Spring sports greeted by winter weather

Practice for spring sports at Sisters High School got underway Monday, February 26, but the winter storm that hit the area last week is making it a challenge for coaches trying to get ready for the upcoming season.

With practices forced largely indoors by the snow on the ground, teams are jockeying for space, according to Athletic Director Gary Thorson.

"We have a good turnout for our spring teams and it is the season with the most sports offered, so it's definitely a challenge to take care of everyone's needs, but we are able to use both high school gyms, the middle school gym and even the high school commons," he said.

Adding to the mix is the fact that the boys' basketball team is in the playoffs and still needs gym space as well. Teams are rotating through a practice schedule so that everyone can access indoor space, meaning that some teams have to practice later in the afternoon than normal.

This week, for example, the track team will be starting practice at 6:15 p.m. when there is room available indoors. Workouts are adapted, but since the start of the season is mostly about conditioning and learning drills, it is not a tremendous disadvantage for the team, according to Assistant Coach Josh Nordell.

The mild winter prior to mid-February held promise for the spring season, but battling the elements in Sisters Country is nothing new to coaches and athletes. In fact, the tennis team purchased indoor nets to be used in the gym in anticipation of snow-cover during the season, according to Thorson.

"Good thing we got some practice in earlier this winter when the weather was nice," said Assistant Track Coach Jim Anderson, whose specialty is the pole vault. "This is nothing new."

Spring sports offerings at Sisters High include baseball, softball, lacrosse, golf, tennis, and track and field, making it the busiest of all the sports seasons.

"Of course, everyone is anxious to get outside," said Nordell, "but we'll be fine."