The snow has finally all melted and the cold weather seems to have broken, and with that the Campus Community High School spring athletes are dusting off their soccer balls, golf clubs and lacrosse sticks.
Expectations are always tough to gauge at a school as small as Campus, but all three spring coaches have one goal in mind — development.
The Cougars are still laying foundation in these three sports to be successful in the future, and that is the mindset yet again this spring.
Girls Soccer
2009 record: 2-10-3, 0-3-2
State tournament: Did not appear
First game: 4 p.m. Monday, March 22, vs. Conrad School
In 2009, the Campus Community girls soccer team had some big expectations for itself.
Following a winter in which the Cougars athletic program had seen its first entry into the state tournament in the boys basketball team, the ladies of the soccer program wanted to match that feat and make a mark of their own.
Things didn’t quite work out that way, as Campus finished well below .500 and failed to meet the goals it had set for itself.
This season, Head Coach Robert Beron said the expectations of the program needed to be redefined a bit.
“Everything has changed this year,” Beron said. “I’ve told the team that we will not discuss winning and losing at all. It’ll all be about hard work and dedication to the team. My expectation this year is to get everyone to show up and work hard.”
The Cougars roster features quite a few ripe players this year, as seven girls with little to no soccer experience have decided to try their luck on the pitch.
For a program as young as Campus’ is, Beron said there are pros and cons to getting new girls interested in the sport.
“It’s great to have interest. The problem is that we’re getting them at the high school level for interest instead of middle school. We’re getting them later in life,” he said. “There’s such a big gap in talent where, right now, I can rely on about eight strong players. I still have to fill that gap.”
The talent pool, however, is not completely empty for the Cougars, as they have two returning starters in sophomore Skyler Speed and senior Shannon Speed that are expected to be big players this year.
Beron said the success of the team would most likely lie with the successes of these two players, and that he’s counting on them to bring the younger, less experienced girls along.
“They’re going to be the heart of our team,” he said. “Basically what they’re going to do is control everything we do as a team. It will all filter through those girls. My expectations for them are higher because their skill level and talent is above and beyond the other players.”
Golf
2009 record: 6-11
State tournament: Senior Adam Stachecki qualified as an individual but did not place
First match: 3:30 p.m. Monday, March 22, at Milford High School and vs. Delmar High School (tri-meet), held at Shawnee Country Club, Milford
The Campus Community golf team took a huge step forward last season, when as a junior, Adam Stachecki qualified as an individual for the state tournament.
It was the first time a Cougar golfer had made it to the state’s biggest stage, and though Stachecki did not make the cut beyond the first day, he let others know that the Campus program was coming on.
Head Coach Bill Denbrock said the mark his top golfer made last year was significant and that he expects more big things this year.
“Adam’s first goal is to help our team,” Denbrock said. “But secondly, he’s really looking forward to qualifying for the state tournament again and playing both days this time. Last year, he missed the cut by only a couple of strokes.”
Campus set another new mark last year when it won six of its 17 matches, the highest win total in school history.
The goal is to top that number this year, but with poor weather so far, Denbrock said it’s been a slow process coming through the preseason.
“We’re still trying to knock off some of the rust. It’s been a long winter for all of us golfers,” he said.
Denbrock added that he’s not expecting conditions to improve any time soon either, adding that the Cougar golfers just need to be prepared to deal with it.
“It’s always tough spring weather in Delaware,” he said. “The courses aren’t maintained the way they will be when it gets nice. We’re going to have to play in some wet, cold, damp conditions.”
With a roster full of players that play golf as a warm-weather sport, he said he expects his team to be at a slight disadvantage. However, the goal of each season is progress, Denbrock added, and he expects that will be the end result.
“The scores are not going to be particularly low and it’s going to take a while for the kids to really get their games in shape,” he said. “But we’re looking forward to a good season. Our kids really enjoy the game and that’s what’s important out there.”
Boys Lacrosse
2009 record: 3-9, 2-3
State tournament: Did not appear
First game: 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, vs. Saint Thomas More Preparatory, to be played at William Henry Middle School
Things have been running much smoother for the Campus Community boys lacrosse team this spring than they were a year ago.
In 2009, the Cougars took a whole new approach to the game with the hiring of new head coach, Nick Pinto, but with a year of experience under his belt, Pinto said things are coming along nicely this spring.
“The older guys definitely know what to expect from me and I know what to expect from my returning players,” he said. “And I need my returning guys to take the underclassmen under their wing.”
Bringing those younger guys along, Pinto said, will be huge in development, as his team is comprised mostly of freshman, sophomores and even an eighth grader.
“I would say if we can get our newer guys, especially the guys brand new to the sport, comfortable just catching and throwing, then I think we can do very well this year,” he said.
While coaching such a raw group has its challenges, Pinto said he also is seeing the advantages.
“If this group stays together for the next three years, they’ll be very good,” he said.
Even though the Cougars are young, they are not coming into this season with no experience at all, as junior goalie Randy Sheets is returning for his second year as a starter.
Pinto acknowledged the importance of Sheets, stressing that as he goes, so goes Campus’ squad.
“Our whole game reflects on how he’s playing,” he said. “Every day, Randy comes to play. He brings a level of intensity and inspires our team. He has a lot heart and soul out there.”
Email Brian Citino at brian.citino@doverpost.com
