HICKMAN KEWPIES
Athletics
2022 Fall Sports Tryouts locations and Times for Monday Aug 8th
Softball
Courtney Haskell
HHS Softball Field 4:30-7:30pm
B. Soccer
Wil Ross
HHS Turf JR/SR: 8:30-10am
HHS Turf Fresh/Soph: 5-6:30pm
Football
Cedric Alvis
HHS FB weight room 6:30-8am and HHS Turf/grass 5- 8pm
Volleyball
Greg Gunn
HHS Gym 4-7pm
XC
Rachel Korte
HHS Track 7-9am
B. Swim
Taylor Birsa
HHS Pool 6-8am
B. Dive
Taylor Birsa/ JD Estes
MU Natatorium 4-5:30pm
G. Tennis
Paige Smith
HHS Tennis Courts 4:30-6pm
G. Golf
David Johnson
L.A. Nickell Course 4:30pm
Josh Little
Athletic Trainer
I work for Peak Sport & Spine covering Hickman athletics as an Athletic Trainer & also teach the Sports Medicine class here at Hickman. I'm here every day after school in the training room, across from the new gym. I specialize in injury prevention and recognition in our athletes. I take care of anything from taping an ankle to helping an athlete back from an ACL injury. I cover most games at Hickman, and you can see me for any of your sports injury needs!
Boys Soccer
Coach Wil Ross
"Hey Everyone! This will be my 13th year coaching in the soccer programs at Hickman. It will be my 9th season as the head coach of the boys and 7th with the girls. Before coaching, I played in the Hickman soccer program from Fall of 2003 to 2006 before graduating in the Spring of 2007. After graduation I attended the University of Missouri where I received a degree in sociology.
This will also be my first year as a Learning Specialist at Hickman. I spent the last two years as a Learning Specialist at Battle High School where I was a long-term substitute the two years prior. While math has been my primary content area, I look forward to helping scholars in whatever area they may need!
With the little free time I have, I enjoy being active outdoors. You can find me running, biking, or hiking on one of Columbia's many trails and parks or attempting to hone my dinks and drops in my new favorite hobby...pickleball!"
Football
Coach Cedric Alvis
My name is Cedric Alvis, I am a Hickman High School Alumni, class of 2005. After graduation, I played collegiate football at Missouri State University, where I was voted Team Captain during my senior season. Once my athletic career ended, I eagerly joined the coaching force working at Columbia Youth Football League as well as the Columbia Falcons, a former Semi Pro team based in Columbia. I first began working with high school students in 2010, coaching with AJ Ofodile at Rock Bridge High School. One season later I was able to once again come back to Hickman High School, where I was able to stay from 2011-2013. The 2013 season I began as the defensive coordinator for Battle High School, during the time as a defensive coordinator I was able to be apart of several district championships as well as one State Championship. In 2018 I took over as Head Coach for my alma mater, Hickman High School.
Volleyball
Coach Greg Gunn
I have been a science teacher at Hickman for 26 years and a volleyball coach for 25. I am a Missouri native, a graduate of Mizzou, and a veteran of the USMC. I have been married for 34 years and have two children, both in college. I also sponsor the Hickman Biology Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Softball
Coach Courtney Haskell
Coach Haskell is entering her 19th year as head coach of the Hickman Kewpie Softball team and her 22st year of teaching Physical Education at Hickman. Coach Haskell has coached with her husband (Nick Haskell) for 18 years and they have 2 active boys in middle school and high school.
Girls Tennis
Coach Paige Smith
"Currently a graduate assistant at Columbia College in athletic administration and sports information.
A 2019 graduate of William Woods University in Fulton, Mo., she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science. While at William Woods, she played on the Owls tennis team all four years. Smith and the Owls were ranked as high as No. 3 in the NAIA and consistently within the top-ten, with four NAIA National Championship appearances and four straight conference championships.
Previously coached at Battle HS for three years."
Boys Swim and Dive
Coach Taylor Birsa
Taylor Birsa is going into her 6th year as the head coach for both Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving and 8th overall with the program. She has helped the Kewpies finish Top-10 at the State Championship meet 6x, along with coaching 4 State Champions, and was named Class 2 Coach of the Year in 2018 from the Missouri Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association.
As a competitive swimmer, Taylor began swimming at the age of 8 in IL before moving on to swim at Truman State University. At Truman, she was a 2x NCAA qualifier, 3x Second Team All-American, and was named Team Captain her senior year. After graduating from Truman, Taylor began teaching with Columbia Public Schools where she is currently a K-12 Adapted Physical Education Teacher for the district along with coaching for Columbia Swim Club.
Boys Dive
Coach JD Estes
2022 High School Boys Diving Season starts on August 8th at the MU Natatorium and we are looking for new divers of all abilities! No formal diving experience is necessary! If you have been diving at your local pool all summer, playing on your backyard trampoline or think the Olympics looks like fun, then we want you! Come give it a try and see what you think. You can contact Coach JD Estes for more details at 573-356-0098 or jdestes@remax.net.
Boys and Girls Cross Country
Coach Rachel Korte
I am excited to be starting my 8th year coaching here at Hickman! I have been teaching math and coaching running for 20 years and it still brings me a sense of joy and challenge. My husband and I have enjoyed living in and around Columbia since graduate school and now we have 2 Kewpies of our own. As a family, we enjoy spending time on the local trails, supporting Kewpie arts and athletics, and traveling. I appreciate having the opportunity to work with such a great group of student athletes and their supporters.
Girls Golf
David “DJ” Johnson
1980 Hickman Graduate
Masters Degree in Sports Management
Bachelors Degree @ Augustana University
Over 35 years coaching
Former College Athletic Director
2014 Missouri Basketball Association Coach of the year.
2013 and 2014 District All-Media Coach of the Year.
2014 2nd Place State Championship
2013 3rd Place State Championship
Former Pro Basketball Player (Australia)
2022/2023 Boys/Girls Golf Coach.
Parents - How to best support your student athlete
Phases of Parenting an Athlete
Practice:
- Encourage commitment
- Proper nutrition
- Punctual
- Abdicate during practice
Before Game:
- Be calm by example
- Don’t play the role of the coach with playing advice
- Keep it light (Jokes, laughter)
- Avoid giving a pre-game scouting report
- Good meal and hydration
- Good rest
- Have fun
- “I love you”
During the game:
- Detach from results
- Keep a low profile
- Cheer for both teams
- Set an example of sportsmanship with refs and other parents
- Avoid being over protected
- Avoid being win focused
After the game:
- Detach from results
- Supportive
- Avoid creating a “fearful ride home” by analysis the game, players, coaching, refs, or
result.
- Don’t initiate a post-game talk. Players will initiate if they are interested.
- Good sportsmanship
- Good food and hydration
- “I love you”
Reference: T.C. North, Phd (303) 665-8920 (Specializes in
confidence and mental toughness coaching for athletes and their parents,
high-performance coaching for motivated individuals)
Interested in working Hickman Sporting Events
Hickman High School is in need of game workers for our sporting events in the Fall, Winter and Spring. We have many different jobs including as a scoreboard operator, play clock (FB only), PA announcer, Video board operator, book keeper (basketball only), etc. Game workers will need to be hired and onboarded through Columbia Public Schools prior to working.
- Fall sport game workers: Football, softball, volleyball and boys soccer
- Winter sport game workers: Boys and girls basketball
- Spring sport game workers: Baseball and Girls soccer
If you are interested in serving as a game worker for sporting events please contact Jack Rubenstein, Athletic director at Hickman at jrubenstein@cpsk12.org