Commons keeps busy this summer

These notes columns usually have a generic opening, so I’ll give it my best Chuck Woodling: Midsummer musings while wondering if the T-Bones are all they’re cooked up to be.

Well? C’mon. Not even so bad it’s funny? …

Don’t mistake me for a professional. I botched the dates in a story Wednesday for the charity golf tournament at Alvamar Country Club that will raise money for a scholarship in Wilt Chamberlain’s name. It’s July 12 and 13. Someday, I’ll learn to double-check facts. …

July promises to be a busy month for Lawrence High athletic director Ron Commons. The Lions need head coaches in cross country and boys and girls soccer and a plethora of assistant coaches.

“Hopefully, we’ll get all that taken care of by the end of the month,” Commons said. “I didn’t want to promise the position to someone and then all of a sudden they tell you that they have to cut the position.”

Cross country coach Dick Reamon retired after leading the LHS boys to a runner-up finish at the Class 6A state meet last fall, while soccer coach Keith Nelson officially resigned in May after learning his teaching position would not be renewed.

The inside track? Cross country assistants Chip Anderson and Kent McDonald figure to be the best choices to replace Reamon. Both would excel, which doesn’t make a hiring decision any easier.

As for soccer, Nelson is pursuing jobs in Lawrence, which could allow him to return. I’m not sure LHS administrators would go for that, but they already have one Rule 10 coach (a non-teacher) in Chris Davis, who coaches boys basketball. Why not have another?

In a non-soccer-oriented town like Lawrence, they won’t find many coaches better than Nelson. …

There’s only 45 days until fall sports start. It’s not too late to start your summer training — your coach will appreciate it. …

Free State High doesn’t have any head coaching vacancies to fill, but does half a dozen assistant coaching jobs. Athletic director Steve Grant said all but the baseball assistant probably will be taken care of by the end of the month. …

For those who haven’t paid attention to the proposed school board cuts — Guilty … I lost track the last month or so — all sports and assistant coaches escaped this year. I say this year because it’s unlikely those doofs in Topeka ever will properly fund schools — let alone sports. Without better state funding, the local school board can’t help but make painful cuts. Hopefully, sports and coaches will escape the ax again next year. …

FSHS junior Jenny Heppert went to Atlanta last week for the Junior Olympic Volleyball National Tournament. After three days of pool play, her squad, Team KC, coached by Kansas University assistant Christy Posey, qualified for Flight One in bracket play.

Translation: that puts them among the top 25 clubs in the country.

Wednesday morning Team KC played East Bay Jrs. Black Tate. (Yeah, that’s a mouthful. Why can’t every team be succinct like Heppert’s group?) Results won’t be available until today. Curious readers can click on: http://usavolleyball.org/juniors/03_girlsresults.htm and download the PDF. …

Most people knew 2003 Free State graduate Nick McGovern was among Kansas’ best wrestlers. Now the rest of the country does, too.

McGovern beat Lee’s Summit (Mo.) standout Jesse Sheets in the USA Wrestling Junior National Duals in Enid, Okla., last week, helping the Kansas team to eighth place overall. Baldwin’s Seth Halford and De Soto’s Neil Erisman also competed for the squad. …

More wrestling: Baldwin coach Kit Harris Monday took a group of area wrestlers — FSHS juniors Ray Walker and Alex Benson and Santa Fe Trail’s Chad Schmale, Max Connelly, Jesse Hardy and Lorenzo Mundy, along with SFT coach Regan Erickson — to Greeley, Colo., for the Cadet Nationals. Thus far, they’re 2-2 in pool matchups. …

I was shocked to hear the LHS coaches beat FSHS coaches in their annual golf showdown. Better ignore all those golfing tips I got from FSHS basketball/golf coach Jack Schreiner. Dirk Wedd, show me the way. …

Seabury Academy — poised to move into its new digs at the old Alvamar Racquet Club on Clinton Parkway — filled its final varsity coaching slot with soccer coach Shawn Sherlock. He played at York (Penn.) College and coached the junior varsity team at Kansas City (Mo.) O’Hara High. …

Finally, I wasn’t able to attend Janice Dunn’s going away party Sunday, but I wish I could have. Dunn, the athletic secretary at FSHS, is leaving the school for a job with the superintendent’s office. I can’t think of another person — well, LHS secretary Beth Buhler — who helps me out more during the school year.

I’ll miss ya, Janice.