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Burnet principal Craig Spinn (right) presents receiver Jordan Shipley (8) with a commemorative ball as quarterback Stephen McGee (7) watches after Shipley broke the state’s all-time receiving yardage record during a game against Llano on Oct. 10, 2003.<\/p>\n
Alex Jones\/For American-Statesman<\/p>\n
After a 45-year career as a newspaper reporter, the past 36 as a sportswriter with the American-Statesman, Rick Cantu is set to retire June 7. After writing for the El Paso Times from 1981 to 1990, he began his long tenure with the Statesman just before the start of the 1990 football season. He has written about Texas and Texas A&M football, Texas women’s basketball, the Dallas Cowboys and high school sports. On his final week, Rick will showcase the best athletes and teams during his stay with the paper, as well as his favorite games and interviews. Today, he writes about the best athletes he has covered in high schools.<\/p>\n
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1. Jordan Shipley, Burnet football<\/p>\n
Burnet High’s all-time leading receiver led the Bulldogs to consecutive state championship games in 2002 and 2003. He still ranks second in the state in career receiving yards (5,424) and touchdowns (73). At Texas,\u00a0Shipley ranks No. 1 <\/a>in career catches (248), No. 2 in receiving yards (3,191) and No. 2 in touchdown catches (33). He spent four years in the NFL before injuries cut his career short.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Cavaliers wide receiver Garrett Wilson goes high to catch a touchdown pass Saturday against Converse Judson. Wilson, who is committed to Ohio State, might be the best football athlete to come out of the Austin area in modern times. [JOHN GUTIERREZ\/FOR AMERICAN – STATESMAN]<\/p>\n Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n 2. Garrett Wilson, Lake Travis football<\/p>\n Longtime American-Statesman sportswriter Rick Cantu’s favorite teams that he has covered through his 45-year career:<\/p>\n The 2016 Lake Travis football team that won its 6th state title<\/p>\n 2. The 2021 Westlake football state champs led by QB Cade Klubnik<\/p>\n 3. The 1995 Dallas Cowboys who won Super Bowl XXX<\/p>\n 4. The 2011 Lake Travis volleyball team that went a perfect 50-0<\/p>\n 5. The 2020 Westlake football team that beat Southlake Carroll and QB Quinn Ewers for the state title<\/p>\n 6. The 2024 Vandegrift football team that won state led by a QB with an injured shoulder<\/p>\n 7. The 2007 Lake Travis football team led by future Texas QB Garrett Gilbert<\/p>\n 8. The 1989 UTEP basketball team coached by the legendary Don Haskins that had 3 NBA players on it<\/p>\n 9. The 2022 Georgetown baseball team that won the school’s first state title<\/p>\n 10. The 2021 Dripping Springs girls soccer team that won the Class 5A state championship<\/p>\n The Cavaliers wide receiver is the school’s all-time leader in catches, yards and receiving touchdowns. After helping Lake Travis win the Class 6A state championship <\/a>in 2016, he went on to have a stellar college career at Ohio State. Taken with the 10th pick of the 2022 NFL draft, he already has 315 catches and 18 touchdowns during his first four years with the New York Jets.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 3. Olivia Moreno, Bowie wrestling<\/p>\n It’s one thing to call yourself a three-time UIL state wrestling champion. It’s quite another thing to boast a record of 101-0 during that span. Moreno was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler<\/a> of the state meet her senior season with the Bulldogs, in 2023.<\/p>\n Bowie’s Olivia Moreno starred in two sports throughout her high school career, going 101-0 as a wrestler, winning three state meet gold medals, and also was our 2022 Central Texas softball player of the year. As a senior, she decided to concentrate solely on wrestling. She’s going to Arkansas for college, but won’t compete in sports. She’s No. 3 on our list of Central Texas’ 2022-23 athletes of the year.<\/p>\n John Gutierrez\/Special to American-Statesman<\/p>\n 4. Baker Mayfield, Lake Travis football<\/p>\n Mayfield went 25-2 as a starting quarterback for the Cavaliers and guided them to the Class 4A state championship <\/a>in 2011. He went on to win the Heisman Trophy while playing at Oklahoma and is preparing for his ninth season in the NFL with Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 5. Jamal Shead, Manor basketball<\/p>\n After leading the Mustangs to the state basketball tournament for the first time, Shead played for the University of Houston, earning\u00a0Big 12 player of the year <\/a>honors as a senior. He currently plays point guard for the Toronto Raptors.