Page B-6 - Mason County Journal - Thursday, March 13, 2014
Track: Versatility is team's strength
continued from page B-1
Sells said he expects the dis-
tance runners and throwing team
to be talented, adding that the relay
teams should do well, too.
"John Johnson has carried his
head coaching duties from cross-
country to assistant duties in track
very well," Sells said. "He brings a
strong distance team with him."
Despite how strong Sells ex-
pects certain areas of the team
to be, he said one weakness could
be the number of athletes who've
never competed before.
"This is not always a weakness
because some kids really rise up and
compete well," he added. "You never
know what to expect with a new sea-
son."
Sells highlighted one newcomer
to the team, senior Donnell Porter
from CHOICE Alternative School.
"He turned out for the team for
the first time," Sells said. "He's got
great potential and I'm excited to
see how he does."
Sells said the Highclimbers
should perform well in the 3A Nar-
rows League this spring.
"We will be competitive in league
competition as well as invitation-
als," he added.
Soccer: Coach says turnout impressive
continued from page B-6
One aspect of the
game the team will
have this season is a
junior varsity squad.
This hasn't been pos-
sible for the past
three or four years,
but 27 boys turned
out for the team this
year, which gave Hol-
loway enough for two
rosters.
"I'm excited to possi-
bly have a junior varsity
squad this year," Hollo-
way said.
Journal photo by Emily Hanson
Shelton junior keeper Juan Ipaez kneels on the ground to stop a goal during
practice March 6.
Hungry for playoffs
By EMILY HANSON
emi(y@masoncoun com
The Shelton boys' soc-
cer team received a taste
of postseason play last
spring.
Now they're hungry
for more this season.
"We made playoffs
with a team of juniors
last year and have a lot
of experience this year,"
head coach Isaiah Her-
rera said. "The ability to
play the way these guys
do is exciting. They find
each other on the field
without talking. They
pass knowing their team-
mate i there. They have
an instinct for the game."
Fifty boys turned out
for the team this season
and 17 were chosen for
the varsity squad.
Among those 17 are
10 returning seniors:
Noel Castro, Kevin Loza,
Kenny Zacarias, Jona-
than McCullough, Jesus
Nunez, Jesus Jimenez,
Ryder Phelan, Brad
Goodwin, Francisco Lo-
pez and Hector Iturrib-
arria.
"These guys have a
taste for the end goal af-
ter making playoffs last
season," Herrera said.
Last spring, the High-
climbers made it to the
first round of the 3A
West Central District
III playoffs. It was the
first time the team had
made the postseason in
12 years.
Herrera said the
Highclimbers will rely
on their experienced de-
fense to reach the post-
season again.
One weakness the
team has is that its top
two scorers graduated
last spring.
"Losing the scorers
will affect competitive-
ness-because we have
younger guys who want
to lead," Herrera said.
"It's nice that they're
competing to be starters
in the game."
Four of those younger
players are three fresh-
men and one new sopho-
more who are showing
talent and promise dur-
ing practice, Herrera
said.
"Every single one of
thm has talent to start,"
he said.
Herrera is familiar
with all of the teams the
Highclimbers will play in
the 3A Narrows League
and said he doesn't see
have less experienced
scorers as a huge obsta-
cle for the team.
"The kids are so com-
petitive already, it'll
transition into games,"
Herrera said. "I know
everybody's excited and
ready to play."
,00VGREEN DIAMOND
R00sOURCE COMPANY
DUCKS
,ill
t]-i
