For the second year in a row, weather will delay the start of the Dripping Springs High School Boys Lacrosse season. After a couple of cancellations this past weekend, the Tigers will kick off their season this Wednesday night against Smithson Valley. The program, led by Coach Bill Cafferata in his 9th season at DSHS, returns 7 seniors and 8 juniors from a team that went 9-6, including a playoff win against Memorial.
Coach Cafferata expects a successful year, building off of last year's playoff win, with a talented junior and senior class returning plenty of varsity minutes. The offense will be led by a returning group of all-district players in seniors Jack Tanner (23 goals and 5 assists) and Ryan Williamson along with Junior Aiden Kane (16 goals and 16 assists). They will look to replace the goal production from graduated seniors Charles Hunt (Virginia Military Institute) and Joe Roberts (University of Dallas).
On the defensive end, communication and leadership will come from Seniors Cody Smith and Gideon Schlab and Juniors Jonah Friedman and Keller Stafford. The midfield will be led by junior face off specialist Owen Rhodes, senior midfielders Brenden Linan and Brett Williamson, and Juniors Walker Wright and Connor Krystof. There is a battle for the goalie position with junior Kaiden Grupp, sophomore Austin Reeves, and freshman Shane Roberts competing as we enter the season.
Dripping Springs Lacrosse competes in the Class A Central District of the Texas High School Lacrosse League. District opponents include Westlake, Lake Travis, Austin High and Vandegrift. Outside of district, the Tigers will travel to Dallas this weekend for games against Frisco and Allen and later this season to Houston to match up with Kinkaid and Strake Jesuit. Dripping Springs will face-off against Smithson Valley Wednesday night at Dripping Springs Middle School at 7:30pm to open the season. Come out to one of the nine home games this season and cheer on the Tigers. Admission is free.