Quick hits

NC coaching jobs open

Darren Nelson, who built the North Central girls track team into a power that won the State 3A championship last spring, is resigning to take an administrative position at Mead.

Nelson, who has taught English at his alma mater for 11 years and coached track for nine, is going to be an assistant principal for curriculum.

“I’m excited,” he said. “I’ll see how I like it. What’s the worst that can happen? I’ll go back to teaching and coaching.”

Nelson inherited a team with just a few members when he started coaching. After becoming a GSL contender as a 4A school, the Indians dropped down to 3A in 2005 and finished second at state, 31/2 points behind the winner.

Last spring NC piled up 69 points to win by 27.

NC is also in the market for new wrestling and girls soccer coaches. Wrestling coach Mike Ranieri has resigned, saying he wants to spend time watching his daughters, both athletes in the Mead school district. He also will pursue his avocation of home renovation.

Activities coordinator Scott Harmon said girls soccer coach Jennifer Tissue stepped down at the end of her season last fall.

Velasquez leaves

Amanda Velasquez, who coached University volleyball to its greatest successes, moved to California in December, returning to the Coast Guard as a civilian employee.

“We knew she was looking, then at midyear it hit us and it was like, ‘Wow!’ ” said activities coordinator Ken VanSickle. “The district let her out of her contract and we’re in search of a new volleyball coach.”

Velasquez coached volleyball from 1999 through 2006 with highlights that included U-Hi’s first unbeaten league championship, first regional tournament and two state trips, including a sixth-place finish.

A Coast Guard Academy graduate and civil engineer, she had originally planned to make that her career until being injured in a fall through a ship’s open hatch. She turned to education.

“She took over a program that hadn’t had a lot of playoff success and did a great job,” said VanSickle.

Prom and circumstance

Times they are a changing for two 4A regional soccer matches.

Standing operating procedure calls for 1 p.m. Saturday matches during the regional playoffs, said GSL soccer coordinator Dick Cullen.

But that conflicted with senior proms at three 4A regional qualifying schools. As a result, all parties have agreed to play Friday at 7 p.m.

GSL champion University is at Columbia Basin League champ Pasco for state seeding. Mead will host Davis at Albi Stadium in a match between No. 2s for the region’s third state berth.

District track meets

Greater Spokane League track athletes compete for regional berths in 4A and 3A district meets today and Friday at Spokane Falls Community College.

Eight individuals per event and four relay teams, both boys and girls, will move on from the 4A boys and girls races, jumps and throws. Four individuals and two relays move on from the 3A meet. Regional the following week is also at SFCC.

Cheney is at West Valley to determine Great Northern League championships today. District is the following week in Cheney.

The Northeast A League district meet is 11 a.m. Saturday at WV. Three athletes advance in lane events, five in distances and field events to regional.

Various Class B meets are gearing toward state, May 25-26 at Eastern Washington University.

Softball notes

The first round of District 8 4A softball begins this afternoon at Whitworth College.

Third-place Mead plays sixth-place Rogers at 3 p.m. followed by fourth-place Central Valley against fifth-place Gonzaga Prep.

Winners qualify for next week’s regional and will play GSL champion Shadle Park (14th nationally in this week’s USA Today rankings) and runner-up University Friday, same time, same place for a spot in the district finals.

“The Washington State Fastpitch Coaches Association high school fastpitch District 8 senior game will be June 1 at University High.

The game is open to all seniors who have completed their final year of eligibility at their high school. It will begin at 3:30 p.m. following batting practice at 2.

Twelve players from the game will be selected to play in the Senior All-Star game at Wenatchee Valley Community College on June 16.

Cost is $20. Contact Jon Schuh at 228-5366 or at jschuh@cvsd.org. Deadline to sign up is May 18.