Olathe South soccer coach Will Stoskopf said his players are excited to get the 2008 season started. It’s hard to blame them — after all, the last time they played was in the Class 6A state championship at the College Boulevard Activity Center.

Across the nation, recent high school graduates are timidly checking into dormitories and learning about Greek life, trying to learn their way around in an unfamiliar environment and beginning their college journey.

The start of football season is still two weeks away, but excitement for the opening night game between Olathe East and Olathe North is building.

In the next four editions of The Olathe News, the sports staff will preview Olathe teams and their competition in the Sunflower League.

A perennial Class 6A power, Olathe South looks poised for another strong campaign in 2008.

Hard as it is for me to admit, I made a mistake.

Until someone dethrones them, consider Shawnee Mission East the team to beat in the Sunflower League.

It will be hard for the Olathe East tennis team to defend its regional title without graduated star Ally Majercik, who went 29-1 at No. 1 singles last year. But the loss of Majercik runs deeper.