San Antonio FC, ex-Austin Aztex star agree to part
Former Austin Aztex and Dripping Springs High school midfielder Kris Tyrpak and USL club San Antonio FC have mutually agreed to part ways Thursday, the team announced Thursday.
“The club would like to thank Kris for his contributions to the club, and wish him well in his future soccer endeavors,” SAFC coach Darren Powell said in a press release.
Tyrpak played six matches with SAFC this season, scoring one goal. He had seven goals and four assists in 32 matches over two seasons with the club.
Tyrpak starred as a twotime American-Statesman Central Texas player of the year at Dripping Springs High School, eventually being named to the UIL all-century state team in 2012. He was drafted by Chivas USA in the third round of the 2014 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, then played with the San Jose Earthquakes. As a part of the 2015 USL Austin Aztex squad, he scored nine goals in 27 appearances.
He racked up 19 goals in 27 games over the 201213 seasons for the Austin Aztex in the lower-level Premier Development League and was PDL Most Valuable Player in 2013, when Austin won the league championship.
Georgetown’s Gateway Prep made a name for itself by reaching the UIL state baseball tournament last June.
In some ways, Gateway’s baseball team has become the face of a school that does not play football. According to its website, 100 percent of its enrollment of 400 students will attend college. Despite playing at the state tournament last season for the first time, most opponents still know very little about Gateway Prep.
That’s the opinion of senior catcher Taylor Smith and senior shortstop Blake Rambush, who also have advanced to regionals in a second sport — track and field.
“We still hear guys who we play that will ask, ‘What’s Gateway?,’” Rambush said.
Gateway Prep did not slow down after reaching the baseball state semifinals at Dell Diamond. The Gators won their first 15 games this season and finished the regular season 24-1, including 10-1 in District 13-3A. The district champions have been No. 1 in the American-Statesman’s Class 4A/below power poll all season.
Gateway Prep’s successful season — the Gators open this year’s state playoffs next week against Karnes City — coincides with the arrival of a new coach. John Broussard, a former coach at Cameron Yoe who won a Class 2A state
Class 6A 1. Lake Travis (27-2) 2. Round Rock (24-6) 3. Cedar Ridge (21-9) 4. Westlake (20-8) 5. Hendrickson (18-9)
Class 5A 1. Georgetown (25-7-1) 2. Rouse (24-9-1) 3. McCallum (16-5) 4. Dripping Springs (20-7-1) 5. Cedar Park (19-10)
Class 4A and below 1. Gateway Prep (24-1) 2. Thorndale (24-3-1) 3. Wimberley (19-3-1) 4. Taylor (22-6) 5. Liberty Hill (12-11) title in 2012, replaced Ryan Kjos, who led the Gators to a 23-3 record last year before resigning to pursue other business interests.
Broussard didn’t know what kind of team he’d inherited. Gateway Prep lost five seniors to graduation last season, including top pitcher Steven Vejil Jr. The Gators filled gaps with six sophomores who are now in the starting lineup.
Broussard promptly watched his team open with 15 straight victories. By the time they won an invitational tournament in Franklin, knocking off Salado 4-1 in the finals, he knew Gateway Prep could be special again.
“I already knew the type of players we had, and they were serious about the game and serious about winning,” Broussard said. “I thought it would be a matter of time before we worked together well. We’ve got great leadership, on and off the field, and they work their tails off.”
Broussard said his seniors, namely Smith and Rambush, are largely responsible for a team that aspires to reach Round Rock again for another shot at a state title.
Rambush complements a .413 batting average with seven doubles and three triples and has scored 32 runs. Smith is hitting .383 with a team-high seven home runs.
The Gators have outscored their opponents 223-41. Gateway Prep’s pitchers have combined for a 1.16 ERA.
The most notable pitcher is junior Cole Johnson, who leads the team with an 11-0 record and a 1.28 ERA. Junior Gabe Dixon is 5-1 with a 2.39 ERA and freshman Noah Krieger is 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA.
Among the top players from a strong sophomore class is third baseman Ty Tilson, who’s batting .411 with 24 RBIs. Outfielder Chris Varljen is hitting .322 with 11 steals, second baseman Nick Chalman is hitting .333 and first baseman E.J. Sanchez has a .324 average with 24 RBIs.
“We all proved ourselves last year,” Smith said. “That kind of started a fire beneath us. We know we can make things happen.”