2025 TAPPS state tennis tournament: Find Monday’s results for Dallas-area programs

Published

1 year ago

April 8, 2025

2025 TAPPS state tennis tournament: Find Monday’s results for Dallas-area programs

The 2025 TAPPS state tennis tournament started Monday for Class 6A, 5A and 4A programs.

Tons of Dallas-area programs had athletes competing at Waco Regional Tennis Center. Find results from Day 1 of the competition below:

TAPPS STATE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

(at Waco Tennis Center)

MONDAY’S RESULTS

CLASS 4A

BOYS SINGLES

FIRST ROUND

Timothy Nguyen, Houston St. Thomas d. Blade Gilley, Hill Country Christian, 6-0, 6-1

Bryson Cowan, Midland Classical d. Connor Johnson, Dallas Shelton, 7-6, 7-6

Samuel Henderson, New Braunfels Christian d. Peter Liag, Northland Christian, 6-2, 6-0

Christian Norwood, Tyler Bishop Gorman d. Zac Lewis, Lubbock Christian, 6-1, 6-2

Kameron Fernandez, CC Incarnate Word d. Sean Winegard, Texas School for the Deaf, 6-0, 6-0

Bo Blauser, TC Willow Park d. John Luke Davis, Waco Vanguard, 6-1, 6-0

Luc Denis, Houston St. Francis Episcopal d. Abe Rheinheimer, Hill Country Christian, 7-5, 6-7, 11-9

Ford Myers, Dallas Shelton d. Luke Beran, Midland Classical, 6-0, 6-0

QUARTERFINALS

Timothy Nguyen, Houston St. Thomas d. Bryson Cowan, Midland Classical, 6-0, 6-0

Samuel Henderson, New Braunfels Christian d. Christian Norwood, Tyler Bishop Gorman, 6-2, 6-2

Kameron Fernandez, CC Incarnate Word d. Bo Blauser, TC Willow Park, 6-0, 6-1

Ford Myers, Dallas Shelton d. Luc Denis, Houston St. Francis Episcopal, 6-0, 6-1

DOUBLES

FIRST ROUND

Cameron Rybar-Nikhil Madappa, CC Incarnate Word d. Mason Marek-Javan Penniman, New Braunfels Christian, 6-1, 6-1

Micah Young-Ben Lin, Tyler All Saints d. Riley Belz-Jacob Kaczor, Midland Trinity, 6-5, 7-5

Grant Dillinger-Alex Malouf, Boerne Geneva d. Zirui Wang-Fabian Melgares Montano, Houston British International, 6-4, 6-1

Marc Offill-Hudson Harper, Waco Vanguard d. Troy Thompson-Bryce Fagley, FW Lake Country Chr., 6-3, 6-1

William Moore-William Craig, CC Incarnate Word d. Anderson McCollum-Cole Leidy, New Braunfels Christian, 6-3, 1-6, 10-8

Owen Adcock-Matthew Wright, Tyler All Saints d. Matthew Slatken-Marshall Morgan, Midland Trinity, 6-1, 6-2

Ray Reynolds-Teagan Fikes, Boerne Geneva d. 3Dang Kim-Owen Atherton, Houston British International, 6-4, 6-1

Jake Clark-Cooper Reed, FW Lake Country Chr. d. Cade Gum-Barrett Wood, Dallas Covenant, 6-1, 6-1

QUARTERFINALS

Cameron Rybar-Nikhil Madappa, CC Incarnate Word d. Micah Young-Ben Lin, Tyler All Saints, 6-0, 6-2

Marc Offill-Hudson Harper, Waco Vanguard d. Grant Dillinger-Alex Malouf, Boerne Geneva, 6-3, 6-2

Owen Adcock-Matthew Wright, Tyler All Saints d. William Moore-William Craig, CC Incarnate Word, 6-0, 6-0

Jake Clark-Cooper Reed, FW Lake Country Chr. d. Ray Reynolds-Teagan Fikes, Boerne Geneva, 6-3, 6-2

CLASS 4A

GIRLS SINGLES

FIRST ROUND

Sofia Figueroa, Schertz John Paul II d. Micah Breisch, TC Willow Park, 6-0, 6-0

Noelle Swanson, Houston British International d. Katie Diffenderfer, Waco Vanguard, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4

Ava Clark, FW Lake Country Christian d. Ady Stewart, Pasadena First Baptist 6-2, 6-3

