More than 80 athletes expected on Longhorn fall sports teams

    In less than three weeks, Chase County softball players will be on the road for their first games.
    Shortly after, the Longhorn football team will be on the gridiron for their season opener, a home contest against Gothenburg.
    Along with cross country and volleyball which have end-of-August start dates, official fall sports practices for Chase County high school athletes will be starting on Monday.
    For the second year, all fall sports will begin practice on the same date, as set by the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA), which directs high school sports programs in the state.
    Prior to 2017, due to earlier season openers that came earlier than other fall sports, football and softball teams across Nebraska could start practices a week earlier than volleyball and cross country.
    All four Longhorn coaches have practice times set next week, and are reminding their athletes that physicals must be completed, and various consent forms filled out and signed, before they can take part in practices.
    Athletes must also complete an IMPACT test at the school (for use if a suspected concussion would occur), and turn in NSAA consent and emergency medical forms before they can practice, said A.D. Troy Hauxwell.
    Teacher inservice sessions are scheduled Monday and Tuesday, which will affect practice schedules for some teams the first two days, coaches say.
    Hauxwell said they have scheduled the weekend of Oct. 5 for Homecoming activities.
Softball
    Coach Denise Smith is expecting a roster of 14 players, who will open their season Aug. 21 at a varsity triangular at Southern Valley.
    The team is completing conditioning workouts this week prior to the start of practice Monday at 6 a.m.
    Two-a-days are scheduled Monday and Tuesday next week from 6 to 7:30 a.m. and from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
    Wednesday to Friday, Aug. 8-10, practice is set for 6 to 10 a.m. with a half hour break in between, Smith said.
    The schedule won’t see much change this season. This year, Chase County will host the triangular with Chadron and Alliance Sept. 29.
Football

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