A generation ago, there wasnt much in the way of athletic tradition at Grain Valley High School, but thats changed dramatically in recent years.

I have coached basketball in Class 2 and 6 at the same place, Eagles girls basketball coach Randy Draper said.

Draper arrived in 1995 as the boys basketball coach and also has coached both girls and boys tennis at Grain Valley.

When he arrived 30 years ago, the school and its athletic programs were those of a relatively sleepy small town.

We thought it was going to get bigger and would change, he said, but I would be lying to you if I said I saw this.

Enrollment at Grain Valley High School used to top out well below 600 students.

This fall, we have over 600 kids out for fall sports, Grain Valley Activities Director Brandon Hart said. We're a

See Full Page