Kylie Knutson, Austin Vertas d. Brynn Selby, Dallas Shelton, 6-2, 6-3

Enqi Zhang, Midland Trinity d. Claire Bailey, Schertz John Paul II, 6-2, 6-3

Landry Daniel, Bryan Brazos Christian d. Laila Abbasi, Shelton, 6-1, 6-1

Kailyn Chinikidiadi, Midland Classical d. Laura Garcia, CC Incarnate Word, 6-4, 6-3

Andrea Zamora, Dallas Christian d. Audrey Lapacka, Boerne Geneva, 6-2, 6-1

QUARTERFINALS

Sofia Figueroa, Schertz John Paul II d. Noelle Swanson, Houston British International, 6-2, 6-1

Ava Clark-Lake Country Christian d. Kylie Knutson, Austin Vertas, 6-3, 6-1

Landry Daniel, Bryan Brazos Christian d. Enqi Zhang, Midland Trinity, 6-1, 6-2

Kailyn Chinikidiadi, Midland Classical d. Andrea Zamora, Dallas Christian, 6-1, 4-6, 10-8

DOUBLES

FIRST ROUND

Mary Simpson-Siena Svendsen, Boerne Geneva d. Ida Stodal-Emilia Salerni Longo, Houston British International, 6-0, 6-3

Sofia Gil-Lauren Blaylock, Midland Trinity d. Haniyaa Irfan-Aditi Gangasni, Tyler All Saints, 6-4, 7-5

Audrey Jackson-Addy Neagel, Bryan Brazos Christian d. Raegan Lee-Gracey Merrell, Lubbock Christian, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2)

Emory Cox-Berkley Cox, Dallas Shelton d. Brooke Herring-Bailey Benson, New Braunfels Chr., 6-1, 6-0

Parker Pruett-Maggie Nelms, CC Incarnate Word d. Parker Pruett-Maggie Nelms, Incarnate Word, 7-6, 0-6, 11-9

Audrey Davis-Alex Hampe, Tyler All Saints d. Sarah Borja-Grace Piernick, Schertz John Paul II, 6-0, 6-1

Avary Bergsten-Claire Tapley, New Braunfels Christian d. Emelein Ortiz-Ana Espinosa, Houston British International, 7-5, 6-1

Gigi Molina-Joanna Thomas, Midland Trinity d. Jillian McKay-Ava Pope, Prince of Peace Christian, 6-2, 6-3

QUARTERFINALS

Mary Simpson-Siena Svendsen, Boerne Geneva d. Sofia Gil-Lauren Blaylock, Midland Trinity, 6-0, 6-4

Emory Cox-Berkley Cox, Dallas Shelton d. Audrey Jackson-Addy Neagel, Bryan Brazos Christian, 6-1, 6-1

Audrey Davis-Alex Hampe, Tyler All Saints d. Parker Pruett-Maggie Nelms, CC Incarnate Word, 6-3, 6-2

Avary Bergsten-Claire Tapley, New Braunfels Christian d. Gigi Molina-Joanna Thomas, Midland Trinity, 2-6, 6-3, 10-6

CLASS 5A

(at Waco Tennis Center)

MONDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS SINGLES

FIRST ROUND

Tucker Rannala, Aus. Regents d. Kaalan Humble, SL Fort Bend Chr., 6-0, 6-0

Dillon Edwards, Beau. Kelly d. Bowen Miller, SA Saint Mary’s Hall, 6-4, 6-1

Braden Freeby, Fort Worth Chr. d. Alejandro Camarena, Bull. Brook Hill, 6-1, 6-4

Mariano Garcia, Laredo St. Augustine d. Jude Hebert, LC Bay Area Chr., 6-2, 7-5

Anthony Tegen, Aus. Hyde Park d. Jack Fisher, TC Lubbock, 6-0, 6-0

Nathan Masturzo, Hou. Emery/Weiner d. Kyler Robinson, Midland Chr., 6-0, 6-0

Brandt Heaton, Tyler Grace d. Tomas Carbonell, Grapevine Faith, 6-0, 6-1

Alex Aronson, Hou. Emery/Weiner d. William Marlow, Vic. St. Joseph, 7-6, 4-6, 10-8

QUARTERFINALS

Tucker Rannala, Aus. Regents d. Dillon Edwards, Beau. Kelly, 6-4, 6-3

Mariano Garcia, Laredo St. Augustine d. Alejandro Camarena, Bull. Brook Hill, 6-4, 6-7, 10-3

Anthony Tegen, Aus. Hyde Park d. Nathan Masturzo, Hou. Emery/Weiner, 6-1, 6-3

Brandt Heaton, Tyler Grace d. Alex Aronson, Hou. Emery/Weiner, 6-1, 0-8, 10-2

BOYS DOUBLES

FIRST ROUND

Marcos West/Brandon Sek, Hou. Second Bapt. d. Eli Villapudua/Haden Flowers, Tyler Grace, 6-3, 6-1

