BEHIND THE PLATE: New chapter begins for Greenwave

It’s time to put away those swimming trunks and sun tan lotion Greenwave fans.

The new season has finally arrived with fall practices officially starting this week and games kicking off the 2013-2014 school year next week.

But in case last year went by too fast or you need a refresher, here’s a quick guide to catch you up to speed on how Fallon did in its third year in the Division I-A.

For the first time since Fallon entered the Division I-A, the Greenwave didn’t bring home any gold after seeing the golf, baseball, softball and track teams win championships in the Greenwave’s first two seasons. But another realignment made the South more competitive, cutting down on the number of state qualifiers from the North and creating better state tournaments.

But even though Fallon couldn’t repeat that same success, the Greenwave is still one of the best programs in the North as it continues to remain competitive throughout while producing college-caliber athletes.

Fallon qualified for the postseason in all sports last fall, sending some to state in cross country and tennis. The football team made the playoffs after starting the season on fire and not losing until the second-to-last week of the regular season. After beating Fernley on the road, Fallon lost to Truckee at home and then Lowry twice, once in the regular season and then in the playoffs. Truckee won its fourth state title in a row.

Volleyball and both boys and girls soccer qualified for the regional tournament but fell short of reaching state. Numbers continued to plague the girls golf team as Fallon didn’t field a team to qualify for overall points.

But so far in 2013, this fall could prove to be one of Fallon’s best seasons.

The winter sports saw mixed results as boys basketball incosistent. Its counterpart, though, came 10 seconds away from going to state for the second time as the Lady Wave lost to Spring Creek on a last-second basket. The wrestling team continue to put up good numbers in the postseason tournaments, even sending nearly half the team to the state championship round but none was able to come out with the title.

Fallon’s best season arguably came in the spring as the diamond clubs and track and field teams headlined the postseason. The softball team won the regional crown against Fernley but its rival came back to win the state tournament. The baseball club nearly defeated defending state champ Truckee in the play-in game for state while the boys track and field team finished second at state.

Swimming made a return in the postseason with the new format that separated the larger schools from the rural programs, and boys golf continued to rebuild after winning state in its first year in the Division I-A.

But with summer vacation in the past, are you ready for some hard-hitting and exciting football? Are you ready to hear the thundering spiking in the gym? How about some Saturday soccer?

Brooke Hill’s football team encounters Fernley on Saturday at 9 a.m. for scrimmages before opening the season against Wooster in two weeks. The North could be wide open this year in football as Truckee lost several to graduation as well as its longtime coach to retirement.

The soccer teams will be busy this weekend, as well, as the Wave boys hosts their annual alumni game at 10 a.m. at the athletic complex. Both the boys and girls visit Spring Creek next weekend for the jamboree tournament.

The rest of the fall sports kick off the regular season next month as the ultimate quest of winning state returns in the Greenwave’s fourth year in the Division I-A.

Summertime is over. Let the games begin.

Thomas Ranson can be contacted at lvnsports@yahoo.com.