DHS announces spring sports tryouts, conditioning schedules

With 27 varsity athletic options and more than 40 squads of various levels in those sports, Davis High offers more sanctioned team opportunities than any other Sac-Joaquin Section school.

With spring near, the busiest time of year for Blue Devil sports is at hand, and DHS Athletic Director Dennis Foster has released information about the 13 athletic programs that will begin tryouts next week.

Here’s a look at where student-athletes should be — and whom to contact — as the athletic calendar begins its final school-year cycle:

Baseball — Coaches: Dan Ariola (varsity) at dariola@djusd.net; Bob Creely (junior varsity) at bcreely@djusd.net; David Watts (freshmen) at davidw.dhs@gmail.com.

With conditioning under way Monday through Friday (4-5:30 p.m.), full team tryouts and practices begin Feb. 4 (4-6 p.m.).

Boys golf — Coach: Karl Ronning at kronning@djusd.net.

Wildhorse Golf Club is the site of tryouts, which begin Feb. 4 at 4 p.m. Ronning says “since we are limited to eight players per day, everyone will not be trying out every day.” A potential player who wants to schedule a tryout date should contact Ronning.

Boys lacrosse — Coach: Nick Juri at nickjuri@gmail.com.

Ron & Mary Brown Stadium will be the site of Feb. 4-7 tryouts (6:30-8:30 p.m.). Juri says players should bring all lacrosse gear and running shoes. Preseason conditioning is ongoing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the campus stadium.

Girls lacrosse — Coaches: Jenn Morris (varsity) at jennmorris22@gamil.com; Lisa Branch (JV) at lbranch@calspl.com.

Conditioning has started (4 p.m. at Brown Stadium). The one-hour sessions go on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until tryouts begin Feb. 4 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Girls soccer — Coaches Sara Stone (varsity) at sarayudin@hotmail.com; Bob Smith (JV) at robertsmith90@comcast.net.

Check-in and conditioning begin Feb. 1 for ninth- and 10th-graders, according to Stone. Juniors and seniors report on Feb. 4. All conditioning sessions and practices begin at 4 p.m. Players are asked to bring water, soccer shoes, shin guards and running shoes to tryouts.

Softball — Coaches Art Guerra (varsity) at sharks2123@yahoo.com; Gary Bernauer (JV) at 4bears4u@sbcglobal.net.

Conditioning has started, going each Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m. at the softball facility in Community Park just south of Covell Boulevard. The first day of practice/tryouts is Feb. 4.

All softball-related gear and running shoes are needed for tryouts. Sessions are scheduled as weather permits, Guerra says.

Boys & girls swimming — Coach: Tracy Stapleton at tstapleton@djusd.net.

Tryouts are Feb. 4-8 at Arroyo Pool, beginning each day at 4 p.m. Students should bring swimsuit, swim cap and goggles.

Diving — Coach: Laurel Abernathy at laurela@pacbell.net.

Foster says prospective divers should contact Abernathy for details about tryouts, workouts, times and location.

Boys tennis — Coach: Dale Hersch at herschdb@aol.com.

Preseason conditioning is under way Monday through Friday at the Community Park Tennis Complex from 6 to 7 p.m. Tryouts begin Feb. 4 and go all five days at 3:45 p.m.

Track and field — Coach: Spencer Elliott at selliot@djusd.net.

All students are invited to current conditioning sessions, which are being conducted at Brown Stadium Monday through Thursday at 4 p.m. Official practice starts Feb. 4 at 3:50 p.m., also at the stadium.

Boys volleyball: Coach Julie Crawford at jcrawford@djusd.net.

Tryouts begin Feb. 4 at 4 p.m. in the DHS south gym.

Required baseline concussion testing started Tuesday morning and continues Wednesday at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. in the campus library computer lab. A sign-up link and permission form are available at www.davisseniorhigh.net.