Spring is a busy time for female athletes at area high schools, and their athletic directors say many teams have high expectations for the season.

Chris Greene, athletic director at Carlsbad High School, said the women’s lacrosse program is becoming more popular and should offer opportunities for success.

“Lacrosse is rising fast,” he said. “We have maybe 70 or so going out for the team, so it’s taking away from softball now.”

Greene said despite the growing number of students vying for positions on other teams, track and field is still the sport that draws the most athletes in the spring.

Women’s spring sports at CHS include softball, lacrosse, track and field, swimming and tennis.

Greene said a strong aquatics program will likely result in a winning season for the CHS swim team. He said the women’s team should do well and dominate in their league this spring. They won the league championship last year and finished second in CIF.

While these teams are just beginning their seasons, winter athletes at CHS recently ended theirs.

Greene said most teams were successful, with the women’s basketball, water polo and soccer teams all making the playoffs. The water polo team made it to CIF finals, and has won five Division I championships in the last eight years.

La Costa Canyon High School, another Division I school, is also busy getting ready for the spring season. Lacrosse, softball, track and field, gymnastics, and swimming are all offered in the spring at LCCHS. Athletic Director John Labeta said he expects it to be a successful season for many of the women’s teams.

“Lacrosse graduated some important seniors, but will be competitive,” he said. “And I’m looking for big things from our softball team.”

The softball squad at LCCHS made it to CIF quarterfinals last year.

Labeta said he anticipates a winning season from the track team as well.

“Girls’ track has a solid core of women on the team,” he said.

He also said the women’s gymnastics team recently hired two new coaches and looks to be competitive.

Winter sports recently finished up at the school, where women are offered basketball, soccer, water polo and surfing.

Labeta said the basketball and soccer teams both finished strong and made it to the playoffs.

Athletes at San Dieguito Academy are beginning their spring seasons as well. Women’s spring sports include track and field, softball and lacrosse.

Soccer and basketball are offered to women as winter sports.

SDA is a Division III school that competes in the Coastal Conference.