Fall sports gearing up
Sonja Karp
NLJ Sports Reporter
Nothing screams end of summer than the first day of fall sports practice, and that day is fast approaching. Football, volleyball, cross country and girls’ swimming will all be getting their seasons underway this Monday, Aug. 19.
Due to the early start of school this year, the annual Mallo Camp start-to-the-season practices for Dogie football will not take place. Rather, returning head coach Matt Conzelman has scheduled two-a-day practices for the first week. Monday, Aug. 19, to Thursday, Aug. 22, practices will take place from 6 to 7:45 in the morning and then again from 3:45 to 5:45 in the afternoon.
On Friday, Aug. 23, morning practice will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and then the Dogies will host the annual Orange and Black Scrimmage to give parents and fans a chance to get a sneak peak at the 2019 Dogie squad. The scrimmage will kick off at Schoonmaker Field at 6 p.m. and the team will host their zero week game against Hot Springs on Friday, Aug. 30.
Lady Dogie Volleyball, under new head coach Jenny Willard, will also be practicing twice a day beginning on Monday. Monday through Thursday the ladies will gather in the dome for morning practice from 6 to 7:15 a.m., and then reconvene from 3:45 to 5:45 in the afternoon. Friday morning practice will continue at the usual time, but the afternoon will also consist of an Orange and Black scrimmage beginning at 4 p.m. for the varsity and junior varsity teams.
Following the volleyball scrimmage, the Newcastle Booster Club will be hosting a tailgate party beginning at 5 p.m. to ready fans for the Orange and Black football scrimmage at 6.
The varsity and junior varsity teams will begin their season with the annual Douglas tournament on Aug. 31, while the freshmen will host their tournament on the same day.
Doug Scribner is returning for another season as head coach of Lady Dogie swimming, who will dive into the new year on Monday as well. The ladies will have two-a-day practices on Monday
and Tuesday from 7 to 8 in the morning and 4 to 6 in the evening. The squad
will go to one practice per day starting
on Wednesday, the 21st, right after school. The Lady Dogies will start competition in back-to-back meets in Lander on Aug. 30-31.
Kathy Beehler, Cody Nelson and Jessica Troftgruben all return to Newcastle Cross Country this year with Beehler at the helm. High school runners will be practicing twice a day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday beginning at 6 a.m. each morning and then again at 3:45 in the afternoon. On Monday morning, the team will meet at the football field and then all high school and middle school runners will meet at the high school pool at 3:45. On Wednesday, all runners will meet at the pool for their afternoon practice.
Saturday, Aug. 24, the squad will load up and travel to Custer State Park for their annual run up Harney Peak. They will head out at 6 a.m. and return at approximately 1:30 p.m., and all need to bring a lunch and money for ice cream.
The team will also be hosting a 5K Run/Walk and 1K Run/Walk fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 31, to participate with Madness on Main, and members are being asked to recruit five people to enter.
High school cross country athletes will need to have a bike by the first day of practice. Beehler stated that coaches will be available to help procure a bike if anyone is in need.
The Dogies will launch their 2019 season hosting the Mallo Meet on Friday, Aug. 30, beginning at 1 p.m.
Before the first day of practice, all athletes will need to have proof of a physical, because without one they will have to sit out until it is done. Since all sports require 10 days of practice before competing, missing even one day may mean they will not be eligible to compete in the events of the first weekend.
In addition, there is an all-sport parent meeting for all high school athletes in Crouch Auditorium on Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 6:15 p.m. Following the general meeting, there may be breakout meetings for the individual sports.
Any questions should be directed to the appropriate coaches.