Holly – The hot topic at Jack and Wanda’s Tasty House Cafe last week centered around an event that happened five months ago.
On March 28, an F4 tornado ripped through the Prowers County community, located 28 miles east of Lamar, and was responsible for two deaths and damage that may take years to repair. The National Weather Service reported wind speeds in the storm reached 199 mph.
“You can replace things,” said Holly assistant football coach Bruce Roup, who has lived there for 38 years and lost his home to the storm on hard-hit Cheyenne Street. “You can’t replace lives.”
One thing that always seems to bind a small town, no matter where you go, is the local high school and its sports teams. Since the tornado, not one sporting event has taken place in town, and that’s why the start of the season means so much more.
“Just coming out and playing is going to be a big relief,” Holly quarterback Nolan Thompson said.
The coaching staff would say something similar: It will be nice just to coach again. Head coach Tommy Grasmick learned a lot about his young team in the days and weeks that followed the storm. Another assistant coach, Shannon Rushton, also lost his home.
At Rushton’s home, at the north end of Gateway Park near Highland Drive, where the tornado picked up in intensity, every wall of the structure was off kilter. His family, which had found shelter in the basement, came back upstairs after the storm to find a glass of milk from dinner still sitting on the kitchen table amidst the destruction.
“It’s amazing some of the stories you hear,” Grasmick said. “And we’ll be hearing them for years.”
Senior Preston Lowe, whose grandfather is a rancher, lost upward of 400 head of cattle between the tornado and the blizzard that hit in the winter.
“It was pretty devastating to see our barn torn up and all the cattle down,” said Lowe, who came across one cow that had a fence post lodged through its rib cage.
The Wildcats open the season Saturday against Sangre de Cristo in Manzanola and then return home the next week to play the first game at Tots Randle Park against Lamar’s junior varsity.
Said athletic director Bryan Weimer: “It’s going to give the town a sense of normalcy again. Just like any small town, football is huge here.”
Donations are being accepted through the Red Cross and Salvation Army, or can be sent to Tornado Relief Fund, c/o Colorado East Bank, P.O. Box 607, Holly, CO 81047.
Staff writer Jon E. Yunt can be reached at 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com.
8-man top 10
1. Granada
Anything less than another state title would be a disappointment.
2. Merino
The loaded Rams will be playoff ready after a rough-and-tumble trip through the Plains Division.
3. Sedgwick County
The Revere-Julesburg experiment is in its second year and looks ready to go.
4. Haxtun
The third straight Plains team in the poll will need its lines to develop quickly to be in the hunt late.
5. Nucla
Yet another new coach, Tom Helmbrecht, will have bruising running back Brandon Galarza to chew up a ton of yards.
6. Sangre de Cristo
The Thunderbirds, who will ride the arm and legs of three-year starter Jed Larsen, need to avoid the injury bug.
7. Dayspring Christian
The Eagles are the fastest 8-man team in the state.
8. Springfield
The Longhorns should be Granada’s biggest threat in the Arkansas Valley. They fell in the first round of the playoffs last year.
9. Stratton
Last season’s runner-up took its lumps in Zero Week, falling 38-6 to Merino, but has the talent to be a contender.
10. Fowler
The Grizzlies will need to prove themselves come postseason time.
Best 8-man games
Here are games you don’t want to miss:
SEPT. 1
Nederland at Dayspring Christian: Both teams find out early what they have.
SEPT. 7
Granada at Stratton: If it’s anything like the triple OT championship game last season, it should be a dandy.
SEPT. 7
Haxtun at Merino: Two teams and communities that have the utmost respect for each other.
SEPT. 29
Dove Creek vs. Merino: Game at Battle Mountain H.S. is a great midseason nonleague game.
OCT. 5
Springfield at Granada: Should be for the top spot in the Arkansas Valley.
OCT. 12
Hoehne at Fowler: Was a great game last season and should be no different this time around.
OCT. 19
Nucla at Dove Creek: Always a biggie in any sport.
8-man players to watch
Dan Brokos, Nederland, Sr., E-DB: Maybe the most talented player in the Central League.
J.C. Ely, Stratton, Sr., C-NT: Anchor to the always-tough Eagles front line.
Brandon Galarza, Nucla, Sr., RB-Rover: Opened a lot of eyes during the Mustangs’ playoff run last season.
Luke Greener, Dayspring Christian, Sr., QB-DB: In his fourth season taking snaps for the speedy Eagles.
Ethan Kurtzer, Merino, Sr., QB-DB: The centerpiece of a talented Rams offense.
Jed Larsen, Sangre de Cristo, Sr., QB-LB: A three-year starter for the defending Mountain Division champions.
Nolan Thompson, Holly, Sr., QB-DB: Figures into the mix of just about everything the Wildcats do.
Tyson Thrall, Granada, Jr., RB-LB: An all-state end who will take his talents to the backfield.
Jake Toney, Simla, Sr., RB-DB: Has amassed nearly 3,000 yards on the ground the past two seasons.
Jose Uriarte, Antonito, So., E-DB: Recorded nine interceptions as a freshman en route to all-San Luis Valley honors.
