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An aerial shot taken on January 1, 2023, shows exciting progress being made at the Burnet Sports Complex. Construction, which began in early 2022 is scheduled to be completed this year. Photos by Wayne Craig/Clear Memories -
Burnet seventh-grader, Cayden Farmer (19) hits the sidelines and sprints 55-yards to the endzone scoring the first ever touchdown on the new Burnet Middle School field which opened in October. -
Burnet sophomore, Abby Smith (right) stands with teammate Emmalee Williams in front of the UIL State banner. Smith made her second trip to the state powerlifting meet in 2022 taking 14 place in the 114s with a 660 total. -
District 19-4A Newcomer of the Year, Baylor Dawes, drains a late game technical to further secure Burnet’s Bi-District win over Giddings. Both Burnet basketball teams won District championships in 2022 for the first time since 1976. -
It was another historic year for Burnet standout long distance runner Hudson Bennett pictured here winning the State 3200 gold medal. Bennett recently made it official with the University of Texas to continue his running career after high school with the Longhorns. -
of the state playoffs. -
Burnet senior wide receiver, Braden Ellett-Clark climbs the ladder to pull in a pass versus La Vernia. The Dawgs defeated the Bears in their opener, 36-25. -
Lady Bulldog Bella Poppell heads the ball toward a teammate during regional tournament play. It was the first trip to Regionals for Burnet’s soccer program. The girls finished 2022 19-8-3 overall. -
After teammate Zaria Solis, muscled her way in for an early third quarter bucket in the Regional Semi-Final game her teammates responded before the ball even had time to clear the net. An exciting ride is an understatement for the journey these young ladies took their fans on in 2022. -
Photos by Wayne Craig/Bulletin The Bulldog football program got their moms involved in twoa- day training with the first ever Bulldog Mom Football Camp in 2022. It was a much-enjoyed experience that looks to become a annual event in Burnet. -
The Bulldog baseball team had several accomplishments to celebrate in 2022 including making the playoffs for the first time in five years. -
Burnet senior tennis standout, Zaida Freeman, earned the opportunity to play her final rounds of tennis for the Lady Dawgs at the 2022 State Meet in San Antonio after placing second at Regionals. -
The Lady Dawg volleyball program finished 2022 just one game short of the Regional Tournament. Above junior MaeSyn Gay records a block against Brownwood. -
The Burnet cross country team raced in some harsh conditions in 2022 including the race pictured above where Isaias Zarate splashes through the path at their first race of the season. -
Burnet swimmer Hayden Brown readies himself on the platform during the men’s 200-yard freestyle relay race at the district meet. The Green Wave had a great year in 2022 with numerous regional qualifiers and new school records.
From the Dawg House
The gifts have been given and the fireworks watched so now it’s time for 2023 to take centerstage. The Bulldog and Lady Dawg programs have had a great 2022 and it looks as if the new year will follow suit. Here’s hoping all the Dawgs enjoyed their breaks and are ready to return to work making new year’s memories along the way.
January- In early January 2022 the Lady Dawgs basketball team opened district play with a win over Jarrell. Soccer got its official start as well and both girls’ teams eventually worked their way all the way to Regional Tournaments.
Volleyball star, Rylee Hernandez, was lead on Jan. 12 after being named to the 4A All-State team for her work as a setter for the Regional qualifying Lady Dawg volleyball team.
Soon the basketball teams were sweeping Salado, soccer was improving their records, and powerlifting got underway.
Before January ended the Lady Dawg basketball team improved to a perfect 4-0 district record. The varsity boys team earned a huge win in an overtime thriller versus Lake Belton to finish January 2-1.
The soccer girls also finished pre-district play in January and ended with extra excitement after tying state ranked Wimberley 1-1.
February- In the first edition of February photos were published of the groundbreaking on Burnet’s new indoor facilities. The more than $11 million student activity center is now taking shape but still has months before its scheduled completion.
Spring sports were happening all over the place in February. The Water Dawgs were set to send a pack to Regionals. Personal records and school records were being set weekly by several of Burnet’s athletes in the pool.
Tennis got their start, basketball was in full swing, powerlifting was doing their thing and soccer added more district wins.
The Lady Dawg basketball team finished their district play undefeated and the boys’ team also claimed a district championship. It was the first double crown for the program since 1976.
The swim team did not advance past Regionals, but school records did fall at the event after fantastic performances by the Green Wave. The 200yard medley boys’ team of Luciuz Griego, Ryan Behrens, Aidan Zollitsch and Hayden Brown set a school record with a 1:45.30. Isabel Lunsford broke her own school record in the 500 free with a 5:19.33.
The Lady Dawg softball team got their start in February and recorded a 30-5 win over Waco Connally.
