2024 Year In Review
Each year TTL Sports Media covers around 150 sporting competitions in Central Texas, which are comprised of hundreds of unique moments and thousands of special images. These are some of the most memorable moments from those events. We hope you enjoy them now, as much as we did then.
January 24, 2024 – Rivalries games are always emotional. And emotions run no higher than the rivalry between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma. Oklahoma head coach Jennie Baranczyk calls in the play as her team went on to defeat Texas, 91-to-87, on Texas’ home court. That game, so early in the season, eventually decided the Big 12 Women’s Conference winner. Texas rebounded by winning the Big 12 Conference Championship.
February 4, 2024 – Texas women’s head coach Vic Schaefer is a perfectionist. He acknowledges his teams will never attain perfection, but he won’t accept his team not playing to their potential. Here Schaefer kicks his jacket across the court with 44.3 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The #12 Texas Longhorns never looked back as they defeated the #2 Kansas State Jayhawks by a final score of 61-to-54. The win was Texas’ third consecutive and second straight over a top 15 opponent.
February 17, 2024 - Vic Schaefer’s began coaching in 1990 for Sam Houston State University, where in seven seasons he compiled a less than stellar record of 80-110. Schaefer then joined Gary Blair as an assistant couch, first at Arkansas and then at Texas A&M, where he spent the next 15 years refining his craft. Schaefer’s big opportunity came when he moved to Mississippi State, and then the University of Texas, where he won his 400th game in the 2023/24 season. Here Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte presents Schaefer with a basketball to commemorate his 400th win.
February 17, 2024 – On the same day that Vic Schaefer was honored for this 400th career coaching victory, he also won his 100th game at the University of Texas. Here his players celebrated the moment after an 81-60 win over the Iowa State University Cyclones.
February 25, 2024 - The college baseball season starts so early one could arguably call it winter ball. A hallmark to the start of each season are the Classics, a weekend round robin that pits four high caliber team in non-conference play. Washington State Cougars won the 2024 Round Rock Classic. Here Kansas’ Lenny Ashby can’t find the handle on this flyball, giving Kentucky’s Patrick Herrera a triple.
March 1, 2024 – Professional tennis player Danielle Collins included the ATX Open as one the stops in her farewell tour. Collins has a highly aggressive playing style that has been described as "fearless," "ferocious," and "fun to watch." Austin saw little of those attributes as Collins withdrew from Open because of injury. In October, Collins announced she had changed her mind about retiring and would play on in 2025.
March 2, 2024 – The Moody Center is known to put on a great show. Not only is it the home to the Texas men’s and women’s basketball teams, it is also the largest revenue grossing arena of it size in the world (10,000 to 15,000 capacity category). Here Moody Center puts on an indoor fireworks display for team introductions on Senior Night.
March 2, 2024 – Huge night for the Neighborhood Longhorn Program! 10,364 fans turned out to cheer-on the Longhorns on Senior Night in their game against BYU. Each year Texas head coach Vic Schaefer challenges the fans to attend Senior Night by donating $10,000 of his own money to the Neighborhood Longhorn Program for a full house. Numerous individuals and organization participate in the charitable event, raising the total donation to $167,500.
March 3, 2024 – Austin is home to a very diverse, but little known, array of professional sports. A recent addition is the ATX Open, professional women’s tennis tournament, which is in its second year. The ATX Open is part of the WTA Tour and is a WTA 250 tournament. This year saw an all-Chinese final with Xiyu Wang defeating Yue Yuan in the at the Westwood Country Club.
March 5, 2024 – All eyes are on Texas A&M shortstop Ali Camarillo as he catches Texas’ Porter Brown’s pop-up. The infrequent matchup between the Aggies and the University of Texas will be a regular occurrence between the longtime rivals as the Longhorns join the SEC. Immediately after the college world series, Texas recruited Aggie head coach Jim Schlossnagle to intensify the rivalry.
March 16, 2024 – Professional soccer (aka European football) is a full contact sport, like American football, but without the pads. Here Diego Rubio tumbles to the pitch competing for the header against Damion Lowe in the match between the Austin FC and the Philadelphia Union.
March 24, 2024 – A fan tries to look nonchalant as he sits next to NBA great Kevin Durant in Texas women’s second round March Madness contest. It has been rumored that Durant is part of a prospective ownership group that hopes to being a WNBA team to Austin.
March 28, 2024 – Leo Neugebauer claimed his third-straight Texas Relays decathlon title, breaking the Texas Relays record for the second year in a row with a score of 8,708 points. Neugebauer's score marks the third-best score in a decathlon in NCAA history behind his own collegiate record and Kyle Garland's of Georgia. Neugebauer went on to win a silver medal in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
April 2, 2024 – Texas Stars forward Nick Caamano celebrates a record-breaking night against the Colorado Eagles. Caamano completed his first professional hat trick late in the game and then added a fourth goal against an empty net.