Grady Bigham/Sam Shropshire, TC Lubbock d. Adam Abston/Maito Kimura, Bullard Brook Hill, 6-4, 6-1

Ash Menick/Gaige Lipscomb, SA St. Mary’s d. Mohr Sasson/Levi Leibman, Hou. Emery/Weiner, 6-2, 6-3

Luca Ferrara/Cason Burdett, FW All Saints d. Townes Schultz/Blake Mott, Aus. Regents, 6-3, 6-2

Eytan Skorupski/Benji Berzin, Hou. Emery/Weiner d. Ethan Pizarro/Camden Pizarro, San Antonio Chr., 6-4, 6-1

Jaime Montoro Pardeiro/Luke Donley, Bull. Brook Hill d. Grayson Schilling/Jaxon Cunningham, TC Lubbock, 6-1, 6-1

Grayson Borbidge/Jayden Cheng, SL Fort Bend Chr. d. Marcelo Gonzalez/Eduardo Rodriguez, Laredo St. Augustine, 6-4, 6-7, 10-4

Nate Jobe/McLane Davis, Midland Chr. d. Will Grace/Bryson Milson, The Woodlands Chr., 7-6, 6-1

QUARTERFINALS

Marcos West/Brandon Sek, Hou. Second Bapt. d. Grady BighamSam Shropshire, TC Lubbock, 6-1, 6-1

Ash Menick/Gaige Lipscomb, SA St. Mary’s d. Luca Ferrara/Cason Burdett, FW All Saints, 6-2, 6-2

Jaime Montoro Pardeiro/Luke Donley, Bull. Brook Hill d. Eytan Skorupski/Benji Berzin, Hou. Emery/Weiner, 6-1, 6-0

Nate Jobe/McLane Davis, Midland Chr. d. Grayson Borbidge/Jayden Cheng, SL Fort Bend Chr., 4-6, 7-6, 10-6

GIRLS SINGLES

FIRST ROUND

Josephine Lombardi, Hou. Emery/Weiner d. Allyson Bland, Midland Chr., 6-0, 6-0

Andria Amrit Alston, Laredo St. Augustine d. Caroline Scott, Aus. Regents, 4-6, 6-1, 10-8

Brooke Habash, FW All Saints d. Lindsey LeGrand, SL Logos, 6-2, 6-0

Ainsley Tucker, Vic. St. Joseph d. Madison Mueller, Aus. Hyde Park, 6-1, 6-1

Lucia Hernandez, Spring Frassati d. Olivia Aspinall, FW Southwest Chr., 6-2, 6-0

Julian William, Bishop Dunne d. Anna Clare Usner, The Woodlands Chr. 6-2, 6-0

Emmy Brounes, Hou. Emery/Weiner d. Kate Barkemeyer, FW All Saints, 6-3, 3-6, 10-3

Natalia Chapa, SA St. Mary’s Hall d. Claire Burkett, Tyler Grace, 6-0, 6-0

QUARTERFINALS

Josephine Lombardi, Hou. Emery/Weiner d. Andria Amrit Alston, Laredo St. Augustine, 6-2, 6-0

Ainsley Tucker, Vic. St. Joseph d. Brooke Habash, FW All Saints, 7-6, 6-4, 7-2

Julian William, Bishop Dunne d. Lucia Hernandez, Spring Frassati, 6-2, 6-1

Natalia Chapa, SA St. Mary’s Hall d. Emmy Brounes, Hou. Emery/Weiner, 6-2, 6-2

GIRLS DOUBLES

FIRST ROUND

Juliet Lombardi/Elli Totz, Hou. Emery/Weiner d. Shelby Frank/Kennedy Wedgeworth, Grapevine Faith, 6-2, 6-0

Kenna Vandergrift/Addie Roundtree, Midland Chr. d. Reese Owens/Ava Scott, Aus. Regents, 6-2, 4-6, 11-9

Elizabeth Johnson/Farrah Childs, SL Fort Bend Chr. d. Ana Karen Gonzalez/Anna Herbig, Laredo St. Augustine, 6-2, 7-5

Carlota Diez Lopez/Nele Schultz, Bull. Brook Hill d. Abby Ivey/Hope Blazek, SL Logos, 7-5, 6-0

Genevieve Hercule/Valentina Ndesandjo, SA Saint Mary’s Hall d. Audrey Kuntz/Lauren Kuntz, SL Logos, 6-4, 6-3

Addison Jacobs/Jaiden Fisher, Midland Chr. d. Cassidy Clark/Maggie Hamlin, Bull. Brook Hill, 6-2, 6-1

