Six more weeks of winter are upon us, but that doesn’t freeze the excitement of Horizon Honors athletes as their spring sport season rapidly approaches.

Beginning with high school, the available sports this spring are Co-ed Track and Field, Co-ed Golf, Girls’ Softball, Boys’ Baseball, and Boys’ Volleyball. Tryouts will begin on Monday, Feb. 9.

Track and Field is saying goodbye to their former coach, Lura Beets, and saying hello to the Horizon Honors’ alumni and former thrower for Grand Canyon University, Kylie Brill. Likewise, Golf is introducing a new coach as well. Former coach Paul Schneider will be missed, but this year’s golf participants are excited to start working with Horizon Honors’ alumni, Julie Bogle. Two members of last school year’s golf team qualified for the state competition, one of whom ended in third. Hopes are high for both Track and Field and Golf this season.

‘Tis the season to make your way down to the dugout, with Girls’ Softball and Boys’ Baseball. Softball will be coached by Dina Samora and Rona Guggemos. The girls have a total of 17 games scheduled thus far. The baseball team will be lead by their coach Brad Downes and are currently scheduled to play 19 games throughout their season.

Lastly, high school is welcoming back with open arms, round two of Boys’ Volleyball. Horizon Honors history was made in the spring of last school year, 2013-2014, as the first ever Boys’ Volleyball team stepped onto the court. Tempe Prep’s Varsity Girls’ Volleyball coach, Lisa Barlow, will coach Horizon Honors’ male varsity team as she did last year. Kris Maglunog, assistant coach of Horizon’s Varsity Girls’ Volleyball team, will be coaching the boys’ JV team this season. Both teams are arranged to play 16 games as of now.

Moving on to Middle School, students have the opportunity to partake in Girls’ Basketball, Boys’ Basketball, or Spirit Line. Tryouts for these teams will also begin on Monday, Feb. 9.

Like in high school, middle school is seeing some familiar faces among the coaching staff. One-year Horizon Honors’ alumni, Beth Tsai, will be returning after a short break away from the school to coach the middle school Girls’ Basketball team. Her brother, current junior James Tsai, will be working with the boys’ team alongside head coaches Ed Ziska and Joel Wakefield.

Last but not least, what’s a basketball season without a Spirit Line to cheer for them? Lina Drozdowski, mother of High School Spirit Line coach Armani Hernandez, will be the coach for this spring’s middle school spirit line. The team will be attending all home basketball games, as well as several away games. Best of luck to all of these teams!

*Please note that the number of games each team is currently scheduled to play is likely to change throughout the season. Official game schedules will be available on The Horizon Sun Sports Center page and horizonhonorsathletics.org once the spring season is up and running.