The guys who are seniors this year were sophomores when we came within a game of the playoffs [in 2003] and as juniors last year didn't win a game, ... They've seen both sides of it and I think that's really lit a fire under them to work hard.

I think it was when they were sophomores, when Swift, Van Vliet, those guys were sophomores. I think that's the last time we beat them.

We're just 14- and 15-year-old guys playing against juniors and seniors, and these guys are just stepping up. Most kids, not mine, but others I think would falter.

They lost quite a few seniors (from last year), but when you're a state champ you're still the state champ until somebody beats you. We know it's going to be tough. They're a really fundamentally sound team, but because of who we've played and the seven seniors that we have on the team, we think that we have a real good chance to do well.

(The Michigan district) used it as an all-school reader, ... Sophomores, juniors and seniors were reading it and discussing it and discussing it in different disciplines, and I was getting some amazing e-mails back from kids and teachers.

We have an 'older' club this year. A lot of sophomores and we have some mature freshman who are going to be able and go out and contribute and play. [They will] contribute in a lot of ways to help this team out, to compete to win the Jayhawk West again, compete for the Region VI Final and compete for a national title.