- By Dan Veaner
- Sports
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Athletic Director Ed Redmond is enthusiastic about the coming season. Redmond says that several of the teams are poised to build on their successes from previous years. "All of the varsity coaches are the same," he says. "That's one of the strengths of our program, that we've been able to keep continuity in each program." Here's his rundown of the Fall season:
Boys Soccer
"Adam Heck's done very well at all three sports he coaches. Our boys soccer program -- Coach Heck's had them in the State tournament the last two years. He's lost a good class, but the kids that are returning have experience. We have Walker Diebolt, one of his big scorers. Adam Hardy's been solid on defence for us and will continue to be.
"Our soccer program is one of the tops in all of section four now. That's a credit to Adam heck, his coaching and staff. Our kids do play a lot of soccer outside of the season, and that seems to spur the program along. He's got a very good thing going. We're hoping that continues. I know their goals are pretty lofty. They want to win the sectionals, they want to get back in the State tournament. I think they'll have an excellent chance to do that as long as they stay grounded and keep working on the fundamentals. I think the future's very bright for them."
Swimming and Diving
"Again, we expect another strong season. Coach Diane Hicks-Hughes now has won several sectional championships, and I think her expectations are to win another one. She has a group of just over 30 girls, and she has a nice mix of 9th through 12th graders. They've been working very well. In the pre-season they had a scrimmage (Harvest Relays) over in Dryden with several IAC schools. Our girls represented Lansing very well.
"The scrimmage was to check out your team more than anything, to see where your girls are going to be, what their best events might be. Also to get some of the nerves out before the first real meet. I talked to the coach this morning (Wednesday) and she was very pleased with their results. I think they're going to have another solid season and I'm sure we'll have some girls in the State competition at the end of the year.
"Diane has done very well. She's been there for over 25 years and she's been outstanding. The girls, in the last few years, have won the sectionals. But more importantly she's gotten those girls to work together in a sport that's sometimes individualized as swimming can be. Where the individual success sometimes overcomes the team success, she's been able to really bring that team chemistry and team success to the forefront. It's a credit to her coaching. That's impressed me. She's really figured that out.
"We have at least three girls who are diving. TJ Tenge is our diving coach. The expectations are high. COach Tenge is an outstanding coach and I'm sure she'll bring the girls along by the end of the year. The last two years she filled in as assistant swim coach. This year we were lucky to get Kate Bortz. Kate used to swim for us in the early 2000s. She's shown an interest in coaching, she wants to get her career started, so we're giving her an opportunity to be assistant coach this year. So far she's done very well."
Cross Country
"Daryl Hill took over the coaching last year when Jason Eade resigned. Daryl did a great job for us last year. He stepped in late, and about a week before the season started last year he was appointed as the coach. He came in at the last minute and did a nice job. I think Daryl has expectations for his team to do very well.
"He's a guy that has a great relationship with all the athletes and coaches. He's got an easy going manner that I think the kids respect and I think there's some ability. We lost two runners in Abbott and Paley. But I think there's enough there that we're going to be competitive this year. With some proper training, I think by the end of the year we're going to be right there in the IAC championships."
Girls Soccer
"This is Maureen Dracup's third year as head varsity girl's soccer coach. They've already had three games and they're 3 and 0. They beat Dryden, Trumansburg and Waverley. They're off to a great start. She's got a nice mix of 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders. She's very good with the fundamentals of soccer. The girls are very coachable.
"She's a real task master when it comes to training and fitness. Our girls are in outstanding condition, and she demands that, because she understands that in the end that's one of the things we want to get across to our kids -- that you want to stay fit. She's a marathon runner, so it's in her blood. She's done a great job for all the girls and I'm excited about their season, because I think they can go a long way."
Varsity Football
"Stuart Dean is in his third year as head coach. I think we got off to a good start with Groton, winning 49 to nothing. This year's team is a blend of juniors and seniors. Half of the seniors were with us as sophomores, so they've paid their dues. They went 2 and 7 their sophomore year, last year they were 6 and 3, and I think this year they're looking to get the Lansing football program back on top, where it had been."
Volleyball
"Amy O'Brien is our varsity volleyball coach. She's an out of district coach, but she was with us as a volunteer last year. She took the program over from Heather Beasley. This is her first year as head coach. They had an opening win Tuesday night over Dryden, 3 games to 2. They won the first two, lost the next two, then won the 5th."
Triathlon
"The Triathlon's this weekend. Lisa LaVigne, our PE coordinator is in charge of it. That event has gotten bigger every year. It's turned into a real community event, and that's good. It brings fitness to the forefront. It brings people together for fitness, which is excellent."
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