Fall sports gearing up for strong season
Coach Christian Johnson watches Arielle Kern at practice.
ARCATA — Practice began Monday for roughly 100 student-athletes at Humboldt State, with the men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, men's cross country and women's cross country teams hitting the field and court.
Meanwhile, the football squad, comprised of 114 players, practiced in full pads for the first time since reporting last Wednesday.
Coach Christian Johnson begins his second season directing the men's and women's soccer programs. The men's team, fast-finishers after a slow start last year, boast a strong nucleus of returning players, including Josh Suggs, Tim Haden and Kyle Verle.
The women's team will count on returners Arielle Kern and Kim Carroll at forward, and Kelly Sandberg in goal.
On the volleyball court, Coach Sue Woodstra has brought in nine new recruits, adding to her roster of seven returners for one of the largest squads the Jacks have fielded in years. While the learning curve may be steep, the competition for spots should be keen.
"This is an exciting time of the year," Woodstra said. "There's a whole new vibe out there. There's a great feeling of new energy on the court."
Meeting with his teams for the first time Monday was new head men's and women's cross country coach Scott Pesch. Following paperwork, the runners gathered on the Redwood Bowl track for their first workout.
Official games begin on Sept. 3 when the volleyball team opens its season at the Western Oregon Tournament. On the same day, women's soccer plays Seattle Pacific at 4:30 p.m. on the road, followed by the HSU men taking on SPU at 7 p.m.
Football travels to face Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in its opener on Sept. 4. The cross country teams are the last to start competing, racing at the Cross Country Festival hosted by College of the Redwoods on Sept. 11.