NINE SENIORS SIGN LETTERS OF INTENT
Nine Dripping Springs High School seniors recently announced their commitments to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. Softball player Emily Barefield, football player Dylan Smith, wrestler Nick Hammond, track athletes Lightsey Puryear and Grant O’Neil, soccer player Jaxson Thornton, cheerleader Cheyenne Tuley-Dittmer and baseball player A.G. Yowell will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level.
Combined with the student-athletes who announced their commitments earlier this school year, this brings to 30 the total number of DSHS seniors signing national letters of intent. The breakdown by sport is: baseball (6), volleyball (5), football (5), soccer (1), golf (3), softball (4), track/cross country (3), tennis (1), wrestling (1), lacrosse (1), and cheer (1).
Emily Barefield, Softball, Trinity University
Emily Barefield is an outfielder and “slap hitter" for the Lady Tigers. A three-year letterwinner, Emily has been a part-time starter, including in the 2018 state tournament. Academically she currently ranks among the top 10 seniors in the Class of 2018. The daughter of Patricia and Eric Barefield, Emily plays club softball for Next Generation. Coach: Wade Womack.
Nick Hammond, Wrestling, Schreiner University (Kerrville)
Nick Hammond was a state qualifier this spring and was a regional qualifier as both a junior and senior for the Tiger wrestling team. He placed thirrd at both district and regionals this year. His 60 career wins and 41 career pins both rank sixth in DSHS history. In addition, the 355.5 team points he has accounted for ranks seventh. He is the son of Amy and David Hammond. Coach: Joe Kirksey.
Connor Jamail, Lacrosse, University of Massachusetts-Lowell A four-year starter at midfield for DSHS lacrosse, Connor is headed to the University of Massachusetts at Lowell’s Division I lacrosse program. As a junior, he earned a spot on the all-district team. Connor has played club lacrosse for Iron Horse and Dallas Select. He is the son of Maureen and Troy Jamail. Coach: Bill Cafferata.
Grant O’Neil, Cross Country/Track, Abeline Christian University
Grant is a three-year letterman with the Tigers in both cross country and track. He has excelled at distance events, including the 5K in cross Country and the 3200 Meters in track. Grant's best time of 16:49 in cross country ranks him among the school’s best. A team captain in both sports this year, he was a cross country regional qualifier his junior year and state qualifier his senior year. He is the son of Erika Spruill and Andrew O'Neil. Coach: Marissa Tuzzi/Ben Reid.
Lightsey Puryear, Track, Tarleton University
Lightsey Puryear has run the 300-Meter Hurdles in high school and will be competed in the 400-Meter Hurdles in college. She is the 2018 district champion in that event after posting a personal-best time of 46.04; that performance also qualified her for the Area meet. Lightsey has competed in the 100 Hurdles and the 4x400 Relay the last two years. She also will be running as a member of the DSHS 4x400 relay team in the Area Meet. She is the daughter of Bren and Walter Puryear. Coach: Marisa Tuzzi.
Dylan Smith, Football, Southwestern University (Georgetown)
Dylan came to Dripping Springs in the summer of 2017 after moving from North Carolina. After being a starter at his old high school, he worked hard to earn a starting role for the Tigers on the offensive line. In fact, over the course of the Tigers’ district-championship and undefeated regular season, Dylan started at three different positions. He was a unanimous first-team all-district player who also earned academic all-district honors. Coach: Galen Zimmerman.
Jaxson Thornton, Soccer-Chapman University (Orange, Calif.)
Jaxson Thornton, who plays goalkeeper, is a two-year varsity letterman who was named to the All-District First Team his senior year. He played an important role leading the Tigers to a 19-4-3 record, second-place district finish, wins in the bi-district and area playoff games, and a regional quarterfinal appearance. He is the son of Sondra and Paul Thornton. Coach: Josh Hill.
Cheyenne Tuley-Dittmer, Cheer, Blinn Junior College
Cheyenne has been cheering for four years, both at Dripping Springs High School and with competition gyms, after participating in gymnastics for 10 years. She has received hundreds of medals from both gymnastics and cheer, and Cheyenne competed at the Texas State UIL Cheer Championship with the DSHS cheer team in 2018. She is the daughter of Heather Tuley. Coach: Carissa Puls.
A.G. Yowell, Baseball, Christian Brothers Univ. (Memphis)
A right-handed pitcher, A.G. Yowell is a two-year letterman for the DSHS Tiger baseball team. This season he has compiled 18 strikeouts in 16 innings and has recorded two wins. He was selected as a 2018 Rawlings Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American, which is the equivalent of being on the Texas All-Region First Team. He is the son of Aimee and Richard Yowell. Coach: Chris Payne.
ATLETAS DE ÚLTIMO AÑO FIRMAN CARTAS DE INTENCIÓN
El 11 de abril, nueve alumnos de último año de Dripping Springs High School anunciaron su intención de continuar sus carreras deportivas a nivel universitario. Emily Barefield juega softball, Dylan Smith es jugador de fútbol, Nick Hammond en lucha, Lightsey Puryear y Grant O’Neil en carreras de pista, Jaxson Thornton es jugador de soccer, Cheyenne Tuley-Dittmer es porrista, y A.G. Yowell juega béisbol, todos ellos se han comprometido a continuarán con sus deportes una vez asistan a sus universidades respectivas.
Junto con los estudiantes atletas que ya habían anunciado su intención de continuar con sus deportes este año, estos ocho suman un total de 30 alumnos de último año que han firmado sus cartas de intención de DSHS. La lista de alumnos, sus deportes e información sobre sus intenciones, se puede ver arriba. El desglose deportivo es el siguiente: béisbol (6), vóleibol (5), fútbol (5), soccer (1), golf (3), softball (4), pista/campo traviesa (3), tenis (1), lucha (1), lacrosse (1), y porra (1).