DI Varsity

5. Highland Park (Texas), 12-7
All the pieces of the puzzle came together for Highland Park, which won Texas High School Lacrosse League's boys Division I state championship with a 5-4 win over St. Mark's in the title game Sunday. The Fighting Scots lost seven games during the regular season, which included defeats to Episcopal Dallas, The Woodlands, Dallas Jesuit and St. Mark's. Guess what? The Fighting Scots beat each one of them on their way to the state title to cap off an incredible season.

Daniel Wenz, Sr., Highland Park (Dallas, Texas), midfield

The Scots surprised everyone in the Lone Star state at the end of the year, first upsetting Dallas Jesuit (Dallas) and then St. Mark’s (Dallas) behind Wenz’s clutch play. First against Jesuit in the state semifinal on May 5, the versatile midfielder scored three goals. Then in the state championship on May 6 he tallied four points on two goals and two assists. It was a memorable week for the senior captain who did his part leading his squad to the state title.

TEXAS
DIvision 1: Highland Park 5, St. Mark's 4
Division 2: Highland Park II 8, Klein 7
“After losing to St. Mark’s during the regular season, Highland Park got some revenge with a 5-4 victory over the Lions in the Texas High School Lacrosse League’s boys Division I state championship match Sunday.

Highland Park took charge quickly, finding the net twice in the first 90 seconds. Midfielder Daniel Wenz scored first off an assist by Wills Manley — the first in a series of point-producing plays by the senior duo. Then, with the help of Robert Mencke, Nico Cancemi rebounded a blocked shot and scored a goal that gave Highland Park a 2-0 lead.” — Dallas Morning News

Highland Park’s DI and DII teams were not considered favorites to win the State Championship titles.  Throughout the year in Division II it seemed likely that until the last week of the regular season when HPII defeated a number of top teams in the state, that the title would be claimed by Flower Mound or Hillcrest, with Klein, Keller, Cy-Fair, Highland Park DII and the others fighting for an outside chance to claim the title.  In Division I, Highland Park was all but written off by mid-season, as they posted a meager 3-5 record in North District play and squeaked into the playoffs with some late-season wins during the district playoffs.  Neither team was supposed to make it this far.  Someone forgot to tell that to the brothers and head coaches of Highland Park’s DI and DII teams, Derek and Ross Thompson, respectively.  Their teams played with poise, confidence, and skill and battled through to claim their respective titles.

GEORGETOWN, Texas — After losing to St. Mark’s during the regular season, Highland Park got some revenge with a 5-4 victory over the Lions in the Texas High School Lacrosse League’s boys Division I state championship match Sunday.
Highland Park took charge quickly, finding the net twice in the first 90 seconds.
Midfielder Daniel Wenz scored first off an assist by Wills Manley — the first in a series of point-producing plays by the senior duo. Then, with the help of Robert Mencke, Nico Cancemi rebounded a blocked shot and scored a goal that gave Highland Park a 2-0 lead.
Following a penalty on Highland Park, Peter Addy scored for St. Mark’s midway through the second quarter. Manley answered with a goal off an assist by Wenz, but St. Mark’s was within 3-2 at halftime after Evan Chang-Tung scored.
Highland Park, however, pulled away in the third quarter. Wenz maneuvered his way for an unassisted goal at the 5:21 mark. Then Wenz set up Manley, Highland Park’s captain and the game’s offensive MVP, for Highland Park’s final goal.
Seventeen shots on net produced two goals in the fourth quarter for St. Mark’s. But the surge wasn’t enough to force overtime.
Highland Park also won the Division II championship, beating Klein, 8-7, in the final.

On Saturday May, 6th The Highland Park Scots took on Dallas Jesuit for a bid to go to the state finals. These two teams met earlier in the year with a much different outcome, but the Scots seemed to be a whole new team in the playoffs as the young team matured at the right time of the year.

Jesuit came out fast and strong in this game, scoring the first three goals until Highland Park was able to answer. #5 Mac Mcquire had the first score, leaving the game 1-0 after the first quarter, favoring Jesuit. The second quarter was not much different and started out with another beautiful goal by Mac Mcquire assisted from Jason Myers. After a 3-0 deficit, Highland Park was able to tack on one score before the half to cut the deficit to 3-1. Highland Park made some halftime adjustments and third quarter featured solid defense along with patient offense for the Scots. They had long possessions on offense and the shots started finding the back of the net as the held Jesuit scoreless in the 3rd.

Daniel Wenz for Highland Park had 2 in the third along with Bryce Green who also contributed a goal. The score going into the fourth quarter was 4-3 in favor of Highland Park.  Dallas Jesuit wasn’t done fighting, though.  Early in the 4th quarter Zack Coker for Jesuit scored a clutch goal to tie the game at 4-4. After a back and forth fourth quarter Highland park’s clutch man Daniel Wenz was able to score the final goal, stunning Jesuit in a huge 5-4 upset win.

Highland Parks top performers included Daniel Wenz (3 goals) and Bryce Green (2 goals).

Coach Derek Thomson likes to call this part of the year “a new season.” And in this new season, his Highland Park Scots are 3-0 and one game away from the State Finals. They have earned tough wins over tough opponents. Suddenly, the 7-7 regular season seems like a distant memory for a team that will face top-ranked Jesuit in the Final Four next weekend. They clinched that spot with an 11-2 win over the Austin High Maroons on Sunday afternoon.

Most high school students would be pretty sad to miss their prom. The Highland Park Scots couldn’t be happier to call it an early night after their 10-8 win over The Woodlands Highlanders on Saturday afternoon. The win earned HP a next round matchup with Austin High, whom they beat 16-7 to open the 2012 season back in February.

Highland Park had an easier time disposing of Austin High winning 11-2 on Sunday to earn themselves a State Championship Finals berth next weekend and a matchup against North District rival Dallas Jesuit.

For the second time in 2012, Highland Park traveled north to the Episcopal School of Dallas. Also for the second time in 2012, the Scots were unable to hold a fourth quarter lead. The first meeting ended 11-10 in favor of the Eagles. This time, however, the Highland Park defense was able to force overtime with the score tied at seven. Once they did, one offensive possession was all the Scots needed.

One minute and forty seconds into the extra period, Highland Park attackman Bryce Green notched his second assist of the night when he found fellow junior Grayson Graham for the game winning goal. It was Graham’s only shot of the game, but it was clearly the biggest taken by any player.