Senior kicker Owen Winterburg (45) and senior quarterback Alex Fernandes (3) share a laugh with Chris Lucido (center) on the sidelines during the second half of a high school football game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Hays Rebels at Monroe Stadium in Austin, Texas, on October 28, 2016.

By SCOTT W. COLEMAN
Four Points News

Team spirit is easy to identify. Just look in the stands during football season on Friday night. Look on the sidelines. The smiling faces, voices raised in cheer, and the shouts of encouragement lift the players’ spirits and can make a tangible difference in the game.

This season, team spirit on the Vandegrift sideline may be best embodied in the face — and the smile — of 16-year-old junior Chris Lucido.

During Friday night’s postseason playoff win versus San Antonio Johnson at Monroe Stadium, Vipers shared laughs and pats on the back. Chief among those celebrating was Lucido, an unofficial member of the team who has committed much of the last two years of his high school career to being among the team’s biggest supporters.

Chris has been at every practice. He’s been at every game. He’s seen the players at their best and at their most frustrated. He’s cheered them up and cheered them on. And they’re cheering right back at him.

“Chris will immediately brighten your day, just as soon as he starts talking to you,” said Drew Sanders, head football coach and VHS athletic director.

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Vandegrift seniors who are National Merit Semifinalists.

National Hispanic students recognized

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

Some 53 Vandegrift High School seniors have been recognized by the National Merit Program and the National Hispanic Recognition Program.

National Merit Semifinalists

VHS seniors make up more than half of the total 23 Leander ISD students distinguished as Semifinalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program based on their outstanding performances on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

The Viper National Merit Semifinalists are Ashley Chase, Nicholas Cummings, Bethany Dollar, Spoorthi Kamepalli, Ethan McCosky, Nidhi Pandya, Yilong Peng, Dillon Piegat, Riya Saxena, Spencer Sharp, Robert Smoot, Joshua Stelling and Jonathan Walker.

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“I love that we’ve been able to serve families, from kids to grandparents,” said Alica Harrison, who with her husband Tom are partners in Wild Basin Fitness with the Leavells.

Julie and Kirk Leavell started Wild Basin Fitness in Steiner Ranch a decade ago. “We knew we had a perfect place to bring our love of fitness and people to our own neighborhood,” she said.

By KIM ESTES
Four Points News

A decade ago Steiner Ranch residents Julie and Kirk Leavell took advantage of  development opportunities at Vista Ridge shopping area, found business partners and opened Wild Basin Fitness in Steiner.

Wild Basin Fitness Steiner Ranch is celebrating its 10th anniversary, fulfilling the Leavell’s vision of a true neighborhood fitness center.

“As soon as the construction got underway we knew we had a perfect place to bring our love of fitness and people to our own neighborhood. That and partnering with Tom and Alica Harrison allowed a second Wild Basin to happen,” said Julie Leavell.

The Leavells opened the first WBF 20 years ago in Westlake. They were just 24-years-old with college degrees in kinesiology and a dream.

“We worked for other gym owners right out of college, but never could find a place where we could mix indoor/outdoor workouts in a group setting. The restrictions put on our training created the desire to build a fitness center that was inviting, fun and not stifling,” Leavell said.

Their business model allowed WBF trainers to create workouts they believe are effective and that they enjoy teaching, she said.

It is a plan that brings Ryan Helms, manager and head trainer, to work every day.

“Waking up every day knowing this is what I get to do for a living is a joy.  I’m truly blessed,” Helms said.

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Projected new elementary schools in the years ahead in Leander ISD.

By MIKE EDDLEMAN
Hill Country News

Amid a sea of numbers, percentages and geographic trends, the message to Leander ISD was more of the same from its demographer – get ready for about 1,000 more students next year.

The trend has continued for years, and while growth has migrated more to the north end of the district, LISD has remained the fastest growing district in Central Texas in numbers, and one of the fastest in the state.

At a projected low-growth rate, LISD – which currently has about 37,000 students enrolled – is expected to have more than 45,000 students by 2026. If growth continues on a faster pace it could top 53,000.

“What the demographer has pointed out to us is that we’re growing at about 1,000 students per year at our current rate and we are going to continue for at least the next 10 years to grow at a similar rate,” said LISD Superintendent Dan Troxell.

The numbers were broken down further by area of growth and housing trends, but the bottom line translated to a continued need for an additional campus about every two years, primarily elementary schools.

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