Today's Sports

Despite plenty of new faces being in new places, the 2008 Los Alamos Hilltopper girls soccer team has high expectations for itself.

But there’s a big question that will need to be answered during this regular season.

Los Alamos, which advanced to the 2007 state semifinals, lost three big scoring threats to graduation, including its two point leaders off that team. Desirae Hull, who before getting hurt in the latter half of the season was Class AAAA’s total points leader, and midfielder Sarah Ethridge, the team’s spiritual leader, are both gone.

Los Alamos residents Dick and Judy Opsahl were among the big winners in their respective classes at the United States Classic-Distance Orienteering Championship.

The orienteering event was held Aug. 9-10 near Laramie, Wyo.

Judy Opsahl took the 2008 national championship for women 70-74 at the event. Meanwhile, Dick Opsahl, finished third in the men’s 75-79 age group.

Participants in the championships this year ranged in age from 10 to 85-plus.

Jennifer Reglien swam on Bill Hudson’s first Los Alamos High School swimming team in 1955.

Hudson, who usually swims on the Los Alamos Triathlon team, was ordered to take this year off for health reasons, so the team of Inez Ross, and Doug Lier went looking for a swimmer. Reglien volunteered.

The 2008 Los Alamos Triathlon took place Saturday.

The Los Alamos Hilltopper football team was ranked fifth in the 2008 preseason poll conducted by the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.

The Hilltoppers garnered 66 points in the Class AAAA poll, which is voted on by coaches of the various schools. The poll was released this morning.

Artesia, the defending Class AAAA champion, picked up 135 of the possible 140 points to finish first in the NMHSCA poll.

Last season, Los Alamos finished with a record of 9-2. It won its first eight games of the season and finished second in District 2AAAA behind Capital.