Camila Villareal/Anissa Quesada, Laredo St. Augustine d. Presley Taylor/Georgia Kitten, TC Lubbock, 4-6, 6-2, 10-7

Dylan Scott/Addy Teixeira, Aus. Regents d. Molly McFarland/Sophia Buehler, Hou. Second Bapt., 6-1, 7-5

QUARTERFINALS

Juliet Lombardi/Elli Totz, Hou. Emery/Weiner d. Kenna Vandergrift/Addie Roundtree, Midland Chr., 6-0, 6-1

Carlota Diez Lopez/Nele Schultz, Bull. Brook Hill d. Elizabeth Johnson/Farrah Childs, SL Fort Bend Chr., 6-4, 6-3

Addison Jacobs/Jaiden Fisher, Midland Chr. d. Genevieve Hercule/Valentina Ndesandjo, SA Saint Mary’s Hall, 6-2, 7-6

Dylan Scott/Addy Teixeira, Aus. Regents d. Camila Villareal/Anissa Quesada, Laredo St. Augustine, 6-1`, 6-2.

CLASS 6A

(at Waco Tennis Center)

MONDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS SINGLES

FIRST ROUND

Blake Medici, SA Antonian d. Hayse Hermes, TCA-Addison, 6-0, 6-0

Ghaven Mittal, Tom. Concordia d. Graham Engstrom, Prestonwood, 6-2, 6-1

Alexander Boecking, Aus. St. Dominic Savio d. Graham Preissler, John Paul II, 6-1, 6-3

Rahul Venkat, Hou. The Village d. Julian Pedroza, EP Cathedral 6-1, 6-2

Noah Kitayama, SA TMI d. Sebastian Herrera, EP Cathedral, 6-1, 6-1

Roger Shen, Hou. The Vilage d. Jonathan Frasier, Frisco Legacy, 6-0, 6-1

Tomas Bruzoni, Aus. St. Michael’s d. Cole Krueger, Bishop Lynch, 6-0, 6-1

Noah Whitman, Parish Episcopal d. Everett Neason, Hou. St. Thomas, 6-0, 6-1

QUARTERINALS

Blake Medici, SA Antonian d. Ghaven Mittal, Tom. Concordia, 6-1, 6-3

Rahul Venkat, Hou. The Village d. Alexander Boecking, Aus. St. Dominic Savio, 3-6, 6-0, 10-4

Roger Shen, Hou. The Vilage d. Noah Kitayama, SA TMI, 6-1, 6-1

Noah Whitman, Parish Episcopal d. Tomas Bruzoni, Aus. St. Michael’s, 6-1, 6-1

BOYS DOUBLES

FIRST ROUND

Andy Wu/Alex Pimenov, Hou. The Village d. Alejandro Kolsterpassos/Saoirse Langford, Bishop Lynch, 6-1, 6-0

Andre Boecking/Andres Yanez, Aus. St. Dominic Savio d. Eugene Soto/Santiago Ceballos, EP Cathedral, 6-2, 6-1

Zachary Nguyen/Leyton Day, John Paul II d. Luca Vallone/Eli Zamore, Hou. St. Thomas, 6-0, 3-6, 13-11

Steele Goodman/Pablo Avina, SA Antonian d. Tyler Delatore/Jacob Schwebel, FW Nolan, 6-0, 6-1

Lingchuan Wang/Sungmo Kang, Hou. The Village d. Graham Thomas/Jack Thomas, Frisco Legacy, 6-3, 6-1

Miguel Hernandez/Alejandro Orozco, EP Cathedral d. Max Steele/Kais El Hayania, SA TMI, 6-2, 6-2

Braden Gallagher/Austin Allgood, John Paul II d. Maximus Van Dyke/Zack Moser, Hou. St. Thomas, 6-3, 1-6, 10-6

Mikel Sanchez/John DeGerolami, SA Antonian d. Neel Pudu/Vibhav Bantu, Parish Episcopal, 6-1, 6-2

QUARTERFINALS

Andy Wu/Alex Pimenov, Hou. The Village d. Andre Boecking/Andres Yanez, Aus. St. Dominic Savio, 6-1, 6-1

Steele Goodman/Pablo Avina, SA Antonian d. Zachary Nguyen/Leyton Day, John Paul II, 6-0, 6-2

Miguel Hernandez/Alejandro Orozco, EP Cathedral d. Lingchuan Wang/Sungmo Kang, Hou. The Village, 6-3, 7-5

Mikel Sanchez/John DeGerolami, SA Antonian d. Braden Gallagher/Austin Allgood, John Paul II, 6-0, 6-1

