Boys football leads the national in high school athletic participation.

The News & Observer looks at many of the top athletes in spring sports in Sunday's sports section. Nine spring sports are profiled along with dozens of high school athletes.

Johnston County will open two new high schools in the fall. Both schools have on-line news web pages.

N&O players of the year are coming.

The proposed supplement cuts in Wake County would have a big impact.

Postponements

NCHSAA 1-A/2-A/3-A and 4-A indoor track championships in Chapel Hill, Saturday, Feb. 20

NCHSAA 1-A, 2-A, 3-A and 4-A dual-team wrestling finals. 1-A, 2-A and 4-A have been rescheduled for Sunday, Feb. 14

NCHSAA 1-A/2-A swimming finals, Monday, Feb. 15

Basketball games

Clayton vs. Smithfield-Selma, Monday

Durham Jordan vs. Durham Riverside, Monday

Harnett Central at Garner, Monday

Northern Durham vs. Durham Hillside, Monday

Waccamaw Academy at Raleigh Word of God, TBA

West Johnston at Southeast Raleigh, Monday

The N.C. High School Athletic Association will waive its games per week limit next week and allow teams to play four games in a week. The limit is usually three games. Teams will not be allowed to play on Saturday, though, unless games are postponed next week.

Updated (Feb. 5) list of area athletes who signed national letters, accepting scholarships.

Over half of high school students participation in school athletics, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations

The lists of area boys who have accepted athletic scholarships will be posted on Friday.

The girls winners will be posted throughout the day on Thursday.

These lists were assembled by requesting area high schools to provide a list of students who are receiving financial aid in anticipation of the student participating in intercollegiate athletics. Except in basketball and football, few athletes receive full athletic scholarships. Many colleges do not give athletic scholarships, but give scholarships to athletes. Those students, along with students who received appointments to service academies in anticipation of intercollegiate participation, are included. Not all area high schools responded to the requests for scholarship information. 

Apex, Broughton, Clayton and East Chapel Hill win all-sports awards.