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Blue Springs, MO —
Jon Grice can’t really explain it, but the Blue Springs South boys soccer program appears to be experiencing a youth renaissance.
For the second straight season, Grice’s number freshmen and sophomores outnumbers his juniors and seniors by a considerable margin. During tryouts this week, approximately 21 sophomores came out along with 26 freshmen compared to just 14 combined juniors and seniors.
“I don’t know what the deal is,” the Jaguars coach said. “I don’t know why there was such a small junior class and why the freshmen and sophomore classes are so big. But it’s been great for us.”
Grice speculated that the growth of club soccer around the area – it used to be centered much more strictly in the Overland Park area – has helped his numbers grow. Regardless, the Jaguars see the boom as a major positive.
“It can’t be bad,” Grice said. “That’s more talent to choose from. There’s a bigger talent pool and a lot more of these kids are playing soccer year-round now, which is fantastic.”
REBUILDING FALCONS: The Van Horn football team isn’t exactly back to square one, but after last season’s surprising breakthrough, the Falcons are at least in reboot mode.
Last year – just two seasons after snapping a 21-game losing streak – the Falcons reached the playoffs for just the second time in the 56-year history of the school and finished 7-4. But Van Horn lost 18 seniors off that squad, including first team all-conference running back Jayvon James.
“We are in serious rebuilding mode,” Falcons coach Jeff Tolbert said. “Our ticket is not punched by any means as far as how much success we’re going to have. We really have our work cut out for us.”
Fortunately, the Falcons’ cupboard isn’t completely bare. Among Van Horn’s top returners is Denzel Strong, another first team all-conference running back who racked up 1,174 all-purpose yards in 2011.
SEEKING COMMITMENT: In his second season as the Truman tennis coach, Willis Blinzler is still trying to establish his program as one that takes a yearlong commitment. Based on the summer’s results, it looks like he’s made strides with the girls squad.
“I’ve really been encouraging kids and telling them that if they want to compete in Kansas City tennis then you have to take lessons year-round with an instructor,” he said. “Most of the girls seem to really want to improve and a group of them started taking lessons together.”
That group included about seven or eight girls. Blinzler also said the girls squad had about 80-90 percent attendance at the Patriots’ team camp.
Blinzler is optimistic that a productive offseason will lead to more steady performances from his team.
“We’re looking for consistency,” Blinzler said. “All those girls knew how to have a good start. It was stringing together several good shots in a row. ... We’re definitely seeing improvement in that.”
Jon Grice can’t really explain it, but the Blue Springs South boys soccer program appears to be experiencing a youth renaissance.
For the second straight season, Grice’s number freshmen and sophomores outnumbers his juniors and seniors by a considerable margin. During tryouts this week, approximately 21 sophomores came out along with 26 freshmen compared to just 14 combined juniors and seniors.
“I don’t know what the deal is,” the Jaguars coach said. “I don’t know why there was such a small junior class and why the freshmen and sophomore classes are so big. But it’s been great for us.”
Grice speculated that the growth of club soccer around the area – it used to be centered much more strictly in the Overland Park area – has helped his numbers grow. Regardless, the Jaguars see the boom as a major positive.
“It can’t be bad,” Grice said. “That’s more talent to choose from. There’s a bigger talent pool and a lot more of these kids are playing soccer year-round now, which is fantastic.”
REBUILDING FALCONS: The Van Horn football team isn’t exactly back to square one, but after last season’s surprising breakthrough, the Falcons are at least in reboot mode.
Last year – just two seasons after snapping a 21-game losing streak – the Falcons reached the playoffs for just the second time in the 56-year history of the school and finished 7-4. But Van Horn lost 18 seniors off that squad, including first team all-conference running back Jayvon James.
“We are in serious rebuilding mode,” Falcons coach Jeff Tolbert said. “Our ticket is not punched by any means as far as how much success we’re going to have. We really have our work cut out for us.”
Fortunately, the Falcons’ cupboard isn’t completely bare. Among Van Horn’s top returners is Denzel Strong, another first team all-conference running back who racked up 1,174 all-purpose yards in 2011.
SEEKING COMMITMENT: In his second season as the Truman tennis coach, Willis Blinzler is still trying to establish his program as one that takes a yearlong commitment. Based on the summer’s results, it looks like he’s made strides with the girls squad.
“I’ve really been encouraging kids and telling them that if they want to compete in Kansas City tennis then you have to take lessons year-round with an instructor,” he said. “Most of the girls seem to really want to improve and a group of them started taking lessons together.”
That group included about seven or eight girls. Blinzler also said the girls squad had about 80-90 percent attendance at the Patriots’ team camp.
Blinzler is optimistic that a productive offseason will lead to more steady performances from his team.
“We’re looking for consistency,” Blinzler said. “All those girls knew how to have a good start. It was stringing together several good shots in a row. ... We’re definitely seeing improvement in that.”
