Prep Notebook: Even with seasons here, girls' tennis and golf hold off

On Thursday, girls’ golf and tennis teams statewide can officially start competitive play.

Just don’t head out to your local court or tee box to take in any of the frosty action since area teams don’t observe opening day like other sports.

“Typically, with tennis and golf, we wait a while,” District 11 athletic director Dave Eichman said. “If they want to play in a tournament, they can. Around here, we wait until it warms up a little bit.”

Practices for all springs sports officially opened Monday, but girls' golf and girls' tennis are the only two sports permitted to begin competition Thursday.

While area tennis teams begin dual matches next week, golf won’t begin until the first week of April. Longtime Cheyenne Mountain golf coach Bill Paulson bridges the gap by holding a camp that helps shake the rust and gets players together before the tournament season begins.

“I know other coaches who beat the ball around in February, but around here, it’s pointless because of the weather,” Paulson said. “We have a four-day camp run by The Country Club of Colorado (March 11-14), and it’s a good way to kick off the season. It’s open to anyone, regardless of district.”

The other spring sports – baseball, boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, girls’ soccer, boys’ swimming, and track and field – open their respective seasons March 7.

Mesa Ridge wants to even score with Denver South

Last November, Denver South ended Mesa Ridge’s historical run through the 4A football playoffs with a 38-22 triumph in a semifinal game played in Widefield. On Friday, the 23-0 Grizzlies’ host the Rebels in a 4A second-round girls’ basketball playoff game.

And don’t think feelings from several months ago have been forgotten.

“Our girls are very well aware,” Grizzlies coach Jeff Beatty said. “They want to get one for the football team. They kind of said ‘We need to take care of this for the guys.’”

Beatty’s son, Logan, played special teams for the Grizzlies, who before last season had never won a playoff game.

Area wrestlers compete to help Springs Rescue Mission

Wrestlers from Pine Creek and Discovery Canyon recently grappled for charity, instead of bragging rights. Two of the Pikes Peak region’s premier programs raised $882 for Springs Rescue Mission.

“They wanted to start a tradition between two successful sports programs and use the publicity to raise funds for a local charity,” Pine Creek coach Billy Gabel said. “It was a great way to give back to an organization that has done so much to help put families back on their feet in this community.”

Bates records national-elite mile time at Brooks PR Invitational

Heather Bates, a Pine Creek senior runner who recently signed a national letter of intent with Colorado, finished eighth nationally at the prestigious Brooks PR Invitational, Feb. 24 in Seattle.

Fittingly, Bates set a personal record in the race, recording a time of 4 minutes, 53.45 seconds, nearly 1 second off her previous best set at the same event one year ago.