Because the last day of school for the Falcons is May 28, this will be the last Sports Corner until next fall. Writing the column has been an experience in itself. I was an athlete when I was in school, but I certainly did not have any aspirations of being a sports columnist, by any stretch of the imagination.It has been both fun and a privilege. The fun part has been meeting the coaches, the student/athletes and attending the various games and meets. I hope, as readers, you have been a little more informed about local high school sports as the year has progressed. Next year, with feedback from individual coaches, there will be articles in the Sports Corner on all sports. In the last issue of The New Falcon Herald, I indicated that I would profile more of the Falcon coaches, and that is what this issue is all about.Dennis Brickner – girls and boys athletic trainerDennis and his wife Gale have two boys – Brian and Adam. Dennis picked up his bachelor’s degree at Fort Lewis College and his master’s at the University of Phoenix. He has been in the sports field 19 years – 14 of them in Falcon, where he works as the athletic trainer for the boys and girls in all sports at all levels. There is no, one-single person more important in the sports field than the athletic trainer. Dennis said he chose Falcon because a golden opportunity presented itself: It was a great location and a great district. His interests are skiing, snowboarding, golf and biking.Ray Shorette – girls basketball coachRay went the “I do” route when he married his wife Kim. They have two children – Amy and Cory. Ray has been in the coaching profession six years – five at Ellicott High School and one year at Falcon. At the youth level, he has coached basketball, baseball and football; and, at the high school level, he coached basketball. Falcon High School has been his home for one year. He coached the girls basketball team. Ray said he chose Falcon because opportunities for a successful program at Falcon were endless. There is a great amount of talent at many levels, and the kids and parents are committed to developing a great program. Also, the administration and facilities are among the best anywhere. Ray’s interests outside of school include golf, hunting and family.Tony Silengo – wrestling coachTony and his wife Becky have three children – Melissa, Michael and Timothy. Tony was the head wrestling coach at Hilltop Baptist High School for 14 years before the program was cut. He happened to be in the right spot at the right time when an opening came up in Falcon. He seized the opportunity to become the head wrestling coach. At Falcon High, Tony still has some goals he would like to achieve as a head coach.He also works with Ambassador Sports International as a missionary to the Olympic Training Center. Tony must have a green thumb, as he enjoys working in his yard and keeping up his Koi pond.Roy Dietzman – soccer coachRoy and wife Janean have two children – both girls. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in forensic science at Weber State University and his master’s degree from the University of Kansas. Soccer has been his main thing for 19 years. This is Roy’s first year at Falcon, where he coaches both boys and girls soccer. He lives with his family in Falcon and is happy to be part of the soccer program.John Lupton – girls varsity soccer coachJohn and wife Tami have five children, ranging in age 1 to 17. The colleges in John’s portfolio are Western State and the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. He has been in the coaching profession 15 total years – 10 at the high school level. This is his first year coaching soccer at FHS, as soccer is in its first year at Falcon. He spent five years at Sand Creek High School coaching boys and girls soccer. John chose Falcon because his kids go to school at Falcon and it is close to his home. He loves the high school and the athletes. When FHS started the soccer program, John jumped on it. Matt Janes – football and bowling coachMatt is married, and he and his wife Robin have two children -Madison is 8 and Sam is 4. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from New Mexico State University. Matt coached football, basketball, track and golf in New Mexico for four years; for five years in Texas; and eight years in Colorado. This is his second year at FHS, where he coaches football and bowling. Matt chose Falcon two years ago because he liked the area and the diversity in the locale. His outside interests are camping, golfing and riding bikes with his children.Cameron Magnall – cross country/track coachCameron and his wife Jennifer settled on FHS because it was a great location. He has coached both cross country and track for four years, all at Falcon. Cameron earned his bachelor’s degree in German/Spanish education from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. As is normal for a track coach, he enjoys running and golf.Lauren Murphy – softball and girls golf coachLauren is single and attended Winona State University where she chose to study special education. Lauren has been in the coaching field four years, all at FHS, where she coaches softball and girls golf. She said FHS was a great school and the student/athletes work hard and constantly strive to be better. Lauren’s interests are hiking, Wii, church and watching good movies.Cameron Keller – football coachCameron and wife Michelle have one daughter – Marin, age 3. Cameron got his bachelor’s degree in political science from Hastings College and his master’s in sports management from American Public University. He coached at Hastings College five years, at Calhan for two and is in his second year of coaching football at FHS. He and Michelle live in D 49 so coaching at FHS was a natural when the opening came up. Cameron likes golf and umpiring baseball.Brian Hall – volleyball coachBrian and his wife Lori have three children – Brayden, age 5; Kaitlyn, age 3; and 1-year-old Taryn. He received his bachelor’s in management information systems at the University of Wyoming and his master’s in computer science-computer system security from Colorado Technical University. Brian has been in the coaching profession 16 seasons. He was head coach at Colorado Springs Altitude Volleyball Club from 2006 to 2008, where they compiled a 17-1 record. As their assistant coach from 2005 to 2006, they went 14-2. From 2001 to 2002, Brian was the head coach for the 18 Gold Team and the assistant coach for that same team during the 2000-2001 season. Brian’s high school coaching experience at St. Mary’s High School ran from 2000 to 2007. While he coached there, they tied for fifth place at the 3A state meet in 2001, got the runner-up place at the same meet in 2003, tied for third at state in 2004, placed third in 2005 and tied for fifth place in 2006. Brian was the boys head volleyball coach at Widefield High School from 2000 to 2001.This was his first year at Falcon, and they went 14-5 during the regular season. The Hall family lives in Falcon, and Hall said he wants to remain part of the program and can see great potential for the future with the volleyball program at FHS. His outside interests include spending time with his family, volleyball, moto-cross, hunting and ice fishing.I hope that reading this column gives you better insight into the coaches. Not only do they coach, but they are also classroom instructors. Coaching your student/athletes today is pretty much a full-time job if they plan to be competitive. Yet, coaches teach as well and put in a lot of hours before they go home to their families. Coaching is not an 8-to-5 job. To the families who have students at FHS, you are fortunate to have this group of dedicated professionals taking care of your children and teaching them to become better citizens through sports. See you next fall on the Vinnie Mac Sports Corner. This column does not necessarily represent the views of The New Falcon Herald.
