Spring Sports are officially here this year! The different sports that Central offers are tennis, softball, baseball, and track. Spring season starts on March 15 and runs all the way to the end of May with many hoping to end their season winning state.
Junior Iker Streiger during warmups at tennis practice. (Ella Fairbanks)
This season’s tennis coaches include returning head coach, Danielle Lee, along with Stephen Gruener, Richard Peterman, Jimmy Vroman, and Central’s own graduating players, Brayden Peterman and Alison Pelatt. Coleman Rockwell coaches the softball team with his daughter, Alexa Syzmanowski, and seven others as well. Many of the track coaching team members are returning this season including: Colter Bethurem, Krista Wahl, Jaelene Flynn, Libby Close, Garrett Flaming, Tyson Racht, Jim Stergar, and Katie Hoff. Billing Central’s own Mr. Mike Martinson and Fr. John Pankratz coach the boy’s baseball team for its second year in hopes of another run at the state championship.
Sophomore Emma Hernandez makes a play during softball practice. (Joshua Strydom)
Rockwell enjoys coaching softball, especially with his daughter and other friends. “I enjoy watching the girls improve from March to May and seeing the competitive nature of each player,” Rockwell notes. His main goal is to have fun, get better every day, and not worry about wins or losses. He is excited for this season but is feeling nervous because the team lost 7 seniors from last season. Rockwell enjoys what he does best, coaching, and watching all the players grow in their skills.
Billings Central Theology teacher and sprinting coach Mrs. Krista Wahl gives advice to Central sprinters at track practice. (Joshua Strydom)
Bethurem is also excited to help the athletes reach the best versions of themselves and to expand the team with all the new athletes joining this season. Bethurem mentions, “I coach because I think coaching is one of the best forms of teaching there is.” Bethurem believes that watching athletes reach their goals is one of the best parts of coaching, while watching them fail is the worst part, as it feels like a reflection of coaching. Track is a great sport, with many athletes and often a great season.
Tennis is a big sport at Billings Central, and the coaches appear to love the sport just as much as the athletes. Coach Lee mentions that “Coaching is such a fun way to continue to be a part of the sport you love. It is a lot of long days, tough practices, draining tournament days, but some of the best memories I have.” Tennis’ goal this year is growth. Similar to track and softball, they also lost many seniors. Lee is excited to see the returning players after knowing how much work they put in during the offseason. Lee says, “I enjoy coaching because I love sharing my love of tennis with others… I coach because I enjoy being part of the BCS community.” This tennis season is going to be great, especially for newcomers.
Freshman McCain Roberts hitting a short-court shot during warmups. (Ella Fairbanks)
Pankratz is looking forward to this upcoming baseball season, along with other coaches like Mike Martinson, Bryan Koppes, and Barry Warn. He has high expectations as the defending state champions, even defeating class AA schools. However, this year, AA will be separated from the other class schools. Unlike all the other spring sports, baseball did not lose any seniors and has not only returning talent, but also new talent. Pankratz feels blessed that he is a returning coach at Central: “There is a lot that goes behind the scenes to help lead and support the team… I feel very blessed as a priest that I get to coach as it used to be more common, but it is a fairly uncommon thing today.” Although it is only the second year of having a baseball team at Central, they are shaping to have a great season.
This is an exciting time for all athletes and fans as spring sports are fast approaching. Many of these teams have games, tournaments, and meets right off the bat providing all Central Ram’s fans opportunities to catch some great high school events.
