Large teams and high expectations have spring sports coaches excited for the 2024 season.
With games starting after spring break, coaches for each team preview what to expect this year.
Softball
“Excited” is the word that head coach Bill Finucane used to describe the energy of the softball team.
While players are excited to be back on the field, they’re more excited for a chance to accomplish what they missed out on last season, when they lost a close state semifinal game.
“I think they see the opportunity they may have,” he said. “They did really well last year, and the bulk of the team is back. And I think they maybe kind of realize there might be some unfinished business that they hope to achieve.”
The team will be anchored by seniors Lilly Rife and Kenzie Yoder. Finucane said the pair are strong leaders and stabilizing forces for the team.
“I like the way that the upperclassmen have grabbed some of the freshmen and took them under their wing,” Finucane said. “That to me is impressive. And that’s something that we strive to emphasize.”
Behind them is a group of four juniors who all took home all-state honors last season. Having a group of talented players throughout the lineup is one of the factors that has Finucane looking forward to the season.
“This is a good group,” he said. “I’m hopeful and optimistic that we can be very competitive.”
The softball team will kick off its season March 22 at Blue Valley Southwest. The team will then head home for a March 26 doubleheader against Bonner Springs, with games at 4:30 and 6 p.m.
Baseball
Leadership is the key for the Cardinal baseball team in its third year under head coach Sean Jarvis.
He said the group is working together to push themselves to improve, and he’s looking forward to watching them grow throughout the season.
“I’m kind of excited to see how they come together,” Jarvis said. “Seems to be a close-knit group of guys that get along well together.”
As Jarvis works to build the program, one thing he wants is for leaders to step up and help push the program forward. He’s seen that so far this year, mostly in small things like showing up to practice early and holding teammates accountable.
Returning seniors Kelton Ford and Kaden Kerr are two of those leaders whom Jarvis is looking to see step into big roles.
Jarvis said the lineup is solid from top to bottom. That depth will be key for the Cardinals as they look to improve on last season.
The baseball team’s schedule begins at home at 6:15 p.m. March 19 against Tonganoxie.
Girls Soccer
The girls soccer team returns a lot of experience, which has head coach Darren Erpelding looking forward to seeing what the team can accomplish this season.
Senior attacking midfielder Jayla Erpelding will look to anchor the offense. Behind her is a pair of experienced center backs. Seniors Kyleigh Musick and Lauren Grauberger hope to form a strong back line for the Cardinals.
Those three are just a couple of the seniors who have Erpelding looking forward to the season. He said all 12 seniors lead in their own way. Overall, that’s led to a group that wants to improve. He said the team is constantly talking and asking questions, working together to find ways to get better.
“So far, the team chemistry has been really good,” he said. “The girls have been very positive with each other, helping each other out.”
When it comes to goals for the season, Erpelding isn’t focused on wins or trophies. Those are a given that he knows the team wants. Instead, he said his goal as a coach is to make sure the team is getting better and enjoys coming out and working hard.
“Effort, energy, communication can never take a day off,” Erpelding said. “Passing, shooting, touch, some of those things aren’t always great, right? Could be different factors, wind, rain, the other team is just flat out better than we are.”
But Erpelding said if the team shows up with effort, energy and communication, they always give themselves a chance.
The soccer team opens its season March 19 at Bishop Miege. The home opener is 6 p.m. March 21 against Baldwin.
Boys Golf
Increased turnout has proven to be both a blessing and a curse so far for the boys golf team. The increase in players has head coach Susan DeVoe excited about the potential at tournaments.
“We have some new additions to the team that might bring up the team score to create potential eligibility to win some tournaments,” DeVoe said. “We haven’t had that in the past for the boys, so I’m excited about that.”
But it has also presented some problems as nearby golf course Twin Oaks undergoes renovations.
The team’s only chance to play on a course is the one day a week it can take six golfers to Burning Tree golf course in De Soto. Outside of that day, they have to be more creative with preparations. DeVoe said she sees motivation for the team to improve despite the difficulties.
“I have to rely on the boys to go work on that themselves, which this year, I think is the most motivation I’ve seen out of them to want to improve,” DeVoe said. “And I think that won’t be as much of a challenge as it was in the past.”
The team has been hitting and picking up balls in the yard in front of the school, which assistant coach Scott Keltner said has forced the team to prepare for what a tournament will feel like.
“It also accounts for the fitness that’s necessary for you lugging a 20, 25, 30 pound bag 18 holes, five miles,” Keltner said. “And we’re not doing that out here, but enough repetition going back and forth they kind of get the picture of, OK, it’s not just hit it and watch it.”
Returning state qualifier junior Ty Deterding will lead the lineup, but DeVoe said there are a handful of players who also have the potential to go to state.
The golf team’s first meet is March 25 at the Firekeeper golf course in Mayetta.
Track and Field
Managing a team of 115 athletes is not easy, said track and field coach MaryJo Swann. But a slew of assistant coaches and team captains is helping the team improve, bond and look forward to a busy schedule.
Swann said coaching so many athletes working on individual events is always a work in progress, but the team’s leadership has helped keep everyone on track after a successful season last year.
“I see some really great talent showing up,” Swann said. “Some new talent that we are lucky to have joining us this year, and we’ve got a lot of really strong returning athletes as well. I’ve been pretty excited about some of the leadership we have on our team this year.”
Add to that the beautiful weather to start the year and Swann said they couldn’t have asked for a better way to start.
One key is the 13 team captains who help organize and build community among the large team.
“I would highlight each of their leadership,” Swann said. “They really stepped into those roles and have been instrumental in just getting our team off to a great start and feeling the team atmosphere instead of feeling separated.”
The track team is also adding some new junior varsity competitions to its schedule to help ensure all athletes get the chance to compete throughout the year. In the past, they’ve been limited by entry maximums.
The track and field team will begin its season March 26 at home.
Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at [email protected]
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