GEORGETOWN – When she had a chance to take stock of the bronze medal draped around her neck Thursday, Dripping Springs senior Jessica Carmichael’s face radiated with happiness. 

Granted, the accolade was a bittersweet memento of a 4-0 state semifinal loss to the Mansfield Legacy Broncos that brought the Dripping Springs Lady Tigers’ thrilling championship quest to an end. 

But the medal also signified the amount of work put in to becoming the first Lady Tiger squad to reach th...