Archive for Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Archive for Tuesday, January 8, 2008

John Vandelinder: Hockey still at top of Bulldog beat

John Vandelinder

John Vandelinder

January 8, 2008

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— The Moffat County High School played host to swimmers and wrestlers from around the state in tournament action this weekend. The Bulldog Hockey Club is still unbeaten and tonight the girls and boys basketball teams host rival Steamboat Springs.

Let's take a look.

Hockey

For the seventh week in a row, (now a beat record surpassing the girls volleyball streak of six), the hockey team is at the top of the beat.

The Bulldogs competed in Oak Creek on Friday, a match up I said last week would prove if the team was for real.

They are.

Moffat County (13-0-1 overall, 7-0 Rocky Mountain Youth Hockey League) once again swept a doubleheader, dispatching the host Kodiaks 3-2, and 4-1, to remain unbeaten.

The one-two punch of captain Scott Smith and assistant Colt Criswell continued beating up on the opposition.

Smith scored twice Friday and Criswell had a goal and three assists.

Smith leads the team with 15 goals and 22 points; Criswell has 14 goals and 20 points.

Moffat County still sits in second place in its division, trailing Steamboat Springs by two points, with two games in hand.

Gunnison - winless in four league games - visits the Moffat County Ice Arena on Saturday, providing nothing more than a bump in the road for a team as hot as the Bulldogs.

The game fans should be looking forward to is Jan. 23. Steamboat will visit Craig in a battle for first place. Will the Bulldogs still be undefeated then?

Swimming

Moffat County rebounded after Friday's second place finish at home to swim its way to the championship of the second leg of its home meet Saturday.

The Bulldogs won 11 of 24 events throughout the two days, showing the domination it has over teams from the Western Slope.

Kelsey and Caitlin Conci won all of their races, but that's pretty much expected now.

What impressed me more was the rest of the team's performance.

Katherine Dodd won the 400-meter freestyle Saturday after placing second Friday. The sophomore battled through two bloody noses and still came out on top.

Clare Sorrentino won her heat in Friday's 100-meter breaststroke, eventually placing third. She cut more than three seconds off her time to place second Saturday.

The determination by the swimmers was no more evident in the team points earned. Friday: 185, Saturday: 206

Wrestling

Moffat County added some more lumps to their repertoire, placing fourth out of six teams that competed Saturday in the Dog Fight Duals tourney.

The Bulldogs won 29 matches and lost 26. Take away the 4-1 performances by Nathan Tomlin and Charlie Griffiths and the team went 21-24.

This is the third tournament in a row that MCHS has toiled around the .500 mark. Inexperience and strength are catching up to the Bulldogs.

Is Moffat County - traditionally dominant - in for a down year?

The team competes in Las Vegas beginning Friday. This is a good opportunity for the team to get away and gel. If they are going to turn it around, Nevada is a logical choice. If not, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Girls, boys basketball

Rival Steamboat Springs visits today. Fans need to turn out in droves to offer their support.

Dig out some blue and white.

Borrow it, steal it, it doesn't matter.

Don the school colors and make some noise.

Steamboat can't win if they can't hear.

John Vandelinder can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 211, or jvandelinder@craigdailypress.com

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