With only about three weeks left until school starts, you would think that students and faculty members alike would be enjoying the last few laid back days of summer, especially since temperatures have just started to reach 100.

While a lot of us are avoiding the heat of the outdoors, the dedicated athletes of Blanco High School have already begun training for this school year, starting on Monday, August 2.

Traditionally, high school football teams begin training for the upcoming season the first Monday in August. They usually train in the early morning, rest during the hottest part of the day and then practice again in the cooler evening.

The practices are intense, helping to return the athletes to pre-summer shape, and allows the coaches time to teach new plays and strategies.

In recent years, reports of students becoming ill or dying due to heat stroke has forced coaches to pay closer attention to the body temperature of the players and to be more vigilant to ensure that they get an adequate amount of water. This year the Blanco Athletic Department will have an Athletic Trainer who will help the coaches already watchful eyes identify any health concerns that arise from training.

They will have their first scrimmage in Gonzales on August 14 at 10:00 a.m.

The football players are not the only ones starting their season now. The Panther volleyball team also began two-a-days this week, but have only four days before their first scrimmage against Center Point, Lago Vista, and Randolph. Their scrimmage will be at the Blanco High School and Middle School gyms on August 6, starting at 10:00 a.m. The regular season will begin August 10 against Center Point.

Last but not least, the award winning Panther Band also began practicing on August 2, starting sectional practices and full band practices for the next three weeks until school starts. They met on Friday, July 30 for a kick-off party where they listened to music that Band Directors David Shirk and Brandon Aly selected for this year.