Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — High school students in Steamboat Springs are counting the final days of summer vacation this week especially those who are planning on playing prep sports this fall.

The high school golf team will return to practice on Wednesday, marking the start of the 2000-2001 high school sports season. That team will play in its first tournament on Aug. 15 in Grand Junction.

Football, boys' soccer, boys' tennis, cross country, volleyball, dance and cheerleading will all open practice on Aug. 14.

"I'm planning on returning to the office early next week. I will meet with the coaches and we will decided the official practice schedules," said Steve Moos, Steamboat Springs High School athletics director.

What Moos did know this week is that golf will be the first official sport to return for the fall.

The team will start practice the afternoon after the biggest junior golf championship of the summer in Steamboat, the Inter-club Junior Golf Championship. The team has a scheduled practice at 4 p.m. at Haymaker Golf Course. The team will also hold a practice on Aug. 10 at Catamount and on Aug. 14 at the Sheraton.

With the exception of golf, all of the head coaching positions will remain the same as last year, Moos said.

Mark Drake will return to lead the Sailors football team, Wendy Hall will guide the volleyball squad, John Smith will coach the cross-country team and John Aragon will be in charge of the boys tennis team. Rob Bohlmann will coach the boys soccer team and Kim Bates will once again lead the dance team.

New this season are golf coach Jason Deigert and cheerleading coach Cathy Jones.

Cheerleading will be a new sport this fall.

Any student interested in participating in fall sports must have completed a mandatory physical and have all of the required forms signed by the time they report for the first practice, Moos said.

The forms should be available at local doctors' offices.

If students have problems finding a form, they can all Kate Park at the Steamboat Springs High School offices, beginning Monday, during business hours at 871-3687.

More information on high school practice schedules will be available next week. Check the Steamboat Today for more information on exact times.

To reach John F. Russell call 871-4209 or e-mail jrussell@amigo.net