There's a new sheriff on the sidelines for Caliche football, and he's ready to get rolling with the Buffaloes.
James Grinde took over the program in the offseason and so far, he's been thrilled with the progress he's seeing from his veterans. During the summer, he emphasized the importance of strength and conditioning and saw an average of 16% strength gains across the board.
During their workouts, Grinde and his staff consistently tested the boys on the offensive and defensive systems they put in place, and the players displayed some "exceptional retention capabilities."
Grinde believes that the gains the team made, both in the playbook and in the weight room, will serve the Buffaloes well when they take the field for their first 8-man game at Rangely on Aug. 26.
"We have a chance to be very successful on the field this fall," he said. "We talk about the 1% rule all the time: you're either getting better or you're average and getting worse. It has taken some time to change the culture surrounding Caliche football but we have it moving in the right direction, with our goals of scholarship and championship."
"Our players have really bought into the idea that football teaches us life lessons. At the end of the day, they know this is about winning and losing. They are all on board to focus on the process that it takes and winning being the byproduct of that process. … They all want to reap a harvest from their work, And we believe we have the necessary tools in place to do so."
As the preseason fades into the active season, Grinde will look to four boys to take the reins of the team. Senior quarterback Seth Marick returns as a three-year starter whose smarts both on and off the field should lead the Buffaloes toward success.
Junior wide receiver/linebacker Joey Vergillio, a transfer from Custer County, will utilize his athleticism in both football and baseball to lend toward some versatility. Senior tight end/linebacker Ben Breidenbach, another three-year starter, has a strong ability to make winning plays, as does junior wide receiver/defensive end Chance Mitchell.
Marick, for his part, is thrilled with the changes that Grinde and his staff has brought with them. He believes they'll set the boys up for success this fall, and he looks forward to watching their hard work pay off as they look to improve from their 2-7 record from the year before.
"Coach Grinde and his staff bring a bunch of energy and swagger. The high standards he holds the team to are definitely going to have a positive effect on the culture of the program," Marick said. "The guys are excited about the changes. Everyone has shown up and done everything the new coaches have asked and I think we've improved our team chemistry a ton this offseason."
2022 Caliche High School volleyball team (Courtesy photo)
Volleyball
Coach: Jeanett Lambrecht
The Scorecard: The Buffaloes return for a new season, looking to improve upon the number in their win column from the previous season. Their incredibly tough schedule can be trying at times, and it won't be any easier in 2022 as the Buffaloes will house a small roster. As the new year kicks off, Caliche will rely heavily on junior outside hitter Karsyn Huss, junior middle hitter Raelee Kuskie, junior middle/outside hitter Ryanne Nichols and senior right side hitter Brailyn Debus.
"Northeastern Colorado always has a great showing at the state tournament so it is always important to be able to compete with our area," Lambrecht said. "We are low in numbers so each athlete is going to get a lot of reps. I believe we will see a lot of improvement for the girls this year."
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