08/31/2026
AD’S CORNER
Season 2 • Chapter 2
The one where the Vikings decided to make some noise.
Well folks, things around here are MOVING!
Fall sports are underway, and there is a lot happening in Viking Nation. Welcome to another edition of AD’s Corner—where wins are celebrated, losses are analyzed, and the Athletic Director occasionally gets a little too excited about high school sports.
LADY VIKINGS: “OH, YOU BEAT US? THAT’S NICE.”
The Lady Vikings volleyball team is 5-2 to start the season.
After a tough loss to Swallows Charter Thursday night, our girls decided feeling sorry for themselves wasn't on the schedule. Coach Lambert rallied her team, and they went 3-0 in the Viking Volleyball Classic.
You lose. You learn. You get back in the gym. You compete. You go 3-0 in a tournament.
I like that attitude.
The Lady Vikings are back in action Thursday in Buena Vista, with C Team starting at 4:00 PM. Go watch some volleyball. You won't regret it.
CROSS COUNTRY: RUNNING... FOR FUN?
I continue to be amazed by our cross country athletes. They voluntarily wake up, put on running shoes, and run several miles for fun.
I have questions.
The Vikings had a great showing in Rocky Ford, with multiple athletes posting PRs. Now they're headed to Leadville this weekend, where they'll add some altitude to the equation.
Because apparently running wasn't hard enough!
THE NEXT GENERATION IS COMING
Our Skoglund Middle School Vikings are getting ready for their seasons, and the future looks pretty good.
MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
We've got OVER 30 athletes participating! You read that right: 30 plus!
The season opens September 8.
A & B Teams: Home vs. Ortega Middle School
C Team: On the road at Monte Vista
If you've never been to a middle school volleyball game, here's a preview:
Energy: 100%
Noise level: Also 100%
Understanding of the rotation: We're working on it.
That's middle school sports—learning, competing, having fun, and figuring it out along the way.
MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Skoglund Middle School Football kicks off September 9 at home against Sangre at 5:00 PM.
Come support these young Vikings!
THE FOOTBALL STORY
When I first arrived at Center, our high school football program was facing serious challenges. The Vikings were coming off an 0-9 season, with only two wins since 2024.
The decision to transition to 8-man football wasn't easy. There were tough conversations, tough decisions, and plenty of questions.
But sometimes, starting over isn't a bad thing. Sometimes, you need a clean slate.
Then along came Coach Ziere Banner.
And something changed.
Our athletes bought in. They worked. They showed up. They pushed each other. They spent the summer getting better.
Slowly but surely, the culture started changing.
Then came opening night.
The Vikings traveled to Monument Academy and came home with a 68-12 victory.
SIXTY-EIGHT TO TWELVE.
That's a pretty good way to start a new chapter—and it was our first on-field win since 2024.
There were some pretty big smiles afterward.
But here's the part I'll remember.
THE BEST PART WASN'T THE SCOREBOARD.
After the game, both teams came together to pray—a new tradition our players are starting.
Our kids stood alongside the athletes from Monument Academy and gave thanks for the opportunity to play, compete, represent their schools, and do something they love.
And honestly?
It was awesome.
Those young men competed against each other for four quarters, then stood together under God's grace afterward.
In a world where sports can become all about winning and losing, that moment reminded us what this is really about: character, sportsmanship, gratitude, and community.
That's a win in my book.
We're not hanging a championship banner after one game. We've got a long way to go. But sitting at 1-0, with a hungry team, a new culture, and athletes who believe in one another?
I'll take it.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS ARE BACK!
The Vikings host South Park this Friday at 7:00 PM for our Home Opener.
Leave the house. Bring the family. Grab a hoodie. Find a seat.
MAKE SOME NOISE.
Our athletes have put in the work. Now it's our turn.
PACK THE STANDS. BRING THE NOISE. LET'S SHOW THESE KIDS WHAT CENTER PRIDE LOOKS LIKE.
Being the Athletic Director at Center is a blessing.
I get to watch kids grow, coaches build programs, and athletes overcome adversity. And sometimes, I get to stand on a football field and watch two teams pray together after competing their hearts out.
Those are the moments that matter.
We're going to celebrate the wins, learn from the losses, laugh at the mistakes!
Because athletics aren't just about what happens on the scoreboard. They're about who these young people become along the way.
Keep showing up. Keep supporting our kids. Keep believing in our coaches. Keep being proud to be a Viking.
Because around here...
Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can't Lose.
Now somebody get the popcorn.
It's going to be a fun season.
GO VIKINGS!
