Getting ready to rumble

Nevada junior Ronnie Herda is set to lead the Tigers at quarterback this season, his second as the starter.

Herald-Tribune

NEVADA, Mo. -- Nevada High School fall sports teams started practicing for the 2006 season Monday with most sports holding two-a-days for the athletes.

Football, softball, cross country, volleyball, girls golf and girls tennis all play their seasons in the fall.

Senior Erica Klinksick tosses to classmate Blaine Gibbs during Nevada Lady Tiger softball practice Friday at Bushwhacker Field. The softball team started preparation for the 2006 season Monday, the first day of practice for all fall sports in Missouri. Friday's practice was run by the seniors and featured all of the underclassmen giving the seniors a singing/dancing show before they got to work.

Football has held practices in the mornings and evenings, while softball just had two morning practices with a 20-30 minute break between them.

Cross country only had one practice a week.

"We don't run twice a day," Nevada cross country coach Robert Watts said. "Some teams do but I think that wears them down by the time they finish high school."

The cross country team could have a full girls squad for the first time in school history.

Volleyball split time on the court with mornings on the track, getting the girls in shape.

The first sport to start the fall season is softball, which hosts Clinton Aug. 22.

There will be complete team previews of each of the Tiger fall sports teams this week in the Nevada Daily Mail.