GIRLS SINGLES

FIRST ROUND

Erin Gan-Dy, Ursuline d. Katherine Wang, Hou. St. Agnes, 6-1, 6-0

Soledad Surbaugh, SA Antonian d. Ciana Chavez, EP Loretto, 6-1, 6-0

Paige McCullum, Hou. St. Pius d. Leah Thayil, SA Incarnate Word, 6-0, 6-0

Caroline Murphy, Parish Episcopal d. Mya Dennis, John Paul II, 7-5, 6-4

Mihika Gupta, Ursuline d. Milli Garala, Hou. St. Agnes, 6-3, 6-2

Isabella Zertuche, SA TMI d. Caris Collins, TCA-Addison, 6-0, 6-1

Daniella Rodriguez Gnecco, Hou. The Village d. Ava Pedraza, SA Antonian, 6-2, 6-1

Yael Modrykamien, Parish Episcopal d. Alex Gardsbane, Bishop Lynch, 6-3, 6-0

QUARTERFINALS

Erin Gan-Dy, Ursuline d. Soledad Surbaugh, SA Antonian, 6-0, 6-1

Paige McCullum, Hou. St. Pius d. Caroline Murphy, Parish Episcopal, 6-2, 6-3

Isabella Zertuche, SA TMI d. Mihika Gupta, Ursuline, 6-2, 6-2

Yael Modrykamien, Parish Episcopal d. Daniella Rodriguez Gnecco, Hou. The Village, 6-0, 6-1

GIRLS DOUBLES

FIRST ROUND

Catherine Hochman/Marie Theresa Ducayet, Ursuline d. Sydney Anderson/Sarah Rivas, SA Antonian, 6-3, 6-0

Ayda Junker/Josie Norkus, Hou. St. Agnes d. Reese Cherry/Clary Bogda, TCA-Addison, 6-3, 6-1

Vickie Duke/Isa Rangel, Aus. St. Michael d. Emily Jackson/Raquel Seaman, John Paul II, 6-0, 6-4

Lauren Maughon/Jocelyn Wang, Hou. The Village d. Braley Campbell/Reese Wender, Parish Episcopal, 6-3, 6-6, 10-2

AnnaGrace Shuford/Ashley Paredes, Ursuline d. Kaajal Kella/Mallory Moran, SA TMI, 7-6(7-2), 6-2

Lily Brewer/Lauren Boylan, TCA-Addison d. Erin Baumeister/Gabriella Maggio, Hou. Incarnate Word, 4-6, 6-2, 11-9

Miranda Serra/Emma Avina, SA Antonian d. Darby Conaway/Leighton Faramchi, John Paul II, 6-2, 6-5

Alyssa Psifidis/Lily Ana Hilpert, Hou. St. Agnes d. Isabella Malone/Nidhi Vankawala, Parish Episcopal, 6-2, 6-0

QUARTERFINALS

Catherine Hochman/Marie Theresa Ducayet, Ursuline d. Ayda Junker/Josie Norkus, Hou. St. Agnes, 6-1, 6-3

Vickie Duke/Isa Rangel, Aus. St. Michael d. Lauren Maughon/Jocelyn Wang, Hou. The Village, 2-6, 6-0, 10-2

AnnaGrace Shuford/Ashley Paredes, Ursuline d. Lily Brewer/Lauren Boylan, TCA-Addison, 6-6, 6-0, 10-2

Miranda Serra/Emma Avina, SA Antonian d. Alyssa Psifidis/Lily Ana Hilpert, Hou. St. Agnes, 3-6, 6-4, 13-11

MIXED DOUBLES (4A, 5A, 6A)

FIRST ROUNDS

A Antonian d. Veritas, 8-1

TCA-Addison d, Vanguard, 8-5

Fort Worth Chr. d. John Paul II, 8-6

TC Willow Park d. New Braunfels Chr., 8-4

Frassati d. Midland Chr., 8-1

SA TMI d. TC Midland, 8-0

Shelton d. Boerne Geneva, 8-3

Aus. Hyde Park d. Tyler All Saints, 8-1

Aus. St. Michael’s d. Hou. The Village, 8-3

Tyler Grace d. Beau. Kelly, 8-3

The Woodlands Chr. d. Parish Episcopal, 8-7 (7-3)

Logos Prep d. Grapevine Faith, 8-1

Prestonwood Chr. d. Lake Country, 8-2

Aus. St. Dominic Savio d. FW All Saints, 8-2.

