Dear Editor,

It seems like this is the year or era of when people are moving on to bigger…

By Shawn Kreman

Dear Editor,

It seems like this is the year or era of when people are moving on to bigger and better settings. John Elway and Wayne Gretzky’s retirements just to name a couple. More directly affecting this area is Tim Sauer’s move into the 3A school district of Independence. I had the wonderful opportunity to coach with this fine young man in baseball and also worked with him on the football field. He leaves behind him a program with the cupboards full of promise in the nearing years and also a program that has been nothing short of successful in the eight years with Tim as its leader. Never reaching the State baseball tournament, but always getting the most out of each player he taught and coached. The measure of success is usually measured by a person’s ability to win it all. Meaning in this case the State Title in 2A baseball for Mid-Prairie, but to me the real measuring stick has always been getting the feeling of accomplishment from something or some group of young people you feel has really overachieved and out-stepped their natural boundaries. “If you are not in something to reach for the unthinkable, then you might just be in the wrong business.” That saying refers to life, not just athletics… Tim, I wish you the very best and you will be leaving behind some large shoes to fill, even though you only wear a size 9 1/2.

In more recent happenings, The Kalona News Sports Editor, Mark Adkins, announced that he and his family will be moving to NDSU, North Dakota State University at Fargo. Mark has done this area “more than proud” with his up-to-date coverage of all the area sports activities, and this is no small area to cover. He covered by my figures 38 different sports, reaching from Sigourney-Keota’s football team’s Championship in 1995 to the Highland-Lone Tree Football team’s runner-up finish of 1997. Just this year, following IMS’s run to the State Title in Boys Track and last year with their championship in soccer. One memory that jogs my mind is when he braved the weather to head to Des Moines to witness and report on the Girls State Basketball tournament. I mainly remember Mark for his ability to direct and navigate people the best way to a football game. To make a long and funny story short, Mark thought Eddyville was somewhere near Wapello… Just one momento for the record there, Mark. He and Terri will be missed very much and I wish you the very best of luck and sincerely hope that someday you return and write for the Hawkeyes or some local publication. You have brought sports journalism in this area up to the next level, and now the other parts of this state and country know who we are, and for that alone we thank you…

Sincerely,

Shawn Kreman