When Kevin Spruill came to Lake Creek High School in 2020, not only was the school itself still in its infancy, but the girls track and field program was also merely scratching the surface.
Lake Creek, the second high school in Montgomery ISD, opened its doors in 2018, and Spruill, a native of Georgetown and by all accounts a lifelong resident of the Austin area took a leap to a different part of Texas with a position on both the Lions girls basketball and track and field staff.
He came to Lake Creek encouraged and armed with plenty of passed down knowledge of coaches he previously worked for, like the legendary girls basketball coach of the Georgetown Eagles, Rhonda Farney, as well as the track coach Andrew Braun.
No longer coaching basketball at Lake Creek, Spruill’s focus the past few years has been as head cross country coach in the fall and head girls track and field coach in the spring.
“The first thing that I wanted to do when I got here was to build a culture that the girls could be proud of, that represented our school, that represents our community in a positive way,” Spruill said. “Something that the girls could leave a legacy with for all those girls that are going to follow them in the future. Culture was the No. 1 thing. It takes time.”
The foundation was small at first. But interest in becoming a Lake Creek Lion track and field star has exploded in recent years.
“It’s been a blessing,” Spruill said. “It’s been awesome and a great opportunity. We started out with 13 girls in the track and field period. This year, we’re going to be pushing 60 to 65, including dual sport (athletes).”
For some – like senior sprinter Sydney Spikerman – it’s been a joy to be a part of a program of teammates she’s known since elementary school and contributors to the team that have joined along the way.
“To be a part of this team is kind of like being a part of another family,” Spikerman said. “I know that many people can say that for their sports teams and at other schools. But here, it’s a really good connection. Everyone gets along. You’re here to pick up a teammate, no matter what. We keep each other in line because we like to keep things real. It’s a blessing to be a part of.”
Spruill made it a point to identify girls on the team that could not only contribute to the success of the program on the track, but could also carry the flag of what being a Lake Creek Lion is all about.
“I had some really good leaders that have bought into it,” Spruill said. “We’ve had a little bit of success and that helps with building it as well. It’s just something you have to reinforce every single week, every single day. Everything that you, that culture has to be reinforced for it to be successful.”
One of those leaders is Hailey Johnson, a three-time state qualifier in the 800-meter run. Johnson’s work ethic and joy she brings to the program has been paramount.
“It’s so different every year and each year is improving,” Johnson said. “Starting from nothing and we’ve pretty much built it every year. I think a part of it is just the girls and the culture that we’ve built. It’s so positive every year and it just gets better, pretty much.”
A lot of teams can point to the added benefits of being a part of a team that go beyond the practices, meets and long bus rides. Quite frequently, the girls track and field team at Lake Creek feature on social media team gatherings that help with that bond. Bonds cherished for a lifetime. Bonds that can create an all-in attitude towards bigger goals.
Track and field is that team sport that combines elements of individual performances that combine to make a team in contention for championships.
The Class 5A program on the west side of Montgomery County is hoping to start the outdoor season this February with regular season meet success before turning to district, area, regional and, hopefully, state meet accomplishments.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Junior distance runner Addie Micklos said. “We just have a lot of chemistry and we’re friends outside of track, too. All of us kind of hang out in the same group, so I think that helps. On the track, we all have a lot of fun together. Coach Spruill definitely has high expectations for us.”
Lake Creek track and field athletes (from left) Sydney Spikerman, Hailey Johnson, Lucy Dewolf, Addie Micklos, Maria Ceballos and Maggie Ogorchock pose for a photo in December 2024. (Chris Zorzi/SportCast Media)