Archive: Sports

The Fall season in Lansing athletics brings a lot of changes, not the least of which is a new athletic director.  Physical Education teacher and soccer coach Adam Heck has taken on that mantle, and it has forced him to broaden his scope as he prepares the season for almost a dozen varsity, junior varsity, and modified teams.  Other changes include a new athletic code of conduct and new coaches for varsity cross country, football, and volleyball.  But Heck says that the season promises to be a good one for Lansing athletes.

"It's been an adjustment.  I started in July and there has been a lot to do to make sure things are ready for the fall coaches," Heck says.  "To make sure the equipment and the schedules are all set... it's been an adjustment, but I've very excited.  Things are moving in the right direction."

Heck says that the coaching changes will create some bumps.  He notes that turnover in coaches means fresh leadership with new ideas, but it is an adjustment for athletes who are expecting a familiar coaching style.  Another challenge is that Lansing's biggest class graduated this summer, leaving gaps that teams will need to fill with upcoming players.  Heck says that the leadership of this year's seniors will mean a lot to the success of this year's teams.

"The coaches that are back for their tenth, thirteenth, eighteenth year -- it looks great for their teams.  Their numbers are high.  I think the new coaches have a vested interest in what's best for the program.  The kids are starting to be even more curious and are now coming out for a team.  The volleyball numbers are high.  Football numbers are getting up there."

Boys Soccer

Heck has coached varsity soccer in Lansing for a dozen years.  Last year's team was the IAC championship team.  Typically he has just over 20 players on the soccer team, and 11 graduated in June.  

"I like our returning kids," he says.  "They had significant playing roles last year, and we're bringing up young kids from an undefeated JV team.  I love the potential of meshing the experienced players with younger ones to reach a common goal.  If they exceed their potential, the sky's the limit.  if we get there it's going to be fun to watch us."

Cross Country

"The team lost a couple of very strong runners like Eddie Potter and Josh Barber," Heck says.  "He was exceptional last year.  Our cross country team has kids that love to run.  The interest is there.  It's an individual sport, but they still come together as a team."

He says the girls team has strong runners like Shana Swanson.  He notes that while the team lost a fabulous coach in Heather Miller for this year, he says there will be a strong coach in place filling in.

Miller is pursuing an educational opportunity this fall, which forced her to resign as coach for the fall only two weeks ago.  Heck says that he hopes she will coach track in the spring and return as cross country coach next year.  Billy Evans will be coaching this fall.

Football

Curt Gooch is the third football coach since Ed Redmond left, making it a bit rough in terms of continuity for the team.  Heck says that the entire football coaching staff is new this year.  Gooch coached youth football in the midwest.  He has three daughters in the Lansing schools.

"Curt gives us a great direction with a great deal of discipline," Heck says.  "He is very organized and I'm excited to work with Curt.  (Assistant Coach) Jake Dapolito was an assistant at Ithaca College.  Between the two of them I think they're going to put together a great team.  They have some new methods, but certainly good methods."

The football team also lost a lot of seniors, including quarterback T.J. Cretney.  Heck says they have some competition to fill that spot, and says there are some good running backs.

"I think they're going to put a good defensive team out there," he says.  "Jordan lee is going to be a big part of their success this year.  They've always had a good running game and that part is going to be there."

Girls Soccer
Heck says that the girls soccer team has gotten to the regionals and lost to the same team there each year.  He says that will motivate them and coach LaMarr Peters to get over that hump.  MC Barrett will be gone this year, and will be playing soccer at Brown University.  Ellen Grant Keane will be playing at Ithaca College.  Heck says those will be big shoes to fill, but about half the team is returning from last year.

"I think people will be surprised with what LaMarr puts out there," he says.  "He's going to have the youngest team there's ever been, but the experienced kids that are coming back will give him a great nucleus.  That experience is going to carry a lot of weight this year."

Girls Swimming & Diving

Diane Hicks-Hughes always produces a strong team, and has coached more than her share of state champions.  This June she became Chairperson for the National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) Swimming & Diving Rules Committee for a four year term.  Heck says that the numbers are down this year, and kids who decided not to swim are missing out on working out with one of the best coaches around.

"Diane's record speaks for itself," Heck says.  "She has 30-plus years coaching swimming in Lansing.  They are the team to beat.  Diane does a superb job with them.  I know their numbers are down, but the kids she puts out there will strive to achieve excellence -- they always do.  Diane is one of our best coaches, and has always done such a great job.  Some people wonder how long she's going to keep coaching.  I hope it's going to be for a long time!"

Volleyball

This year Brenda Powers will take the helm as coach of the varsity volleyball team.  Powers has worked with Lansing players in the club team, so knows the kids she will work with on the varsity team.  Three or four of the starting six graduated this summer, but Heck says a lot of JV players are joining the team this year.

"Traditionally our team has been very strong," Heck says.  "They have a lot of kids trying out, so I'm sure they'll put a great product out there.  Volleyball games are fun to watch because of the excitement on the court.  The kids always play with that enthusiasm."

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