Rogers feels Latta athletics is on the right track
By David Shelton
Staff Writer
Latta – As he begins his 11th year as the athletic director at Latta High School, Michael Rogers feels the program is on solid ground and making progress in every area.
Like every other program in the state, Rogers has his concerns about the financial aspects of the program but feels his program will make ends meet in the final analysis.
“We’re crunching the numbers and trying to make sure we have enough money to give our kids what they need,” says Rogers, who has been the softball coach at Latta for the last 20 years. “It’s everywhere in the state right now and it’s going to get worse. We have a good plan but it’s definitely a tighter belt here.”
Rogers has heard stories of districts in other areas of the state considering the elimination of junior varsity and middle school athletic programs. He hopes that does not happen.
“Athletics are a vital part of the high school experience and it’s very important that we find ways to keep the kids involved in sports or we will lose them,” said Rogers. “We can’t afford to start losing those kids at the middle school level.”
Rogers likes the overall direction of the athletic program at Latta. He feels the school is showing a competitive spirit in every sport and the athletes are putting forth solid effort.
“We have stability as far as the coaching staff goes, except for a change here and there,” said Rogers. “Our kids are working hard and we have committed, hard-working coaches. We have a tremendous weight program going on now for both male and female athletes. Our kids are getting stronger and faster. We compete pretty well and we’re doing a lot of good things.”
Latta will have a new golf coach next spring but Rogers says the coaching roster returns intact for the coming year.
Jeff Bley will be back this fall directing the football program and Kimberly Griffin returns as the school’s volleyball coach.
Curtis Jackson returns to coach girl’s basketball, and will head up the track and field program in the spring. Daniel Little returns as the baseball coach and Tony Whittington will coach boy’s varsity basketball.
Last fall, Latta started a cross country program under the leadership of Travis Allen. The first season was a successful one as both the boy’s and girl’s teams participated in the state championship meet. Rogers expects that program to improve this fall with Allen back as the coach.
Rogers’ softball team won a district title in the class A playoffs. The baseball team, boy’s basketball team and volleyball team also made the state playoffs.
