Sports
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The Hutchinson Collegian Friday, September 4, 2020
Coach down with Blue Dragons
Photo Courtesy HutchCC Sports Information Delice Downing has experienced plenty of success on the volleyball court, as a player and coach, having won two national titles coaching Coffeyville, her alma mater. Tragedy has struck her family off the court, with the death of a son. She is entering her first year as Blue Dragon coach.
Experienced Downing brings skillset to HutchCC By Bailey Pennycuff Co-Sports Editor
Delice Downing has found a new program to call home. Downing spent 16 years at Coffeyville, building a national power after her playing career came to an end. Over the summer former volleyball coach Patrick Hall retired and Downing was enticed with Hutchinson Community College. “I’ve always heard nothing but good things about Hutch,” Downing said. “(Athletic Director Josh) Gooch was actually a coach at Coffeyville while I was there, so he kind of knew me. It worked out well because when this job opened up, he gave me a call and it was just one of those things where I just fell in love.” Downing was born and raised in Atchinson and attended Coffeyville Community College, where she played volleyball, basketball and softball, all while maintaining a 3.4 GPA. After her two years at Coffeyville, she went on to play volleyball at the
University of West Alabama. Downing was an influential player on any team she was on and often played in every rotation on the volleyball court. “As a player in college, I played mostly right side. But I also set and played some outside too,” Downing said. Her freshman year at Coffeyville, she earned the honors of first-team All-Region 6, first-team Jayhawk All-Conference as well as the conference’s Freshman Player of the Year. Also during her freshman year, she earned Jayhawk All-Conference Honorable Mention for softball. Her sophomore year, she went on to be named the MVP of the conference, as well as first-team honors for both All-Conference and All-Region 6. Once her playing days were over, she went on to coach high school volleyball for two years. After those two years, she returned to Coffeyville to be the head coach of their volleyball program for 16 years.
While at Coffeyville, she led her team to the NJCAA Division 2 national championships in 2017 and 2018. In 2015 she was named the KJCCC Coach of the Year. In 2017 she received NJCAA Coach of the Tournament. Lastly, in 2018, she was awarded NJCAA Division 2 Volleyball Championship Coach of the Year, as well as the Tachikara NJCAA Division 2 Coach of the Year. Just as everything else in the world is being affected by the pandemic, this year’s volleyball season will be as well. However, Downing has decided to look at the positives about the season being pushed to spring. “We are using this time to train and really get to know each other. I’m the type of coach who loves to have fun, so we plan on challenging other teams to different games and having a lot of fun,” Downing said. Downing also plans to spend a lot of quality time with the team. “We are going to have s’more nights, and a bunch of group activities and
team bonding time. It will really bring everyone together and make a strong commitment to the team,” Downing said. With preseason beginning in January, Downing is having her team’s grind begin now. “We plan to be one of the top teams in the conference this season, and we’re feeling really great. (Assistant coach Tori) Provencio has been amazing helping me and getting everyone ready,” Downing said. The team has connected with Downing and her coaching methods. “It’s still pretty early days but the whole team has shown major improvements under her coaching,” sophomore volleyball player Jenna Thorne said. “I think she’s lovely off the court and she definitely knows when to switch from friend to coach.” Downing and the rest of the team have their priorities set, as well as different goals. See Downing, Page 3
Blue Dragons ready for school’s only fall home event By Adam Kolb Co-Sports Editor
It’s not often that there is only one sport competing at a school, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, that is now the case for the Hutchinson Community College cross country team. The Blue Dragons will have their first meet on Friday, at Fun Valley, where they will compete in the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic. The men’s golf team will start its fall slate later this month. But for now, it’s all about Blue Dragon cross country. For Blue Dragons coach Justin Riggs, it’s finally being able to compete again that has him looking forward to this season. “It feels good to be back after so many months,” Riggs said. “I’m real excited to see what they can do.” While cross country is already, by nature, a socially-distanced sport, there will still be precautions at the meet on Friday, as well as all the other meets this season. One of those precautions include socially-distanced camps between teams. “Coach just wants to make sure everyone is in their own little bubble,” said returning sophomore runner, Teagan Flanagan. Even though feeling secluded isn’t ideal for runners, it’s a safer way to get back to normal as quickly as possible. The cross-country runners will be the only Blue Dragon team participating at home until 2021. Despite this, the pressure to compete at a high level is
normal according to coach Riggs. However, there is a sense of pride in being the only team competing. “I think it’s really special to us,” said sophomore Megan Miller. Overall, cross country will compete in six events this semester, from September-November. While the start to this semester hasn’t been com-
pletely normal, cross country coming back is a step closer to getting back to the way things were. Although not a perfect scenario for the runners, it’s one they don’t mind. “We’re racing,” Flanagan said. “That’s all that matters.”
Photo courtesy HutchCC Sports Information Hutchinson Community College women’s cross country runner Sheila Too (249) competes in a 2019 meet. The Blue Dragons will open their 2020 season at Fun Valley on Friday.
Blue Dragon sports schedules, results. All home games, events in caps. Cross country
Sept. 4, TERRY MASTERSON TWILIGHT CLASSIC, at Fun Valley, 8:30 p.m. Sept. 19, at Bethel College, 10:45 a.m. Oct. 3, at Allen County, TBA
Oct. 10, at Fort Hays State, 9 a.m. Oct. 31, Region 6 Championships, at El Dorado, 10 a.m. Nov. 14, at NJCAA Division 1 Championships, Fort Dodge, Iowa, TBA
Golf
Sept. 14-15, at Ryan Palmer Classic, Amarillo, Texas Sept. 28-29, at Missouri Southern Invitational Oct. 5-6, at CSU-Pueblo Fall Classic, Pueblo,
Colorado Oct. 12-13, at Midwestern State Fall Classic, Wichita Falls, Texas Oct. 19-20, at NJCAA National Preview, Lubbock, Texas
