New era for H-D/CAL soccer programs set to begin

LATIMER – A little more than a week into boys’ practice and Hampton-Dumont/CAL soccer teams were stuck inside the CAL High School gym after making a heroic effort to try to get started outside.

Snow the day before, temperatures in the 20s and a rough field forced head coach Steve Winsor and his more than 50 charges to head indoors.

Such is high school soccer in north Iowa.

“It’s not supposed to be like this,” Winsor said as he tried to direct the girls, just having its second practice so far, while on the other half of the gym the boys were alternating between running with assistant coach Amanda Robertson and drills.

Not only does this team consist of Hampton-Dumont and CAL players, several have come over from Belmond-Klemme, as well. In fact, Winsor says that all but four members of the girls’ team are from Belmond. The first-year program is a great melting pot of those who want to play the game in this area.

More on this story is available in the April 2 print edition of the Hampton Chronicle.