April 6, 2024 – Expectations were high for the Austin FC and striker Sebastian Driussi for the 2024 season. It was hoped the high-paid designated player could reclaim his stride and replicate his 22-goal performance of 2022. Unfortunately, moments like this goal celebration were few, with the Argentinian finding the back of the net only seven times in the season.
April 8, 2024 – A once in a lifetime event came to central Texas as a full solar eclipse stretched across the United States, to the New England states. This eclipse was known as the “Great American Eclipse.” The last total solar eclipse of similar magnitude happed in 1878 and the next will not occur until 2317. Unfortunately, cloudy sky obscured the eclipse for much of central Texas.
April 10, 2024 – The University of Texas has long regarded Texas State University as a bothersome kid brother. Those roles changed, at least in baseball, as the Longhorns split a home and away series against the Bobcats. Here Texas State’s Alex Gonzales celebrates a three-run home run, leading to a 7-3 victory over Texas.
April 13, 2024 – MotoGP is one of two events that makes Austin a destination for international sports since first coming to Austin in 2013. MotoGP is the world’s premier motorcycle racing championship. COTA's challenging layout, featuring significant elevation changes and a variety of corners, has made it a favorite among riders.
April 19, 2024 – The Texas Stars, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, qualified for the Calder Cup Championship play with a record of 33 wins, 33 losses, 4 overtime losses and 2 shootout loses. The Stars defeated the Manitoba Moose in the first championship round but fell to the Milwaukee Admirals in five games in the second round.
April 24, 2024 – Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max “Mad Max” Scherzer brings out the fans. Scherzer was one of three Cy Young winners that visited Dell Diamond this season as part of their rehab. Scherzer was acquired by the Texas Rangers, MBL affiliate of the Round Rock Express, but had difficulty overcoming health challenges, dealing with a herniated disc, arm fatigue, nerve issues and a season ending hamstring injury.
April 24, 2024 – You can’t keep Don Sanders away from baseball. Sanders, the founder of the investment firm Sanders Morris, was a member of the ownership that purchased the bankrupt Houston Astros in 1979. He later teamed with MLB pitcher Nolan Ryan to form Ryan Sanders Baseball, the owners of the Round Rock Express (AAA) and the San Antonio Missions (AA). Here the 88-year-old turns out to see Max Scherzer.
April 24, 2024 – Baseball can be cruel sport. Sometimes very talented players are never allowed to advance because the roster above them is crowded with talent. Such was the case of Elier Hernandez who left the Texas Rangers for a lucrative seven-figure salary at the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball. Hernandez had been playing with the Round Rock Express, the AAA affiliate of the Ranges, since the 2021 season.
April 25, 2024 – Hockey fans are never shy about expressing their feelings. Such was the case in the game between the Manitoba Moose and the Texas Stars. The Stars went on to defeat the Moose, 2-0, despite being out-shot 41-22 and over the objections of the fans.
April 27, 2024 – Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver was the man of the match, earning a clean sheet against the LA Galaxy and winning 2-nil. Stuver was one of the few shining stars for the team, as expectations were high but achievement was low. Austin failed to make the playoff for the second season in a row.
April 27, 2024 – An old friend returned to the Q2 pitch, this time sporting the colors of the opposing team. Diego Fagundez was one of first player signed to the Austin FC in 2021 and scored the first goal in the franchise’s history. Fagundez was a fan favorite and it came as a great disappointed when Fagundez was traded to the LA Galaxy. The move was called “desperate, over-reactionary and frankly tone-deaf.” Here Fagundez appears with Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver.
May 24, 2024 – Texas A&M’s Trinity Cannon is greeted by her teammates as she crosses home plate after homering. The Aggies fell to the Texas Longhorns 6-5 in the Super Regional round of the NCAA Softball Championships. Texas advanced in the tournament, eventually losing in the championship’s finals.
May 30, 2024 – Central Texas was in an extended drought, but mother nature still found a way to interrupt a few games. Here the Round Rock Express’ Dustin Harris returns to the dugout amidst a rain shower.
June 12, 2024 – This has the looks of a religious revival, but it’s not. Here umpire Stevn Jaschinski calls timeout as the Round Rock Express’ Blaine Crim gives thanks for his triple.
June 19, 2024 – This image is symbolic of the Austin FC’s season: they were all wet. Austin finished 10th in the MLS Western Conference with a record of 11 wins, 14 losses and 9 draws. Here Timothy Tillman and Jhojan Valencia vie for the ball as waves of rain went from sprinkles to downpours, making the game uncomfortable for the players and some fans.
