Aug 18, 2009 4 min read

The three Hs – hazy, hot and humid – made a timely appearance Monday just as the official start to the 2009 scholastic fall sports season for football, boys and girls golf, girls volleyball, boys and girls soccer, cross country, and girls tennis embarked for another year. The weather football coaches traditionally hold to making their team tough (forging in the solar fires, as it were), did the same for those other fall athletes. “We have to get them used to the heat,” said Connellsville cross country coach Steve Kuhns.

“We have long days with a lot of heat,” explained Carmichaels football coach John Menhart. “We want to get the work done without getting anyone hurt. Being this hot, I can’t see any good coming from it.”

Menhart returns as the Mikes head coach after Mike Bosnic took the job at Washington High School.

“The kids seem a lot younger,” chuckled Menhart in a break between the morning and afternoon sessions. “I know all these kids. Athletically, they look good.

“We have the base stuff in. We’re looking to see who’s aggressive. There were a lot of positives.”

Football players have put in conditioning time and workouts throughout the summer, but according to new Connellsville football coach Jeff Immel, things change when players don helmets and pads.

“We were a little sluggish (this morning). It was a typical first morning,” said Immel. “Pads make a difference. The true test comes with pads on.”

Veteran Laurel Highlands football coach Jack Buehner is no stranger to opening day, and all the administrative duties that come along with it.

“I spend more time chasing guys with physical cards, forms, etc. People ask me what I learned from Joe Paterno when I played at Penn State, and I tell them the administration level,” said Buehner before the afternoon session. “We had a good morning. We were as ready to practice as we’ve ever been.”

Geibel Catholic girls soccer coach Matt Stark put the Lady Gators through their paces late in the morning.

“We have a lot of work to do in the first two weeks. We’ll work on fundamental drills,” said Stark, who described himself as temporary head coach. “We have good numbers. There is some skill here.”

Although the Laurel Highlands volleyball team was practicing in the gym Monday afternoon, the Fillies didn’t escape the heat or humidity.

“It’s very warm,” said Fillies volleyball coach Michelle Pergar. “But, you never know what you’re up against in the different gyms we play in.”

Pergar was pleased with the way the morning practice went, and how the afternoon session was going.

“We’re just working on skills. We’re making sure they work hard, and it’s about team bonding,” said Pergar.

Runners should’ve been getting in their miles throughout the summer, so the first day was a chance for Kuhns to see where his athletes stood.

“I want to get the kids running again. Some haven’t been running much this summer,” said Kuhns. “I just want them to put in the miles today.”

While most sports have time to get organized before Opening Day on Friday, Sept. 4, girls tennis begins Monday, Aug. 31. Golfers have even less time to prepare with the Fayette County Scholastic Open Thursday at Duck Hollow Golf Club and the start of section play beginning next Monday.

“For the young kids, they have no clue what to expect,” veteran Albert Gallatin golf coach Bernie Wydo said during Monday’s practice at Duck Hollow. “We only have three days to the county tournament. We have a lot of young guys. They need two weeks.

“The WPIAL put the wham on us for not letting us start earlier.”

Laurel Highlands golf coach Mike Smith welcomed 21 hopefuls to Duck Hollow for the first official practice round of the season.

“The nice thing about golf, the scores are going to read. They literally earn their spot (in the lineup),” said Smith. “It’s not like the first day (in other sports). Today, the golf team starts. You’re counting every stroke. They’re getting a real golf score today.”