Bears prepare for gridiron
By Anne Marie Kyzer Staff Writer

Hibernation is over for the Bears.

Workouts for potential football players started several weeks ago and have intensified over the past couple of weeks, according to head coach Eric Parker. Coach Parker came on board full-time at Burke County High School at the beginning of February and started after-school workouts soon after.

He's seen around 100 students consistently turnout for workouts. He anticipates another 25 or so to turnout after the baseball and track teams finish up.

The high school will kick off spring practice, a two-week period when they can wear pads and use footballs, April 30. Spring practice will conclude May 11 and plans are in the making for an inter-squad scrimmage that night.

Coach Parker hopes to use the spring scrimmage as a test run for the season.

"It gives us a chance to go through a dry run of what could happen on a Friday night in the fall," he said, adding that tapes of the game will help coaches and players alike see areas for improvement in a game situation.

A spaghetti dinner fundraiser is also being planned for May 11 to raise money for football camp. More details will be provided closer to the date.

Spring practice at Burke County Middle School is set to begin April 16 for upcoming eighth graders.

Coach Parker said he and the other coaches hope to revive an active spring practice for the middle school program.