Rookies, Coaching Legends will Lead Ponies Fall Sports

As the Stillwater High School fall athletic season gets underway, the mix of experience and youth on the field is matched only by the diversity off the field. 
The Ponies have a pair of rookie coaches attempting to fill the big shoes of a couple of recently retired legends. 

Coach Bob Fisher takes over the varsity girls' volleyball team from Jamie Suapaia, while Jake Smothers is the new boys' varsity soccer coach, replacing hall of famer Phil Johnson, who retired after 32 seasons. 

The two rookies join longtime coaches Scott Christensen, Brian Luke and Dawn Podolske on the fall staff. All three of them mainstays in boys' cross country, girls' swimming and girls' cross country, respectively. 

The Stillwater Gazette reports the number of students involved in fall sports was down, a bit, from 2012. But activities director Ricky Michel said walk-up numbers (people who join as the practices roll on) should get them right back in line with last year. 

The fall season opens, officially, when the girls' tennis team participates in the McGuire Invite tomorrow. 

Soccer and swimming get rolling next Thursday, with football and volleyball on Aug. 29. Cross country teams will premier at meets over Labor Day weekend.