It’s almost here.

Are you ready for some football?

How about badminton, cross country, golf, small-school soccer, swimming and diving and volleyball?

High school sports fans have a lot from which to choose when the 2013-14 school year gets under way. Some school districts already have started classes, believe it or not, and sports seasons soon will follow.

Here is a brief early look at what lies ahead . . .

Football

Chandler Hamilton shows no signs of slowing down after winning the Division I title last fall. Phoenix Mountain Pointe (Ahwatukee), the runner-up, could return to the title game. The Pride open their season in the Sollenberger Classic in Las Vegas on Aug. 23.

Tucson Ironwood Ridge is the defending champ in Division II, but Scottsdale Chaparral is poised to rebound after an off year, if you can call an 8-4 finish an “off’’ year. Peoria Centennial also should be in the mix.

Other champions from 2013 – Queen Creek (Division III), Chandler Seton Catholic (Division IV), Phoenix Northwest Christian (Division V) and Glendale Joy Christian (Division VI eight-man). Joy has moved up to 11-man Division V, along with Scottsdale Prep.

Badminton

Mountain Pointe is the defending champ, but the road to the title appears to be wide open.

Cross country

The magnificent Bernie Montoya of Yuma Cibola has moved on to Arizona State and Phoenix Xavier Prep’s Sarah Fakler is at Virginia, so who are the heirs apparent in Division I?

Two possible candidates are Nate Rodriguez of Tempe Corona del Sol on the boys’ side and Fakler’s former Xavier teammate, Samantha Mattice, on the girls’.

The Division II boys’ side is stocked with several top returning seniors, and Flagstaff’s Tatiana Gillick is in line to repeat her girls’ title.

Sophomores-to-be Sierra Jarriel of Fountain Hills and Courtney Lewis of River Valley are on track in Division III, and Ganado sophomore-to-be Nikesha Eagleman likely will be tough to overtake in Division IV.

Keams Canyon Hopi should extend its long run of excellence in both Division IV boys and girls.

Golf

In the boys’ Division I battle, Mesa Mountain View, Phoenix Desert Vista (Ahwatukee) and Phoenix Brophy Prep are the primary challengers. Phoenix Thunderbird is attempting to repeat in Division II.

It would be a shock if Sister Lynn Winsor and her Xavier Gators don’t repeat in Division I girls, but you never know. Tucson Salpointe Catholic rolled in Division II girls, and appears to have things under control again.

Fall soccer

Lakeside Blue Ridge is as strong in this sport (both boys and girls) as it is in football, and the defending champion Yellowjackets are ready for a double-repeat.

Swimming and diving

Brophy and Xavier rule the waves in Division I, with Phoenix Arcadia (boys) and Salpointe (girls) looking for back-to-back crowns in Division II.

Girls’ volleyball

Phoenix Horizon has a strong group of players returning, but will it be enough to win it all again in Division I?

Flagstaff staged one of the more memorable comebacks in state-tourney history by rallying from a two-set deficit for the Division II title, and we will see if the momentum can carry over.

Tuba City (Division III), Sedona Red Rock (Division IV) and Phoenix Veritas Prep (Division V) all are looking to repeat. Veritas features senior Sarah Sponcil, who was a two-time Small School Player of the Year by The Arizona Republic and is perhaps the state’s best player, regardless of classificiation.

AIA365.com

That’s it for the early look, but we want to remind you to bookmark AIA365.com for game and tournament results, feature stories and live stream/video of games of the week and tournaments throughout the school year.