June 26, 2024 – The University of Texas athletics programs are known for their fight, with that fight leading to success. For the third time in four years Texas was awarded the Directors Cup, an award recognizing the overall success of their athletics programs on the strength of their NCAA Championships performance.
July 3, 2024 – There is no better place to be than at a baseball game on the 4th of July! This year the Round Rock Express were on the road on July 4th, so they celebrated on July 3rd.
July 6, 2024 – Gyasi Zardes celebrates his goal for the Austin FC in a match played against the New York City FC. Unfortunately for Zardes, the team, and the fans, these celebrations were few and far between. Austin opted to buy-out the one year remaining on his contract at a cost of $1 million. The buy-out will not count against the team’s 2025 salary cap.
July 13, 2024 – This banner, saying "Austin Deserves Better #WolfOut," circled Q2 Stadium before the game the game between the Austin FC and the Seattle Sounders. Turns out the banner was a foretelling of the future. Head Josh Wolf was released at the end of the season.
July 19, 2024 – Three-time Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw was the second of three Cy Young winners to make a rehab appearance at Dell Diamond. Here Kershaw warms-up before the game between the Oklahoma City Baseball Club, AAA affiliate of the LA Dodgers, and the Round Rock Express.
July 26, 2024 – You didn't need to hear him to know what he was saying... Austin FC with the win. Austin FC captain Alex Ring shouts as Austin defeats the Pumas UNAM, 3-2, in the Leagues Cup 2024 tournament. The Leagues cups pits teams from MLS and Liga MX.
July 30, 2024 – Another fan favorite to move on from the Round Rock Express was Davis Wendzel. Wendzel was known for his long ball, leading the Pacific Coast League with 30 home runs while also driving in 74 runs. Here he goes yard against the El Paso Chihuahuas. Wendzel was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for cash.
August 15, 2024 – Trinity Byars hurdles goalkeeper Olivia Dietrich and breaks for the goal. The #17 Texas Longhorns went on to defeat the University of Houston Cougars, 1-nil. Expectations were high for Byars as she led the program in nearly every offensive category. Unfortunately, a ACL injury ended her collegiate career. Byars signed with the San Diego Wave FC of the National Women’s Soccer League at season's end.
August 25, 2024 – The Texas Longhorns women’s soccer teams sing the Eyes of Texas at the start of the University’s inaugural year in the SEC. The women played the university’s first competitive contest in the SEC and won the university's first SEC conference championship.
August 27, 2024 – Rehabbing Texas Rangers pitcher Jake deGrom heads to the dugout with catcher Sam Huff. deGrom was the third Cy Young award winning pitcher to do rehab at Dell Diamond.
September 4, 2024 – Every wonder how they build a sheet of ice for professional ice hockey? We did too. We took a behind the scenes look over the Labor Day weekend as the crew at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park lay down one thin sheet of ice on another, then painted the ice, and then laid down more ice. The process took an entire week.
September 7. 2024 – Texas State University President Kelly Damphousse did something no other University President had done, make the school relevant in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. Working with athletic director Don Coryell, Damphousse secured a head coach that led the Bobcats to two bowl games and engaged the student body in game attendance. Here Damphousse leads the team onto the field prior to their rivalry game against UT San Antonio.
September 7, 2024 – Texas State University football head coach GJ Kinne celebrates with his family the first-ever victory over rival UT San Antonio. Kinne’s team didn’t just defeat the Roadrunners, they embarrassed them, winning 49-10 before a sold-out stadium.
October 6, 2024 – 2024 saw the return of the AVP professional volleyball series to Austin, but in a slightly different format. The series adopted a team-play format, similar to World Team Tennis, versus a traditional double-elimination tournament. Here six-time AVP Champion Betsi Flint prepares service.
November 13, 2024 – Don’t underestimate the resourcefulness and helpfulness of the cheerleading squads. Here the Spirit team rescues a basketball stuck between the rim and the backboard during the game between Texas and Lamar.
November 15, 2024 – University of Texas senior Holly Ward made program history by scoring four goals against the Boston University Terriers in the first round of the women’s soccer NCAA Championship, leading the team to 4-1 win. The game was Ward’s last on her home pitch.
November 16, 2024 – Texas State cheerleaders have a tradition of racing across the end zone with the school's flag when their team scores. Those cheerleaders got a real workout as the Texas State University Bobcats defeated the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, 58-3.
November 20, 2024 – Sandro Fabian was the last of the Texas Rangers prospects to leave the team’s system for better opportunity. Fabian signed a $5.8 million contract with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Nippon Profession Baseball league. Fabian was one of my favorites, going by the nickname Lenny, always willing to pose for a photograph. Fabian was also a clutch hitter, coming up big when the situation required. Here Fabian celebrates one of his home runs.