Gustav, Ike making difficult double-team for prep squads
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 9, 2008
By RYAN ARENA
Sports Editor
The aftermath of Hurricane Gustav and the uncertainty of the path of Hurricane Ike has made the scheduling of the area’s prep games a guessing game at best.
At press time, the projected path of Ike was still largely up in the air, and schools were scheduling games on the premise that no further evacuation setbacks would occur.
All area football games were wiped out this past weekend, and many area teams are hoping the same fate doesn’t await this upcoming weekend.
But East St. John’s matchup with John Curtis, which was scheduled for tomorrow night at Tad Gormley Stadium, has been cancelled.
The same goes for West St. John’s visit to Patterson scheduled for Friday night. West St. John is still without power, and Rams Coach and Athletic Director Robert Valdez hopes that things will progress enough in the next week for WSJ to host Franklinton in the Rams’ home opener next Friday night.
“It’s a little worse than anticipated,” said Valdez of the damage incurred at the school from Gustav. “I’m trying to call kids as much as I can.
“We’re optimistically hoping that we can go through with our home opener as scheduled.”
Valdez said that the visitors’ bleachers sit in the middle of his football field, while WSJ’s baseball and softball fields incurred damage as well.
“You know, I couldn’t get my lineman to move our sled. So Gustav did that for us,” Valdez joked.
St. Charles, meanwhile, is planning to go on with its home game with Higgins this Friday night.
“Everything’s on unless anything significant changes this week,” said Monica. “We’ve got to wait and see where the storm goes, like everyone else.”
Riverside is still scheduled to play Hanson this Friday night. Destrehan and St. James are still slated to face off at St. James on Friday, and Hahnville will host Baker at the same time.
All games are scheduled for 7 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE IN FLUX: Much as with the football coaches, area volleyball coaches are in “wait and see” mode with Ike.
Riverside Coach Mandy Luminais says that as of now, the Rebels plan on playing their games from Thursday onward, beginning with a home game on Thursday against Lutheran.
On Saturday, Riverside is also scheduled to host a tri-match, facing Ponchatoula (12:30 p.m.) and East St. John (1:30 p.m.).
“We’ll have to play it by ear for now,” Luminais said. “I know the kids are ready to start, and so am I. We’re crossing our fingers.”
St. Charles Coach Brandy Ryan says that much is still in limbo, but that she is planning on getting games in this week. The question is whether the team will make up games that were missed, or if the team will simply proceed as games are currently scheduled.
“We’re still trying to sort it all out,” said Ryan.
West St. John Coach Glenda Rush said that away games scheduled for yesterday, today, and Saturday have been cancelled. As of now, the Rams are scheduled to open at home against St. James on Sept. 16.