February ended with the boys’ basketball team earning a Bi-District win. Overall, they picked up 24 wins in their 21-22 season. They fell short to a stacked La Vega team in round two The Lady Dawgs rolled off playoff win after playoff win. They made it all the way to the Regional finals before losing to a talented Jefferson team. Burnet’s girls finished 19-13, perfect in district at 8-0, they matched the second-best season ever for a Burnet girls basketball team and went on a 13-game win streak through district and the Regional Quarterfinal round.
March- In early March baseball and softball were busy and track season began. The baseball team moved to 3-0 in district with an exciting win over Salado and the softball team produced 20 hits in their district opener versus Jarrell.
Sophomore Abby Smith punched her ticket to state for the second year in a row in powerlifting. She totaled 635 in the 114 class. That total included her best ever squat and bench press.
Also in March, senior standout athlete, Sydne Massoletti was named to the All Region and All State Basketball team.
District play began for tennis and the track team hosted the Bulldog Relays.
The Lady Dawg soccer team advanced in the playoffs after a 1-0 Bi-District win over China Spring. The victory was the first post-district win for the girls’ soccer team since 2018.
Little Leagues threw out their first pitches in March and the month ended as busy as it had started.
April- The top story in the first edition of April was all about a history making season for Burnet’s girls soccer team. The Lady Dawgs defeated a previously undefeated Giddings team, 19-0-1, in a 3-2 shootout to advance to the Regional Tournament for the first time in school history. The girls historic season ended at Regionals with a loss to the Bay City Blackcats.
Three Lady Bulldog tennis athletes earned district championships including Zaida Freeman, Tatum Salinas, and Annika Van Zandt in April.
John Carter Wyer finished as the district’s first place medalist in gold to advance to Regionals.
In mid-April Burnet’s track team had several athletes qualifying for Area. The girls sent a pack of 10 to Area. The 1600-meter team of Kayla Gillaspie, Danielle Oakley, Camryn Courtney, and Molly McPherson captured the district championship with a 4:15.41.
The Bulldog track team advanced nine athletes to Area. Hudson Bennett earned two district gold medals one each in the 1600 and 3200 races.
At Area Bennett captured three more gold medals after taking the top spot in the 3200, 1600, and 800.
Also, at Area Molly McPherson broke a 23-year-old school record in the 400 with a 1:00.5 in the event.
After years of hard work in Burnet’s tennis program Zaida Freeman earned a trip to state after taking second place at the Regional Tournament.
In a most shocking turn of events the Lady Dawg softball team failed to capture a playoff spot in 2022.
The Bulldog baseball team closed out April earning a post season spot. The first for the program in five years.
May- May began with the announcement that long distance phenom Hudson Bennett would be returning to State. The Burnet junior, at the time, placed first in the 3200 and 1600 at Regionals.
The bling continued to add up for Burnet in week two of May. At State he posted a 9:22.86 in the 3200 for the gold. The inspired race also broke his own school record by more than 10 seconds. Later in the day Bennett earned silver in the 1600 with a 4:19.83.
The baseball team fell to La Grange in a Bi-District series, 2-1.
Freeman played her final tennis rounds in the green and white at State.
The Burnet County Rodeo garnered some coverage in the Bulletin.
The annual Sports Awards program happened with seniors Sydne Massoletti, Lawson Lucky, Shelby Wagner, and Jacob Johnson all earning $1,000 scholarships.
June- Graduation photos and 7 on 7 action graced the pages of early June. Soon summer league basketball and volleyball found print space as well. The month heated up while sports coverage cooled down bringing the official start to summer for the Bulldogs and Lady Dawgs.
July- While July tends to be a quiet time for covering sports each year it’s when some of the most important behind-the-scenes work happens. Strength and conditioning programs are in full swing during the summer months, and it’s widely believed attendance and participation can make or break a program.
August- By the time August rolled around Bulldog sports fans were hungry to catch a glimpse of what the BHS fall teams would have to offer. Those hot summer two-a-days had begun and soon the football moms were joining in to get a taste of what their boys go through. The ‘Mom’s Camp’ was a big hit draw- ing more mothers and grandmothers than Coach Bryan Wood could have anticipated.
Jo Powell, the grandmother of varsity quarterback, Tanner O’Hair, was pictured in the Aug. 10 edition taking a handoff and rumbling as if she was really ready for contact.
The volleyball teams were looking great already and hoping to recreate the same magic of 2021. By mid-August there were almost traffic jams trying to get around the BHS campus, tennis was already underway, and Alex Davis made the pages with a picture- perfect backhand shot versus Cove.
The Lady Dawg volleyball team was celebrating an opening victory over Blanco and the sports section was covered with Meet the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldog photos.
The Aug. 24 edition included some cool shots of Burnet’s cross country runners splashing through the mud and the muck at their first meet of the year in Leander.
