By Staff
Dear Santa,
I know this is kind of late, but there are a few things I would like to find under my Christmas tree this year.
Mind you, the gifts are not for me. I know better than to ask for a present this close to Christmas, but my friends have been so good this year. I believe that they need these gifts to help make the yuletide bright.
Since there are only five days left until Christmas, I will understand if you cannot grant all of these wishes for me.
But being the jolly old elf that you are, I know you will do your best.
Here goes:
Greg Blomgren – I would like to see Greg pick up a boys' Wolverine Conference basketball championship to go along with the win the girls won last fall. After all, you should have a matched set of those as far as I am concerned.
John Green – The Dowagiac varsity wrestling program is in need of a few new alpha weights. If the Chieftains can get everyone down to the weight he believes they can get to, then Dowagiac has an outstanding chance to win yet another district championship.
Carl Greulich – Carl needs everyone to get healthy and stay that way for the remainder of the season. The Chieftains need some court time as a unit so that they can get used to playing together. It's still a long way until the district tournament in March, but I foresee big things for Dowagiac come the post season.
Mike Williams – Another solid group of young soccer players to help fill the holes, which will be left by graduation. The Chieftains' program continues to head in the right direction. Dowagiac should be a threat in both boys' and girls' soccer this next season.
Chuck Rubino – Plenty of warm, dry weather for the girls' tennis season. The Chieftains didn't see too many dry days this past fall. Not to mention it snowed the day of regionals. Despite all that, Dowagiac still had a shot at qualifying for the state finals. The Chieftains will be in the hunt once again in 2007.
Van Johnson – A few more golfers are needed to help the Chieftains build on the success they had this past season. The numbers were down, but somehow Dowagiac managed to perform well in its first season in the Wolverine Conference. On the girls' side, Dowagiac will get its first taste of the new league. My hope is that there are plenty of girls coming out for golf and that they work hard to be the best they can be.
Ken Jordan – Like the golf team, the cross country and track teams are in need of bodies. Both the boys' and girls' teams lacked numbers this past season. If the Chieftains can get the numbers up, then I know they can be more competitive in their new league.
Mike Stanger – The Chieftain football program is in good shape, but the one thing I know coach Stanger would like to see is a good solid work ethic out of his underclassmen during this off season. Dowagiac will have plenty of weapons again in 2007, but without a great work ethic, the Chieftains will not be able to achieve the goals the team has set for itself.
Curtis Partee – The Dowagiac boys' tennis program will need to work hard as they prepare for its first season in the Wolverine Conference. Since the Chieftains don't know much about their opponents, the team will need to work hard and stay focused from the beginning of preseason drills to the season-ending tournament.
Mike Behnke – The Dowagiac softball team will have a few holes to plug heading into the 2007 season, but I know that the Chieftains have plenty of talent just waiting in the wings for a chance. My Christmas wish for them is early success and the ability to finish strong come the post season.
Andy Kruger – Dowagiac's baseball team is coming off a great year last spring and have most of their key players back. My wish for coach Kruger is that his team can stay healthy and hungry as they try to pick up their first Wolverine Conference title.