Staff photo by Mike Buhler Blake Parr and the Kennett Indians boys' track team are among the many Kennett High School sports teams off to strong starts this spring in spite of wet weather. [Click to enlarge]

As much as it has rained this spring, it is amazing that any of the Bootheel's teams have managed to take the field at all.

The Kennett Lady Indians softball team has managed to get just one game in this spring, while the Tribe baseballers have played just four games this spring and had four straight games rained out this week.

However, when Kennett's teams have been able to take the field, they have been quite successful for the most part.

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett High School golfer Johnanthan Rogers (right) discusses strategy with KHS golf coach Ken Garland during a recent match against Doniphan at Kennett Country Club. The Indians golf team is off to a 7-0 start this spring as it aims for a district title. [Click to enlarge]

After a season-opening loss at Cape Central, the Tribe has won three straight games since then, while the softball team won its lone game against Dexter last week. Even the girls soccer team won its season opener, the first a Kennett soccer team has ever started 1-0.

However, the most impressive performances thus far in Kennett have came on the golf course and on the track.

Led by two-time state qualifier Johnathan Rogers and a strong group of underclassmen, the Indians' golf team is off to a 7-0 start this spring, including key victories over district foes Sikeston and Dexter.

Several players have stepped up for the Tribe in 2008, among them freshmen Justin Lynn and Ryan Richardson, who have become regulars in the Tribe's top five scorers.

While Kennett still has a long season ahead, the hot start on the links is definitely encouraging.

Meanwhile, the Indians and Lady Indians track teams have done just as well, as both squads have each won their first three meets.

Fresh off a third-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles at the state meet last season, Demetrius Childress has emerged as a leader. The senior has dominated in both the 110- and 300-hurdles this season, but has also been closely followed in both events by sophomore Will Johnson, who has combined with Childress to become one of the area's best 1-2 punches in the hurdles.

Kennett has also got strong performances from returnees Julio Hernandez in the discus, Tyler Daugherty in the distance events and from Greg Bowles in the jumping events, but has been boosted as well by several newcomers to track.

Blake Parr has excelled in the shot put and the 400-meters in his first season of track, while Cameron Conder -- whose former high school did not even have track -- has emerged in the triple jump and sprints, and Jimmy Gooden has excelled in several running events.

Equally as impressive has been the girls' squad, who is led by standout Susan Shetley. Like Childress, the junior has dominated in the hurdles, but has also done well in all three jumping events -- high, triple and long -- to emerge as one of the area's best.

Also performing well for Kennett's girls this spring have been Leanna Siebenhuener in the middle- and long-distance events, while Samantha Geary has excelled in the long-distance runs.

Veronica Amos and Odejah Samuel done well in the 400, while Tamere White and Hanna Lack have done well in the hurdles. Jerica Wheeler has helped in the triple jump, while Jelesea Taylor has done well in the long and triple jumps.

Like with the golf team, there is a lot of season left, but the track teams have given Kennett cause for excitement...

Mike Buhler is the sports editor of the Daily Dunklin Democrat. Contact him at mbuhler@dddnews.com