Summers hardly slow down the work for Houston High School athletic teams.
While classes are dismissed until August, HHS athletes are hard at work in the weight room, open gyms, team camps and shootouts. The exceptions are mandatory dead weeks June 28 through July 6 and Aug. 2-10.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Second-year coach Dan Narancich said improved communication and team bonding are the focus of the offseason for his team. The Tigers participated in a two-day camp at Pittsburg State University and competed in the Showcase Originals league in Houston. The summer will finish with open gyms for fundamentals.
Narancich said his team joined the football program in the weight room in June to work on getting faster and stronger.
“The only way we all achieve more and become successful in our sports programs is working in the weight room together. We can individualize our program needs in the gym doing sports specific drills, but the boys and girls sports program are getting to see their coaches together during summer weights – all expecting the same work ethic and grit to keep showing up and pushing to become the best they can be.”
Dan Narancich, head HHS basketball coach
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Lady Tigers were participants in early-morning strength and conditioning training last month. They have held open gyms, competed against area teams on Tuesdays in Tim Hill’s Showcase Originals and coach Micah Lee took her squad to Branson in June to play in the Rib City Shootout.
VOLLEYBALL
Julia Sloan’s team “hits the ground running” following the July dead week. The Lady Tigers play in the Branson team camp July 8-10, have two nights of matchups in Hill’s league and scrimmage with Willow Springs and Licking on July 23 inside Tiger Fieldhouse.
In June, the team had weights and conditioning three days a week as well as open gyms on Wednesdays and Hill’s league games on Thursdays.
“So far we’ve had a great summer. We have consistently had 32 girls in the weight room,” Sloan said. “As a team, we will be seeing a few new faces this year. We are working on gaining that varsity experience early.”
FOOTBALL
Along with four-day morning workouts in the new weights facility, Tiger Powerhouse, the HHS football team has competed in 7-on-7 action against Willow Springs, Cabool and several opponents in Springfield.
Coach Eric Sloan’s team begins camp Monday at 6:30 a.m. that will conclude with team and individual workouts in St. Louis.
BASEBALL
As rainy weather permitted, Brent Hall’s team has practiced Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays this summer with pickup games throughout the month of June. The Houston Baseball Club, consisting of the incoming freshmen and sophomores, has competed in three summer tournaments.
Hall took his varsity players to Berry College in Rome, Georgia, in June for instruction and four games.
SOFTBALL
The program’s new coach, Conaley Aaron, was hired at the June 17 board meeting and quickly began meeting with his team for indoor hitting and fielding sessions. Aaron replaced Jim Moore, who left the program to lead Salem’s softball team.
CROSS COUNTRY
Athletes in grades 5-12 are running the city streets from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. Monday through Friday with coach Justin Brown.
“So far this summer we’ve had great numbers coming out,” he said. “A lot of familiar faces but adding quite a few new ones. I’m excited to really get our season started. We’ve got a lot of potential up and coming.”