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

That signals time for yours truly to play Santa Claus and hand out some gifts to current and former R-2 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:

Todd Rehmert (Dutchmen Basketball) - To not finish last in the Four Rivers Conference (FRC).

Terra Heidle (JV Dutchmen Basketball) - Three tournament games in Bourbon after going two and out at New Haven.

Matt Kramme (Freshman Dutchmen Basketball) - Notches in the win column during the 2020 portion of the season.

Jamie Ridenhour (Dutchgirl Volleyball) - A chance to end a 41-year district title drought next fall for Owensville Dutchgirl volleyball on their home court.

Misti Rutledge (JV Dutchgirl Volleyball) - Time with her family before middle school volleyball season comes in late February.

Courtney Castor (Freshman Dutchgirl Volleyball) - Another solid group of freshmen volleyball players to coach in 2020.

Shane Hunt (8th Grade Dutchmen Basketball) - More wins than losses during the 2020 portion of his debut season.

Taylor Payne (7th Grade Dutchmen Basketball) - Plenty of chances to watch her little brother Bryce play JV and perhaps varsity basketball for the Dutchmen.

Ryan Flanagan (Dutchgirl Basketball) - A happy, healthy new addition to the family come March.

Hannah Wehar (JV Dutchgirl Basketball) - Full junior varsity girls basketball games during the 2020-21 season.

Rod Barndollar (Dutchmen Wrestling) - A healthy Cody Linders for the remainder of his senior season.

Stephen Turner (Dutchmen Wrestling) - Continued growth in the Owensville Middle School Wrestling program in 2020.

Dustin Howard (Dutchmen Wrestling and Football) - Plenty of green grass to mow over the summer on the R-2 district grounds.

Dr. Chuck Garner (OHS Superintendent) - Plenty of chances to see his son Justin hit the hardwood during his senior season of Dutchmen basketball.

Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy (OHS Assistant Superintendent) - More championship T-shirts for her and her husband to print.

Kris Altemeyer (OHS Principal) - Less snow days to worry about in the 2020 portion of the school year.

John Bunch (OHS Assistant Principal) - Not as many long road trips during the 2020 portion of the school year.

John Fortney (Former OHS Assistant Principal) - Plenty of fishing trips along Mark Twain Lake.

Hannah Wehar (Dutchgirl Softball) - More Dutchgirl softball players to fill out the junior varsity squad in 2020.

Lori Payne (Assistant Dutchgirl Softball) - Plenty of football to watch at Owensville High School and Lindenwood University next fall.

Ryan Okenfuss (Activities Director) - Less sporting events to have to reschedule in 2020.

Paul Schmanke (Former Dutchmen Football coach) - A correct pick of the score of a Dutchmen football game during the 2020 season.

Tyler Ahring (Dutchmen Baseball) - A winning record in their first season on the new on-campus turf baseball field.

Casey Fisher (Assistant Dutchmen Baseball) - Watching his son TC take the field for the orange and black on the diamond this spring.

Nathan Cabot (OHS Golf) - A trip to state golf in the spring of 2020.

Jordan Palmer (Dutchgirl Soccer) - Seeing Destinee Busenhart and the seniors of the Class of 2020 hoist a district championship plaque.

Matt Candrl (OHS Track and Cross Country) - Winning a Four Rivers Conference (FRC) title on Pacific’s new track.

David Koppelmann (OHS Cross Country) - Helping Dutchgirl track and field to a podium finish at the MSHSAA Track and Field Championships this spring.

Tony Terry (OMS Cross Country) - For Ilene Limberg to repeat as a FRC champion in cross country next fall.

Dave Marner (Republican Managing Editor) - An ascent up the Central Division standings for the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Chicago Blackhawks.

Bill Battle (Washington Missourian Sports Editor) - An area football team to cover in the MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl at Columbia’s Faurot Field.

Aaron Hustead (Washington Missourian Sports Writer) - A chance to spend Christmas in his hometown of Edina up in northeast Missouri.

Rob Viehman (Three Rivers Publishing) - Plenty of opportunities to witness conference, district and state championships in Cuba, Steelville and St. James.

Neal Johnson (Osage County Unterrified Democrat) - More state championships in Osage County in addition to Fatima Lady Comet cross country.

Bobby Diestelkamp (KTUI Radio) - More Owensville High School sporting events to broadcast during the 2020 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.

Rod Smith (KRCG-TV Sports Director) - More state championship highlights to shoot in Mid-Missouri.

Tony Mullen (KRCG-TV Weekend Sports Anchor) - Plenty of shots of the (moving) windmill from Owensville High School sports highlights.

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 2020 be just as good as 2019 was.