School board hears activities report

Activities Director Brandon Deromedi gave an activities wrap-up presentation to the Hot Springs County School District’s Board of Trustees during their May 21 meeting.

Deromedi pointed out 57% of the middle school students are engaged in some kind of activity, whether it be sports or something else, with the largest participation being in seventh grade where 67% of the students are participating.

About 33% of the sixth graders are doing some kind of activity and eighth graders are participating at about 65%.

There is a considerable jump from middle school to high school activities with 87% of high school students participating in something.

Freshmen are at the top with 94% engaged, followed by juniors with 90% of them doing some activity. Sophomores are in with 83% and seniors at 80%.

There is always the question about whether the Cats will be 2A or 3A and this year is no exception. However, different activities are being put in different classifications.

For instance, football, cross country, golf, wrestling, drama, cheer and speech and debate will all be categorized as 2A while volleyball, basketball and track will compete at the 3A level.

The board approved the presented list of coaching assignments for both high school and middle school.

Matt McPhie will remain the head football coach, assisted by Todd Weber and Steven Soderstrom. Shannon Hill will once again be head volleyball coach, assisted by Cortney O’Connor and Dana Bjorhus.

Shane Corpening will be head boys basketball coach, assisted by Paul Collamer and Dean Despain, while the girls will be coached by McPhie and assisted by Katie Despain and Bjorhus.

At this time, there is no head high school track coach, however Ryan Williams, Webber and Stephanie Metz were named as assistant coaches. Metz will also be the head cross country coach.

Travis McDermott will once again be head wrestling coach, assisted by Trey Ottley, and Cindy Glasson and Lyle Wiley remain as co-head speech coaches. Brenna Huckfeldt will coach cheer in the fall with Ayni Garza taking the winter season.

Corpening will also be the head football coach for the middle school, assisted by Dean Despain. Aimee Kay will continue as head volleyball coach at the middle school and Ryan Shaffer will be boys basketball coach, assisted by Daniel Webber.

Toby Emery will head the middle school wrestling program, Deromedi will be head track coach and will be assisted by Despain and Ashley Cleare.

The board also approved moving Barb Allen from interim transportation supervisor to transportation supervisor effective July 1.

Jan Sharp moves from cook to head cook along with Tammy Redland. Hannah Brooks moves from cook to head cook along with the title of Food Service Coordinator, effective in August.