The wait is finally over for West Central Valley volleyball and cross country teams as they begin their 2017 campaigns starting today.

Both sides will be under the direction of new faces to the Wildcat coaching ranks. For the Wildcat cross country teams, the individual steering the ship will be first year head coach Dave Hammond. On the volleyball end of things, John Jones may be in his first year with West Central Valley but he will be gracing Wildcat volleyball with 8 years worth of head coaching experience.

As for today’s action, the Wildcat cross country squads will get things started with a road trip to Gowrie for a meet beginning at 5:00 pm. Both teams will be one of 9 squads who will initiate their seasons at the Gowrie Golf Course. Both Wildcat girls and boys teams will start without state meet experience on the rosters as Abbey Harris graduated from the girls team. On the boys side the two state meet runners from last year will also be absent as Tyler McKibbin graduated while Rylan Heffernan has transferred to ADM high school in Adel. Regardless, both Wildcat teams have a lot of upside as they begin their seasons this afternoon at 5:00 pm in Gowrie.

Going in doors, John Jones will lead the Wildcat volleyball program onto the home court of Des Moines Christian tonight starting at 7:00 pm. The Wildcats will be searching for new leaders to step up for 2017 after loosing kills and digs leader Kristen Culp, blocks leader Sadie McFarland, and aces leader Jennifer Dudley. The Lady Wildcats do have one returning leader in Abigail Speichenger who led the team is assists last season and is ready to do so once again in 2017. Coach Jones and the Lady Wildcats will not only look for a season opening win, but a win over Des Moines Christian for the first time since 2008. Again, the Wildcat volleyball team opens up their season tonight against Des Moines Christian at 7:00 pm.