Welcome to the Idaho Statesman’s Varsity Extra blog, where you’ll find the latest news and analysis throughout the school year.

Let's start with the changes you might have noticed on the Varsity Extra page you can link to here.

You’ll find links to the Game of the Week, Athletes of the Week, photos, videos, wallpaper downloads, forums and this blog, and we’ve added a drag-down menu to help fans of specific schools navigate to the news that means most to them. We’ve also added a place for you to upload videos of your school’s teams in action.

Our goal is to provide you with a Web site where you can find everything you need to know about Treasure Valley high school sports in one easy-to-navigate place.

Also, be sure to check out our 2008 football preview here.

Please comment below and tell us what you think.

Now that you’ve been introduced to several exciting changes, here is a quick look at some of the top high school sporting events scheduled for the next four days.

Wednesday

Girls soccer: Boise at Capital, 6 p.m., Milwaukee Park
The Braves (2-0-0) and Eagles (3-0-0) appear to be primed for strong seasons after disappointing finishes last year. Boise won its first two games by a combined score of 11-0, while Capital knocked off its first three opponents by a combined score of 12-1.

Thursday

Cross country: Camel’s Back Invitational, 4 p.m., Camel’s Back Park
The high school cross country season begins here with eight of the Valley’s 5A and 4A schools taking part.

Boys soccer: Capital at Boise, 6 p.m., Willow Lane Sports Complex
The defending state champion Braves (2-0-0) are off to a fast start after demolishing Caldwell 11-0 Tuesday. Capital has a win, a loss and a tie to start the season.

Volleyball: Mountain View at Eagle, 6:30 p.m.
The reigning state champion Mustangs host the Mavericks to open the 2008 season.

Friday

Football: Jerome at Mountain Home, 7 p.m.
With a win, fifth-year Mountain Home coach Brian Floyd would even his coaching record at 19-19. After missing the playoffs on a tiebreaker last season, Mountain Home returns a strong team eight starters back on both sides of the ball.

Football: Weiser at Emmett, 7 p.m.
Weiser, a 3A juggernaut, will be testing several new starters when it opens on the road against 4A foe Emmett. The Wolverines lost 18 seniors from last year’s playoff team.

Football: Glenns Ferry at Nampa Christian, 7 p.m.
Nampa Christian opens the season among the favorites to contend for a state championship after advancing to the title game last year.

Saturday

Football: Central Catholic (Portland) at Bishop Kelly, 1 p.m., Nick Ysursa Field
The Knights host the 6A Oregon school to open the season. It is the first meeting between the two teams. Central Catholic is best known for being the home of NFL quarterback Joey Harrington.

Cross country: Jimmy Driscoll Invitational, 2 p.m., Bishop Kelly
The season opener for several teams is scheduled to finish on the track at halftime of Bishop Kelly’s football opener.