Spring sports started up on Feb. 26. Spring sports include girls tennis, boys golf, girls swim and dive, baseball, softball, and girls soccer.

While most of the team goals consist of breaking records and going to the state championship game or meet, the focus in each sport varies. The first spring sport to have a game is the baseball team, on March 16.

Boys tennis

A new season of boys’ tennis began on Feb. 26.

Returning varsity may include Connor Doane, junior, Daniel Eagan, senior, and Alex Oberholtzer, junior, though the official roster is not final yet.

“We’re expecting other varsity teams in general to be tough competition, especially the other Olathe schools,” Oberholtzer said. He added that the new team is working hard at practice to prepare, doing things like conditioning and drills for technique.

“It’s hard to tell where the team might go, but I’m optimistic,” Oberholtzer said.

Boys golf

Boys golf is starting early and has high hopes for this upcoming season.

Golf tryouts were on March 5, yet the first varsity golf tournament is not until March 28, and the first JV competition is not until April 3.

Carter Runyan, senior; Ben Heigele, Jackson Likes and Ben Marsh, juniors, are the four returning varsity golf members this season, and Andrew Meile, golf coach, is eager to see how the team will perform.

“With four returning varsity players and 10 altogether, we have a chance to do very well this year,” Meile said. He hopes multiple people on the team qualify for the state tournament this year.

Girls swim

This year, the girls swim team is focusing on working as a team to get faster and stronger, instead of just individually, according to Brandon Simpson, head coach.

Simpson said, “I am most excited about having 18 new girls to the program, most of whom are just starting out their swimming career. To be able to watch their growth in the sport is very rewarding.”

Returning varsity swimmers include Addy Bray, junior; Kianna Skinner and Porsche Mahakikittijchia, sophomores; Ashton Reno and Sarah Buehler, seniors, and Nina Tasic, freshman.

According to Simpson, the most challenging meet will be the state championship meet and the Sunflower league meet.

Their first meet is on March 22 at Prairie Trail Middle School.

Baseball

Tryouts for the 2018 baseball season were Feb. 26 through March 2.

Josh Perkins, coach said that he is “looking forward to working with a team full of young men that enjoy playing baseball and love Olathe South.”

“We had 12 seniors graduate last year and we will have nine returning players with varsity experience,” Perkins said.

Everyone who tried out had the opportunity to tryout for any position they choose. The coaches are evaluating their ability at those positions, along with their hitting ability.

The challenges with every high school team “is to play well at the right time,” Perkins said. “Focus on paying good baseball and the things you have control over,” Perkins said.

Softball

Softball is now back in session. A new season began on Feb. 26, with the first game scheduled on March 29.

Expected returning varsity includes seniors Courtney Reynolds, Abby Allen, Maryssa Rollin, and Alex Clark.

“I expect all the Olathe schools to be tough competition,” softball coach Mike Allen said.

Practice is important to gain the skills needed to defeat this competition.

“Usually we do drills and have offensive and defensive practice,” Allen said. They mainly focus on improving and goals like going to the state competition.

Girls soccer

This year the girls soccer team is focusing on having the whole team being in shape and having a strong team that works together.

Returning varsity players include Marli Ruis, Alex Evans and Julia Gudenkauf, seniors; and Lily Engeman, junior.

Their most challenging competition will be Olathe Northwest because they have won state the past few years, according to the soccer manager, Korie Hutton, senior.

Hutton said, “The team is working on possessing the ball and running plays that allow the offense to see what different options they have on the field.”

Track and field

The track and field season started on Feb. 26, and the team’s first meet is at ODAC on March 23.

The team has 17 returning state qualifiers and 15 of those 17 are state medalists.

“The most challenging competitions will be Shawnee Mission North relays and the state track meet,” Matthew Bohm, track coach, said.

Some areas that will be very strong are the sprints, the 400-meter dash, hurdles and long and high jump.

However, the areas that will need improvement are where the younger athletes come in. “The younger athletes need to step up and fill the gaps. We need to improve in all areas throughout the season,” Bohm said.