Fall sports opens new opportunities for coaches

RACHEL KEENEY, CLARE CUMMINGS, Reporters

    As the school year starts to end, things are already gearing up for fall sports. Athletic director Tim Larrimore has been filling vacancies for open coaching positions.

  Among the people working with the Hawks football program will be Coach Mark Filiaggi, Coach Kris Kapinos, Coach Geiger, and Coach Hauer. Another former sophomore football player, Nick Park, also said he is excited to “see how good our team is and learn new offensive/defensive plays.”  North Harford’s first official football game will be on September 6 at home.

   Kapinos says that he is very excited to be the assistant varsity football coach in the fall. “I’m looking forward to working with the new coaching staff and players,” says Kapinos. He is already preparing for the upcoming season, and is thrilled to be a part of “something so great.”

     New assistant JV football coach, Charlie Dawson, feels similarly. He believes that the changes will make for “more student interest, because of the fresh faces.”

   The new football coaches have been running seven vs. seven drills for those interested to take a look at players both new and old. He feels that the boys, like the new coaches, are excited to see where the season will take them.

    Ora Cummings has coached all levels of soccer, ranging from ages 4-5 rec, 8-15 club, and JV High for NHHS this past fall and a school in Baltimore County. This upcoming soccer season, Cummings will move up as the new varsity girls head soccer coach.

    Cummings describes the shift from JV to varsity as an “advantage” because she will know what most of the girl’s skills are and what they bring to the table. She also added it we be difficult because of how many seniors graduated from the team. This requires her and assistant coach, Chris Quick, to rebuild the team with “young talent.”

    Junior Grace Anderson has been on the soccer team for 3 years and says, “Ora is very sweet and knows what she is doing. Everyone has to give new people and coaches a shot.”  Girls soccer first game will be on September 9 away.

      Justin Martinek, also known as ‘Marty,’ was assistant varsity football coach last year; but things have changed and now Marty has the position as head varsity football coach.

Marty believes his leadership, knowledge of the game, and motivation is what will make him suitable for head coach. He also said he is most excited to “get the season started” to see all the new athletes. Cameron Kuchlang, a sophomore on the football team claims that he’s most excited to have Marty as head coach because “we can run new drills and learn new plays, giving us new opportunities”.