Lutheran South has plenty of reasons to celebrate with freshmen capturing individual state championships in TAPPS tennis and track.

Loreal Curtis won two gold medals and a silver at last week's TAPPS State Track and Field Championships in Waco with victories in the Class 5A girls 400 meters (57.83 seconds) and 200 (25.77), and as a member of the second-place 1,600 relay team.

Curtis just missed the TAPPS 5A 200 state record of 25.46.

"I noticed that, and it's just part of an outstanding season for Curtis," Lutheran South coach Gene Benson said. "At our level, Curtis has been very competitive and she's won a lot of events this year, and she's only a freshman."

Curtis, who scored more than half of the Lady Pioneers state points (24 of 47), ran the first leg of the 1,600 relay (4:09.27), with senior Ciara Macaulay second, junior Holly Marshall third and sophomore Brandi Wells anchoring.

Marshall added a state bronze in the 800 (2:29.76), and Wells was fourth in the 100 hurdles (16.86) and sixth in the 300 hurdles (50.42) for points in three state events.

"This is Marshall's first year in the 800 meters, so she is looking forward to an even better year next season," Benson said.

With only four girls competing, Lutheran South finished within striking distance of TAPPS 5A champion Arlington Grace Prep (76), and other top finishers - Awty (62), Tomball Concordia (56), Argyle Liberty (51) and Tyler T.K. Gorman (49).

"We're always hoping to increase our numbers, and we have a pretty good eighth-grade class coming up, and we try to add a few every year," Benson said. "Having athletes like Curtis helps because it makes others want to be a part of it."

Another freshman, Stuart Kenyon, won a TAPPS 5A state title in boys singles recently at the State Tennis Tournament in Waco.

Lutheran South coach Trey Senney also had freshman Denissia Gonzales finish as the state runner-up in 5A girls singles.

"We're proud of all of our student athletes and it's a great pleasure when they do well at state events against the best from other schools in Texas," Lutheran South athletics director Gary Himmler said. "Our coaches and athletes put in a lot of hard work and hours, and it paid off with some high finishes at state."