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Expect new Nature Coast coach in the New Year

By DAVID MURPHY
Published December 21, 2006

BROOKSVILLE - Nature Coast athletic director Jason Montgomery said his school will definitely have a new volleyball coach by the end of January.

The school has posted the position, which was vacated when Maria Garcia stepped down in late September after three years with the Sharks. Assistant coach Aixa Crespo replaced her for the remainder of the season. After Nature Coast lost to Bishop Moore in the first round of the playoffs, Crespo said she was unsure if she wanted to return as head coach.

Montgomery said Crespo had not indicated to him that she would like to be considered for the position.

"We want to fill it relatively quick," Montgomery said. "We have an idea of some teaching openings we are going to have. We want somebody in place who is going to go into the summer with the team."

CROSS COUNTRY UPDATE: Though their cross country season ended last month with a second-place finish at the Class 2A state meet, Hernando runners are finding a way to stay busy this offseason.

Three runners and two coaches participated in the Jacksonville Marathon and half-marathon Sunday, and all were among the top finishers in their age groups.

Joe Wright, a sophomore who will be Hernando's top returner next season, finished first in his age group and 14th overall in the half-marathon in 1:23.14.

Pavel Stuchlik, a sophomore exchange student, finished second in his age group in 1:28.30. And JV runner Jonathan Phillips finished fourth in his age group in 1:34.43.

John Emerson, a former Leopards runner and a current assistant with the team, finished fifth overall in the half-marathon and second in his age group in 1:16.32.

And, last but not least, head coach Ernie Chatman ran the full marathon, finishing in 3:21.38 to win his 55-59 age group.

[Last modified December 20, 2006, 21:29:44]