The Bulldog football players were ready for the real deal to begin after man-handling Jarrell in their scrimmage. That soon turned into victory photos after the varsity football team defeated La Vernia 36-25 in the season opener.
In that same edition multiple BHS cross country runners were sporting medals after an outstanding team showing at Vista Ridge.
Trenton Park and Anthony Perez were football’s players of the week.
September- Early September was here in a blink and the BHS Esprit de Corps was in the limelight showing off the early stages of what eventually led to a state bound show.
The varsity football team lost 29-21 to a very good Llano team. It was their first loss to Llano since the turn of the century.
Tennis continued to have success with a team win over Taylor, and the Heckle Squad was being heard at just about every event as they cheered on their fellow student athletes.
There was also a King and Queen photographed in the Sept. 14 copy, they were homecoming royalty Addie Grace Hernandez and Hudson Bennett.
By late September football had added wins over Giddings, 28-7, and an absolute thriller win 49-48 over Early.
The swim team was also making waves with early season success.
Braden Ellett-Clark, Grayson Blair, Dash Denton, and Grant Jones were all shining bright on the grid-iron with wellearned player of the week selections.
Zaria Solis was proving to be too much to handle for most of Burnet’s volleyball opponents.
October- Before you knew it October had arrived and those tough to beat Lady Dawg volleyball players were in a league of their own. The program was very successful, top to bottom.
However, the Oct. 5 sports pages were reserved for recognizing the outstanding efforts of many cross country runners from middle school and up with eight photos landing in the sports section.
The lead photo on Oct. 12 was of Braden Ellett- Clark making a spectacular catch/touchdown run against Lampasas.
The 1991 State finalist team was celebrated on this night with pre-game audio that had many reminiscing old times.
Oct. 19 recognized BHS golfers, divers, and included a spread of photos honoring the EDC for their first division votes from all judges at the Region 32 contest.
The Bulldog varsity football team beat the Marble Falls Mustangs 28-14 and a Lew Laidler leaping interception was the front page photo.
By late October cross country runners Asah Roy, Victor Aviles, and Hudson Bennett had punched their tickets to State.
BHS teacher Sheridan Gill was pictured with volleyball player Laney Huffman for teacher appreciation and the cheerleaders were seen stunting at a pep rally. The play of the week, a sweet Jace Haberer touchdown catch versus Canyon Lake.
November- When November rolled around it was time to celebrate the BHS seniors. At the conclusion of the final home football game the Class of 2023 locked arms and walked the field with emotions running high. That same week volleyball was celebrating a history making moments as the Lady Dawgs produced the program’s first ever 10-0 district season.
Nov. 2 included bonfire photos and some shots from the Hoot n Holler swim meet. Khris Kassner was the defensive MVP for football that week.
By Nov. 9 the Lady Dawg volleyball players were hoisting their third trophy. After winning district the girls defeated Robison in Bi-District and Taylor in the Area round.
Cross country phenom Hudson Bennett was seen wearing another State medal after winning bronze in his final high school cross country meet, while Hayden Brown was pictured swimming his way to first at the Burnet hosted swim meet.
The volleyball season ended at Quarterfinals to Salado, but the accolades kept coming as 14 players made the All-District list and Coach Crystal Shipley was named the Coach of the Year from 24-4A.
Bennett shared his commitment to UT with perhaps the largest signing day audience.
By this point, basketball photos were making the pages, but it was a photo of Lainey Rye consoling senior teammate McKenzie Davis that pulled at the heartstrings.
Nov. 30 was all about basketball and the recent success both the varsity boys and girls were having. A photo of MaeSyn Gay was the lead photo. Gay had just led her team to victory over Dripping Springs and Leander. There was also a photo introducing all the senior Lady Dawg basketball players. The Varsity boys had just defeated Canyon Lake, 62-46.
December- The talk of the town in early December was all about the fire that destroyed the old Reagor Building. In the BHS sports world it was a week of football honors and plenty of them, 15 Bulldog players made the All-District list in some form or fashion.
Holiday lights were illuminating the night sky and it was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.
A photo of former BHS athlete Cory Kuhn, now current BMS coach/AD also made the early December paper, instructing his players during a break.
In the Dec. 14 pages the senior boys’ basketball players were pictured. The Dawgs have six senior leaders and they have been very impressive in the early parts of this season.
Soccer athletes have also landed photos in recent weeks, like the one of Jahir Benitez taking a goal shot versus Canyon Lake.
The year 2022 had so much to offer. There were many highs as well as some lows but there were countless memories made that’ll last a lifetime.
2023 has just begun, make the most of every day. We wish all of our local teams and athletes much success as this year unfolds. Above all we hope you enjoy the moments, cherish the memories, and give back when you can. Happy new year to all.
