Get excited Dogie fans

The days are still warm, or even hot, but once that

sun goes down, it starts
to feel cool. 

That can only mean one thing: Fall is on the horizon. I love me some summer, so that always makes me feel a bit melancholy that the lazy days of lounging in the sun are gone.

However, my sad face quickly changes to a happy one because fall means sweater weather and pumpkin spice — yes, I am that person. And even better, it means that Dogie sports are under way and we have a lot of exciting things to look forward to this year.

The Boys of Fall will be firing up those Friday Night Lights, and returning players are ready to light things up at Schoonmaker Field and any and all opponents’ home stomping grounds.

The Lady Dogie swimmers have been dedicated to their craft since the season ended last October and have goals they are determined to achieve.

The cross country team is super young, with the oldest runner being only a junior, however each and every one of them are either veterans to the sport or are coming in with the determination of a veteran and are ready to make their mark.

The Lady Dogie volleyball team is senior and freshman heavy, but they are also veterans of the court. They are returning six starters and are a group of highly competitive athletes who have their eyes on the ultimate prize. Their road won’t be easy, but I believe they are up to the task of bringing home some serious hardware and to putting a banner on the wall of the Dogie Dome for the first time in Newcastle High School volleyball history.

And, although it’s the fall sports season, I also can’t help but turn my eyes to the winter season and basketball. That’s another one that is going to be fun.

I can’t wait to be there to watch it all.

I am fortunate enough to have a job where I get to write about every contest, every race, and every match. I also get to be on the air for live broadcasts on the NFHS Network. What more could a Dogie fan ask for?

I also get to know these athletes in the classroom, and I can tell you that they are a class act, on and off the playing arena. 

You couldn’t ask for a better group of young people to represent Newcastle, whether they are winning or losing. They accomplish both with grace, dignity and respect.

Regardless of how the seasons turn out for our Dogies and Lady Dogies, I know that they will leave everything they have every time they touch the field, the court, the trail, the mat or the pool. 

You can’t ask for anything more, and that in and of itself is reason enough to get excited for the beginning of the 2022-2023 Dogie sports seasons.

I hope to see you all out supporting these young athletes this year because these are moments you are not going to want to miss.