Friendswood captures UIL Dodge Lone Star Cup

July 7, 2009

FRIENDSWOOD — It is now official -- the Friendswood Mustangs have captured one of the most coveted awards across the state of Texas that signifies a balance of outstanding education and athletics all rolled into one award.

The Dodge Lone Star Cup is given each year by the Texas Dodge Dealers honoring the school from five different classifications that excels educationally and athletically. The winner from each class receives a $1,000 scholarship.

The Friendswood Mustangs have always been one of the top 10 schools in the Lone Star Cup race, but they have never been able to grab the golden ring.

"We're very excited," Friendswood principal Mark Griffon said. "We've been competing for it since they started it. We finished second on a few occasions, but to finally get over the top and win; it's just a big feather in our sports and academic caps."

On the academic side -- Friendswood won the state championship in the One-Act Play competition with their rendering of "Great Expectations" - a play based on the Charles Dickens novel.

The school's thespians have won the state's One-Act Play championship four times since 1996. The FHS theater department has won more awards than any other school's theater department in Class 4A.

Friendswood HS students also placed first in the UIL's 4A state academic contest. The students placed in nearly every academic catefory including accounting, current issues, writing, math, science, and journalism. The high school has won the state's 4A academic championship eight times since 1998.

Athletically - Friendswood claimed district titles in football, volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls golf, boys and girls swimming, team tennis, and baseball.

The football team won a first-ever Class 4A Region III crown and advanced to the 4A state semifinals giving them the most successful season on the gridiron in 35 years. The Mustangs won the Class 2A state title in 1973.

The girls soccer team won their fourth straight 4A Region III title and advanced for the fourth consecutive year to the state soccer tournament.

While the boys and girls swim teams had a banner season with district and regional championships -- Cole Cragin set two state and one national swim record at the state swim meet on the UT campus where he will be swimming next year. He was complimented by fellow UT signee Caroline McElhany who also set two state marks in her events.

Friendswood scored 92 points to nip Waco Midway who finished second with 90 points. Dallas Highland Park, who has been one of the dominating schools in the past, finished third with 84 points. They were followed by Boerne Champion (80), Austin Lake Travis (78), Canyon Randall (78), Brenham (68), Mesquite Poteet (62), Magnolia (60), Dripping Springs (58) and Richardson Pearce (58).

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