Winter Sports: Jacks Hold High Hopes for All Teams

 

By Sullivan Carter

Returning seniors will be a big part of this years winter sports. Last year, our winter teams consisted of many juniors and sophomores but, this year, we are more educated and have much more veterans.

In wrestling, there will be four returning state veterans: William Yordy 12 at 171, Zack Williams 12 at 215, Kody Cassidy 12 at 152, and Josh Johnson 11at 112.

 The RAL wrestling program has only lost two matches in the three years of AA play. The Lumberjacks have beaten the Monarchs seven straight years in a row and clinched the league championship last year.

Gavin Johnson, Kevin Sheehee, Ian Mahncke, Angelo Folz-Edwards, Levi Welch, Russell Lengyel, and Jonathan Hawkaas will be the returning seniors on the varsity basketball team this year. Coach Wallace has high hopes for his boys.

 “I expect us to qualify for districts and compete in the AA state tournament this season,” Coach Wallace said.

 Sadie Peterson 12, Christina McDonald 12, Christina Driscol 12, Hannah Johnson 11, Tirzah Coalman 12, Tara Haas 12, Miranda Wilson 12, and Avery Bogner 12 will be the returning varsity players for this year’s girl’s basketball team. Coach Ott also has some expectations of his own for the team.

“Our girls need to play hard, and leave it all on the court this year,” said Ott. “Every coach would like to see his team win and go to state but these things are more important.”

Last but not least, boys’ swimming is expecting two state veterans and three other varsity swimmers to return this year. Bill Davenport 11, Collin Meharg 11, Josh Simila 11, Jake Davenport 10, and Ryan Hunt 10, are the returning varsity swimmers. Besides sending swimmers and a relay team to state, coach Richard Carr has other expectations.

“I really hope that we can have some freshman on the varsity team this year,” said Carr. “It would really improve the program for future years.”

All coaches hold high expectations for there teams this winter, hoping that they can return to the state tournament.