Air-It-Out Eagles Look to Build off of 2022 Season
The identity is clear for the Southern Valley Eagles on offense.
Throw the rock. Last year was hard for the Eagles as they went 0-8 so they will look to build off the offensive power they have ion place.
With a quarterback like Kamden Bose throwing it is a solid option. In Bose's junior season, he broke the school record for passing with 1,864 yards and was a 2nd team All-District performer. Bose will also have a solid target to throw to, Rian Grove, and in his junior season he caught 53 balls for 713 yards and also was a 2nd Team All-District Performer.
For the Eagles though, the defensive side will be where they have to hash some things out and third year head coach Justin Adams and his staff is well aware of that. "On defense the Eagles will look to rebuild a group that struggled all last season. They will return some
defensive lineman in Gabe Grove, Adyn Thooft, Colby Noel, and Trey Broeker who will look to take the next step," said Adams.
Southern Valley is in the D1-9 District along with Alma, Arapahoe, Cambridge, and Hi-Line.
They will open the season on August 25th at Sandhills Valley.
Underclassmen Expected to Fill Leadership Roles for the Eagles
Kristi Bose, the head coach for Southern Valley cross country graduated two seniors last season so she is expecting her underclassmen to step into the leadership roles this season.
Laurel Stalder is a senior returning this year and looks to fill that leadership role while junior Tayler Becker is returning and looks to have a nice year after battling injuries during her sophomore campaign. Becker medaled at five meets and was able to finish 21st at districts, Bose looks for her to be competitive this season.
Jeramyah Ruskamp and Arron Coppage are returning seniors who are expected to fill the leadership roles for the boys’ squad. Isaac Hamilton is entering his sophomore season and Bose looks for him to have a solid year as he medaled in four meets and placed 20th at districts.
Eagles Return Small Squad, Look to Make Strides this Fall
The Southern Valley volleyball team will return about as much production from last year's swuad as anyone in the league and teh Eagles are expecting to take big strides on improving on last season's 13-16 campaign.
Coach Ali Hoiser said that her roster won't be big on numbers, but there will be ample opportunity to get better.
"We have quite a few girls returning," she said. "With our numbers being down, I'm looking forward to our girls getting a lot of playing time and building their skills."
The returning production starts in the middle where senior Ann Bose returns after 312 kills, 63 total blocks and 367 digs a season ago. Bose is a three-year starter who does just about everything for the Eagles. She hit .322 last season and poses a major threat for opponents in all six rotations.
Adi Hunt, a junior that had nearly 200 kills and 50 blocks last season as a sophomore, gives Southern Valley more firepower up front, as does sophomore Tori Bose, who 117 kills and 40 stuff blocks from the right side.
Junior Brecklyn Hammond paced last season's offense with more than 400 assists.
Tori Bose, Hammond, and Hunt were all strong servers for teh Eagles last year as well as the three each had more than 30 aces. Bose, Bose, Hammond, and Hunt were also the team's top four passeres a year ago.
Lily Holste and Vanesa Aguayo also have productive varsity experience.
A lack of consistancy hurt the Eagles a year ago, but with a great deal of experience on the court, the Eagles will look to be a more controlled squad this season.
Hoiser said the RPAC East will still be very challenging with Alma, Cambridge and Southwest as the top contenders going into the season.
Saints Search for Consistency
Comin off an 8-25 season, teh Southern Valley/Alma softball team will look for consistency this season.
Head coach Brad Reaves maintained during the summer that he wasn't sure what this year's roster would look like, but the Saints should return top run producer Bryn Baily, who batted .412, smacked six homeruns and drove in 28 last season. Baily also tossed nearly 70 innings from the circle a year ago.
Natalee Holste and Izzy Dubbs were also key run-producers for the Saints a year ago. Josa Dunse tossed 47 innings for the Saints a year ago.