At last season’s end-of-year awards banquet, and having already announced she’d be stepping down from her role as Ignacio’s junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant, Shasta Pontine helped close the evening’s itinerary by reading aloud the phrase inscribed on a certificate of appreciation she and the assistant coaches were presenting varsity commander Thad Cano:
Coaches must be critical thinkers, not protectors of the status quo.
“That’s what it was about. What was going to work best for the team?” Cano said before the revelry and reflection dissipated. “So the ladies bought into it, we always had great talks. Sometimes they were like, ‘Coach, you’re talking too much; we want to practice!’ And I was like, ‘This is practice. This is mental practice.’ It was a great growing experience.”
Despite remaining on the vine longer than anticipated because of the COVID-19 blight delaying the Ignacio High School girls volleyball team’s fall 2020 season until the spring, fruits of that labor are at last being harvested under the direction of the longtime leader’s successor.
“We’re going to take that information and transform it and just move forward,” Melanie Seibel said. “We’re all trying to find solutions for our next game; we’re not going to look backwards.”
Under the coaching of Cano, who replaced Bayli Stillwell in 2012, IHS went 76-106 and advanced as far as regionals three times.
Following Cano’s resignation as the Bobcats’ head coach, Ignacio initially picked Alex Benzie, a former IHS setter formerly known as Alex Forsythe, to be the team’s next head coach. But Benzie was unable to break free from work obligations to fill Cano’s shoes, and Seibel quickly became the obvious option for IHS after she had served on Cano’s coaching staff multiple times.
Seibel, a player on Ignacio’s most recent roster to vie at the state championships – placing third in Class A-I behind Lyons and champs Kremmling West Grand in 1987 – had little difficulty agreeing to the gig.
“We’re a family of coaches,” she laughed, alluding to husband Shane’s and son Trae’s well-documented involvement with IHS boys and girls basketball plus the fact daughter Cloe, another ex-IHS setter, is on board this season as an assistant.
“Before I took this (role), I had to make sure I had the right people with me,” Seibel explained. “Having Cloe and having her strengths – knowing that net game and how to get that good set – and then also finding other people that can come in and help us. Finding those people, those resources.”
She didn’t have to look far. New to the Ignacio High program in 2019, Tracy Strohl is back on the bench along with Cloe Seibel, plus veteran junior varsity and C-team mentor Katrina Richards and first-year C-team coach Jade Richards, all of whom have combined to send the Bobcats to San Miguel County this weekend owning a 2-1 varsity record following Tuesday’s sweep of 2A Mancos in 2A/1A San Juan Basin League play.
IHS (13-12 overall in 2019) will continue SJBL work Friday at 1A Norwood, then midday Saturday at 2A Telluride.
“Our slogan this year is ‘Competitive Greatness,’ which means we’ll play competitively but we also want to be great team players,” sophomore Grace Gonzales said. “I think it’s good for the girls to learn what a new coach feels like and what to expect if they’re going to go to the college level: Different coaches, different teaching. I feel it’s going to be a good year.”
“I think we might have a good shot at regionals if we really put in the work together, get everything going,” Pontine said. “Losing at regionals (last year) was a sad way to end last season, but I’m excited for this year.”
Utilizing a dual-setter – Pontine and senior Marisa Carmenoros – scheme offensively, Seibel said she’s enjoyed shifting players around on the court to truly get an idea of their versatility and untapped capabilities.
“I think it was great to go to this 6-2, then seeing our players adjusting with (Pontine) being our setter,” she said. “And it’s awesome seeing Marisa hit the ball. There’s more to her than just setting. Grace, just being that person that wants to touch the ball and put her strength in hitting, she’s the person to be in the middle.
“And other players being in new positions, this is all new. I told them we’re trying to squeeze every ounce out of ’em.”
Ignacio’s players have received that message.
“You have to be able to hold yourself accountable, be the team player everyone wants you to be,” said Gonzales. “There’s no shortcuts on a varsity team.”
And for Seibel, she’s happy to be back on the sideline with her alma mater and once again leading young players.
“I’m always learning with them, and we’re all working in cooperation. Players, coaches, we’re all just bringing in our ideas,” Seibel said. “It’s humbling.”
