I'm happy with the kids. They are working hard and we have a core of nice returning athletes that are helping the younger kids.

I think we'll be strong. What's nice about this team is that we have strengths in just about every event.

These kids are athletes. ... These kids want to win. They are not going to just lay down and let teams walk all over them and give up. We're going to play through seven.

It showed our kids they could go up against great athletes and compete -- and compete as a team. If we hadn't come out after the lightning delay and executed and won that game, where would we have gone?

We want to make sure athletes are held to a higher standard because kids look up to them and they are role models in our community.

They're eager, they're good kids, smart kids, and they're nice athletes. That's a good combination to begin with. Coach Hunter did a great job with them. Now they're learning new techniques and new terminology. It was a little difficult at first, but they're fast learners.