It seems to be a year of fresh starts for the Campus Community High School fall athletic programs.
The four-sport lineup features three new head coaches this year, with one heading up the school’s first cross-country team.
The goal across the board for the Cougar programs, though, is to start building for the future and make the school a legit competitor in the state.
FIELD HOCKEY
2009 record: 1-11-1, 1-5-1
State tournament: Failed to appear
Graduated seniors: 4
Opening game of 2010: 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, vs. Delmarva Christian School
It’s been a solid start to the preseason for the Campus Community High field hockey team and new Head Coach Anna White.
The Cougars boast a mix of experienced and new-to-the-game players, but White said her girls have been meshing well, encouraging each other through training camp and improving every step of the way.
That said, the first-year coach isn’t sure what to expect from this group this season.
Coming off a season in which Campus only won one game, White said this year is more about being the first stage of building a competitive program.
“I would like to win games, but if we don’t it’s OK as long as we’re still growing,” she said. “I do think we’ll win several games though. But goal-wise, I think this is about getting them ready for the upcoming years.”
Camp has been progressing nicely, White said, as her players have all come in conditioned for the tough workouts.
That’s allowed her to get into some of the more specifics of her system and should have the Cougars meshed and ready to go when the regular season opens.
White said she would be leaning heavily on seniors Karen Edgar and Allison Cox to bring the young team along, saying the two have been the team’s motivational leaders to this point.
She added that all the Cougar players have been receptive to what she’s been teaching, helping put a foundation in place for future successes.
“I think it’s been really positive,” White said. “What I’m teaching this year will already be in place next year.”
BOYS SOCCER
2009 record: 2-12-1, 1-5
State tournament: Failed to appear
Graduated seniors: 4
Opening game of 2010: 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13, vs. Saint Thomas More Preparatory
There’s no proof if momentum can carry from one season to the next for a team, but Campus Community High boys soccer team Head Coach John Baybutt sure hopes it does.
After a tough regular season last year, the Cougars caught their stride at the end, winning two games and tying one in their last six played.
After graduating only four seniors, two of whom were starters, most of the team is back and Baybutt said the players are ready to take the next step.
“They knew they were stepping it up at the end of last season, and I reminded them we were only losing a keeper and a center fullback,” he said. “So I told them if they came back in shape they’d be good to go.”
With so much experience back in the fold this year, Baybutt said the team is setting its sights high, aiming to win the Diamond State Conference and make the state tournament.
Because a few of the better teams in the conference from last year graduated their top players, he said the Cougars are primed to step up and take over.
“This year we have probably six or seven seniors, so we should be the intimidating team that can go out and put on a show for everybody,” Baybutt said.
“But it’s going to be a big question mark whether we’re up to the challenge. If they are, the potential is there. This is their best shot in years.”
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
2009 record: 4-10, 0-6
State tournament: Failed to appear
Graduated seniors: 4
Opening game of 2010: 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13, vs. Saint Thomas More Preparatory
The Campus Community High girls volleyball team didn’t have the best of seasons a year ago, but still managed to produce four wins in 14 matches.
That’s a number the Cougars hope to improve upon this year, but to do so first-year Head Coach Nettie Choice said a level of dedication needs to be established.
Through the first week of the preseason, Campus had only four girls show up to work out with the team. That number has grown to nine since school started, but Choice said the mindset of the girls needs to change before any success can be achieved.
Even with some of the preseason problems, though, she said the Cougars will be ready when they take the court for their first regular season match.
“I think I have enough time to get them ready,” Choice said. “I just feel like they have to start learning. They’re learning the basics at this point. They still have to get comfortable with being on the court and moving to the ball.”
She stressed that learning the game is the main goal for this year’s team. If the group can accomplish that, the wins will follow.
“Winning is not a goal at the beginning,” Choice said. “The goal is just to teach them basic technique and for them to learn as quickly as possible.”
CROSS COUNTRY
State tournament: N/A
Graduated seniors: N/A
Opening meet of 2010: 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, at Layton Preparatory School, held at Banning Park
Campus Community High’s fall sports programs will have a new kid on the block this year as the school has added a boys and girls cross-country team to its roster.
Generating interest in a new sport could be a tough task, especially in a small school like Campus, but Head Coach Marc Johnson said that hasn’t been the case as of yet.
“I’m getting kids coming up to me daily wanting to be a part of it,” Johnson said. “They’re really excited and enthused.”
The new coach’s team covers the spectrum, from new-to-running student-athletes to athletes from other sports like basketball looking to cross-train into the experienced runner.
One thing is for sure, though, Johnson said, and that’s that his preseason has been tough so far on his runners.
“It’s like jumping into a cold pool for a lot of them. It’s really intense,” he said. “But the good thing is the level of stamina that I’ve seen from kids working all summer, they’re getting stronger.”
It’s not going to be easy to gauge how the Cougars will be out of the gate, Johnson said, as all of his runners have yet to see in-season competition.
One thing the coach said the opposition could expect to see though is for his runners to give their all every meet.
“We are going to be competitive in the mindset of giving your best every time out,” Johnson said. “Hard work always pays dividends. As long as they put it all out there, we’ll see some degree of success.”
Email Brian Citino at brian.citino@doverpost.com
