Clear Springs senior earns All-American
Clear Springs senior wrestler Daniela Salazar had lots of success in UIL competition. This summer she has added to that while wrestling with her club team.
Wrestling for Vici Wrestling Club in Webster, Salazar earned All-America honors three times since the UIL season ended in February.
The first came at the Oklahoma City Women’s Nationals folkstyle tournament where she placed fourth overall.
Salazar also finished fourth at the Body Bar Women’s Nationals freestyle tournament and was named an alternate for the U.S. women’s national team.
Her latest All-American performance came at the Fargo Nationals, where she placed sixth.
Salazar has been wrestling since her freshman year and broke out with some major accomplishments as a junior. She went 47-2 and won district and regional championships en route to a runnerup finish in the 95-pound bracket at the UIL Class 6A state tournament. Adidas Texas Invitational
Most of the state’s elite volleyball teams will descend on Pearland this week for the 19th annual Adidas Texas Invitational hosted by Pearland ISD. The tournament is comprised of 80 teams from all areas in the state. More than a handful were in the state tournament last year and a few won state titles. The opening ceremony is 9 a.m. Thursday at Pearland High School.
Clear Lake is in the same pool as No. 1 seed and reigning Class 5A state champion Lucas Lovejoy. That pool will play at Turner High School.
Clear Falls is in a pool with Oklahoma’s Jenks High School, which is the reigning stae runner-up in the state’s highest classification. Those games will play at Pearland.
Pearland is the No. 4 overall seed and will face Colleyville Heritage, Nederland and The Woodlands John Cooper School in pool play at Pearland.
Clear Creek is the No. 6 seed and will square off against defending Class 4A state champion Argyle in pool play. Those games will be at Pearland Junior High.
Clear Springs joins No. 7 seed Waco Midway, which played into the third round of the Class 6A playoffs last year. Foster also should provide good competition. Those matches will be played at Dawson.
Dawson has been awarded the No. 8 seed, its highest in tournament history and will play pool games on its home court. The Lady Eagles’ biggest challenge in pool play is likely to come from Houston Christian, which placed third in the Southwest Preparatory Conference state tournament last year.
Friendswood will play in the same pool as Dallas Highland Park, which was a Region 2-6A semifinalist last season. The Lady Mustangs will play their pool play games on their home court. Knights rebuilding
Many high school football coaches will talk about the dawn of a new season this month, hoping that inspires their players with thoughts of new hope and lofty expectations.
Zach Head hopes the same thing for his Clear Falls, but he began the inspiring process in the spring when he had a chance to work with the players for the first time.
The Knights have won one game in the last two seasons. If they are going to turn it around they need as much momentum as possible so remembering all they learned in May is imperative.
It is in these relatively early days of his tenure that Head hopes his players latch onto his message. If the Knights do that, he expects them to see brigher days earlier than later.
“The biggest thing we talked about is everybody buying into giving maximum effort every play, every rep, in everything we’re doing,” Head said. “Our motto is ‘Win the moment.’ If we do that and then success will come.”
If Clear Falls is going to close the gap in District 246A this season it is likely to start on defense. Linebacker John Niese and safety Taylor Vessel are multi-year starters who have taken on a leadership role.
Several other players like Hanif Muhammad, Camden Shriver and Jordan Humphrey should be in the mix, too. The Knights struggled on defense last season, but there is reason to believe it has a chance to be a factor in 2016.
With so much room to grow from the last two seasons every position is critical, but Head said the offensive line could make a big difference if some young players show they can handle the thrill and pressure of the Friday night lights.
Lineman Lance Morris and tight end Luke Norris are the only returning starters up front. Head said Norris has developed as a player and as a leader.
“There are lots of question marks there,” Head said. “Through the first two weeks hopefully we can get those guys moving along. There is no set starter at any position. Everybody is competing every day.”