Featured Tennis 

Burnet coach Redman joins Marble Falls HS

CAPTION: Nathan Redman with the Burnet girls doubles team of Tatum Salinas (left) and Aly Van Zandt after the duo won the Class 4A Region III tournament. Redman, who served as the Burnet head coach, is joining the Marble Falls High School staff. File photo Nathan Redman has joined the Marble Falls High School faculty as a world geography teacher and boys basketball and assistant tennis coach. Redman spent the last four years as the Burnet High School tennis head coach. Marble Falls tennis head coach Samuel Whitley credited athletic…

Read More
Featured Football High School 

An early look at Highland Lakes football teams

CAPTION: The Marble Falls Mustangs fielded a stingy defense in 2020 and 2021 that allowed them to win three playoff games. File photo Throughout the Highland Lakes, conversations have revolved around the sport and the strengths of each team. To say fans are curious about this year’s squads is an understatement. With new head coaches at three of the four campuses that make up the region, fans are wondering what each team will look like. So let’s take a closer look as best we can at this point. We’ll begin…

Read More
College Featured Football High School Running 

Burnet’s Grant Jones wins Community Hero award

CAPTION: Burnet athlete Grant Jones (3) wins the Community Heroes award presented by Chicken Express. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography Burnet High School graduate Grant Jones is the 2024 recipient of the Male Chicken Express Community Hero of the Year award. He receives a $1,500 scholarship. “I can’t think of anyone more deserving than Grant Jones,” Burnet football and boys track and field head coach Ben Speer said. “Him winning this says, ‘Wow. They got it right.’ Friends, family and community members all had to do their part.” The award…

Read More
Basketball Featured 

Marble Falls basketball camp helps grow the sport

CAPTION: Ayden Alexander squares up to take a shot during a shooting drill at the Lone Star Hoops camp conducted at Marble Falls Middle School last week. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro Making basketball great in the Hill Country drives the Marble Falls Independent School District coaches. That was at the heart of last week’s camp held in partnership with Lone Star Hoops and led by Jan Jernberg, who coached the Lake Travis Cavaliers, and Tim Kaman, Fredericksburg High School boys basketball coach. “They’ve been doing it for 36 years,”…

Read More
Featured Football High School 

Burnet football staff has new coordinators, line coaches

CAPTION: Burnet football defensive coordinator Jordan Heusinkveld (left) and offensive coordinator Colton Brewer gather with the Bulldogs after a night of 7 on 7. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro The Burnet High School football staff is nearing completion. Head coach Ben Speer announced that Zane Hicks is now the head offensive line and tight end coach and the powerlifting head coach after being the assistant coach under Tyler McIntosh. “The kids know him and have good relationships with him,” Speer said. Jordan Heusinkveld is the defensive coordinator after being on…

Read More
Basketball Cheer Featured Football High School High School Running 

Burnet’s Jones, Llano’s Hays up for Community Heroes awards

CAPTION: Burnet High graduate Grant Jones is the total package, according to football head coach Ben Speer. What he does on and off the playing field is why he was nominated for the Chicken Express Community Heroes award. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography Two Highland Lakes student athletes are in the running for the Chicken Express Community Heroes awards. They are 2024 Burnet High graduate Grant Jones and Llano High rising senior Ciara Hays. People can vote multiple times a day online. Voting ends July 1. The male and female…

Read More
Baseball Basketball Featured Football High School High School High School Running Tennis 

Overview: why Burnet athletics enjoys record-breaking year

Editor’s Note: This is the second of a two-part series. Read part one here. Winning nine district titles in a single school year doesn’t happen just because of incredible talent and tremendous coaches. That’s the word from Kurt Jones, who retired as the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District athletic director after the 2023-24 school year. Jones had been on staff for two decades as an assistant football coach on former head coach Bob Shipley’s staff before being promoted to defensive coordinator and head coach. Jones stepped down as football head…

Read More
Baseball Basketball Featured High School High School Softball Volleyball 

Coaches explain the UIL playoff changes

CAPTION: The 2022-23 Marble Falls High School girls basketball team of Kenadie Cotton (front row, left), Emma Bindseil, Lilly Nesrsta, Emma Koziel, Hailie Rangel, Avie Nail, Alyssa Berkman Tea Rodriguez; Bethany Fry (back row, left), Kylie Roberts, Lexie Edwards and Mackenzie Farmer are bi-district champions and began preparing for the next contest, the area game. That game is in question with the new amendment approved by the University Interscholastic League’s Legislative Council. File photo Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part series. The University Interscholastic League made official June 11…

Read More
Basketball Featured Golf High School Powerlifting Running Softball Swimming and Diving Tennis Volleyball 

Burnet girls athletic coordinator Gates resigns

Rick Gates resigned as the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District girls athletic coordinator, girls basketball and golf head coach June 10 to become the girls basketball head coach at Burkburnett High School. He’ll also be an assistant track and field coach. Gates is the latest coach to turn in his Kelly green. Kurt Jones retired as the school district’s safety and athletic director, while Bryan Wood resigned to keep a promise to Ben Speer, his defensive coordinator. That promise was to resign and “do everyting I can” to help Speer…

Read More
Baseball Basketball College College Featured Football Golf High School High School High School Powerlifting Recruiting Running Softball Tennis Volleyball 

Overview: Burnet athletics enjoys record-breaking year, breaking opponents’ hearts

CAPTION: The Burnet High School girls basketball team and the first of several trophies from the 2023-24 season. File photo Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part series. An astounding nine district championships with another three playoff berths and two Class 4A state silver medals illustrate the Burnet High School athletic department’s supremacy during the 2023-24 school year. While the Lady Dawgs continued their streak by winning four district titles — cross country, basketball, track and field and soccer — the Bulldogs showed their mettle in winning championships…

Read More