A Year in Review: Athletics at UHS

There have been a lot of great accomplishments by various UHS sports teams and I have picked a few sports and did a little profile on the team. Understand that I could not have picked every sport, so I had to pick and choose. I still love all the other sports teams!!

Boys Football – The tigers’ football team had a change in direction when Nathan Watson took over has head coach for the tigers. Watson use to be the Assistant Coach and Defensive Coach at Central High School. “When I saw the facilities, and met with Dr. Taylor and the rest of the administration and met the athletes and coaches I knew this was the place for me,” said Watson. Even though the team did not win any games this year there are high hopes for the 2010 season. “Our goals are to win the home opener and be twin city’s champs if we can do that, then win a play off game for the first time in school history,” Watson said.

Girls Tennis – The girl’s tennis team did great this year with wining the sectional title. This was a great accomplishment considering all the new girls on the team. Melissa Welch who has been coaching at Urbana for fourteen years coaches the ladies. “I enjoy coaching and getting to know students not just on the academic level and I love tennis,” said Coach Welch. Even though they won their sectional only one player made it to state senior Katarina Marjanovic. “It was great,” Welch said about winning sectionals.

Girls Cross-Country – The lady tigers won their regional meet and then advanced on to sectionals. The girls tied for fifth place with Centennial and were able to advance to the state meet and placed 12th in state. It was the first time since 1982 that the girl’s team had made it to the state meet. “It was an incredible experience I am so proud of the girls. They worked long and hard and there aren’t any more deserving athletes then them,” said Coach Renee Hunt, who has been coaching at Urbana for five years.

Boys Basketball – There was another change in boys sports this year as Coach Vashoune Russell took over as head coach for the varsity team. “I have known him my and have already developed a winning relationship. He is a great Coach,” said Senior Taylor Seten.
“I have been coaching here for the past six years (not as head coach), my heart bleeds orange and black,” Russell said. The team’s goals for next year are similar to that of football win Conference and Regionals.

Boy’s Baseball- The boys’ baseball team has had a great season there current record is 17-13 and 4-8 in the Big 12. It has been a very fun year and we have won a lot of games and we plan on winning regionals,” said Senior Cody Comstock. The team is ranked number one in their regional and their next game in Wednesday (5-26) playing the winner of the Danville- Central game. They are coached by Steve Waller who in his 10th year of coaching at UHS. “I enjoy teaching kids to play the game and watching them grow as athletes and young men,” Waller said.

Girl’s Track- With State last week the lady tigers sure have accomplished a lot. The team has taken ten events to the state meet, which includes nine girls. The team has had quite a season placing fourth at Big 12 and 3rd in Sectionals. The team was very successful coming home with 5 state medals, 7^th 100m: Alyssa Wood, 8^th Pole Vault : Shelby Stevenson, 100 and 300m Hurdles Mackenzie White 8^th in 4×400 Wood, White, Stevenson and Nicole Choquette