It’s time to get excited for fall

It’s never too early to do a little fall planning, especially when it comes to the Cactus Shadows High School sports teams.

The Cave Creek school has posted its fall 2007 schedules on its Web site, which is whetting the appetite of local sports fans.

All sports begin practice Monday, Aug. 6, although various unofficial activity is permitted during the summer.

Of course, football is the big draw after last year’s varsity team finished 15‑0 with the school’s first ever state championship in the sport.

The freshmen and junior varsity football teams will play a scrimmage first to kick off the 2007 season. The two teams will play at 4 p.m. Aug. 21, while the varsity team will scrimmage against Coronado two nights later at home at 5:30 p.m.

Tom Gardner’s first season as the Falcons’ girls volleyball coach begins with a home match Aug. 28 against Cienega. The Falcons will then go to Prescott Aug. 30 for the first road match.

The volleyball team will play in the Westwood Tournament Sept. 7‑8, the Goldwater Tournament Oct. 12‑13, and will host their own invitational Sept. 22.

The regular season for  volleyball ends Nov. 1 and the Desert Sky Region has not scheduled a postseason tournament leading into the state  tournament.

Cross country runners will have nearly two weeks of practices leading into the intra‑squad/alumni fundraiser Aug. 18. The runners won’t compete for real, however, until Sept. 5 when the Falcons will run at Chaparral’s course against the Firebirds and Apache Junction.

The regional meet for cross country is set for the week of Oct. 22, while state is set for Nov. 3 at the Cave Creek Golf Course in North Phoenix.

The talented Cactus Shadows golf teams will begin play the final week of August. The girls get started Aug. 27 with a home match against Saguaro and   Shadow Mountain. The boys begin a day later when they play at Desert Ridge’s course against three teams.

The Falcons’ girls team is using Rancho Manana Golf Course, 5734 E. Rancho Manana Blvd., for its home matches. The boys, who will only host two matches and not one until Sept. 6, will play its home matches at Dove Valley Golf Course, 33244 N. Black Mountain Pkwy.

The boys team is still looking for a coach to replace Mike Olson. Athletic director Monica Barrett said the hiring should be the last one before the fall.

There will be no coaching change for the Falcons swimming and diving teams. Eric Neibch returns as Cactus Shadows starts its season Aug. 30 with a home meet against Chaparral. The team’s first four meets will be at home, which is Cactus Pool at 7202 E. Cactus Road in Scottsdale.

Swimming regionals are scheduled for Oct. 12‑13 at McClintock High School. The state meet is slated for Oct. 19‑20.