Get excited - the Dogies are back!

I
 love summer. The lazy mornings enjoying my coffee, days at the lake soaking up the sun, vacations with family and friends — these are the best of times.
As much as I miss summer when it draws to a close, looking forward to the start of fall sports takes a little of the sting out of having to bid adieu to those wonderful days.
Cross country, girls’ swimming, football and volleyball athletes have started practice and are hard at it to get ready for their first contests coming up in just a few days, and seeing all those kids hobbling the halls of the school due to sore muscles just gets me excited to get the real action under way.
I can’t wait for those Friday night lights to illuminate the night sky at Schoonmaker Field, and for our Dogies to start their bid for a playoff berth in November.
Drivers need to keep their eyes on the road because the cross country team is biking to the canyon after school, building up stamina for the upcoming, challenging courses they will run.
The Dogie Dome has come alive after a summer of hibernation as the volleyballers have filled it up digging, setting and knocking down the ball as they prepare to take on 3A East opponents at the Douglas Invite this weekend.
Unfortunately, as anxious as I am to watch these ladies play, it’s going to be a minute before they play their home opener during Homecoming week.
Last, but certainly not least, the Lady Dogies are making waves the Kozisek Aquatic Center getting ready to put up some state qualifying times early and often. 
The anticipation is building for the coming weekend of competition, and I know I’m not alone in looking forward to seeing how each of our teams measure up. We’ve got some pretty good talent returning to each squad and some exciting young Dogies in the freshman class who are certain to add depth.
We got a little taste of what’s to come last Friday when both the volleyball and football teams put on a little scrimmage teaser for Dogie fans to get geared up for their seasons, and they succeeded in getting me ready and chomping at the bit to see them take on their real opponents.
I know that the fans in Dogie Nation are right there with me in getting excited to watch their favorite athletes take to the field, the court, the course and the pool, and it won’t be long now because they all open their respective seasons this Friday!