Letter to the editor: Coaches grateful for support
Dear editor,
I have been the boys basketball coach at Marshfield Columbus Catholic High School for 12 seasons. I believe God provides each of us a path to positively influence others, and coaching basketball is my path. My goal is for each of our players to leave our program with many life lessons and memories to last a lifetime.
This past weekend we concluded our season at the Kohl Center in Madison. Leading up to the state tournament, I was overwhelmed by the community support for our players. Almost hourly throughout the week, somebody would walk into our office with a donation for lodging or meals. People dropped off cards, snacks, gift cards, and money. Local businesses put congratulatory ads in newspapers, provided vehicles to transport our players, and had employees hold signs as we left Marshfield. The Marshfield Police and Fire Departments provided an escort out of town. We will never forget the sight of people standing on sidewalks holding signs and yelling encouragement. The list goes on and on.
We regularly tell our players to be their best in order to positively represent their community. We were reminded last week that we need to be our best because the community we live in is the best.
While the scoreboard said we were defeated at the Kohl Center in the state semifinals, our players won in the game of life. Life lessons were learned, and lifelong memories were made. I am forever indebted to the Marshfield community for assisting us in providing both.
Joe Konieczny
Marshfield Columbus Catholic High School Boys Basketball Coach
Dear editor,
I would like to thank the community and school system of Stratford for the opportunity to have been a volunteer wrestling coach for the past six years. In my 55 years of coaching wrestling, the Stratford program is by far the best I have ever seen.
There are several things that contribute to this.
No. 1: The coaches from top to bottom are excellent.
No. 2: The wrestlers are super dedicated to the sport in that many had several years of wrestling before entering high school.
No. 3: The wrestling facilities are outstanding.
No. 4: The parents have sacrificed their time, travel, and money throughout the years, beginning with youth programs as early as first grade so that the wrestlers develop to their fullest potential.
No. 5: The fans and townspeople have attended many of the wrestling events over the years in support of their team.
All of these factors accounted for a state wrestling championship in Division 3 this season. It is my belief that this team was the best of all the divisions. Besides dominating teams in Division 3, they won the Bi-State Wrestling Tournament among 50 teams from all divisions.
Finally, it was a sincere honor to have coached at Stratford and to be a small part of the best wrestling school in the state of Wisconsin. I was always treated by anyone who I had the pleasure of knowing with respect and friendship. Once again, thank you, and best wishes for another state championship next year.
Darrell Laschen
Loyal
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