Winter Sports Preview 2020-2021

 by John Pucci -  Humboldt Athletics 

While all fall sports with the exception of Volleyball have ended, many athletes are gearing up for their winter season. 

     This winter, Humboldt and OWL athletes will have the option to participate in girls and boys basketball and wrestling, while the boys swim team will try to match the great season the girls had this fall. Our PI/CI adapted teams will continue to meet virtually. Many athletes are excited about the chance to participate in winter sports, and the Hawks are primed to have competitive seasons with multiple teams. 

PHOTO: Ryan Prisch, and coach Brad Novacheck (Credit: SPPS - Fair Use) 

Girls Basketball Preview

     To begin with, Head coach and Humboldt alum Tyler Chavez returns all but one starter on the girls basketball team. Point guard Ilianese DeLaRosa and shooting guard Makalya Mapp return to headline the Hawks Offense, while Underclassman Jocelyn Mann looks to be the defensive stopper for the team. The Girls earned the number two seed in a competitive section last winter and have high expectations for this upcoming season. 

Boys Basketball Preview

The Boys basketball team had the opposite happen, as almost the entire roster graduated in 2020. With that said, coach Garcia is confident in this season’s group. He returns Leading scorer Brian Williams, and combo Guard Keith Pabon to bring some leadership to the group. In addition, a surprise Senior transfer in Xavier Garcia will help sure up the Hawks line-up, as he was St. Croix Lutheran’s top man last season. Watch for the boys basketball team to put quite a few teams on upset alert this winter. 

Wrestling 

Boys wrestling looks to continue to be a constant St. Paul Powerhouse this winter. Lead by coach Brad Novacheck, the Hawks return a strong roster headlined by three ranked wrestlers in Crown Htoo, Kyaw Htway and Po Si Si. Watch for Senior Pa Ha to possibly fill the shoes of heavyweight graduate Ryan Prisch, a notable graduate for the Hawks. The Hawks wrestlers will call the Open World Learning Campus home for this winter, and have already laid out their mats. Coach Novacheck was eager to move the seemingly heavy mats and get everything set up on Friday. “Nothing sounds more fun to me than hauling mats around on a Friday morning - I could do this all day,” said coach Novacheck. 

Boys Swimming

Boys swimming looks to build off the success that the girls had this fall, with coach Caitlyn Gill leading both squads. While the boys team lacks some of the experience that the girls have, a few swimmers stood out last winter, and look to make a bigger splash this time around. Senior Eh Ler Moo was a first time swimmer last winter, but really took to the sport earning an all-conference honorable mention. He returns alongside team captain Elliot McNally, who was as smooth as could be in the water last season. Watch for these two to have a breakout season this time around. While our PI/CI athletes and coaches are sad that they cannot compete in person this winter, we as a Hawk community are very thankful and proud of coaches Vibar, Bohland and Long for keeping the teams connected digitally. 

Thanks for all that you do!