By the time this edition of The Gasconade County Republican hits stores and businesses in Owensville and the surrounding area, it will be four days 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:

Cullen VanLeer (Dutchmen Basketball) - A couple of upsets on the home court during the 34th Maries County Bank Owensville Varsity Boys Basketball Tournament.

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

John VanLeer (Freshman Dutchmen Basketball) - More notches in the win column during the 2023 portion of the season.

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 2023 season.

Misti Rutledge (JV Dutchgirl Volleyball) - A positive start to the new year with Grace City Church opening in Owensville at the old Gasconade Wellness Center.

Taylor Payne (Freshmen Dutchgirl Volleyball) - Another solid crop of incoming freshmen volleyball players for the 2023 season this fall.

Nathan Cabot (Dutchmen Football) - More linemen to fill holes created by graduation during the 2023 football season.

Shane Hunt (8th Grade Dutchmen Basketball) - Capping a perfect season by hoisting championship hardware from the St. Clair 8th Grade Boys Basketball Tournament.

Jarrett Payne (7th Grade Dutchmen Basketball) - More notches in the win column during the 2023 portion of his first season coaching boys basketball.

Ryan Flanagan (Dutchgirl Basketball) - Hoisting tournament championship hardware in Hermann and beyond during the 2023 portion of the season.

Hannah Koppelmann (JV Dutchgirl Basketball) - A full schedule of JV Dutchgirl basketball games during the 2023-24 season.

Dustin Howard (Dutchmen Wrestling) - A chance to play the role of Dragon slayer during the MSHSAA Class 2, District 1 Wrestling Tournament in Ste. Genevieve come February.

Zach Bollmann (Dutchmen Wrestling) - Some company for Bailee Dare during the 2023 MSHSAA Girls Wrestling Championships in Columbia come February.

Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy (OHS Superintendent) - More district championship T-shirts to hand out during the remainder of the 2022-23 school year.

Dr. Staci Johnson (OHS Assistant Superintendent) - More visits from her father Kelly Hinshaw to Owensville during the remainder of the 2022-23 school year.

Kris Altemeyer (OHS Principal) - A healthy remainder of the 2022-23 school year.

John Bunch (OHS Assistant Principal) - Not as many long road trips during the 2023 portion of the school year.

John Fortney (Former OHS Assistant Principal) - Plenty of visits with his Owensville friends during the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Track and Field championships over Memorial Day weekend.

Hannah Koppelmann (Dutchgirl Softball) - A few more underclassmen to compliment the eight starters that she will have returning for the fall of 2023.

Matt Johnson (Activities Director) - Mother Nature to continue cooperating so that he does not have too many games to reschedule during his first year as R-2 Activities Director.

Paul Schmanke (Former Dutchmen Football coach) - A correct pick of the score of a Dutchmen football game during the 2023 season.

Steven Kemp (Dutchmen Baseball) - A successful first season in the third-base coaches box on OHS Field.

Casey Fisher (OMS Wrestling) - More middle school wrestlers to groom for the high school ranks during the 2023-24 school year.

Cullen VanLeer (OHS Golf) - A trip to state golf in the spring of 2023.

Kalyn Kemp (Dutchgirl Soccer) - A healthy Landry Watson so that she has a shot at seeing her reach 100 goals for her high school career this spring.

Matt Candrl (OHS Track and Cross Country) - Plenty of road trips to Joplin to watch his kids compete for the Lions and Lady Lions of Missouri Southern State University (MSSU).

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

Dave Marner (Republican Managing Editor) - More trips to Florida to see his parents.

Buck Collier (Republican Special Correspondent) - Plenty of chances to see his grandson succeed in cross country and track.

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.

Rob Viehman (Three Rivers Publishing) - A chance to witness Steelville’s Connor Diaz add to his state title in cross country with more in track this spring.

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 2023 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 Baseball Coach) - A happy retirement after he finishes his education career at Warrenton High School upon the conclusion of the 2022-23 school year.

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 2023 be just as good as 2022 was.