The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

PRESCOTT - Times reporter/ photographer Tracy Daniel ventured to the practice field in Prescott to catch up on the 2011 Tigers soccer team and quickly discovered that the players have gotten a late start in preparing for their season.

After becoming district champions and ending their season 18-1 last year, the Tigers have raised expectations going into this fall. But a lot has changed since then.

Veteran coach Rick Hamilton left the district and former assistant coach Bart Baxter was passed up for his job.

New head coach Mark Grimm, who has other coaching experience but has reportedly never coached soccer before, was approved for the top position by the Prescott School Board only just last Thursday and has done fewer than a handful of practices so far.

His approval by the Waitsburg School Board is still pending.

Fewer students signed up for the program this year. The team has a roster of 17, compared to last year's 23. With fewer players, a coach inexperienced in soccer and the loss of four seniors, the prospects for another blowout season aren't certain.

Grimm declined to be interviewed by the Times about the upcoming season, saying it was too early for him to judge this fall's outlook and might be available for meaningful comments next week.

Assistant coach Jay Potts did tell Daniel that fewer players have made it to practice so far because they are still wrapping up their summer club soccer season.

But Baxter said some of the team's players told him they weren't inspired to practice and play for a coach who doesn't know their sport.

"They're disappointed because they have someone teaching them who doesn't know the game," said Baxter, who nonetheless encouraged his former players to give it their best shot. "I'm concerned about the success of the program."

But Prescott High School Principal and acting combine AD Jody Thew said Grimm has plenty of experience coaching sports and that the students are familiar with him because he's also one of their teachers.

"The kids are excited," she said. "We think it will be a good year."