With the start of school right around the corner, many sports fans in the area have football on the brain. After all, it is the most popular sport in the south, especially high school and college football.

Everybody wants to know the latest news about their local high school team and favorite college team.

But football players aren’t the only ones working out during the hot summer to get ready for their season.

A multitude of athletes in many different sports have been sweating it out this summer getting ready for their season. Athletes who participate in sports such as volleyball, cross country, softball, soccer, basketball, tennis and golf also have been putting in the work to prepare to play the sport they love to the best of their abilities.

Sometimes it can be easy to get sucked into the world of football and think that is the only sport relevant this time of year. But there are plenty of athletes who don’t play football that put just as much work into their sport as football players do.

That’s why we want to feature as many different types of sports and athletes as possible. This sports page shouldn’t be only about the most popular spectator sports but about all sports and local athletes. After all, they are dedicated to their sport just the same.

This section has recently featured articles about sports such as golf, basketball, soccer and softball, as well as football, and we want to continue to have that variety.

In order for us to serve the people of Limestone County as well as we should, we are going to need your help.

If you know of a sport or athlete you think should be recognized, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We want to feature as many different athletes and sports as we can. We have already had a few tips point us in the direction of stories that have been featured in the News Courier sports section the last two weeks, and we are always looking for more.

I don’t think there’s anything better for a local athlete than to feel his or her hard work and sacrifice has been validated by an article or picture in the paper. Sports are something that can be remembered and cherished as the years go by.

People will always remember their days as a high school athlete as being some of the most enjoyable times of their lives. My goal is to tell the stories of those times and make good memories for many of our local athletes.