This is the fourth installment of a six-part series of columns that will look ahead to the upcoming high school sports year for our six area schools.
– June 21 — SCC Titans
– June 24 — Yates Center Wildcats
– June 27 — Crest Lancers
– Today — Humboldt Cubs
The 2017-18 Humboldt girls season will be all about trying to secure successful returns with the basketball and volleyball seeking to go back to the state tournament, but the most important element will revolve around the return of junior Aricah McCall after she broke her ankle during this past softball season.
The injury may have cost the Cubs a shot at going to state in softball too, but with McCall back healthy for her junior season, hopes are high in Humboldt.
VOLLEYBALL
Coming off their state run last year, the Cubs must replace three senior with Tilar Wells, Kira McReynolds and Annalise Whitcomb.
Replacing Whitcomb is tough as she was the team’s leader from the setter position, but that is where McCall’s return comes in. The junior will likely step into the setter spot with the team having plenty of hitters around her.
Seniors Sydney Houk, Lizzie Myers and junior Kaylie Johnson lead that group of hitters and the team can still use McCall to get some kills, similarly to how they used Whitcomb last year.
Junior Chassis Hoepker will be very important as a back-row player and defensive specialist for the Cubs.
The losses — especially Wells and Whitcomb, who hardly left the court last year — will hurt, but if McCall is 100 percent by the team the season starts, the drop off will likely be minimal for Terry Meadows’ squad.
BASKETBALL
The state-qualifying basketball team will face even more of a transition that the volleyball team will.
The Cubs lose three starters with Makaylah McCall, Whitcomb and Wells graduating.
Despite the loss of those three starters, the Cubs still three starters returning with guard Rylan Wilhite missing most of the season with injury.
With Wilhite and Aricah McCall back as returning starters plus junior Maggie Johnson stepping into the starting lineup as a long-range specialist, the backcourt should certainly be the strength of the Cub team.
Myers will be the leader of the frontcourt after spending the past couple seasons teaming with Whitcomb under the basket. The biggest question the team will face is who plays next to Myers in the post.
Junior guard Morgan Mauk is the next most experienced piece that coach Aubrey Jones has, so the Cubs could go even smaller than they have in recent years and shift Johnson to the 4-spot and have Mauk move into the starting backcourt.
Jones also has Kaylie Johnson that could step into the lineup, if she prefers to use Mauk as that energy-player off the bench.
Regardless of how the lineup shakes out, the Cubs will remain a force to be reckoned with in the Tri-Valley League with their core four players.
SOFTBALL
Missing Makaylah McCall and Wells in the middle of the Humboldt defense at shortstop and second base will be the biggest area of concern for Brad Piley’s team.
However, the answer — in yet another sport — is Aricah McCall.
McCall was playing center field before she was injured this year, but next year she is likely to take over for her sister at shortstop.
The return of Wilhite and sophomore Winter Snyder as the pitcher-catcher battery will be huge for the Cubs’ expectations and they will be the most proven bats in the middle of Humboldt’s order.
Morgan Mauk — an all-state honoree last season — is back in center field and at the top of the lineup for the Cubs. Mauk’s slap-hitting and speed make her one of the most dynamic offensive weapons in the state.
Outfielder Sydney Barker, first baseman Sydney Houk and third baseman will be other returning starters.
Despite being the only Cubs’ team not to make it to state last season, now with seven returning starters, the softball team appears poised to end a two-year drought from the state tournament.
CROSS COUNTRY/
TRACK & FIELD
The track team also returns state qualifiers Kaylie Johnson, Bailey Goodell and Britnee Works in the jumping events to lead the Cubs in the field.
The Cub runners will be headlined by junior Savanna Puckett, who qualified in the 200- and 400-meter dashes.