On Twitter/X: @SportsDayHS

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How to buy France World Cup semifinal soccer tickets in Dallas

Published

7 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

How to buy France World Cup semifinal soccer tickets in Dallas

Editor’s note: Follow LIVE World Cup quarterfinal coverage today

France and its dynamic duo of Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé appear practically unstoppable.

France is advancing to the World Cup semifinals after a 2-0 victory over Morocco on Thursday afternoon thanks to goals from both players in the second half as Mbappé has tied Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot lead with hist eighth goals of the tournament.

SHOP: France semifinal World Cup tickets

Now, France will await the winner of Friday’s Spain vs. Belgium match. The semifinal will be held on Tuesday, July 14 in Dallas, when the team will look to secure its third-consecutive World Cup Final.

With the electrifying play of Mbappé and Dembélé, it’s hard to pass up the opportunity to buy tickets to the team’s next match at AT&T Stadium.

Here’s everything you need to know to buy France semifinal World Cup tickets:

Shop France semifinal tickets

France semifinal World Cup tickets

As of publication, get-in ticket prices for France’s semifinals match in Dallas start at $2,066.

If you’re looking to see Mbappé and the entire France team up close, the cheapest lower level Hall of Fame ticket starts at $3,571 in Section 121.

France quarterfinals game information

When: Tuesday, July 14
Where: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
What time: 3 p.m. ET
TV – English : FOX – Fubo
TV – Spanish: Telemundo – Fubo
Tickets: Starting at $2,066

France 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule, results

IMAGE

France vs. Senegal – WIN 3-1
France vs. Iraq – WIN 3-0
France vs. Norway – WIN 4-1
France vs. Sweden – WIN 3-0
France vs. Paraguay – WIN 1-0
France vs. Morocco (quarterfinals) – WIN 2-0
July 14 (semifinals) – France vs. Belgium/Spain at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas – Shop tickets

When are the semifinals for the FIFA World Cup?

The semifinals will take place on Tuesday, July 14 and Wednesday, July 15. The two games will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

We don’t know which teams will face off in the semifinals just yet, but the bracket is set so once the quarterfinal matchups are set, we will have a clearer picture. Until then, you can shop the semifinal game tickets below:

Tuesday, July 14 – Winner of France/Morocco vs. Spain/Belgium/at 3 p.m. ET in Arlington, Texas – Get tickets
Wednesday, July 15 – Winner of Norway/England vs. Argentina/Switzerland at 3 p.m. ET in Atlanta – Get tickets

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final?

The final match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium just outside of New York City.

As of publication, the cheapest available tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final start at $8,404. If you want to get closer to the action, lower-level (category 1) tickets are starting at $21,783.

Shop France World Cup tickets

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Dallas’ digital creator economy is booming. Burnout is too.

Published

17 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

Dallas’ digital creator economy is booming. Burnout is too.

The glitz. The glam. The parties. The trips. The allure of high fashion bedazzled with a life of luxury. As with much of the filter-polished nature of social media, all is not as it appears.

For Shaun Balkum, he was living a dream as a high-fashion model with ties to New York and as one of Dallas’ most recognizable faces. The statuesque king of pose was living the high life — or so it seemed. Gracing the runways and booked for Dallas’ marquee fashion shows like DIFFA, Balkum appeared to have it all. Behind closed doors, though, was a past riddled with pain, trauma, suicide ideation and repeated bouts with homelessness. With nowhere to turn and little help, he internalized in the dark, not knowing that many of his peers were also struggling in the same deafening silence.

“Being in the industry for about 15 years now, I’ve been through a lot,” the 34-year-old father of two tells the Observer. “Working in New York at a young age and seeing so many people going down different, dark paths, and the industry just eating them up, was eye-opening for me. A lot of people on the outside will wonder ‘why is this actor on drugs’ or ‘why is there so much suicide within these careers?’ What they don’t realize are the things that these individuals put themselves through. They don’t express or talk about it because they feel like they’re going to be judged at the end of the day by their peers and family.”

Shuan Balkum is a model and influencer who wants to provide more mental health resources to Dallas’ creative community.

Going digital-second

With the dominance of a digital-first culture, creatives today face unprecedented pressure, from constant content demands, online comparison, scrutiny, burnout and isolation. According to a recent study conducted by Creators for Mental Health, an organization that aims to provide resources to digital creators, approximately 1 out of 10 creators say that they’ve experienced suicidal thoughts, with nearly 2 out of 3 creators admitting to mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Higher incidence rates rank even more among tenured creators.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), suicide continues to be one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. The rate observed among influencers is nearly double the NIH’s reported national average.

And, as online content creation has become an increasingly lucrative path, market oversaturation has fueled added stressors of competition and gig instability.

