Meet the Riviera Independent School District’s 2010-2011 coaching staff — Pictured are front row, from left, Patricia Lewandowski, Kayla Kaser and Rachel Zarosky; back row, Robert McFarlin, Jeff Terry, Gary Unterbrink, Athletic Director Perry Graves, Joey O’Neal, Derek Yeary, Joey Rendon and Zane Graves. Riviera Independent School District’s athletic department has undergone quite a few changes this spring and summer including the recent hiring of five new coaches.

New to the Seahawk coaching lineup are Patricia Lewandowski (head high school volleyball and softball, assistant girls basketball), Kayla Kaser (assistant volleyball and softball, junior high girls basketball), Rachel Zarosky (junior high girls volleyball, basketball and track), Jeff Terry (offensive line, assistant in boys basketball and track) and Derek Yeary (secondary, high school girls basketball and track).

‘NO LE HACE ’ FISHING TO URNE Y WINE RS — Pictured are from left, Payton Dodson, James Kraatz, Israel Lara, Sam Morales, Adrian Garcia, Bobby Garcia, and Lucas Rodriguez. “We are completely full here at the staff, the majority of these new coaches I have known in the past, plus they know my system so this is a win-win situation on all of these new hires,” RISD Athletic Director Perry Graves said. “We were fortunate to hire two very good former athletes from Texas A&M University- Kingsville (Terry and Lewandowski) who have expertise in the field they have been hired to coach.”

Another significant alteration from last year is the new conference the Seahawk football team will compete in this season.

Kaufer previously played in District 32-2A alongside Bishop, Donna Idea Academy, Hebbronville, Premont, San Diego and Santa Rosa.

The Seahawks - in District 16-2A Division I this season - will now play against Banquete, Freer, Hebbronville, Premont, Refugio, Skidmore-Tynan and Santa Gertrudis Academy.

“It changes things big time, the competition in our district is very high especially now that we have four or five teams – including us - who are going to battle for the second and third playoff spots,” Graves said. “Any time you get the number one rated team in the state (Refugio) in your district – which is really better having them there than in the first round of the playoffs – that makes things tough.”

As is normally the case, the Seahawk staff will have to learn how to best rotate kids with numbers being an issue, but that shouldn’t be too much of a problem according to Graves.

“One thing we do is not begin another sport until the previous sport’s season has concluded,” Graves said. “We also encourage our kids to participate in everything because they are in high school once in their lifetime and we want them to enjoy that time. If a student athlete quits a certain sport, he or she will not be able to participate in another sport until the season from their previous one is over but we really don’t have that situation.”

All in all, Graves is anticipating plenty of success this upcoming academic year.

“I am expecting a great year,” Graves said. “I think our kids have come a long way these past couple of seasons and will continue to do so with the quality of our coaching staff.”