Preps: Girls golf looks for overseeding solutions

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Sept. 24, 1998 | 10:27 a.m.

As it usually does at this time of year, overseeding at local golf courses has wreaked havoc with the prep girls golf season in 1998.

This year, however, the sport's powers that be aren't taking it lying down. Last week, area coaches and administrators met with northern representatives in Reno to discuss potential format changes to alleviate the situation in 1999.

"We're well aware of the problem, and we're looking at several alternatives," said district athletic director Larry McKay. "We know the current system won't work with three new schools coming in next year."

McKay, Durango athletic administrator Jim Allen, Green Valley coach Del Sagers and Jane Schlosser, executive director of the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association, traveled to Reno for last Wednesday's meeting.

"Every course does it's reseeding in the fall, and it's a real problem for high school golf," Schlosser said.

Overseeding has forced match and practice cancellations for Valley, Bonanza, Palo Verde, Cimarron-Memorial, Cheyenne and Chaparral.

"We've had a little bit of trouble with it in the past, but this year, the bad weather and overseeding seem to be coinciding," Cheyenne coach David Carpenter said.

Overseeding in Southern Nevada generally occurs from late August until early October. During the process, courses let their summer grass dry out, reseed with rye seed for the winter months and saturate the new grass with water to get it ready for the fall's first frost.

McKay said he expects to have an announcement about a new format within the next month.

Volleyball mecca

Several of the nation's best prep volleyball squads will be in town this weekend for the 16-team Durango Fall Classic Tournament, one of the top five events in the country according to Vball.com, a national junior volleyball web site.

In addition to local representatives Green Valley, Cimarron-Memorial, Moapa Valley and the host Trailblazers, national powers like defending event champion Mater Dei (Calif.) will give locals a chance to see some of the country's top young players.

"We've had two high school players of the year here, plus a number of all-americans," said Durango coach Bob Kelly, whose school has hosted the event for four years. "It's going to be a high quality tournament throughout."

Also expected to compete for the title are defending 3A Florida state champion Berkeley Prep, Arizona 5A state runner-up Westwood, Oregon powerhouse Gresham and a contingent of California clubs, including Mira Costa, St. Mary's and Santa Margarita.

Action kicks off with pool play on four courts Friday at 2:30 p.m. The elimination portion of the event begins Saturday at 8:30 a.m., with the championship slated for 7 p.m. Saturday.

Tidbits

* UP NORTH: Top-ranked McQueen stayed unbeaten in week four football action, blasting host Sparks, 48-0. No. 3 Wooster bounced back from last week's tight loss to the Lancers, downing host South Tahoe, 32-6. No. 5 Carson posted a 19-6 road win at Reno while No. 7 Elko stunned No. 10 Douglas in Elko, 51-0. In other action, Hug shut out Churchill County, 28-0, Galena held off Lowry, 27-19 and Reed fell to California foe Lassen, 31-21.

* LEADERS STAY PUT: There were no changes atop this week's Southern Nevada Coaches Cross Country polls, with Durango and Green Valley remaining No. 1 in the boys and girls rankings, respectively. On the boys side, Basic climbed one spot to No. 2, Bonanza moved up one place to No. 3 and Silverado slipped to No. 4. In the girls poll, the top five did not change, with Basic, Durango, Cheyenne and Cimarron-Memorial ranking behind the Gators.

* DELCID HONORED: Chaparral senior David Delcid was named this week's Nevada Interscholastic Association 4A boys athlete of the week. Delcid scored six goals and assisted on another to help the Cowboys to victories over Basic and Valley.

* ON THE AIR: Prime Cable Channel 48 will broadcast Friday's Cimarron-Memorial at Bishop Gorman football game next Wednesday at 7 p.m.