The spring sports officially get under way with prep teams facing their first games or meets of the 2001 season.

The annual Cortez Relays has grown and grown and grown. It will get under way at 9 a.m. today, March 10, at Panther Stadium.

Durango, Pagosa Springs, Bayfield, Mancos, Fruita-Monument, Central of Grand Junction, Palisade, Grand Junction High, Delta, Montrose and teams from New Mexico including Farmington, Piedra Vista, Bloomfield, Aztec, Kirtland-Central and Shiprock are expected to join the host Panthers.

Although this is an official meet, it will more or less be a warm-up type meet because many of the teams will not be at or even near full strength. According to Colorado High School Activities Association rules, an athlete must have at least nine practices in that sport in order to compete. The Panther boys basketball players, many of whom compete in track and field, is still competing this weekend at the Class 4A State Basketball Tournament. The MCHS girls basketball team made the Sweet 16 round of their tournament last week. Many of them also compete in track but will not have had enough practices in.

Dolores County and Dolores boys and girls track and field teams will not open the season until the Durango Invitational on Tuesday, March 13.

The Panther varsity baseball team, under first-year head coach Chuck Cotter, travels to Shiprock at 3 p.m. Monday, March 12. The Dolores County baseball team will visit Moab, Utah, for a twin bill against Grand County beginning at noon today. Dolores baseball team will host Monticello, Utah, for a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. today at Joe Rowell Park (Gonzales Field).

Girls soccer action gets under way Thursday, March 15, against Ignacio at Norman Johnson Memorial Field. Monica Plewe takes over the program this year for MCHS.

MCHS boys swimming started Friday night, March 9, with a meet at home against Delta and Glenwood Springs. The Panthers compete at Durango beginning at 9 a.m. today. Joining MCHS and DHS will be Delta, Glenwood Springs, and Moffat County.