This fall will mark the debut of several new head varsity coaches as the Colorado High School Activities Association begins another year of sponsoring interscholastic sports and activities.

Boys golf practice will begin with informal workouts Aug. 1 and boys tennis informally on July 31. Football, volleyball, boys soccer, softball, and cheerleading officially get under way on Aug. 13.

Montezuma-Cortez High School will compete in boys and girls cross-country, football, softball, volleyball, boys tennis, boys soccer, boys golf and cheerleading. Dolores, Dolores County, and Mancos will compete in football, volleyball, and cheerleading. Mancos, though, will compete in cross-country.

MCHS has several new faces leading programs this year. Jim Harkendorff will take over for Ricky Carver to run the boys tennis program. Carver will be back in the spring to once again guide the girls’ program. Carver had coached several years before, took the 1999 season off, and then retook the program last fall. Jack Jacobson succeeds Mike Allison as the new head boys golf coach. Allison resigned in order to concentrate on his duties as atletic director. Jacobson is getting the team organized as tournament play begins Aug. 13. The new cheerleader sponsor is Tara Hankins, who replaces Maggie Tevault who resigned at the end of the school year.

The school is expecting to name a new cross-country coach. Dave Dillman, who has led the program for the past three seasons, resigned to take a job out of the area.

Charlie Rosenbaugh is back as head softball coach after a successful debut last year. Karl McGee is back for his second season trying to get the football program turned around after an inauspecious start last season. McGee will also be the new head wrestling coach this winter. Todd Starr will be back leading the boys soccer program after taking them to the playoffs in his first season last year as head caoch. Lindy Mortensen is back for her sixth season in guiding the volleyball program after taking the Panthers to the Class 4A State Volleyball Tournament last year.

All area student-athletes need to be sure to have all their required paperwork filled and signed. Most schools will have papers available by the first of August. Insurance waiver, physicals, parent/guardian release, and others such as travel/conduct papers inked, Allison said.

Everything is status quo at Dolores County High School. Ken Soper will begin his 37th campaign as head football coach. Scott Crawford will start his second season as head volleyball coach. Kati Banks will guide the cheerleaders after an outstanding second-place state finish a year ago.

Back for his second season as head coach of the football team at Dolores High School is Don Story. Highly-successful head coach Joye McHenry will begin her sixth season as leader of the DHS volleyball program. Pat Higgins will guide the cheerleaders.

Mancos will have a new head football coach as Gordon Shepherd as signed a one-year contract. He succeeds eight-year coach Terry Newlin who resigned at the end of last season. Mona Shepherd will start her second season as head coach after leading the Blue Jays to a 2A Regional appearance. Cecilia Williams will start her second season in mentoring the cheerleaders. Tim Dunham will be back as head coach of the cross-country program.

Mancos High School and Mancos Middle School athletes should be getting ready for the 2001 fall sports season, according to MHS Athletic Director Kevin Dimmick. Official practice begins on Aug. 13 for the high school for football, volleyball, cross-country, and cheerleading. Official practices begin Aug. 20 for football, volleyball, and cheerleading the middle school.

Before a student-athlete can participate in sports, they must get a current physical and have several forms completed before starting workouts. The forms needed are phyiscal, insurance varification, student-parent warning, and code of coduct. All forms will be available in the administration office on Wednesday, Aug. 1.