Lucerne Valley High School athletes have been busy this summer getting ready for the fall and winter sports seasons.
Starting last month, the Varsity girls basketball team began summer league play, going 4-13 against bigger schools. The Lady Mustangs beat a charter school in Los Angeles, Woodcrest Christian, Mesa Grande Academy (in Yucaipa) and La Sierra HS in Riverside. They beat Apple Valley in “one half” play in which the teams switch every half. The Lady Mustangs faced much bigger Sultana High School and lost only 3 points one game and by 8 the other game.
“Jewel Moy is playing out of her mind, and Kailey Quintero is going to be an excellent player this year,” said Co-Athletic Director Brandon Barkley, who coaches the girls’ team. “I’m definitely looking forward to the girls season in the winter.”
Volleyball started earlier this week after taking a week off for gymnasium floor maintenance.
“We've had 30 girls sign up for HS volleyball, so we are excited to see what we can develop this year and for the future,” Coach Barkley said. “Zoey Davis, Kailey Quintero and Itzel Ramirez are going to be the leaders to watch this year along with freshman Amaya Kelly. They will be a young team but there is so much potential with the girls’ volleyball.”
Former Middle School coach Amanda Nichols took over the program with Sarah Courtney also helping out. “Along with Kim Evans we have some great coaches at the high school.”
Football has been underway and practices are Tuesday through Friday mornings. The team is very young with only one senior, Robert Palmer, but Dylan Muldoon is eyeing a break-out season and Oliver Sierra is returning to help out the Mustangs. “With Coach Klinger taking over the head coaching duties, we are excited to see what he can bring as he helps develop the kids,” Coach Barkley said.
“This is a young team,” Coach Klinger said during last Friday’s working. “We have all freshmen and sophomores with only two juniors right now.” The first step is preparing the players with the basics. “We want to be competitive first, then win some games.
Lastly, cross country has been running two days a week, Monday and Wednesday in the early morning. The small squad is is young but the harriers look forward to Dylnn Cagle helping lead the team this year. Guillermo Betancourt and Danny Lyon are running the program.