By the time this edition of The Gasconade County Republican hits stores and businesses in Owensville and the surrounding area, it will be five days until Christmas.

That signals time for yours truly to play Santa Claus and hand out some gifts to current and former Gasconade County coaches, administrators and members of the media in the surrounding area.

Here are a few things I’m sure these coaches, administrators and members of the media have on their Christmas wish lists:

Cullen VanLeer (Dutchmen Basketball) - A shot at their first Maries County Bank Owensville Tournament title since 2007.

Scott Lewis (JV Dutchmen Basketball) - Ending up on the winners side of the bracket in February at the Bourbon JV Tournament.

Jake Witthaus (Bearcat Basketball) - Ending 2023 with a win on the road in Mokane against South Callaway’s Bulldogs.

John VanLeer (Dutchgirl Basketball) - A fourth consecutive tournament title in Hermann come the end of January.

Andy Emmons (Lady Bearcat Basketball) - A chance to hoist tournament championship hardware in January at South Callaway and on their home court.

Jamie Ridenhour (Dutchgirl Volleyball) - Another year of good health for her parents to be able to attend as many volleyball matches as possible during the 2024 season.

Alexis Decker (JV Dutchgirl Volleyball) - A happy and healthy new addition to her family in 2024.

Taylor Payne (Freshmen Dutchgirl Volleyball) - Another solid crop of incoming freshmen volleyball players for the 2024 season this fall.

Hilary Hays - (Lady Bearcat Volleyball) - A return trip to Cape Girardeau next fall to claim their state record 16th MSHSAA Volleyball State Championship.

Dustin Howard (Dutchmen Football) - Opening the 2024 season with a road victory over the defending MSHSAA Class 3 State Champions in Central Park Hills’ Rebels.

Jed Leeper (Bearcat Football) - A fourth consecutive win next fall in the annual Gasconade County Bowl football game against Owensville’s Dutchmen.

Shane Hunt (8th Grade Dutchmen Basketball) - More notches in the win column during the 2024 portion of their season.

Jarrett Payne (7th Grade Dutchmen Basketball) -  A shot at season-ending tournament hardware in Sullivan come late January.

Todd Anderson (HMS Bearcat Basketball) - More notches in the win column during the 2024 portion of their season.

Hannah Koppelmann (JV Dutchgirl Basketball) - A full schedule of JV Dutchgirl basketball games during the 2024-25 season.

Dustin Howard (Dutchmen Wrestling) - Being able to sleep in his own bed during the weekend of district wrestling with Sullivan High School hosting this year’s festivities.

Zach Bollmann (Dutchmen Wrestling) - Witnessing Bailee Dare becoming Owensville High School’s first 100-win Dutchgirl wrestler before the end of the season.

Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy (R-2 Superintendent) - More district championship T-shirts to hand out during the remainder of the 2023-24 school year.

Dr. Geoff Neill (R-1 Superintendent) - Plenty of chances to see his daughter Jocelyn claim more All-State accolades in track and cross country in 2024.

Kris Altemeyer (OHS Principal) - A chance to reveal the name of an Owensville High School senior winning the Glen Ebker $10,000 Math and Science Scholarship during homecoming basketball festivities against Hermann in early February.

John Bunch (OHS Assistant Principal) - Not as many long road trips during the 2024 portion of the school year.

Chip Stutzman (HHS Principal) - Stress-free nights of supervision duty during the remainder of basketball season.

John Fortney (Former OHS Assistant Principal) - A smooth transition to the northeast and his new job as Superintendent of Schools of the Kearsarge Regional School District.

Hannah Koppelmann (Dutchgirl Softball) - Another arm or two to compliment sophomore ace Hannah Keeney during the upcoming 2024 softball season next fall.

Chris Leibach (Lady Bearcat Softball) - A more experienced softball team in the fall of 2024 to improve on their win total from last season.

Matt Johnson (R-2 Activities Director) - Chances to add to banners in the main gym after Four Rivers Conference (FRC) or district titles during the remainder of the 2023-24 school year.

Todd Anderson (R-1 Activities Director) - More wall space in the gym for state banners earned by the Lady Bearcat volleyball and cross country teams.

Steven Kemp (Dutchmen Baseball) - Double digits in the win column during his second season in the third-base coaches box at OHS Field.

Wayland McKague (Bearcat Baseball) - Another winning season of Hermann Bearcat baseball along the Missouri River.

Megan Pondrom (OMS Wrestling) - More middle school wrestlers to groom for the high school ranks during the 2024-25 school year.

Cullen VanLeer (OHS Golf) - A trip to state golf in the spring of 2024.

Jake Witthaus (HHS Golf) - A chance to see Trigg Lindahl claim a state title on the links next spring.

Kalyn Kemp (Dutchgirl Soccer) - Enough Dutchgirls to field a team this spring.

Matt Candrl (OHS Track and Cross Country) - More signing photos to arrange for Owensville High School athletes in track and cross country.

David Koppelmann (OHS Track and Cross Country) - A busy Memorial Day weekend at state track in Jefferson City.

Josh Morris (HHS Track and Cross Country) - More space in the trophy case for Hermann Cross Country’s latest hardware haul.

Dave Marner (Republican Managing Editor) - Good health for his parents during the upcoming holiday season.

Buck Collier (Republican Special Correspondent) - Plenty of chances to see his grandson make music with the Bearcat Brigade Marching Band.

Bill Battle (Washington Missourian Sports Editor) - An area basketball team to cover in the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown.

Aaron Hustead (Washington Missourian Sports Writer) - More chances to get home to Edina in northeast Missouri to spend time with family and hunt for deer.

Rob Viehman (Three Rivers Publishing) - Covering one last Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) track meet with Vienna’s Eagles and Lady Eagles participating.

Neal Johnson (Osage County Unterrified Democrat) - Fatima’s Comets or Lady Comets earning him a trip to Springfield in March for final four basketball.

Bobby Diestelkamp (KTUI Radio) - More sponsors to help him be able to broadcast Owensville High School sporting events on KTUI 102.1 FM during the 2024 portion of the school year.

Bill Seamon (Former Dutchmen Baseball Coach) - More willing student-athletes to take advantage of his indoor batting cages off of Highway 28 between Bland and Owensville.

Greg Williams (Former Dutchmen Basketball Coach) - A successful return to coaching as head coach of the Parkway South Patriots.

Rod Smith (KRCG-TV Sports Director) - Plenty of basketball Tuesday and Friday night highlights throughout the remainder of the hardwood season in mid-Missouri.

To all of the coaches, athletic directors, administrators and fellow members of the media throughout the area that make this job fun every day, Merry Christmas to you and your families and may 2024 be just as good as 2023 was.