Titans’ sports prep for big fall season

Cross-country, soccer and volleyball

The Crested Butte Titans’ fall sports programs had a variety of success last season led by the boys’ cross country team who brought home the 2011 state cross-country title.
The boy’s soccer team won a couple big late season games to qualify for the state tournament while the volleyball team rallied through the first round of district play before falling one match short of a birth to regionals.
This year anything can happen with all three programs losing key players from their varsity teams but enjoying a surge of young veterans moving into key roles.

Cross-country
 This year’s cross-country squad has 18 runners just with seven boys and 11 girls. It’s a mix of veteran state champions from the title team last year and some young guns looking to have break-out seasons this year.
The boys’ team has some big shoes to fill losing two key runners from last year’s state championship team. Fortunately, according to coach Connie Hayden, they came into this season ready to go.
“Everyone has come into the season really strong,” says Hayden. “We’ve been able to jump into a lot of speed work, which is nice.”
Junior captains Forrest Smith, Danny D’Aquila and Kyle Boyle were on the title team last year and return looking to find some of that same magic.
“Their leadership has been great so far and they’re very motivated going into the season,” says Hayden.
In addition, sophomore Jack Duryea was an alternate on last year’s team and could factor into a bigger role this year.
Still, Hayden and the boys are staying away from expectations this year looking to build on what they have before them.
“There are no expectations this year,” says Hayden. “We’re going to take our fitness and run with it. We definitely have the target on our backs but we’ll use that to our advantage and play the experience card.”
The girls’ team will be led by senior Amber Scott, who finished fourth at last year’s state race as a junior. Seniors Sophia Deer and Leah Wrisley join Scott as tri-captains for the team.
Junior Mina Moscatelli had a phenomenal season as a freshman two years ago but missed a lot of last year to injury. Fortunately, things are looking good for Moscatelli after a week of preseason.
“She’s feeling healthy so far,” says Hayden.
Juniors Mara McLaughlin and Harper Griffin will make the move from JV to varsity this season and Hayden hopes to get a boost from a couple surprise additions, Josie Byron and Elizabeth Kilpatrick.
“They’re both strong, competitive girls who will add fire to the girls’ team,” says Hayden.
The girls’ team has some work cut out for them in the preseason and Hayden has no idea what to expect from them.
“The girls’ team is still getting in base miles,” says Hayden. “The first meet will reveal a lot.”
The Titan harriers open the season in two different locations on Friday, August 31. Hayden will take the JV boys and most of the girls to a race in Delta. Coach Shari Sullivan-Marshall will take the boys varsity and Scott to a pre-state meet in Colorado Springs to preview the state championship course and get a sense for how they stack up against 2A schools from around the state.
“To start with a huge bang will provide some inspiration for the rest of the season and possibly a kick in the butt,” says Hayden. “We’ll find out where we stand.”

Soccer
The Titans had a mercurial season last year. After falling into third place, they rallied to win two big games and finish second in the league and qualify for the state tournament but lost in the first round to Front Range powerhouse Colorado Academy.
The team lost some key leaders to graduation but coach Mike Martin is looking for a trio of incoming seniors Jesse Reeves, Dylan Curtis and Cal Fenerty to fill those leadership roles.
“We’re really looking for those three to step it up,” says Martin.
Twenty-six players have been through the first week of preseason, 10 of who are freshmen making for a young and eager squad.
There is a strong contingent of juniors with big time varsity experience. Both Montana and Dakota Wiggins provide speed and intensity. Prawit Durgan will be called upon to orchestrate the midfield and the entire team will be anchored by returning starting goalkeeper Ian Dethloff.
“The juniors should have a big role this year,” says Martin.
While ball skills, fitness and defense have been the focus of the preseason, the team appears to have embraced the realities of preseason preparation.
“They’re doing pretty good so far and are hanging in there,” says Martin.
The coaches look to a host of sophomores to provide scoring punch up-front with Kaleb Schultz, Sam Reaman and Isaac Evans all set to rotate fresh legs through up-front.
The team gets its first test with a scrimmage in Canon City on Saturday, August 25 and will open competitive play with the annual Classical Academy Tournament August 31 and September 1.
“Only time will tell how we will end up this season,” says Martin. “It depends on how well they work as a team over the season, how much they want to give during the season and a little bit of luck.”

Volleyball
Marla Covey returns as head coach of the Titans volleyball team with Heather Perry back as well to continue bring the younger players up to speed. Covey added some alumni experience to her coaching staff this year as well calling on Amelie Kastning to bring some fresh energy to the gym.
The team has just two seniors returning to the fold this season in Sara Sherman and Cassidy Dodds but the squad remains on target through the first week of the preseason.
“The team is young but staying enthusiastic led by the seniors,” says coach Marla Covey.
Fortunately, they’ve got a host of underclassmen coming in for a total of 24 players. Most of whom spent hours in the gym over the summer.
“Many players put in time this summer at both camps and open gyms to improve their skills,” says Covey.
The coaches are looking for big things from juniors Suzanna Dumas, Miki and Monika Olesen and sophomore setters Brittany Barefield and Courtney Kopf.
They will remain in the extremely competitive 2A Southern Peaks league and in an effort to step up to the competition, the coaching staff laid out some simple goals for the team.
“We’re striving for the Titans to compete in every match, in every set, on every point,” says Covey. “We feel in general we need to increase our intensity level on every point to turn the corner and really compete at the 2A level.”
The Titans will kick off the season with scrimmages in Montrose on Saturday, August 25 and head straight into league play with six matches in one day in Cripple Creek on Saturday, September 1.
“That’s about a third of our season in one day,” says Covey.
You can find all of the high school sports schedules online at gunnisonschools.net.