Last Week in Sports 2.5-2.10

Dragon Sports Media, Staff Writers

February 14, 2024

The Dragon and Lady Dragon swim and dive teams competed in the UIL Region 1-6A Championship meet last weekend in Midland. The Dragons placed 2nd to Keller, with a final score of 471-412. The Lady Dragons were named region 1-6A Regional Champions, with a final score of 485-404. As a result, 10 Dragons and 9 Lady Dragons will advance to the UIL 6A state meet in Austin on February 23-24.

Photos courtesy of @southlakecarrollswimanddive on instagram

Girls varsity soccer took the pitch twice this past week versus V.R. Eaton and Byron Nelson furthering their overall record to 16-0 and 6-0 in district play. With these two wins, the Lady Dragons currently sit in first place of district 4-6A. “As a team, we share a common goal to become district champions,” senior captain Erin O’Donnell said. “These two games have been closer steps toward that shared goal.” The Lady Dragons will face off against district opponent Fossil Ridge on Feb. 13.

Varsity boys soccer also took the pitch twice this past week versus V.R. Eaton and Byron Nelson, winning both games to bring their overall record to 7-5-1, good for 3rd in the district. “Having to play two away games in a week is always difficult,” said head coach Chris Padilla. “So to get two wins away from home to put us back in the title race makes for a successful week.” In hopes of keeping the win streak, the Dragons will face off with Fossil Ridge on Feb. 13 and Timber Creek on Feb. 16, with both games at 7:30 at Dragon Stadium.

The girls varsity basketball team defeated the Fossil Ridge Panthers 57-40 on Feb. 6 bringing their overall record to 29-5. The district champs begin their UIL 6A state playoff run this week against North Crowley in the hopes to advance to the area round.

Last week, the boys basketball team faced off against Timber Creek and Fossil Ridge. The Dragons beat Fossil Ridge with a score of 45- 29 and Timber Creek with a score of 61-45, also clinching a spot in the UIL state playoffs. This week the Dragons have are off as they are prepare for the Bi-District round of the playoffs next week.

The Dragon wrestlers competed on February 8 and 9 in the UIL 6A Regional Championship to in the hopes to become state qualifiers. Carroll had 5 wrestlers qualify for state competition. Dylan Ota and Cora Hayes both finished as UIL 6A regional champions, with Hayes winning in overtime against Flower Mound. The Dragons will take the mat on February 16 in the 6A UIL state tournament.

The Carroll Special Olympics athletes were featured between the boys and girls basketball games last week in preparation their participation in the first annual Special Olympics Slam Jam tournament and skills competition. Students competed against students from Grapevine-Collyeville ISD and other surrounding school districts.

Contributors: Merren Grannell, Ben Randall, Ava Cottingham, Zach Davidson, Matthew Klepikow, James Gray

About the Contributors

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Ava Cottingham, Dragon Sports Media Team Lead

Ava Cottingham is a senior at Carroll Senior High School. This is her second year in Dragon Media as a sports journalist and photographer. Some of Ava’s notable accomplishments are that she was a part of the KDGN sports desk team that won a UIL Bronze Star Award, was inducted into Carroll Senior High School’s chapter of Quill & Scroll, and was awarded an honorable mention for an ILPC State Journalism Award for her student-athlete feature piece. When she isn’t writing or taking pictures, Ava enjoys playing club volleyball, watching the Denver Broncos with her dad, working out, and listening to music. Eventually, Ava hopes to work for ESPN in sports journalism.

Ben Randall, Dragon Sports Media Team Lead

Ben Randall is a junior at Carroll Senior High School, and is heading into his third year as a Dragon Media staff member. Ben hopes to attend the University of Nebraska - Lincoln for Sports Media & Communications or any other top 10 sports journalism university. His dream is to work as a play-by-play reporter for ESPN or any big sports television network. Ben is an active member of the national finalist Carroll Dragon Band as a squad leader, and Christ Alone Lutheran Church in Keller as an usher. When he’s not in the band bleachers or announcing for a variety of sports, he likes to travel with his friends and modify his car. His music taste is very broad, but he loves to listen to A$AP Rocky and MF DOOM. The opportunity to give sports fans an unforgettable experience while also traveling around the community is why he loves to work in the media field so much, and why he is ecstatic about working with a UIL Bronze Star winning program at Dragon Media.

Morgan Brown, Dragon Sports Media

Morgan Brown is a senior at Carroll Senior High School and this is her fourth year in Dragon Media. She is the editor-in-chief for the 2023-24 yearbook, as well as a member of the new sports media class. When she isn’t out photographing events, she can be found spending time with friends, attending concerts, going on drives, or hanging out in the yearbook room. After graduation, she hopes to attend either the University of Texas or Arizona State.