Goolsbee’s squad leaving behind losses
Texan girls soccer team gaining ground in District 20-6A
District 20-6A play has brought out the best in the Lamar girls soccer team.
After struggling against fierce competition at The Woodlands Tournament and Katy’s I-10 Shootout, the Texans have been in peak form against league foes. Last week, Lamar blanked Westbury 9-0 and Milby 4-0 to improve to a perfect 4-0 in District 20-6A, just ahead of a big showdown with rival Bellaire.
“We’re a young team and that’s hurt us at times,” said Lamar firstyear head coach Zach Goolsbee. “But the fact that we don’t have a lot of seniors is an advantage, too. I see a lot of room for growth and improvement.”
Goolsbee, who spent last season as an assistant coach on the boys’ team, believes Lamar possesses the tools to challenge Bellaire and Westside for the District 20-6A crown.
“There’s a lot of raw talent,” Goolsbee said, “but it’s a matter of harnessing it and playing like a team.”
Senior captain Whitney Clark, a versatile defender/midfielder who has signed with San Antonio’s St. Mary’s University, carries the burden of pushing her younger teammates. So far, she’s been up to the challenge, according to Goolsbee.
“Whitney is, without a doubt, the leader of the team,” Goolsbee said. “She’s also very solid defensively.”
Clark, last year’s District 20-6A defensive most valuable player, joins junior Alexa Vaglienty and freshman Mae Bennett, one of several rookies in the starting line-up, on defense.
Freshman goalkeeper Daisy Van Steveninck has been a pleasant surprise for Lamar.
Senior co-captain Claire Marvin powers the midfield line along with junior Natalie Knox and Clark. Knox earned second-team, all-district honors a year ago.
Sophomore forward Lily Yu, the team’s leading scorer, and junior Kaylynn Guevarra are the forwards. Guevarra is a returning first-team, alldistrict performer.
Next up for the Texans is a contest against Chavez at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at Dyer Stadium. State qualifiers
Lamar will be well-represented at the University Interscholastic League State Swimming and Diving Championships later this month at the University of Texas in Austin.
Senior Riley Carson and sophomores Ridge Livermore and Ben Lux met the qualifying standard in their respective events at the Class 6A-Region 5 meet last week at the Conroe ISD Natatorium in Shenandoah.
Carson came in third in the 5 00- yard freestyle in a school-record time of 4:35.50, a week after shattering the Houston ISD record at the District 20-6A meet.
Livermore was second in the 200 individual medley in 1:53.07, while Lux, a diver, was second with 408.10 points.
“We’re happy, but it went about like we expected,” said Lamar head coach S.R. “Mac” McDonald. “We thought all along that Riley and Ben would get in, but we weren’t sure what events Ridge would swim. We toyed with putting him in the 50 and 100 free, but he doesn’t have a weak stroke, so we put him in the 200 IM. Fortunately, the IM worked out.”
As a team, Lamar placed third overall. Katy Cinco Ranch was the regional boys’ winner with
351½ points, followed by Cy Creek with 226 and the Texans with 189. Bellaire was 13 th with 80 and Westside took 16 th with 56½.
Livermore took sixth in the 100 freestyle (48.36) and led offthe 200 freestyle relay (55.41), which included sophomores Henry Huelskamp, Carlon McClerkin and Nick Patterson, and the 400 freestyle relay (3:17.08), featuring sophomore Holden Baird, senior Noah Switek and McClerkin. Both of these relays came in sixth.
The 200 medley relay of freshman Jeff deGroot, Huelskamp, sophomore Tarami Readus and Patterson finished seventh (1:41.57).
Also, deGroot won the B finals in the 100 backstroke (55.41).
“We swam really fast in the prelims. I worried we wouldn’t have much left and that was the case for some of the kids,” McDonald said.
“But we had some great swims, a lot of lifetime bests. You can’t really complain about that.”
Lamar’s girls were in the top 10. Cypress Woods won the girls’ regional title with 321 points, just ahead of Cypress Ranch with 302 and Katy Cinco Ranch with 297. Westside was fourth with 210 to lead all Houston ISD schools, with Lamar seventh with 132 and Bellaire 13th with 53.
Senior Katie Garcia closed her outstanding career with the Texans, placing fifth in the 200 freestyle (1:57.57) and sixth in the 500 freestyle (5:16.74).
The 200 medley relay of juniors Jazmin Hernandez, Ivy Newberry and Kennedy Teel and Garcia was sixth (1:54.48). Lamar won the B finals in the 400 freestyle relay (3:44.09), with Garcia in the line-up along with sophomore Faith Morris, Hernandez and Teel.
Senior diver Avery Somma of Lamar just missed a medal, taking fourth (375 points), while junior Francie Zenner was seventh (301.50).
“We didn’t get a relay to state, whichis the first time in a couple of years,” McDonald said. “But we only have two seniors on both the boys’ and girls’ sides. Nearly all of them will be back and we have a chance to be pretty good next season.” Boys ready for postseason run
The Lamar boys basketball team in the Class 6A playoffs, but the Texans need some help to claim the District 20-6A title.
With three games remaining, defending champion Sam Houston is in first place with a perfect 11-0 league mark. Lamar is in second at 9-2, followed by Westside at 8-5 and Bellaire at 7-4.
“Those four teams are in the playoffs,” said Lamar head coach Jerry Van Dusen. “We’ve got a huge week ahead of us. We need to do well to get the No. 2 seed.”
The Texans, who faced Westside earlier this week, will take on Sam Houston at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at The Pavilion.
Lamar, 20-6 overall, has been a terror with its explosive guard-oriented line-up featuring senior Cameron Smith, juniors David Shepard and Markus Vallien and sophomore Tamir Bynum. All four players are averaging in double figures.
Junior Shawn Cornelius, a 6-foot-8 post, is the Texans’ main inside threat. Jeff Jenkins is a freelance writer and can be reached at jenkins.jeffreys@gmail.com.