By Dixon Bledsoe
John F. Kennedy and Silverton High Schools are running at full speed now that the new school year has started and coaching positions have been filled.
Kevin Moffatt, the athletic director at Kennedy is excited about the volleyball year with the hiring of Sarah Sprauer as head coach.
She is joined by assistants Jessica Bottaro and Erin Jasper. Sprauer is also a Mt. Angel Middle School social studies teacher, and Bottaro teaches the same subject at the high school.
According to Moffatt, “The volleyball staff is very energetic. They are a young group but have a wealth of experience and knowledge. The kids really like them as coaches.”
In football, new assistant Joe Panuke comes to Kennedy from Marshfield High. He triples as a physical education teacher and a new dad with a recent addition to the family.
“Joe is a great teacher and is really working hard on building our strength program here at the high school,” Moffatt said.
On the pine, Moffatt and fans welcome Keri Hall as the head coach of the girls basketball program and her counterpart on the boys’ side, Marty Reid. Reid also teaches math at the high school.
At Silverton, new athletic director Greg Kaatz welcomes a host of new coaches, many with a wealth of experience.
Garron Lamoreau, who teaches at Butte Creek Elementary, has been named girls basketball coach at the high school.
“Garron is just starting out and has a lot to offer with tons of potential. We think he represents what is best for today’s team and for those down the road,” Kaatz said.
Tom Steers, who has served a couple of highly successful stints with the girls’ program will serve as a volunteer assistant coach along with Toni Gragg and Linda Collier. Tyler Smith and Phil Wiesner will handle the JV and Freshman teams, respectively.
“Garron is young, enthusiastic and a great combination of former coach Eddie Willig, Tyler Smith, and me. We are excited to have him,” Steers said.
Lamoreau is happy to step in to one of the high school’s marquee programs.
“I’m really excited and glad to have inherited such a great program from Tom Steers. I love working with the girls, and we are getting ready for our first practice Nov. 10.”
Fred George has been named boys soccer coach, and comes to the team with several years’ experience in the Silverton Youth Soccer program.
“Fred is highly supported and well-known in the Silverton soccer circles, and comes highly recommended,” Kaatz said.
Neal Glynn is the new head baseball coach. He comes from Concordia College. He has been a JV coach and a high school coach with Crescent Valley. His areas of expertise include speed and agility training.
To complement the coaching team at Silverton, Tyler Smith will be an assistant coach in baseball, Bonnie Chen is in charge of freshman volleyball, Mark Jorgenson is an assistant boys soccer coach and Todd Brown assists with girls soccer.
David Cline and Erik Cross will head the boys and girls track teams, with Craig Rankin assisting.
Both athletic directors said they are excited with these new additions and look forward to very good years in sports.
