Sports Preview: Fall 2016

      The fall sports season is heating up at Hastings High School. Athletes are getting their chance to show off how much work they’ve put in over the summer as competition begins.

       The boys and girls cross country teams have been working hard over the summer to prepare themselves for this season, especially for districts and a possible state bid.

       “There was summer running and some kids came to that,” senior Phoebe Dunbar said, “At this point, we’ve done all we can to get ready.”

       Cross country has also seen larger numbers on the boys’ side than it has in the past: there were about 25 boys out last season and about 35 this season. However, the team thinks of the new runners as a positive addition to the program.

       “It’s a lot better with communication and we’re a better team. We have a lot more fun with a lot more boys,” junior Thomas Kerr said.

       Both the boys and girls cross country teams are looking forward to successful seasons this fall.

       The football team is also enthusiastic about this fall season. The Tigers barely fell short last Friday against Scottsbluff, where they lost 21-13. However, their goal this year is to be competitive in every game they play.

          This goal should be attainable for the team due to their work over the summer.

“They did a nice job this summer and they put a lot of work in,” Coach Charlie Shoemaker said, “It was a busy summer.”

     While quite a few sophomores will get some varsity playing time this season due to many spots left open from last season’s seniors, Shoemaker isn’t worried.

     “It’s always a little scary when you’re starting a season pretty young, but they’ll grow up in a hurry and they’ll be able to replace those guys,” Shoemaker said, “I think every year you lose some, but you just try to replace them.”

     Girls golf is looking up as they already opened their season with a tie for third place at their invite on Friday, August 26, one of the best places team has ever won.

     “I expect the season to go really well this year. We’re pretty young but we have a few returners that show a lot of potential,” sophomore Anna Cafferty said, “I think all of us could do really well. When we play well we can all play to a really high standard.”

     The team has done well adjusting to their change of coaching from last year’s coach, Tim Canady, who resigned from HHS this past winter.

     “Coach Canady was always very quiet and Coach Christy is very loud. It’s not better or worse, it’s just different,” Cafferty said.

     Tiger softball is coming off a fourth-place finish at the state tournament last season. However, the team isn’t focusing on wins this year: they are focusing on perfecting their skills.

     “We’re kind of built on the process and not really the end result. We think that wins will take care of themselves. We always work in practice to get to those games, those big games, but if we play a tight one and lose by one, it is what it is,” Assistant coach Ashley Speak said.

     The team still has the goal of bringing home a championship to HHS but realizes that it takes more than one game to win a title. Softball players hit the weight room, played for travel teams, and worked on hitting this summer to improve their chances of getting a line on the starting roster.

     “There’s a good feeling here: working hard to get that spot, no one is entitled to anything. That’s always a nice feeling,” Speak said.

     So far the team is 6-3, with their season continuing into early October.

     The boys tennis team is adjusting after half of its varsity team from last year graduated this past May.

     “Last year most of the people on the team had experience at the big tournaments. It’s going to be tricky to find the matches and how everything works out,” senior Nathan Zimmerman said.

     Tennis is also facing a lot of adversity with quite a few new members joining the team.

     “It’s going to be mixed results because we’ll have some talent but we’ll also have people that just started this year,” Zimmerman said.

     Volleyball is looking to continue their success after reaching the sub-state round last season. Many seniors were lost from last season, but Coach Dave Hepner is convinced that the team will do well.

     “We’re pretty excited about moving forward. We want to build on last year’s late-season success. Record wise, it wasn’t what we wanted. I think they’re excited to surpass last year’s record total,” Hepner said.

     Several players have stepped up and filled spots already. Each grade has had at least one person that’s been contributing to the varsity team this season. From players using their experience or hitting open gym, girls have their hands on the ball and are ready for the season.

     Fall sports are a huge part of HHS and this season is one of the things spectators look forward to all year.

Athletes to Watch this Fall: