In the News -- November

Games with Non-wood Bats Produce More Hits

In a comparative study of Illinois high school baseball teams using wood bats and non-wood bats during the same season, games with non-wood bats lasted longer and produced more hits than those with wood bats, but researchers at Illinois State University found that there was no statistically significant difference in injuries.

The research project was commissioned by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), with research conducted by the School of Kinesiology and Recreation at Illinois State University. Funding was provided by the NFHS Foundation.

"Based on the results of this study, we have determined that using non-wood bats results in a greater number of hits per game and a longer duration of games when compared to wood bats among high school baseball players. However, there was no statistically significant evidence that non-wood bats result in an increased incidence or severity of injury," said Kevin Laudner, assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology and Recreation at Illinois State and principal investigator for the Illinois bat study.

Thirty-two IHSA schools submitted data on wood bats from spring 2007 baseball games, and 11 of the 32 reported data for games played both with wood and non-wood bats.

In the 412 games played by the 32 teams using wood bats, there were 368 broken bats, resulting in a bat-breakage rate of 28.3 per 1,000 at-bats. If the bats were just used in games, this rate calculates to 23.49 broken bats per team for the entire season. Stated another way, a wood bat could be used for an average of 35.5 at-bats before breakage.

The comparative research of teams using both kinds of bats during the season indicated an average of 8.77 hits per game in games with non-wood bats compared to 6.50 hits per game in games with wood bats. In addition, non-wood bat games lasted 12.35 minutes longer (2:05 compared to 1:53).
Although there were also more extra-base hits, at-bats and runs scored in non-wood bat games, the length-of-game and total hits categories were, according to Laudner, the only ones with statistically significant differences.

The participating schools reported five injuries in games with non-wood bats in a total of 4,682 at-bats, compared with two injuries in games with wood bats in a total of 4,462 at-bats; however, ISU researchers said, after analysis, these data show that there is no statistical difference in injury rates when using a non-wood bat compared to a wood bat.

Of the seven total injuries, only two caused the players to miss playing time, and neither of those involved a bat. One player was hit in the face by a pitched ball and another sustained a blister on a finger. None of the injuries from a batted ball required any player to lose playing time – in either the wood-bat games or the non-wood-bat games.

The idea for the wood-bat study came from the Illinois High School Association.

The NFHS Foundation, which funded the project, serves the interests of young people who participate in interscholastic sports and activities by awarding grants for research and program development in the areas of character education and sports risk minimization.

"Independent research about sports equipment performance is useful to everyone involved in limiting the inherent risk of injury faced by young people in high school sports," said Bob Gardner, president of the NFHS Foundation. "The NFHS Foundation was glad to be of assistance to the Illinois High School Association in this research project."

Speech, debate, theatre meeting held in Indianapolis

High school fine arts directors from across the country convened in Indianapolis as the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) presented the 2007 Speech, Debate and Theatre Directors Meeting October 5-7 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Indianapolis.

Various workshops were offered to dispense valuable information and resources to the directors. The information gathered from the sessions will give these fine arts leaders insight and strategies to take back to their respective states.

While there were a variety of workshops, two of them particularly stood out.

Jana Riggins, the assistant academic director of the Texas University Interscholastic League, spoke about promoting policy debate. At the same workshop, NFHS speech consultant Kevin Minch addressed the issue of summer workshops. Recently, there has been much debate regarding whether or not they are a hindrance to directors.

Because many of these activities require traveling, another workshop entitled "The Art of Hotel Negotiation" was presented by NFHS Assistant Director Mark Koski.

Throughout the weekend, other topics were addressed, such as sanctioning of events, tournament security, literature copywriting, as well as support from colleges. Other issues that were covered included public advocacy for the arts and the "Urban and Rural Divide," which explained how to promote speech, debate and theatre activities in rural areas.

According to the NFHS Assistant Director Kent Summers, the weekend conference was a success.
"Altogether, we had 19 in attendance," Summers said. "This year, the meeting had a great turnout."

Four spring sports affected by NFHS rules changes

Effective with the 2007-08 school year, several new rules changes will be implemented in baseball, boys lacrosse, softball, and track and field. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) rules committee for each sport convened earlier this year to make these revisions. Following are the highlights of rules changes in these sports.

In baseball, a change was made to Rule 2-2-33 that is intended to reduce the risk of injury for both offensive and defensive players. Fielders without possession of the ball will not be allowed to block the base to which the runner is attempting to advance.

A number of revisions were made regarding the responsibilities of the head coaches. Stricter rules concerning the communication between the head coach and umpires, good sportsmanship and team appearance were addressed.

In an attempt to minimize risk, the NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee revised Rule 2-1-1. The rule now states that a team must have 10 players participating at the start of the game.

Other lacrosse rules were clarified as well, including the exact measurement of the crosse. Also, a goalie with proper equipment must be present on the field at all times.

According to Rule 3-2-11, softball players will be allowed to wear metal cleats and metal toe plates. Metal cleats supply more traction for players on a variety of surfaces, and they reduce the amount of slippage on bases. The committee also identified points of emphasis for equipment, pitching and the umpire's use of proper NFHS signals in the upcoming 2008 season.

A change in Rule 7-5-29b in track and field will impact pole vaulters. If a pole vaulter leaves the ground without breaking the plane, it will not be considered a foul. When a vaulter has a bad approach, he or she will be allowed to make another attempt in the allotted time.

In addition, a revision was made to the length of the shot put stopboard. Rule 6-5-4 states that the length of a stopboard must be consistent with the 4-foot measurement of a standard or international-length stopboard. Clarifications were also made regarding track and field uniforms.

For a full list of the rules changes in these sports for the 2007-08 school year, please visit the NFHS Web site at <www.nfhs.org>.

Kanaby receives high honor

Joining such illustrious names as Wooden, Krzyzewski, Agassi and Costas, NFHS Executive Director Bob Kanaby has been named as one of the "100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America" by the Institute for International Sport. Kanaby is accompanied on the list by several well-known coaches, athletes, journalists and administrators who positively influence the sports experience for numerous young people around the nation.

The list is a culmination of three years of work by Dan Doyle, executive director of the Institute, and his staff. While compiling research for his new book, The Encyclopedia of Sport Parenting, Doyle noticed that many respondents placed a value on the importance of teamwork and self-discipline in sports. Many of them emphasized the impact former coaches and athletics administrators had on their lives.

Upon gathering this information, Doyle decided to take on the project, and took nominations for the selection of two categories of accomplished sports educators. The nominations led to the "100 Most Influential Sports Educators" and the "Fifteen Most Influential Sports Education ‘Teams' in America."
"In America and in many other countries, we honor elite athletes, winning coaches, wealthy team owners and media moguls. We praise sports educators, yet we really do not honor them in a manner befitting their admirable impact on society," Doyle said. "This project is aimed at honoring individuals and organizations that have creatively and effectively used sports in the very best way - as a means to educate and shape positive values."

The essential criterion for selection is an individual's success in educating through sports activities.
Before joining the NFHS in 1993, Kanaby served as the executive director of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association and as a high school teacher, coach and administrator. Throughout his career, he has been an instrumental figure in supporting high school sports and fine arts activity programs.

During the past two years, Kanaby has led the NFHS in launching a national steroids awareness initiative called "Make the Right Choice." This campaign helps educate high school students, coaches, administrators and athletic directors on steroid abuse.

Under Kanaby's leadership, the NFHS has helped coaches integrate respect and sportsmanship into their daily lessons plans through the NFHS Citizenship Through Sports and Fine Arts Curriculum.
In 2004, the Institute for International Sport received more than 1,500 nominations for the two categories, and in 2005, the list was narrowed to 200 remaining individual finalists.

The organization's Web site, www.internationalsport.com, announced the honorees and the background on Doyle's project in mid-October.

Trail Blazers to refinish gym floors in Portland high schools

The Portland (Oregon) Public Schools received an early Christmas gift in September as the Portland Trail Blazers agreed to donate money to refinish all of the high school gym floors within the school system. Each gym floor will also showcase two Blazers logos. This corporate donation was one of the biggest ever to the Portland district.

"The Trail Blazers have been extremely supportive and generous over the years," said Steve Walker, sports information director of the Oregon School Activities Association. "I think for a National Basketball Association team to get involved and to help high schools is great. Its offer to assist these schools in refurbishing their floors doesn't have a huge advantage from a corporate standpoint. I think they're simply trying to support the program.

"I think it's fantastic that the Trail Blazers stepped up and did this for the schools in the Portland area."
In the end, Portland Public Schools, like many athletic departments in high schools across the country, have endured financial hardships, and this donation will provide both modern gym floors and an athletic boost for Portland-area schools.

Nashville to host nation's athletic directors

The 38th NFHS National Conference of High School Directors of Athletics will be held December 14 to 18 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

It has been 10 years since Nashville has been host to this event, and there is expected to be a crowd of more than 2,400 athletic administrators, spouses, guests and exhibitors.

The NFHS and its Athletic Directors Advisory Committee have lined up two distinguished speakers to present at the conference along with its standard variety of workshop topics.

Murray Banks, an accomplished presenter, educator and athlete, will kick off the conference as the keynote speaker at the Opening General Session Sunday, December 16.

Banks' messages have gathered national acclaim with chief executive officers, sales teams, managers, educators and other office personnel. In 1982, he was honored as Vermont's "Teacher of the Year" and in 1983, received national recognition as an outstanding educator. In 1984, he took a leave from teaching to focus on training for the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii. Banks has also won the Masters World Championship in cross-country skiing.

Dr. David Janda, an orthopedic surgeon and benefactor of preventive sports research, will conclude the conference's events in the Closing General Session Tuesday, December 18.

Janda, who has been in the medical field for 23 years, practices orthopedic surgery in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He is the founder and director of the Institute for Preventive Sports Medicine, a non-profit research organization aimed at preventing sports-related injuries and to control unrestrained health care costs.

At the Conference Luncheon Monday, December 16, the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) will honor 12 individuals with Distinguished Service Awards, as well as the Award of Merit, Thomas E. Frederick Award of Excellence and for the first time, the Frank Kovaleski Professional Development Award.

At the Conference Banquet Tuesday evening, December 18, eight athletic administrators will be honored with NFHS Citations for their contributions to the athletic administrator profession.

The NIAAA will hold its 31st annual meeting during the conference as well. Twenty-nine Leadership Training Courses will be offered -- some of which are required to be a Registered Athletic Administrator, Certified Athletic Administrator or Certified Master Athletic Administrator -- beginning Saturday, December 15.

NIAAA business meetings also will be held throughout the conference. The certification exam will be given on the last day of the conference, Tuesday, December 18. The entire membership is encouraged to participate in the NIAAA section meetings, which will be held at 2:45 p.m. Sunday, December 16, as well as the NIAAA Annual Meeting at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 18. The 50/50 raffle drawing will be conducted at the completion of the Annual Meeting, followed by the always-popular state door prize drawings.

The NFHS will be offering the new Fundamentals of Coaching course for $40, and it includes five different teaching units. The first two units will be presented in their entirety at the conference, while the last three will be completed online. After a participant completes the course and prints out a certificate of completion, he or she will also be enrolled in a national database for coaches.

For spouses and guests, the Tennessee Host Committee, the NFHS and the NIAAA have organized a unique breakfast program featuring an entertaining presentation and gift at 8:30 a.m. Monday, December 17. As always, registered spouses and guests are encouraged to attend the Opening General Session. The spouse registration fee is $40 and includes the breakfast/program, gift and admittance to the exhibit hall.

There are also many attractions that participants and guests can choose to attend, including dinner on the General Jackson, the Opry Mills Outlet Mall and the ultimate Nashville highlight -- the Grand Old Opry.

Last year's conference featured the Mildred Hurt Jennings Endowment Golf Tournament, but this year's event will feature a silent auction as a replacement from noon to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, December 15, and again from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday, December 16.

The conference will provide a great opportunity for athletic administrators to learn about the latest products on the market and visit with individual company representatives. The exhibit hall will be open from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, December 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, December 16 and from 9:00 a.m. to noon Monday, December 17. A proper name badge and complete registration are required for anyone entering the exhibit hall. No exceptions will be made to this rule.

The conference registration fee is set at $225 for 2007-08 NIAAA members and state athletic/activity association staff and $285 for non-members who register prior to November 9. After November 9, the registration fee for all attendees will be $285. Registrations and hotel room reservations after November 11 will be accepted on a space-available basis. The conference fee includes the delegate's name badge, registration gift, and one luncheon and one banquet ticket.

Retired NIAAA members (upon verification of membership) may register for $75, which includes a name badge, a registration gift and the retired members breakfast. Luncheon and banquet tickets for retired members, as well as spouses/guests, may be purchased for $30 and $60, respectively.

To book your guest room reservations, call the Gaylord Opryland Hotel at 615-883-2211 and use the conference code of N-NFSHA or simply reference the 2007 NFHS AD Conference.

Room rates are $147 for single or double occupancy, $162 for triple occupancy and $177 for quad occupancy. Garden rooms are an additional $40 per night. There will also be a resort fee of $10 per night in addition to appropriate local taxes.

Those states or sections wishing to reserve a hospitality suite should contact the Opryland Hotel directly.

A refund of advance registration payment, minus a $25 cancellation fee, will be made to any registrant who must cancel, provided notice of cancellation has been received by the NFHS no later than November 27.

Conference registration brochures were mailed to all current NIAAA members in September via first-class mail. The registration material will include the necessary forms to be completed, as well as program, transportation, car rental and tour/activity information. In addition, the information will be posted on the NFHS and NIAAA Web sites at http://www.nfhs.org/ or http://www.niaaa.org/.

Anyone not currently an NIAAA member can secure registration materials by writing the NFHS at P.O. Box 690, Indianapolis, IN 46206 or the NIAAA at 9100 Keystone Crossing, Suite 650, Indianapolis, IN 46240.

Sports Medicine Advisory Committee holds fall meeting

The risk minimization of America's high school athletes was at the forefront of a busy agenda as the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) held its biannual meeting October 6-8 at the Indianapolis Downtown Marriott Hotel.

Committee members -- who help inform the NFHS about sports medicine issues related to rules writing and other services -- mapped out and discussed pertinent issues such as soccer headwear, concussions, the development of an NFHS Injury Surveillance System (ISS), the third edition of its Sports Medicine Handbook, and updates on steroid testing by member state associations and substance abuse surveys, to name a few.

"We covered 41 agenda items, and it resulted in a lot of good discussion and review," said Bob Colgate, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the SMAC. "It helped us see what we need to work on and what we can put on the next agenda. We're trying to assist the NFHS, our member state associations and their respective sports medicine advisory committees the best we can."

The soccer headwear equipment issue was a focal point of the meeting and also featured a guest speaker, Scott Delaney, M.D.C.M., of the McGill Sports Medicine Clinic. Jack Winters, D.D.S., from the Academy of Sports Dentistry, also gave a presentation on mouthguards.

"Anytime you get leaders in the field to come in from the outside and talk, it makes for a good discussion," Colgate said. "It brings in a different perspective, and it's something that helps us look at both sides of an issue."

Delaney presented his research about whether or not soccer headwear prevents concussions. Thus far, not enough conclusive evidence has been found on the benefits of headwear.

"There needs to be more research done," Colgate said. "It's a great start, but there really is not much research about soccer headwear to draw conclusions yet."

Developing an Injury Surveillance System for the high school level athlete is a high priority of the SMAC and the NFHS Board. The program looks to provide information on student-athlete injuries, injury rates and how rules committees can use that information to draft rules that would further reduce risk for our athletes across the country.

"A high school specific injury surveillance program would be of immense value to the entire NFHS community in monitoring the nature and frequency of injuries, in evaluating existing rules and equipment, and in introducing new rules, where appropriate, to minimize risk," said Vito Perriello, M.D., and chair of the SMAC. "That would give us a good database for better decisions because of its wide-ranging, long-term benefits."

Substance abuse and steroid use have been issues at the professional levels, and now these topics are filtering down to the high school level. The SMAC wants to help stop a problem before it begins.

The SMAC gave an update and a commission for a follow-up survey on drug testing from the NFHS, the NIAAA and the National Center for Drug Free Sport, Inc. Additionally, the committee updated the status of member state associations that have steroid testing. New Jersey was the first state to conduct steroid testing, and Texas and Florida have joined the mix.

