Making the transition

Enough is never enough

By Jim Holland, Journal staff | Thursday, August 28, 2008

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RAPID CITY — Maria Gonzales and Allie Gorder played Rushmore Soccer Club soccer for most of the summer. After a week’s break they were back at it, preparing for the fall high school season for St. Thomas More/ Rapid City Christian.

It’s the same deal for Rapid City Central’s Dana Hill and Adam Carroll, making the transition from American Legion baseball to high school football with not much of a breather.

Gonzales and Gorder both attended a week-long summer college soccer recruiting combine in Muscatine, Iowa in early August. Practice for the More/Christian soccer season began Aug. 11.

“It’s hectic but it’s good because you stay in shape and keep your touches with the ball,” said Gonzales.

 

 “I’ve been playing soccer pretty much my whole life so I’m used to playing it year-round,” agreed Gorder.

Carroll was a pitcher and infielder for the Post 320 Stars, and Hill was starting catcher for Post 22. Both of Rapid City’s American Legion teams saw their seasons go well into August at the Class A state tournament in Aberdeen.

Football practice started Aug. 18, with the Cobblers’ season-opener Friday night against Aberdeen Central.

“It’s kind of hard getting rid of baseball. That’s my favorite sport. It’s fun to get back to football and get to hit people again,” said Carroll, a junior lineman for the Cobblers.

“I see it as a good thing, staying in shape going from one sport to another,” agreed Hill, a junior vying for starting quarterback job.

Cobbler head football coach Trent Pikula sees negatives and positives splitting time between sports.

“To compete with the Sioux Falls schools in football, we’ve got to have kids in the weight room. Obviously, baseball’s big in Rapid City, but the kids aren’t in the weight room as much,’ he said.

Pikula said he and his staff encourage athletes to be involved in multiple sports.

“I like the fact that they’re out doing something. We get a pretty good turn out for the weight room We take the positive with the negative. They’re not lifting, but they’re out there learning how to compete,” he said.

Doug Noyes, St. Thomas More/Rapid City Christian girls soccer coach, said he has made allowances for players who are active in the summer.

“There are some years when I’ve given girls the first couple of days of soccer practice off,” Noyes said.

Noyes worries about burn-out and overuse of limbs on athletes who compete year-round.

“I’m a real proponent of multi-sport athletes. I like to see kids try out a lot of different sports,” said Noyes.

“By the time some of these kids are 20 years old, they probably have the leg use that I have at 50,” he said.

Both Gonzales and Gorder say that injuries and fatigue have not been an issue.

“I’ve never had any injuries, so I’m good. I stay in shape so I don’t worry about it,” said Gonzales.

Pikula said baseball skills do equate to skill positions on the football field.

“As a catcher, he (Hill) obviously worked on throwing strength,” Pikula said. “A lot of our safeties have been outfielders. You’ve got to adjust to the ball, so there are some similarities.”

Gonzales is concentrating on soccer as her only sport.

“I want to play in college so I hope I don’t get burned out,” she said.

Gorder, a senior, also participates in track.

“I love soccer so I’m not worried about getting burned out anytime soon,” she said.

Noyes said even a scheduled hiatus for the Rushmore Soccer Club in November and December won’t slow some players down.

“I tell them to take some time off, watch some TV, be a kid, but then I hear there’s some recreation league going on and they’ve signed up for that. They’re that committed to the game,” he said.

Gorder admits she’d rather be playing.

“I usually wind up getting bored so I play soccer anyway,” she said.