There are 18 guys out for the basketball team this year, according to head coach Kelly Arnold. With approximately 22 years of coaching experience, he told the San Miguel Basin Forum he’s again assisted by Mike Rummel, of Norwood. While last year, the duo coached both the boys and the girls, Zandon Bray has the girls this season.
Practices started Nov. 13 for the guys, though open gyms were happening the week before. No games have been played yet, but those are set for early December, and the sports schedules are on the West End Public Schools District website.
Arnold said the guys have a bit more experience than they did last year. That’s because there are five seniors on the court and the greater team isn’t that young comparatively speaking.
“We are about middle of the road, as far as age goes,” Arnold said over the weekend. “We have a few freshmen.”
He said a lot of things are going well, especially since the guys are willing to be coached. He said players are listening, and that is likely because he and Rummel have been with the guys a long time. He’s been coaching some of them since middle school or earlier for AAU — his own son included.
“They know our expectations and how things operate,” he said.
The guys team had some success on the court last year, and Arnold said the group is determined to continue that to see even better outcomes.
Seniors this year are Steele Arnold, Owen Dinsmore, Joseph Casillas, Hemmy O’Brien and Arthur Connelly. Also on the team are Slade Gillen, Caylon Joseph, Jackson Veal, Josh Platt, Brycen Rummel, Colton McCluer, Austin Garvey, Drake Long, Jose Zunich, Daniel Zunich, Cole Bray, Paxtin Caruso, Jacob Davis and Jason Kootz.
Five of the guys on the team, which is a combined team, are from Norwood; the rest are Nucla guys. What’s more is that coach confirmed that five of them are also attempting to play basketball and also wrestle in the same season. He said there’s definitely a commitment piece to doing both sports, and it’s not easy on them, as far as conditioning goes. Wrestling practice is first after school, and then the basketball practices are later. Arnold commends those kids on their efforts.
“They come in without complaining and go to practice and get to work,” he said.
The basketball season goes until March, and practice will continue nightly in the meantime.
Arnold, who is also the athletic director for West End Public Schools District the last 15 years, said the middle school kids are using the Naturita gym for basketball, and the high school kids are in the Nucla gym. He’s not sure how that will all play out next year moving forward, but the new K-12 school in Nucla is set to be complete in January.
In fact, Arnold spent time over Thanksgiving break organizing his office and preparing for the move. It will be a short three weeks until the winter break when the new school is open.
The new k-12 school in Nucla will have two new gyms.
As far as basketball season goes, Arnold said he and the guys are ready.
“We are all excited and expecting a very good year — and looking forward to tipping off,” he said.
