Columnist Steve Carp: Prep World continues to expand

ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR began Monday, even though local athletes from last year still were competing in the American Legion World Series as late as Sunday night.

These days, it seems organized sports is a year-round endeavor. If you're a basketball player, there's always a team to play for. Same for a baseball or softball player. The summer programs are there at your disposal. For football players, the weight room beckons and there are passing leagues to play in, camps to attend and off-season conditioning regimens to follow.

It's probably a good thing, too. After all, if a kid keeps busy, he or she is less apt to get into trouble, though it might be a mistake to generalize such a thought given today's troubled times.

Regardless, another year of competition kicks off this week. There will be soccer matches, volleyball matches, cross country meets and, of course, football games, beginning Friday.

And there will be more high school sports in Las Vegas than ever before. Mojave and Palo Verde are going varsity this year, bringing the total of high schools to 18. Throw in a few of the smaller schools and that total grows to 24. In a couple of years, four more high schools will be open.

We still think of ourselves as a small town. But the reality is we're a big city, whether we like it or not. When you have thousands of kids competing, you're no longer small. Leave that distinction to the Beattys and Elys.

With growth comes concern. How do you keep a handle on an expanding sports program? How do you maintain a level of excellence? How do you ensure the athletes are receiving the best coaching, medical supervision and officiating possible?

It takes commitment. The student-athletes of Clark County are fortunate to have Larry McKay sitting in the chair and providing the necessary leadership. The longtime coach and administrator will see that things continue to run smoothly, that the highest standards are maintained.

He knows what the problems are. And he has the solutions. That's why he oversees athletics for the Clark County School District. If we never hear from McKay, that's good news, because it means there are no major problems.

So let the focus be put where it should be -- on the young men and women who represent their schools, who compete for individual honor, glory for their school and -- for a select few -- the possibility of extending their athletic careers in college.

In the months ahead, stories will emerge that will capture our imagination. There will be stories of individual greatness and of extraordinary accomplishments. There will be tales of courage and overcoming tremendous odds. You'll hear about upsets and there will be talk of potential dynasties.

And it will be done by young men and women who might be your neighbor without you even knowing it.

No, we're no longer a community of 250,000 people with eight high schools. We're a fast-growing, burgeoning city pushing a million and a half with two dozen high schools. It's an exciting time to be living in Las Vegas. And it's an exciting time to be a high school athlete.

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