“There’s an influx of constant competition,” says Jessica Serna, a veteran influencer behind My Curly Adventures. “People don’t realize that it’s not enough just to take good pictures and videos. A lot of times there’s way more going on [behind the scenes] so that you can stand out amongst 100,000 other influencers and creators. I think that’s where the burnout comes – it’s the pressure to stay above in such a competitive field.”

In videos captured across the country, the Dallas-based Serna is all smiles and full of vibrancy as she and her husband traverse turquoise Caribbean waters and dive deep into the ocean blue. Posting daily, she has amassed an audience of over 300,000 Instagram followers sourcing tips on travel, lifestyle and food. Over on TikTok, her reach extends even further with 571,000 followers.

While Serna admits that all that glitters can be gold in the influencer lifestyle, there can also be a dullness when creators face the not-so-glamorous business side of being a creative in order to stand out among a sea of others.

“This has been the most stressful job I’ve ever [had],” Serna says. “I go to sleep thinking about things. I wake up and there’s the pressure of… so many businesses that don’t value your time, or wait two weeks to issue you a paycheck, and then want something the next day, only to ghost you again for another three weeks. Or, a paycheck that you were supposed to get three months ago is now taking its time because it got caught up in something corporate.”

Late paychecks and the pressure to be perfect are only the tip of the iceberg of what creatives experience.

In a recent Youtube confessional titled “being a full time influencer ruined my life,” Dallas creator Ashley Devonna candidly detailed what life was really like for her behind the filters, hashtags and sponsorships. After a 4-year hiatus to recover, the Texas Woman’s University graduate is back, but now on her own terms. Many others are still stuck in the cycle.

Finding community on and offline

Balkum cites a lack of community and safe spaces for honest reflection, as well as a shortage of affordable mental health resources, as inspiring him to launch his House of Balkum Foundation, a 501(c)(3) initiative stemming from the inadequacies of the fashion industry, and now offering emergency relief assistance, emotional support, community gatherings and mental health and wellness resources. His upcoming event, Saving the Creatives —dubbed the “church for creatives” — will feature an all-star panel of Dallas’ top talent including Celebrity Stylist KJ Moody, Actor and Model Kamen Casey, Photographer Jamie House and others, to discuss the challenges suffocating the industry, but also to provide solutions and support.

“We’re all intertwined in a way, and we all need each other,” Balkum says. “You know, the models need the photographers, and the photographers need the makeup artists, and the makeup artists need the models. At the end of the day, I want creatives to understand that they finally have somebody here for them, and that’s looking after them. For all of the creatives that have felt alone, that have struggled in silence – we hear you. You can talk to us and we’ll provide whatever help that we can for you.”

RM11 is an organization that aims to support creators in entrepreneurship while offering expanded access to mental health programs.

Dallas startup RM11 is on a similar mission. The creator-first platform was founded by Natasha August and boasts numerous perks that allow creators to own their relationships with their followers, receive fair monetization and build a sustainable business – and, hopefully, a less stressful one.

“Creators are entrepreneurs in every sense of the word,” August says. “They’re building brands, communities, revenue streams and entire businesses around their voice and audience. The more I learned about the creator economy, the more I realized how underserved creators really are. They’re expected to be talent, a marketer, customer support, content strategist, community manager and business owner all at once. I saw an opportunity to build something that gave creators more control, better tools and a more supportive way to monetize directly from their audience.”

Recently, RM11 strategically partnered with both Revive Health Therapy and Creators 4 Mental Health – a major step in its mission to support creator well-being, reduce burnout and build a healthier creator ecosystem through its CreatorCare approach. RM11 creators have access to licensed mental health professionals who specialize in creator-specific stressors, as well as affordable, flexible therapy options, community support and wellness tools to help manage burnout and emotional fatigue.

“One of the biggest misconceptions that the general public has is that creating content is easy or not a ‘real job.’ In reality, creators are running small businesses, often by themselves, while also putting their personality, image and personal life in front of the public,” August says. “There’s also a misconception that if someone has followers or makes money online, they must be confident, happy or unaffected by negative comments and pressure. But creators can experience burnout, isolation, anxiety and emotional exhaustion just like anyone else, sometimes even more intensely because their work is so personal and public.”

According to a 2026 study with data from Social Blade, Texas ranks fourth among the nation’s largest hubs for online influencers, accounting for roughly 8% of the most-followed creators. The state is also home to 1 out of 10 creators ranked in the top 500 of the creator ecosystem. If you want to make it to the top of the creator economy, Dallas is where you come. Therefore, Dallas-based businesses like House of Balkum and RM11 are not only essential but necessary with growing demand.