"Between the survey and the update (of states that have steroid testing), we can take that head on with an analysis if there is something all states should be doing," Perriello said.

The third edition of the NFHS Sports Medicine Handbook, which is scheduled to be released in summer 2008 and will add new topics, and Perriello said there have already been more than 5,000 requests for the new handbook.

"Information is changing rapidly," he said, "and we want to provide this sports medicine handbook to all that need it, and we want it to be up to date."

A review of the 2005-2006 Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, in which there were only 34 total catastrophic injuries (a low number compared with past years), also showed strong strides for preventive safety measures for high school athletes.

"It's a collective effort between, our member state associations sports medicine committees, NFHS rules committees and everyone else," Colgate said. "Hopefully, we will continue to minimize the chances for catastrophic injuries."

NFHS Hall of Famer, Al Oerter, dies at 71

Former Olympian and member of the National High School Hall of Fame, Al Oerter, died on October 1, due to heart failure at a hospital near his home in Fort Myers, Florida. He was 71.

In 1987, he was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame for his athletic accomplishments. As a track and fielder, Oerter won gold medals in the discus in four consecutive Olympic Summer Games (1956-1968).

Oerter began his discus career as a sophomore in 1952 at Floral Park (New York) High School, setting a national high school record his senior year in 1954. He attended University of Kansas, claiming discus victories at the NCAA championships in 1957 and 1958.

Despite being an underdog at his first Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, Oerter set an Olympic record on his initial throw, winning the gold medal in the discus. He continued his Olympic journey through Rome, Tokyo and Mexico City, claiming the gold medal and setting another record at each destination. To this day, Oerter is the only athlete to set four consecutive Olympic records combined with taking the gold medal at each event.

In 1980, at 43, he came out of retirement and qualified as an alternate for the United States team, but was unable to participate due to America's boycott of the Olympic Games in Moscow.

While discus throwing was his sport, he also had a passion for art. In 2002, he picked up a paintbrush instead of a discus. Until his death, Oerter painted abstract paintings and sold them from his Web site, www.aloerter.com.

In addition, he helped initiate the program, Art of the Olympics, an exhibit with works compiled from various Olympians that travels throughout the country.

Mike McCall Joins Virginia High School League staff

Mike McCall, who has many years of experience in sports information and media relations at the college and professional levels, has joined the Virginia High School League (VHSL) as information and communications specialist.

McCall began his career as sports information director at Roanoke College, followed by stints as sports information assistant at the University of Notre Dame, his alma mater, and assistant sports information director at the University of Florida. He then moved to the professional ranks, serving as assistant director of media relations for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and director of media relations and public relations for the Washington Redskins.

Most recently, McCall was vice president of operations for Russ Potts Productions, Inc, helping to promote and market numerous major sporting events each year. He also was communications director for the Russ Potts for Governor Campaign.

"Mike McCall brings incredible credentials and experience to the new position," said Ken Tilley, VHSL executive director. "He is a perfect fit. Mike knows how to deliver information, he knows what it takes to present an organization's message, he is adept in building relationships with the media, and he understands what's important at the school level. He will be a tremendous addition to our staff."

T-Mobile Invitational set for its second year

Perennial boys basketball powerhouse Jersey City (New Jersey) St. Anthony High School and girls basketball mainstay Long Beach (California) Poly High School headline the four boys and four girls teams in the second annual T-Mobile Invitational national high school basketball tournament. This tournament is the dual undertaking of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and T-Mobile USA Inc.

"We are looking forward to this year's tournament," said Robert F. Kanaby, NFHS executive director. "Not only does this event showcase some of the best teams and individuals in the country, but it also showcases the important role that activity programs play in the high school educational experience of those who choose to participate in education-based sports. We know that those who participate are better prepared for life."

This year's event will take place December 28 and 29 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the University of New Mexico's famous University Arena, perhaps better known as "The Pit."

"T-Mobile is proud to bring together some of the country's best teams, coaches and student-athletes to compete on a national stage," said Mike Belcher, director of sponsorships and entertainment marketing for T-Mobile. "The caliber of play is outstanding, and the caliber of individuals taking part is just as good."

