I got word today, around 2:30, that my wrestler would be able to compete in the state tournament this weekend. He was able to get an injunction allowing him to wrestle. It has been a busy few hours getting everything ready for the weekend. I will give you an update when I get back from Columbus.

SNOW DAY

The kids and I went out this afternoon and played in the snow. "Snowy" came to life with the hard work from all the kids. We stayed outside for about an hour. It is still snowing and isn't going to stop anytime soon. This is the kids' fifth snow day. They will have to start making them up in June if school is called off anymore. I still have 1 more day in the bank.
I haven't heard anything today about my wrestler. I will call him later tonight if I don't hear from them by dinner time.

Picture Time

Here is the clock at Maple Heights HS. I took this picture as we left the gym Friday night.
During 12+ hours at a wrestling tournament you can get bored. Someone tried to connect the dots on Ryan's head.

We went to see Enchantment at the Palace Theatre. I don't think I have been in the Palace since the Perry Symphonic Winds played there senior year.

This is Seymour. He lives in the Winking Lizard in Independence. The wrestling team wanted to take him home. He lives the high life. His enclosure is huge and he has his own TV.

Recap of the weekend.
Friday. Every wrestler won at least one match today. We did not leave Maple Heights until 11:20pm. We did stay at a Holiday Inn Express. The moms are going to pay me back the money for the rooms.
Saturday. I got a call from Rich that one of my wrestlers will be ineligible next week. Well, that wrestler advance to the state meet. I had to tell him before we left Saturday night. It was a crazy day trying to help his parents see if there is anything they can do to get him to wrestle.
Sunday. The family went to see Enchanted. It is a cute movie. The first part of the movie was a very classic Disney cartoon, then it turns into a "real" movie. T then went to work. It was nioce to spend time with the kids.
Today. It was filled with a couple of meetings with the AD and principal. I don't know if anything can be done to help my wrestler. I am very disappointed with him. He has worked his but off and earned a spot in Columbus. It is too bad he can't get his grades up.

I did it! I am now a season ticket holder of the Cleveland Indians. Well, a 20 game plan anyways. It was the Pronk Flex plan. I selected the 20 games I would like to attend and in the price range I wanted. I purchased 2 tickets in the Upper Reserve sections. One of the benefits of being a season ticket holder are playoff tickets. I will be able to purchase them when the Tribe makes a run to the World Series.

--Bayou Out.

Snow, wind and low temps returned today. It was 15 degrees on my drive to school. I thought it was going to be good day. Well, it turned to crap quickly. I will spare you all the details, but today was one of the days that would drive anyone out of coaching. The AD was all over the wrestling program. It ended up with me at the Board of Education meeting with some of my wrestling moms. Hopefully, things will work out.
I have not written much about the Kent State basketball team. Tonight they won the school's 1,000 game. They also won 20+ games in a season for the 10th straight year. They are heading to California to play St. Mary's in the BracketBuster game. The game is on ESPN2 at midnight, Saturday. I hope to see them play again this season, either in the MAC tournament, NIT or the NCAA tournament.
The position player reported to Winter Haven today. The tribe looks strong again this year. I am thinking of getting a partial season ticket plan, so I can buy post-season tickets.
For now, Bayou is out.

Saturday.
The Mogadore Wildcats finished in 6th place in the sectional tournamenet. This by far is our highest finish in many, many years. We finished with 103.5 points, just 3 points behind South Range. Joe, Shayne and Phil all lost in their championship match and Josh lost the 3rd place match. However, they all advance to the district meet this weekend. Bretton and Dan finished in 5th place and will be alternates at the district meet. If you are counting at home we placed 6 wrestlers out of the 8 we entered...75% of our team placed.
Sunday.
We went to a family birthday party. I had to leave early to head back to Rootstown for the All-PTC voting. Joe (112 pounds) and Shayne (160 pounds) were voted to the First Team. Dan, Josh and Phil were voted to the Second Team. Zach and Bretton were Honorable Mention.
Monday. The was reading 60 degrees F on my drive home last night.
Today is the last scheduled day off until spring break. We are heading to the movies today with the Tolins and T's cousin's family. I am sure it will be packed. After that, I think we all will head to bed early. The temp when I got up this morning 32 and snow, only in Ohio.

No school today. It was a planned day off. But, I had a dentist appointment this morning. Fun Fun Fun. I needed to be at school by 3 to get ready for the sectional tournament. We wrestled well tonight. Joe, Shayne, Josh, and Phil are still in the Championship bracket. Dan and Zach won one and lost one tonight. They will need to battle back go reach the consolation finals. The top four in each weight class advance to the district meet next week.
We did not do anything for Valentine's Day yesterday. We did go to Cheeseburger in Paradise on Wednesday with the kids. We are going to take the kids to Great Wolf Lodge over spring break as a Valentine's gift. We are going to meet up with Craig and his family. We are sailing with Craig and family later this year. Craig and I were roomates back in college. I have know Craig since first day of freshman year. We had 2 or 3 classes together that first semester. We later had flight ground school together and I had my first solo flight before him. But he is the airline pilot and I can only dream about flying planes. Maybe I will hit the lottery and I can start flying again.

SNOW DAY

Today was a snow day for both the kids and me. The kids had a snow day yesterday, but I had to go to school. The weather was terrible for the ride home. It was icing the entire drive home. It took about an hour to get home. It snowed about 5 inches last night. Our road did not get plowed til the afternoon. The main roads were clear and drivable, but the side roads are still covered with snow. We did go out and finished getting our taxes done :) Then, T and I donated blood at Aultman Hospital. It looks like everyone will have school tomorrow. But, good news, we have Friday and Monday off.

Bayou out!

SNOW DAY

Ok, I needed something warm to think about today. The wind chill factor is -20 degrees below zero F. Mogadore waited until 5am to call off school. Perry called off last night.

Here is a recap of the weekend. The wrestling team was third in the county divvision. This was the best finish by a wrestling team in many years. We had two 2nd place finishers and two 6th place finishers. K joined me on Saturday to watch the Cats in action. Joe was 2nd at 112 pounds and Shayne was 2nd at 160 pounds. Dan and Zach were both placed 6th. I thought they both could and should have placed better.

The team will work this week towards state sectional tournament, which starts on Friday. The top four wrestlers in each weight class advance to the district meet. We should get two guys advancing to districts. We might slip a third into the mix.

Til next time---Bayou out!

This is the view of the pool deck on the Enchantment of the Seas. T was scrapbooking our cruise from 2006 over the weekend. The kids and I had an "ice" day on Friday, so I helped her some. I have joked with T, that if she doesn't scrapbook this cruise, then she can't go on the next one. The kids enjoyed not going to school. The weekend was fun a well. K and J built and rebuilt a fort in the living room. Jared came down to see Akron play Eastern Saturday night. It is always good to see him and Alex. We talked about our Labor Day trip. We are thinking about Houston or Vegas. If we go to Vegas, then we would drive to Anaheim to see baseball. This year we are going without kids. We loved taking them to New York, but this trip is generally, always adult only.
We went over to my sister's for my brother in laws b-day and the Super Bowl. I was glad to see the NY Giants win. I am not a big fan of Bill Belacheat. If I was a betting man, I would have taken the Giants plus 12.5. I guess it is time to focus on college basketball. Kent State is only 3 wins from 20 wins again this season. It would be the 10 straight year the Flashes had 20+ wins.
My two week wrestling layoff ends this Thursday. I will be spending many nights at Rootstown HS in the next 2 weeks. The PTC and Sectional Tournaments are at Rootstown, plus a couple of seeding meetings and an All-PTC league meeting. I think I will forward my mail there!