Olathe Northwest building depth this summer

Dion Clisso/PrepsKC

By Dion Clisso PrepsKC Managing Editor
Posted: July 24, 2011 - 10:25 PM



The mandate in the offseason was clear for Olathe Northwest. The Ravens needed to build depth to enable the program to overcome injuries and better compete in the Sunflower League and overall in Kansas Class 6A.

With the offseason in its final weeks Olathe Northwest is on the verge of adding that depth heading into the 2011 season. Ravens coach Todd Dain said his team has done a good job of getting ready for the upcoming season and are now just ready for camp to open on Aug. 15.

“We’ve had a tremendous summer,” Dain said. “We’ve had 74 football players with perfect attendance in summer weights and that’s more than we’ve ever had. It’s been a tremendous summer all the way through.

“We’ve got some exciting young kids coming up and we’ve got some depth with our upperclassmen and they’ve worked hard. It’s been a great summer and we are looking forward to a couple weeks off before we get back after it here.”

Last season the Ravens looked like a team poised to take the next step but injuries turned a 2-1 start into a 3-6 finish. Olathe Northwest had standout players like all-state receiver Nick Bandy but could find a way to get over the hump losing tough games to Olathe East, Shawnee Mission East and Olathe South.

This year the schedule still has six playoff teams from a year ago but Dain feels like they are better prepared when and if injuries become a factor.

“I think we are one of those teams that when you get one or two injuries that affects us in a big way,” Dain said. “When you are a smaller school in a big classification you know those things can take a toll.

“We feel like we are finally starting to build some depth, especially up front. When you have some more bodies to rotate in there and to practice against that certainly helps you. We’re looking forward to a great year and we are getting quietly optimistic.”

Olathe Northwest opens practice Aug. 15 with its first game Sept. 2 at Leavenworth.

Dion Clisso is the Managing Editor of PrepsKC. To reach him send e-mail to dion@prepskc.com.