The girls basketball team from Suwanee (Georgia) Collins Hill High School and the boys basketball team from Los Angeles (California) Fairfax High School took home the crowns at last year's inaugural tournament, which was held in Seattle, Washington.

As the NFHS -- the national leadership organization for high school sports and fine arts activities -- and T-Mobile head into the second year of this three-year tournament initiative, special emphasis is also placed on student participation in interscholastic activities. The T-Mobile Huddle Up community service project, which involves the coaches, players and T-Mobile employees working at after-school facilities at a local community-based organization or public school, will take place December 27.

The following are briefs for each of the eight schools that are participating in the second annual T-Mobile Invitational.

Long Beach (California) Poly High School

Carl Buggs, the 2006-07 California Coach of the Year, saw his team win the California Interscholastic Federation Division I basketball championship last year, as the girls posted a 36-1 record and finished No. 2 in the USA Today Super 25 girls rankings. Poly's key play, 6-0 senior Jasmine Dixon, was last season's Division I Player of the Year and plays both sides of the court well as she averaged 14.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.7 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. The team collectively averaged 30.6 steals per game last year, as well.

Hampton (Virginia) High School

Hampton's Lady Crabbers enjoyed its best season in school history last year as the team posted 30 wins and captured the Virginia High School League Class AAA championship. Head coach David Six was last year's Virginia Coach of the Year, and he'll look to all-state junior Tiffany Davis to produce as she averaged 18 points and four steals per game last year.

Dayton (Ohio) Chaminade-Julienne Catholic High School

The past 10 years have been successful ones for coach Marc Greenberg's team. The team has won three Ohio High School Athletic Association state championships (two in Division II and one in Division I), and it has also been runner-up three times. Greenberg's team has also consistently been in the USA Today Super 25 girls rankings. All eyes must be kept on senior point guard Tiera Stephen, who was rated as the top point guard in her class in the Ohio Girls Basketball Report.

Gallup (New Mexico) High School

Ten thousand fans -- yes, 10,000 fans -- made their way to cheer on Gallup in last year's New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) Class AAAAA state tournament semifinals at "The Pit," and now the horde of Bengals fans will have a shot at the T-Mobile Invitational. Head coach John Lomasney, who also was awarded the 2006 NFHS national girls basketball coach of the year, will guide his team that has won two Class AAAAA state championships since the New Millennium and only allowed opponents a meager 32 points per game last season.

Jersey City (New Jersey) St. Anthony High School

Head coach Bob Hurley Sr., who notched his 900th career victory this past year, headlines this perennially potent team. Hurley has led squads to 22 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association state titles in the 34 years he has coached at St. Anthony and holds numerous other records, including most consecutive state titles with nine and a New Jersey high school record of 66 consecutive wins. This year's team features 6-2 senior guard Mike Rosario, who averaged 15.8 points per game last year, and the team collectively averaged nearly 77 points per game.

Highland (Utah) Lone Peak High School

Lone Peak won the Utah High School Activities Association's Class 5A title this past year in dominating fashion, as head coach Quincy Lewis had his team finish 24-1 overall. Lone Peak's main contributors, 6-4 junior Tyler Haws (17.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last year) and 6-7 senior Bracken Funk (11.8 points and 8.5) will once again lead a formidable and tall Knights frontline.

Roswell (Georgia) Centennial High School

The Knights nearly ran the table from last January until March as they won a school-record 21 consecutive games and went 28-5 overall. But head coach Allen Whitehart's team came up just one point shy of winning the school's first Georgia High School Association state championship. Whitehart, the Georgia coach of the year last season, still has strong returning players, including 6-4 junior Lorenzo Brown, a second-team all-state selection.

Albuquerque (New Mexico) La Cueva High School

La Cueva has not seen a losing season since 1987, and Bears head coach Frank Castillo has no intention of breaking this trend. Castillo has the second-most wins among active New Mexico coaches, and his three NMAA state championships have made the Bears a force with which to be reckoned. The team has also won 14 district championships during coach Castillo's tenure, and Jason Randall and Dan Koller will head this year's squad.