A smooth transition for new Dover coach

  • By Kevin Lynch
  • April 22, 2010
  • 527
                        
The transition for Lewie Hindman to take over as head track coach at Dover this year was smooth but emotional. When long-time Tornado coach Rick Staley passed away during last season, Hindman was on the Dover staff, piloting the girls program. “This is my fifth year at Dover. I coached with Rick all the years I’ve been here,” Hindman said. “Rick was awesome. He was a great coach. The kids loved him. His death was a big loss. “Last year we had to try and adjust with him being sick during the season,” the coach continued. The team rallied and finished ninth at State last year, being led by the 4x200 relay team, made up of seniors Gino Giamo, Jeff Ickes, Cory Matlick, Cory Dechiara, and the 4x400 squad of Carson Gessner, Ickes, Matlick and Dechiara. Ickes also placed in the long jump. Rachel McKeever, who finished fifth last year in the 100-meter hurdles at State as a junior is back leading the Lady Tornadoes this season. “This year, we’ve got the boys and girls together, which lets us have more coaching of events,” Hindman said. “I feel the boys are really buying what we’re selling. We’re young, with a lineup made up mostly of freshmen and sophomores. We’re trying to get the guys into the right events for the future.” So far, a few youngsters have really stepped up for Dover. “Kyle Sanborn has been tremendous in the 800,” Hindman said. “He’s already hit 2:03 as a sophomore. He has a great chance to get somewhere in that event. Our 4x4 relay team is all freshmen and sophomores. They’ve won every dual meet we’ve had so far, and they’ve looked very strong for that young a group of kids. They’re not breaking any school records yet, but we’re hoping in a couple years, that’s a possibility.” The fleet quartet running the 1600-relay for the Tornadoes includes sophomores Sanborn, Brian Ickes and Travis Vance, and freshman Justin Smith. “I coached guys at Riverdale, where I started. To be honest, it was a bigger adjustment moving to girls than it was going from being an assistant to head coach,” Hindman said. “My coaching staff is tremendous. I’ve got six assistants who are unbelievably great. They do an outstanding job. “Bob Von Kaenel does just about everything. He’s my utility guy,” the coach continued. “Sally Lester does jumps. Matt Varner does distance. Michelle Grimm works with the pole vault. John Court coaches the throws, and Pete Husted works with the sprinters. My specialty is the hurdlers. “Two days a week, we do general conditioning with the whole team together,” Hindman added. “Then we try to spend two days a week where they’re working just on their events. We are extremely blessed to have so many quality people working with the kids. I can’t say enough about how great it is to coach here.” The annual Dover Relays were renamed the Coach Rick Staley Dover Tornado Relays this year in memoriam to the departed coach. Dover boys finished eighth at this year’s relays, led by a third-place finish from Sanborn in the 800 (2:05.10) and a fourth in the long jump. McKeever won the 100-meter hurdles (15.8) and added a fifth in the 300-meter hurdles to lead the girls to a sixth-place showing out of 11 teams. McKeever also ran a leg in the 4x400, joining twins Sarah and Jenna Reichman and Olivia Yates. The quartet finished fourth.


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