Diamondbacks setting tone for the future

By Christopher Drexel (contact)

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 | 2 a.m.

New traditions start now.

Never mind that first-year Desert Oasis won't have seniors and won't play a regular 4A schedule in its first season. Coach Matt Jenkins wants to lay the groundwork for not only a successful 2009 but for the years to come when the Diamondbacks make their football debut this fall.

"The first year is about establishing what the program will be all about and developing an attitude," Jenkins said. "It will determine who we are for the next 10 to 15 years. It's not just winning and losing. It's how you prepare and how you take care of the little things in addition to executing on the field."

Jenkins likes what he's seen from his team in spring and summer practices. Though the school will only house three grades, more than 120 athletes have shown up for offseason workouts. The Clark County School District kept seniors zoned for Desert Oasis at their original school.

The turnout reinforces Jenkins’ belief that Desert Oasis students will be prideful of their new school because it draws from one specific area — the Southern Highlands and Mountain's Edge communities.

"As big and transient as Las Vegas is, it's difficult to develop tradition and a sense of community," he said. "The thing that drew me to the school is I think we have a real chance to get that community feel. We want to get the kids to buy into the fact that it’s not only our school, it's the community’s school."

Nearly all of Desert Oasis' students would have attended Sierra Vista. The Diamondbacks' nucleus will be made of three juniors who started for Sierra Vista's varsity team as freshmen in 2007.

The Mountain Lions' former center, Zach Knudsen, will start at outside linebacker for Desert Oasis, while former Sierra Vista fullback Roycen Shepherd will start at inside linebacker. Elijah Mitchell will line up at wide receiver.

Another cog in the defense is inside linebacker Nate Jackson, who couldn't play varsity last season at Sierra Vista after transferring from Bishop Gorman.

"We hope to go undefeated our first year," Jackson said. "We have a good team and I know we can do it. We want to make sure everyone knows we are playing for the Southern Highlands community."

Jenkins said the defensive front seven will be a strength. The team will have enough depth so that Ramos might be the only player going both ways, he said.

"We're excited about the talent we have," he said. "When you open a new high school, that's always a question mark. But a lot of kids were excited to play here and we're excited for what the future holds."

Christopher Drexel is a reporter for the Home News. He can be reached at 990-8929 or christopher.drexel@hbcpub.com..