Sports

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Youth football is underway again in town. The Excelsior Springs Football Association is fielding four teams this season – a combination of second- and third-graders, a fourth-grade team, a fifthgrade team and a sixth-grade team.

KANSAS CITY – Excelsior Springs’ Aug. 20 preseason varsity football jamboree at St. Pius X High School in Kansas City gave coach Mark Faubion an idea of where his Tigers stand entering Friday’s season opener.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The Tigers got some gamelike action on Aug. 20, when they hosted Kearney and Chillicothe in a preseason boys soccer jamboree.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The Tigers have high expectations this football season, based in part on what happened last season. “A lot of our kids have had a thousand repetitions, and with what we do, that is going to be a big benefit for us this year,” coach Mark Faubion said.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The Tigers look to continue improving upon their last two seasons of girls tennis with the return of five players who saw varsity action last season. Junior Anna Selby will start in the No.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The Tigers have a lofty goal for their varsity cross country teams this season: They want to send as many runners to state as possible. A postseason format change by the Missouri State High School Activities Association could help the Tigers achieve that goal.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Varsity soccer coach Zac Ganzer has a mix of veterans and newcomers this boys soccer season. The Tigers return eight players who saw significant minutes last season.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – One thing that will help prepare the Excelsior Springs girls golf program for the competition the Tigers will see this fall is the course they practice on every day. “Our girls have an advantage because we have one of the most difficult courses around,” coach David Stalder said.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – In a COVID world, keeping the Tigers healthy could be the biggest challenge they face this volleyball season, coach Kathryn Beile acknowledged. “Just because it is a new year doesn’t mean the precedent rules from last year are not still in play, and my hope is to keep the team as healthy (as possible) as we undergo the new school year,” Beile said.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Varsity softball coach Megan Rawie expects her Tigers to find a groove quickly, a must during a high school season. “Building chemistry the first few weeks of practice, (as) opposed to waiting until mid-season, will be a challenge for us, since the season goes so quickly,” Rawie said.