Noak and Marc Pate.
1981 was a struggle as the team could only manage one victory in season. Seniors on the team were Billy Ligon, Todd Beasley, Russell Meinardus, Richard Youngblood, Eric Johnson, Dale Hunter, Dale Jernigan, Shann Daniels, Phil Belvin and Mike Usery. The first year in 2A started out fast but fell short in district with a season record of 5-3-1. Among the seniors were Diron Keeling, John Moore, Bobby Scheffel and Alex Garza.
1983 had some close losses in their 4-6 season to finish fourth. Seniors included Steve Young, Randy Palmer, Clay Steadman, Pecos McDaniel, Greg Reid, Bo Davis, Ed Lumpkin, Todd Purcell, Beaver Jernigan, Otto Waddles, Scott Daniels and Eric Lambright. 1984 did not prove to be any better at 3-7. Seniors included Barry Haydon, Mark Usery, Cole Reynolds and Troy Burklund.
Boys basketball: The boys basketball began to take up the slack as they only had one losing season in the first half of the decade. 80-81 was 19-8 and a second place finish. Seniors were Terry Pearson, Steve Prince, David Baty, Keith Standridge, Eddie Garza, Waits, Wright and Muennink. The next year was 13-16 with Richard Johnson, Lloyd Schwartz, Gibb Duvall and Russell Spencer. The next three years were playoff bound. 1983 was 23-8 and second place. Seniors were: J. Moore, D. Keeling, Billy Simpson, Paul Nevarez, Alex Garza, David Farris and Eric Schule. 1984 produced a district championship (27-6). S. Young, R. Palmer, C. Steadman, P. McDaniel, G. Reid. A second place finish in 1985 (24-7) resulted in a regional finalist team. T. Burklund was the lone senior.
Girls basketball: Five-girl basketball was in full force. The 1981 team was 15-9 behind Tracy Dempsey, Lura Lyle, Geraldine Prochnow and Gwen Finegan. The next year the record dropped to 8-18. Jayne Whetstone, Sheryl Malott, Debbie Sheffield, Jana Syring and Sherrie Danielson. The 1983 team had the best five-girl record (17-9) behind Janelle Gavlik, Sonya Kruse, Heidi Noak, Kim McCown, Darla Talbert and Romi Bassett. Kathryn Hawkins and Earlene Kemberling were seniors on the 7-16 1984 team. Jill Reimers was the senior on the 1985 that finished 12-11.
Baseball. Baseball got back into full swing and had some early success. The first full season in 1981 the team turned in a 15-6 record in a good 3A district. Cauble,Wright, Baty, Houston, Standridge, Muennink, Hudson and Danny Breeding were on the squad. In 1982, the 10-12 team tied for second but lost the playoff. Team members were Beasley, Kevin Mollenaar, Greg Fluker and Lloyd Schwartz. Russell Mollenaar was a senior on the 1983 8-10 team. The 1984 team (18-8) placed second in district but made it all the way to the state finals with Ore City. Waddles, Young, Jeff Hastings, McDaniel and Palmer. The Tigers (18-3) won district but were stopped short of the state tourney. Burklund, Domingo Salazar, Lambright and M. Usery were senior members.
Volleyball: The 1981 team won district but could not get past bi-district. Seniors were Julie Robinson and Lorrie Nevarez were seniors. No record on the 1982 team that had Lynn Kemberling, Judy Juricek, Kathy Jenkins and Carrie Straley. In 1983 it was 15-14 with leaders being Missy Bobbitt, Nicky Biesenbach, Koleen Hughes, Yvette Young and Carlotta Carothers were on the team. It was 13-12 in 1984 with Lezli Hyde, E. Kemberling, Kristen Hole and Dawn Orem.
Tennis: Winners from 81-85 were: 1981: Kevin Foster/T. Waits; Singles 82-85 Sarah Stark; 1984-85 doubles: Jill Reimers/Kristen Hole.
Golf: The boys golf team won district in 1983 and '84 and placed second in 1985. Some of the golfers in the first half of the decade were Larry Glosson, Bill MacFarlin, S. Young, Mark Henderson, Michael Zepeda, P. McDaniel and Don Childs. Kathryn Hawkins, Terri Turner, Shelley Hall, Julie Leonard, Julie Henderson and Lisa Counts were active on the golf course during that time as well.
Track: Quite a few track participants earned trips to regional and state. Lynn Kemberling set a school record in the two-mile run at state. Richard Johnson crossed the bar at 6'7 in the high jump to set a school record that still stands. Clay Steadman set a school record in the long jump that survived for 20 years.