Spring sports looming ahead

Spring sports looming ahead

February 2, 2002

THE 300 METER HIGH HURDLES always seem to draw a field of good competitors. For years, thinclads from Southwestern Colorado have always done well at the State Track and Field Championships. Track and field official practice will start Feb. 21.

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

It won’t be long before the sound of bats hitting baseballs, kicking of soccer balls, tennis balls bouncing, splashing in the water, and feet running on the track are heard throughout the area in Southwestern Colorado. The first day of official practices for the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Spring Sports is set for Feb. 21.

Once again, all those students who have not gone out for a fall or winter sport, need to get a physical from a doctor and that form filled out as well as parent/guardian release, insurance waiver form, and any training, travel or code of conduct form completely filled out. Forms are available in the school activity office.

Montezuma-Cortez High School will sponsor varsity sports including girls and boys track, baseball, girls soccer, girls tennis, and boys swimming at the Class 4A level. Mancos High School will sponsor boys and girls track at the 2A level. Dolores and Dolores County high schools will sponsor girls and boys track, and baseball.

MCHS Athletic Director Mike Allison said a Spring Sports Meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 in the MCHS Auditorium He said that all Cortez athletes who participated in fall or winter sports need not attend.

It will be welcome back Cotter as Chuck Cotter returns for his second season in guiding the baseball program. The Panthers should have a good team this year with several veterans returning including Dallas Reed, Cade Fox, and Preston Cornett. He will be assited by Doug LaMunyon and former MCHS standout Shawn McAndrews.

Bob Archibeque will be back coaching the boys track program. The boys will be especially strong in the field with solid weightmen returning in Colin Tansey and Derique Duran and high jumper Jeff Yarbrough and sprinter James Durnin. Girls track and field will be led by Doug Anderson. He should have a much improved team with some good distance runners and sprinters including Julie Christensen, Marie DeBolt, Jessica Millican, and Hannah Mortensen.

Monica Plewe will start her second season with girls soccer. Up-and-coming stars include Katie Meyer, Amanda Graffis, Jessie Love-Nichols, Gina Franchini plus veterans Felice Lucero, Nicole Stephens, and Sara Cullington to name a few. She will be assisted this year by Cherly Gilbert, and Tri-City soccer Pink Panther coach Marc Meyer.

Ricky Carver will be back once again to coach girls tennis. He will be assisted by his twin, Randy. Senior Colette Hall is a four-year player expected to be back. Kiffany Norris also should be another returnee.

Allison reported at this time there is no boys swimming coach. He said he is looking for an experienced coach. For those wishing to coach, contact him at 565-3722, extension 123.

Dolores’ coaching situation will be stable with Jim Everin guiding the baseball fortunes. He should have a very talented team with pitchers Cullen Zion, Aeson Reed, Kevin Fane, and Waylon Bennett among those returning. Of note, Mancos High School Activities Director Kevin Dimmick was approved by the Re-6 Board recently to assist Everin.

The boys track and field program will be led once again by Mitzi Wallace. Standout girls expected to be back include twin sprinters Tracy and Joni Everett, plus sprinter Jennifer Trevillian. Spinter Luke Ragland and distance runner Andrew Webster should be among the stars this year for the boys.

Dolores County also has a stable coaching situation with Kati Banks guiding the girls and boys track teams and longtime coach Ken Soper guiding the baseball team. Soper lost some pretty good pitchers from a year ago but standouts back include Keith Pierce, Dallas Coker, Casey Spitzer, Bru Meyer, and James Smith. He will be assisted by Billy Spitzer.

Mancos boys and girls track will be led by Tim Dunham, who indicated this may be his final season coaching the sport although he does plan to return to coach cross-country next fall. Among the top girls back who will be back include throwers Rachel Russell and Kassi Paxton, distance runners Jori Yeomans, Deana Vegas, and Aspen Hennrich. On the boys’ side, sprinter Chase Davis, distance runner Preston Hennrich, plus weightmen Travis Clark and Jakob Tallent.