Coaching changes are happening in the Farmington boys' athletic program.
Former Apple Valley standout Jason Obarski has been named the school's new soccer coach. Obarski also was a kicker on the North Dakota State football team.
He replaces Julian Buss, who resigned after five seasons with the Tigers. They finished 8-5-5 last fall.
The Tigers also are searching for a hockey coach after Keith Revels stepped down after six seasons. This past season, he guided the Tigers to a 23-4-1 record and their first Missota Conference championship since the 1970s.
Revels previously coached the Farmington girls' program for 12 seasons. He left that post following a 23-6-1 season in 2006-07.
Farmington will join the South Suburban Conference next fall. The Missota will dissolve after this school year.
Tough road ahead
If you want to be the South Suburban Conference champion in boys' lacrosse, you're going to have your work cut out for you.
In the preseason rankings, three squads from the 10-team conference are ranked in the top five and a fourth in the top 10.
Eastview, the state tournament runner-up a year ago, heads the contingent at No. 2. The 2012 state champion lost to Eden Prairie 9-8 in the finale last season.
Rosemount is a spot behind the Lightning at No. 3. The two clash at 7 p.m. April 22 in Apple Valley.
Eagan, ranked fifth, and Prior Lake at 10th round out the ranked schools. The Lakers and Rosemount never have advanced to the state tournament.
Top performances
• Shakopee senior lefthanded pitcher Sheldon Miks hasn't missed a beat since the end of last season. The St. Cloud State recruit pitched a two-hit shutout in the Sabers' season opener, a 1-0 victory over New Prague in a Missota Conference matchup. Miks struck out seven and didn't walk a batter.
• Jordan senior Zach Busch broke the school record in the triple jump in the opening meet of the season for the boys' track team at Belle Plaine. Busch went 42 feet, 1 inch to break Yuriy Malashenko's school record of 41 -10 set in 2008.
