School is back in session and student-athletes at Escalon High School are preparing for their fall sports season.

Fall sports include football at the varsity, JV and freshman levels; JV and varsity girls flag football; freshman, JV and varsity girls volleyball; girls golf; and co-ed cross country.

Andrew Beam returns as head varsity football coach, as well as serving as the school’s athletic director. He is also the co-offensive coordinator for the varsity Cougars with assistant coach/co-offensive coordinator Phillip Kimble. Defensive coordinator is Brandon Hoover, offensive line coach is Joe Cowan, defensive line coach is Lee Caton, defensive backs/wide receiver coach is Jacob Caton, linebacker coach is Derek Scott.

At the JV level, Brant Rose is back at the helm as head coach with assistant coaches Mark Walden, Josh Hiatt and Roman Gonzalez. Nate Caton will once again lead the freshman team as head coach, with assistants this year including Nash Satnat and J.P. Lial.

All three levels of Cougar football will start their season on Friday, Aug. 21 with a scrimmage at Gregori High School in Modesto. Times are 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

On Thursday, Aug. 27, the freshmen will host the Atwater Falcons at 6 p.m.; on Friday, Aug. 28 the JV and varsity teams will host Liberty Ranch at Engel Field, with the JV game at 5:30 p.m., varsity following at 7:30 p.m.

For the varsity girls flag football team, new head coach is Danelle Hagen, with Dirk Northcutt returning as an assistant coach. At the JV level, returning coaches are head coach Lisa Luis and assistant Jim Ball.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the first date for the teams to be in action, as they will travel to Golden Valley in Merced for 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. contests.

Escalon’s varsity girls volleyball team will be under the direction of head coach Stephanie (Williamson) Ceja this season with Alyssa Cogburn returning to coach the JV girls and first year coach Mya Scott heading up the freshman team. Ceja has previously served as an assistant and was a standout player for Escalon during her years as a Lady Cougar; Scott is also an EHS alum who made significant contributions to the volleyball program.

All the volleyball teams are scheduled to take part in the annual GEBO – Golden Valley, Escalon, Beyer, Oakdale – preseason round robin scrimmage at Oakdale High School on Saturday, Aug. 15 with multiple matches throughout the day, and then the varsity will host Central Catholic in the annual Foundation Game on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m.

Varsity head coach Chris Casazza will be back to lead the girls golf team.

Monday, Aug. 17 is the first scheduled action for the golf girls, hosting Bret Harte at Escalon Golf Course at 3:30 p.m.; then they take on Riverbank at Jack Tone Golf Course on Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 3 p.m.

Arend Jones will serve as varsity coach for the cross country team, with Beau Beavers as the JV coach.

Friday, Aug. 21 is the first scheduled event for the co-ed cross country team, traveling to Lodi Lake Park for a 2:30 p.m. meet.