McLouth coach George Karn has about 17 runners out for the fall, while about 18 athletes reported to THS coach Phil Williams.

Karn was encouraged by the number, while Williams was not.

“I was a little disappointed with the numbers,” Williams said.

Last year, Tonganoxie had about twice as many harriers out for cross country.

Both coaches said they planned to recruit within the halls of their respective schools for more runners.

All high school sports kicked off their first practices Monday, as some, such as Tonganoxie and McLouth football and Tonganoxie volleyball, squeezed in two practices. School began Tuesday for students, so coaches don’t have the luxury of time for two-a-days as has been the case some years.

New McLouth volleyball coach Rachel Webb, who had 25 girls report Monday, said her first official day on the job was satisfactory.

“They looked really good,” Webb said. “I got a pretty good idea from camp, so we just took off from where we left off at camp.

“Right now we’re looking at fundamentals.”

With temperatures topping out above 100 degrees Monday, Webb said the McLouth gymnasium was bearable for the Bulldogs afternoon practice.

“I thought it would be worse, they cooled it off,” Webb said, referring to large fans school officials placed in the gym. “I think it’s just a typical August with no air-conditioned gym.”

Programs at both Tonganoxie and McLouth will have about a week of August practice before their annual preseason scrimmages.

The Tonganoxie soccer team’s red/white scrimmage is at 6 p.m. Tuesday, while cross country (4 p.m.), volleyball (5 p.m.) and football (7 p.m.) will scrimmage Aug. 29.

Luke Denney will coach his first soccer game at THS the same day when the Chieftains play a 4:30 p.m. game against Mill Valley in Shawnee.

McLouth will have its fall preview Friday with scrimmages in cross country, volleyball and football.