By Bill Morgan, Staff Writer

 

With the new school year just weeks away, dozens of Becker athletes took to the streets, courts, pitches and fields to begin practicing for the upcoming fall sports season.

Football, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls soccer, girls tennis, volleyball and swimming have all started practicing weeks before the first school day bell rings to kick off the new school year.

Coach Nathan Bucher and his girls tennis team are benefitting from some ideal weather as they stretch, run calisthenics and drills at the tennis courts. They hope to get in top form as their season’s first match is Thursday.

Coaches Trish Reimer-Kealy and Dustin Weege secured some grassy areas near Faith Lutheran Church along Sherburne Avenue to let their athletes practice technique and endurance during early morning hours. They start their season Aug. 30.

Nick Crowley has taken over the reins as boys soccer coach and he had his athletes doing calisthenics and drills as they get ready to compete in scrimmages to fine tune their craft. Crowley’s boys begin their season Aug. 24 against Cambridge-Isanti.

On the football fields, Dwight  Lundeen and his plethora of talented coaches had their players in shorts, shoulder pads and helmets as they ran through drills to get their team ready for the 2018 season. They kick off the season Aug. 31 at home against Chisago Lakes.

Inside the high school, Greg Lynch has been coaching his youthful players in preparation of his second season at the helm that starts Sept. 4.

Just down the hall from volleyball is Coach Tina Tamm training and lecturing her swim and dive team as they scramble to get in physical and mental shape for their season which starts Sept. 13.

Arnold Changamire has his group of girl soccer players sprinting, passing and practicing ball control at the BAC as they prepare to be ready for their season which starts next Saturday.

Come out and support your local high school athletes this season!