Dodgeland High School - Reflections Yearbook (Juneau, WI)

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DEDICATION Todays student is the leader of tommorrow. He is molded and influenced by teachers, classmates, and coaches, that he comes into contact with during his years in high school. One coach who has had a direct effect on many of the graduates of DHS over the past twelve years is Mr. Robert Wieneke-Head Football Coach. We, the Co-Editors of the 1977 REFLECTIONS, would like to dedicate our book to Mr. Robert Wieneke, a coach who has given so much to the students of Dodgeland High School. In his public announcement of his resignation, he expressed his feelings in the following article: WHO BUT A COACH Who but a coach would want to be a coach? Who but a coach has the opportunity to Influence young people by example that it is not “aquare” to go to church, or to discipline themselves against tobacco, alcoholic bev- erages. drugs, and those four-letter words used by people with a limited vocabulary? Who but a coach has the opportunity to see a gangling youngster, who can hardly walk without tripping over his own feet, mature by hard work and the sweat of hi brow into a graceful athlete? Who but a coach could let the agony of defeat affect him to the point he spends a sleepless night tossing and turning in bed9 He repeatedly contemplates his decisions: Should he have used a different defense; why didn’t he take out the boy with four fouls before be fouled out of the game; why did he not call a timeout; why . why.. why? Who but a coach would like for Santa Claus to fill bis Christmas stocking with a six-eight transfer student after having lost six games In succession before Christmas? Who but a coach has a greater feeling of loneliness, ignorance of his profession, and insecurity because he has suffered through a long losing season? Who but a coach must fight greed and selfishness as be literally forces himself not to allow his star player to dress for the big game because he violated training rales and must be disciplined9 During the game, over and over in the coach’s mind, the thought, Will this action make this player a better citizen or am I depriving his team mates the opportunity to win?” Who but a coach has the honor of teaching today’s youth to be humble and thankful, instead of being boastful, after the thrill of victory? Who has also the more difficult task of teaching losers not to make excuses but to stand firm in defeat, even when within their hearts they would like to cry? Who but a coach could have a lamp in his throat when a young man who, only mmute after graduating from high school, strides over and extends a firm right hand and says with tears running down his cheeks. “Orach, it was great playing for you ”? Who but a coach could feel the impact oI the world tensions when he learns that ooe of his former player» has been killed in the Vietnamese conflict? Thirty-five days after this tragedy he received a bullet-ridden letter that was written by this lad two days before his death. On the outside of the letter was attached the note. Damaged by iffy action in the Republic of Vietnam.” On the inside he bed written, “Dear Coach, Remember me plesae h ns I favor.. .tell the other boys to study ” Who but a coach... Thank God, I am a coach!