May 4—CAIRO — After an 8-4 record and an appearance in the second round of the state playoffs last season, the Cairo Syrupmakers football team and Head Coach David Coleman have kicked off spring practice. This spring, Coleman and his staff will be focused on two things; evaluating every position and getting better everyday.

"The biggest thing we talk about with our kids, we talk about getting better and improving and doing that with a great attitude and great effort." said Coleman. "Every position is really being evaluated. We are looking to see what the best fits are across the board."

Cairo will have some returning players in the trenches to go along with some new faces. Those returning guys are who Coleman and his staff will look to take on leadership roles for this Syrupmakers squad.

"Well, we've got some returners and we are excited about the leadership of some of our guys that will return for us," Coleman said. "A few of our offensive linemen and then a few of our defensive linemen, so we are looking to those guys for leadership."

Though the 2023-2024 football season is many months away, Coleman is looking at spring practice as a way to answer the questions the Syrupmakers have going into this upcoming season.

"We just want our guys to come out and compete in the spring and get better fundamentally and answer the questions that need to be answered going into the fall. So, spring is a good opportunity for that," said Coleman. "I think every year you come into a season and it's a brand new football team. So, each and every year in high school football you're trying to find out where the best fit is for a player. Everything is an open competition."

Cairo finished last season with an 8-4 record and placed second in their region. The Syrupmakers will be looking to make a deeper playoff run this season as last season saw them make an exit in the second round. Cairo will open the 2023-2024 football season against Thomas County Central at home on August 18.