The Big Park Community School athletic program looks to be stronger than ever this fall with three sports getting under way within the next week.

Although the student athletes have been practicing for a week or two, flag football, volleyball and cross country began competing this week.

Big Park Athletic Director Diana Morison officially released the fall 2010 sports schedules Wednesday, Aug. 25, and from the looks of things, it’s sure to be a good year.

n Starting with cross country, Head Coach Diane Schumacher has 17 kids out for the sport and the Coyotes should have a good season because of it.

“They are all doing well. We’ve got plenty of new kids, fifth-graders, who came out this year, and we’ve got some experience returning as well,” Schumacher said.

The Coyotes began their season Wednesday, Aug. 25, at Camp Verde Middle School but results were unavailable at press time.

Big Park is scheduled to travel to Clarkdale-Jerome School for its next meet Wednesday, Sept. 1.

The cross country Small Schools Championships will be held at Oak Creek School on Wednesday, Sept. 29.

n For the Coyotes in volleyball, first-year Head Coach Kerry Burkhart may have the best volleyball team to walk the halls at Big Park in many years.

Burkhart believes every player on her team can play volleyball well, and play any position.
“It’s rare to have a team like this. They’re all good and can all start. They all can play any position. They will each get equal time and all will play,” Burkhart said.

Big Park is scheduled to open the season Tuesday, Aug. 31, when it plays host to Mayer Middle School. The scheduled start time is 4 p.m.

The first matchup between Big Park and its rival, West Sedona School, comes Thursday, Sept. 23, at Big Park.

nIn flag football, Alan Clarkston takes over for Randy Hafner and the group is looking good.

For a week or two, it looked like Big Park might not even have a flag football program with the success of the Red Rock Youth Football program taking most of the kids, but for now, the season is on.

The Coyotes are scheduled to open the season at home against Pine Strawberry School on Tuesday, Sept. 7, with an official start time of 4 p.m.

The flag football finals are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 22, and Saturday, Oct. 23, at Oak Creek School.