August 12, 2023

By Fred Liggett
[email protected]

For many students throughout Missouri the week of August 21-25 means back to school but for student-athletes it means a return to competition. Monday, Aug. 7 was the first day for fall sports practices where many teams began preparation for a season they hope will end with a conference title if not a state championship.

Teams competing in as many as eight different sports are now practicing on fields, courts or a course in hopes of having a successful season. Teams are practicing as early as 7 a.m. while others finish up the day at around 9:30 p.m. For Lee’s Summit Tigers boys soccer their day began 7 a.m. at Hertzog Stadium where whistles could be heard along with coaches shouting instructions to team members. The same field is where the Tigers football team practices at night under the bright lights where team members run and tackle till after 9 p.m.

Fall sports include boys and girls cross country, girls tennis, softball, girls golf, volleyball in addition to boys soccer and football. Not long after these first practices the fall sports teams will be competing in their first games of the season. For example many area softball teams will begin a new season at the Greater KC softball classic played at Adair Park in Independence set for the weekend of Aug. 25-26. Football teams are scheduled to kick off a new season on Friday, Aug. 25th and area cross country teams begin a new year on the morning of Saturday, Aug. 26th at area meets.