By Ross Shinberg
Regional Sports Editor
The sounds of pads clashing and the squeaks of shoes on the gym floor can mean only one thing — fall sports season is here.
West Liberty’s football, volleyball and cross-country teams officially began practicing last week with the first games, matches and meets just a few weeks away.
Below is a glimpse into each team’s schedules, including home openers, rivalry games and tournament action.
Football
Under the new leadership of Jason Dumont, the Comets won’t have to wait long or travel far to hit the ground running.
West Liberty begins the 2024 season with three straight home games — one scrimmage and two non-district games.
After a scrimmage against Mid-Prairie on August 23, the Comets start with two non-district games of significant interest.
First, the Comets will host Iowa City Regina — the school where Dumont spent the past 17 seasons (including the previous three as head coach).
Then, the Comets take on last season’s breakout stars from Wilton which made a run to the second round of the Class 1A playoffs — losing to Dumont’s Regals.
Non-district play rounds out with a road trip to West Burlington. The Falcons lost in the first round of the 2A playoffs last season.
West Liberty will see the same district opponents from last year. District four includes Anamosa, Camanche, Monticello, Northeast Goose Lake, and Tipton.
The Bears were more than just the best team in the district last season. They went all the way to the 2A state semifinals. But now without Preston Ries, the top spot is up for grabs.
West Liberty will get to host Monticello along with Tipton. The Comets will travel to Anamosa, Northeast and Camanche.
Volleyball
The Comets volleyball team is also under new, but familiar, leadership.
Brittney Boffeli, an assistant coach at West Liberty for the past 13 seasons, is taking over the top job in 2024.
She aims to guide the program to its seventh straight season winning at least 70 percent of its games.
The journey to get back to Coralville begins, in earnest, on August 31 with a 12-team tournament at Grinnell High School.
Unlike their football peers, it will be a while before the Comets get into the friendly confines of their home gym.
The first home match is on September 12 with a conference battle against Mid-Prairie.
Comet fans can opt to take the short car ride a few days earlier on September 7 for the Muscatine tournament, featuring matchups against Burlington, Williamsburg and the host Muskies.
West Liberty will host its invitational on September 21 with Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Danville, Davenport North, Fort Madison, Muscatine, Cedar Rapids Prairie, and Washington coming to town.
Other tournaments this season are at Williamsburg (Sept. 14), Western Dubuque (Oct. 5) and Cedar Rapids Jefferson (Oct. 12).
Cross-country
With two young teams gaining an extra year of experience, the West Liberty cross-country teams are looking to build on last season’s races.
The boys’ and girls’ teams share identical schedules this year with the first race set for August 27 at Mount Vernon High School.
Closer to home, the teams will run at the Bob Brown Invitational in Iowa City on September 5 and the Tipton Meet on September 10.
This year’s Bill Balis Invitational is set for September 30 at 3-30 Golf & Country Club while the massive 21-school race hosted by Central DeWitt at Grace Lutheran Church Camp is slated for October 10.