“Being an influencer is easy, but when something’s easy, and you actually want to be successful in it, that’s when it gets harder than people even realize. I’m extremely grateful for it though,” Serna says. “It’s so funny how something can be so simultaneously amazing and so draining at the same time.”

Saving the Creatives will be hosted by The House of Balkum on Sunday, July 12, at 6:00 p.m. at Four Day Weekend, 5601 Sears Street. Tickets are available for $35.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. You can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or chat via 988lifeline.org for free, confidential support 24/7.

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Dallas, TX

Dallas millionaire files lawsuit against groundwater district

Published

1 day ago

July 9, 2026

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Dallas millionaire files lawsuit against groundwater district

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Two companies tied to a Dallas investor filed a federal lawsuit to lift a moratorium in an ongoing East Texas water dispute, alleging a groundwater district has illegally blocked their efforts to extract water from beneath land they own.

This is the latest legal action taken in a growing battle over groundwater resources in East Texas.

Kyle Bass, a venture capitalist and owner of Redtown Ranch Holdings LLC and Pine Bliss LLC, is seeking to end a moratorium on large-scale water extraction projects imposed by the Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District. The lawsuit, filed through Redtown Ranch and Pine Bliss, argues that the conservation district violated the constitutional rights of Bass and his companies by denying access to water beneath the land and also seeks an undisclosed amount of compensation.

Redtown Ranch and Pine Bliss, both funded by Bass’ private equity firm Conservation Equity Management, filed permits with the Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District to drill 43 water wells across two counties that, when fully operational, could extract billions of gallons of water from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer.

“What we’re trying to do here is just prevent the district from weaponizing its regulatory power to strip my clients of their property rights,” said Mollie Mallory, an attorney with Tillotson Patton, the law firm representing Redtown Ranch and Pine Bliss LLC. “The whole purpose here is just to hold them accountable and to get them to follow their own rules.”

Bass said he hasn’t been treated fairly by the district despite following its rules for years. He said the roadblocks enacted by the district, such as the moratorium, prevented his company from testing the groundwater beneath land he owns.

“This is bigger than just what happened to me,” Bass wrote in a statement to The Texas Tribune. “My lawsuit is about protecting the property rights of all Texas landowners and making clear that government regulators cannot simply change the rules to pick winners and losers.”

The groundwater district had not been served with the new lawsuit as of Wednesday afternoon, said Holli Pryor-Baze of Skelton Slusher Barnhill Watkins Wells PLLC, the attorney representing the groundwater district.

“We certainly disagree with the allegations, but are not prepared to say more than that,” she said.

A board meeting for the district will be held next week, at which time Pryor-Baze said she hoped to have been served and given time to think through the lawsuit.

Battle over water rights

The lawsuit follows a yearslong battle over groundwater access that reached a fevered pitch during the second special session of the 2025 legislative session in August. State lawmakers at the time tried and failed to set a statewide moratorium on projects of this magnitude until the state could study its aquifers to determine how much water is available and how quickly the groundwater supply replenishes.

It all began when Conservation Equity Management purchased thousands of acres in Houston, Anderson and Henderson counties with the intent to drill 43 high-capacity water wells. The latter two counties are represented by a groundwater conservation district that gave initial approvals for the project to move forward because the applications were administratively complete, a legal term meaning they were filled out properly.

The project drew the ire of East Texans, who were already angry at a number of Dallas-area organizations seeking to extract water from the region. But poultry producer Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC, which has operations in East Texas, sued to stop the project, claiming that the wells would drain the area of its main water source and impact its operations. Wayne-Sanderson Farms uses water from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer for its processing plants and feed mills.

A district judge approved a settlement between the groundwater conservation district and Sanderson Farms and barred the district from approving certain applications until the aquifer could be studied. It also voided the original decision that the applications were administratively complete.

Then, on May 21, 2026, the district adopted a resolution calling for a moratorium on any “new non-exempt groundwater permit applications.” This moratorium prevents the district from taking action on applications for projects that don’t provide water for local use, such as for households, agriculture or local businesses.

The moratorium will end in October or when the district finishes reviewing and updating its rules — whichever is later. The district is in the process of doing so right now, Pryor-Baze said.

Conservation Equity Management sued to vacate the judge’s moratorium, then filed the latest lawsuit to stop the district’s moratorium in federal court in Tyler on July 7.

The goal is to allow Pine Bliss and Redtown Ranch to finish the administrative process as laid out in the district’s bylaws. This would include going through the State Office of Administrative Hearings before beginning operations.

“We would just continue down that road with the hope that we eventually get to do exploratory drilling to see what water is on their land,” Mallory said.

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