<\/p>\n 6. Cade Klubnik, Westlake football<\/p>\n A three-time state champion for the Chaparrals (2019, 2020 and 2021), he finished his high school career with a 30-0 record as a starter. He went on to a stellar college career at Clemson.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 7. Garrett Gilbert, Lake Travis football<\/p>\n The former Cavaliers quarterback led the school to its first two UIL state championships (2007 and 2008). He finished his high school career with a state-record 12,534 yards. He went on to play for Texas and SMU before embarking on a nine-year NFL career.<\/p>\n Wimberley Texans Cody Stoever (2) carries the ball under pressure from La Vega Pirates Antwon Gude Jr (5) in the second quarter as the Texans play the Waco La Vega Pirates in the Conference 4A Division 2 UIL State Playoff semi-final game at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown, Dec. 13, 2024.<\/p>\n Sara Diggins\/American-Statesman<\/p>\n 8. Cody Stoever, Wimberley football<\/p>\n A one-man show for Wimberley’s football team, Stoever finished high school career with 186 touchdowns, including 62 as a senior. He was named the American-Statesman’s boys\u00a0athlete of the year<\/a> in 2025 for his excellence in football and baseball.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 9. Samantha Tucker, Westlake swimming<\/p>\n The most decorated swimmer in school history,\u00a0she won 11 state gold medals<\/a> and set a state record in 200 freestyle. Before swimming for the University of Texas, Tucker helped the Chaparrals win state team championships in 2007 and 2008.<\/p>\n Westlake’s Samantha Tucker swims in the 100-yard freestyle during the preliminary round at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center on Friday.<\/p>\n Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n 10. Rylee Michna, Taylor tennis<\/p>\n Almost perfect. That sums up this Taylor senior, who completed her four-year high school run this spring with four Class 4A state championships, going 99-1 in\u00a0singles over that span.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 11. Nick Foles, Westlake football<\/p>\n The former Chaparral set school records with 5,649 passing yards and 56 touchdowns, marks previously owned by Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees. Foles and Brees have something else in common \u2014 both went on to win\u00a0Super Bowl MVP honors<\/a>.<\/p>\n Former Hutto star quarterback Jeremy Kerley led the Hippos to the 2005 state championship game before starring as a wide receiver for TCU and playing eight seasons in the NFL.<\/p>\n JAY JANNER\/AMERICAN-STATESMAN FILE PHOTO, Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n 12. Jeremy Kerley, Hutto football<\/p>\n A\u00a0four-sport star in high schoo<\/a>l, the former quarterback helped Hutto reach its first football state championship in 2005, his junior year. After playing at TCU, he went on to play wide receiver and special teams in the NFL for eight seasons.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 13. Ace Whitehead, Lampasas football\/baseball<\/p>\n During his junior year he was named to the\u00a0All-State team<\/a> at quarterback after throwing 54 touchdowns. He went on to play baseball for Texas and recently concluded his college career at USC.<\/p>\n 14. Jeremy Kelly, Georgetown swimming<\/p>\n The American-Statesman’s athlete of the year in 2025, Kelly earned 16 medals at the state meet during a three-year run and broke seven state records.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Cedar Park’s Isabel Conde De Frankenburg competes in the 5A 1,600-meter run during the UIL State track and field meet, Friday, May 3, 2024, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.<\/p>\n Mikala Compton\/American-Statesman<\/p>\n 15. Isabel Conde De Frankenburg, Cedar Park runner<\/p>\n A state champion in track and field and cross country, she won individual gold medals in the 1,600, 3,200 and 800 races at the\u00a0UIL state meet.<\/a> The all-time state record-holder in the 800, she currently runs for the Texas Longhorns.<\/p>\n 16. Ava Longi, LASA swimming<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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