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Red Demon Soccer rolls in Season Opener
By John Zetmeir
WICHITA – Before the Dodge City High School boys soccer team even began practicing this fall, head coach Saul Hernandez knew his players were focused coming into the season.
On Monday, the Red Demons’ focus was evident in their 9-1 season-opening win over Wichita South.
Dodge City scored three quick goals early in the first half. After a goal from Wichita South cut the Red Demons lead to 3-1, junior Joshua Don Juan found the back of the net twice to give Dodge City a 5-1 halftime advantage.
‘The kids were anxious to get on the field and play against another team,’ Hernandez said. ‘We scored in the first three minutes, we went up 3-0 early but after that we started getting sloppy. We got overconfident and gave up that one goal but that goal woke us up.’
The Red Demons’ scoring barrage continued in the second half. Dodge City scored four more goals in the first 28 minutes of the second half before the game was ended in the 68th minute due to inclement weather.
Don Juan, who led the team with 21 goals a season ago,picked up right where he left off last season by scoring four goals on Monday. Fellow junior Mario Martinez added two goals.
‘(Don Juan’s) movement and ball control is at another level right now,’ Hernandez said. ‘It’s the understanding between (Don Juan) and (Martinez). They already know where the other is going to be before they even get the ball.’
Aries Yeverino, Jose Ubanda and Diego Olivares were the other three goal scorers on Monday evening.
Dodge City will head back out to Wichita on Monday for the first round of the Titan Classic. Hernandez’s squad will take on Wichita Northwest in the first round. The two teams met in last year’s regional championship game when the Red Demons bested the Grizzlies 2-0.
Next Monday’s game will be played on the same field that the Red Demons played on Monday afternoon.
‘That gives us an advantage,’ Hernandez said. ‘We saw how the ball rolls and what adjustments we have to make on that field but we’re expecting a tough game.’
Last fall, the Dodge City boys took third place at the Titan Classic. The second round loss to St. Thomas Aquinas was their only loss of the regular season.
Lady Demon Cross Country Preview
Lady Demons eye third straight WAC championship
By John Zetmeir
Winning a third-straight Western Athletic Conference championship is this year’s goal for the Dodge City High School girls cross country team heading into the season.
In order to three-peat as WAC champions, Dodge Citywill have to figure out who six of their seven runners will be this season. Head coach Brian Lenz said that senior Coral Neave has earned her spot as the team’s leader but that he is still sorting out the rest of the bunch.
‘Our depth is there again,’ Lenz said. ‘There is no guarantee for the three returners on varsity, they have to earn their spot too. If I was to name our top-seven right now I wouldn’t have a clue who it would be.’
Neave was the top finisher for the Red Demons at last year’s 6A state cross country meet where Dodge City placed seventh as a team amongst the 12 team field. The Red Demons did lose Jasmine Duarte and Amelia Richter who finished 28th and 31st last year.
Sophomore Ayanna Hensley and senior Marissa Ramirez are the other two returners who competed at state last season. As far as the internal competition has gone amongst the Dodge City runners to fill the remaining spots, Lenz couldn’t be happier.
‘I love the attitude,’ Lenz said. ‘They are focused on what we’re doing and they are here to work. They are already coming together as a team.’
While Lenz is still unsure who his varsity lineup will be, the Red Demons are still entering the season with the goal to bring home the WAC title for a third consecutive season.
‘That’s the plan but we’re going to learn a lot about ourselves in the next few weeks when we start getting into some competition,’ Lenz said. ‘We have some new girls out that have really been looking good but you never really know until race day.’
The Red Demons will travel to Wichita on Sept. 3 for their first race of the season.
SCHEDULE
■ Sept. 3 at Wichita-Bishop Carroll. 9 a.m.
■ Sept. 10 at Perryton. 10 a.m.
■ Sept. 15 at Forth Hays State University. 4:30 p.m.
■ Sept. 24 at Stillwater. 8 a.m.
■ Oct. 1 at Newton. 9:30 a.m.
■ Oct. 8 at Salina Central. 10 a.m.
■ Oct. 13 at HOME. 3 p.m.
Red Demon Cross Country Preview
Demons return plethora of experience
By John Zetmeir
Last fall, the Dodge City High School boys cross country team won both the Western Athletic Conference and regional championship on their way to the 6A state meet.
However, the Red Demons did not run their best race at state. Dodge City placed 10th out of the 12 teams, falling behind both Garden City and Washburn Rural, teams that the Red Demons had beaten throughout the season.
With five of the seven runners returning from last season’s team, the Red Demons are looking to not only get back to state this season, but perform better than they did a year ago.
“I think they are all disappointed in how they finished up the season,” head coach Buc Bolmer said. “They are all focused and hopefully they stay that way throughout the season. We have good goals.”
Bolmer believes that this is the most experienced team that he has coached at Dodge City. Whether it is the most talented is yet to be seen.
The Red Demons return their top five runners from last year’s squad. Seniors Marcelo Cruz, Alex Ultreras, Brett Groth and Jason Luft all ran at state last year along with sophomore Javier Marquez.
Ultreras was the Red Demons top runner at state last fall as he finished in 22nd place. Cruz placed in the top 20 at state in 2014 and set a new school record with a time of 15:54 last year when the Red Demons traveled to Hays.
Cruz, Luft, Ulteras and Groth all finished in the top 15 at last year’s regional championship meet.
“Most of the kids stayed in good shape running this summer, staying healthy and getting fit,” Bolmer said. “When the season starts, we can hit the ground running.”
Dodge City will begin their season on Sept. 3 when they travel to Wichita.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 3 at Wichita-Bishop Carroll. 9 a.m.
Sept. 8 at Hesston
Sept. 15 at Forth Hays State University. 5:15 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Lawrence. 8 a.m.
Oct. 1 at Newton. 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 8 at Salina Central. 10 a.m.
Oct. 13 at HOME. 3 p.m.
Lady Demon golfers try to build off of state trip
By John Zetmeir
Last fall, the Dodge City High School girls golf team qualified for state for the first time since 2010. This year, the returning Red Demon golfers will try to use the experience of playing on the biggest stage to help them get back to the 6A state tournament.
Seniors Makena Konrade, Ali Phelps and Emily Stephenson all competed at the state tournament last fall. Stephenson tied for 57th place which was the best finish of the returning players. Taylor Starnes is the other Dodge City golfer who competed at state last year.
“We’ve got four back who played at the state tournament and another who played some varsity last year,” head coach Jim Mapel said. “That is going to help us this season. Especially at the end of the season when we get towards regional time.”
Despite returning five players with varsity experience, the Red Demons lost seniors Logan Gleason and Katie Rostetter who led Dodge City to state.
Early on in the fall, Mapel says his team will have to tune up all facets of their game to get ready for the season.
“We’ve got to work on everything,” Mapel said. “Short game is the focus because that is where we can save the most strokes.”
The Red Demons will travel to Hays on Monday for their first bit of competition this year. Dodge City will host their invitational at Mariah Hills on Sept. 8.
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