Good news Powell High School sports fans: Practices for fall sports began this week, with six sports preparing to take to the fields, courts and the pool to represent the orange and black.

“This is the best time of the year. Kids are back, and the halls and the courts and the gym are all busy again,” said new PHS activities director Scott McKenzie. “That’s why we’re in this business — we’re really excited about the upcoming season. We have great senior leaders in all of our activities, and the underclassmen are all very athletic. We’re hoping for a great year in all areas.”

A longtime coach, McKenzie stepped down as head girls’ basketball coach at the end of last season to take over as activities director, replacing Tim Wormald; Wormald is the new principal at PHS. McKenzie said he’s looking forward to the challenge of overseeing all of the programs, starting with this fall’s lineup.

“It’s much easier to keep track of 30 girls in the winter than it is everybody,” he said, laughing. “But everyone has a dream job, and this is it for me for me, for sure. I’ve been a Powell Panther for most of my life, and I’m just looking forward to working with all the coaches and helping them with the programs. I’m looking forward to watching the individual and team events and just watching the great things that are going to happen.”

Tennis and golf began practices Monday at 8 a.m. at the PHS courts and the Powell Golf Club. Tennis is coached by Joe Asay and assisted by Brandon Preator while Troy Hildebrand returns as the golf coach.

The golf team will have its first tournament on Thursday and Friday, playing at the Powell Golf Club on day one and the Olive Glenn Golf and Country Club in Cody on day two.

Panther cheer — which held tryouts in the spring and has already set its roster — begins practice on Wednesday. The cheer team is coached by Vicki Walsh, along with assistant coach Cindy Jacobs.

Helmet checkout for PHS football is also this week, running from Monday to Thursday at the PHS weight room. Checkout times are from 6-8:30 a.m.

The first day of football practice is Monday, Aug. 19 at the PHS practice field, running from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Afternoon practices are scheduled from 4-6 p.m. Aaron Papich is the head football coach, assisted by Joel Hayano, Mike Heny, Chase Kistler, Waleryan Wisniewski and Zach Coombs.

Also beginning practice on Monday, Aug. 19 are girls’ swimming, volleyball and cross country.

Volleyball practices are scheduled for 6-7:45 a.m and 6-8 p.m. in the PHS gym. Tasha Miller is the new head volleyball coach, assisted by McKenzie Graft and Jodee Metzler.

Girls’ swimming practices are scheduled for 8-9 a.m and 4-6 p.m. at the Powell Aquatic Center; Bob Smartt returns as the girls’ head swimming coach, assisted by Heather Christiansen. Cross country will meet at 4 p.m. in the PHS Commons, with the team coached by Cliff Boos and Ashley Hildebrand.

All athletes must have their physicals completed before they can begin practicing.

The Powell Athletic Roundtable Dinner Fundraiser is Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 6 p.m. in the PHS Commons. That’s followed by the All Sport Parent Meeting (required for all parents of athletes) at 6:45 p.m. in the PHS Auditorium. Fall sport teams will be having individual parent meetings following the general information meeting.