Wednesday, December 9, 2009

THE CLOCK IS TICKING!!!!

Hey Spartans..............

Hope your day and week is going well......ALL is good at this end!!!!

Ballroom dancing is progressing smoothly in 8th grade, while 6th and 7th get into the swing of square dancing!!!!! Don't forget that gala 8th grade "formal" on Friday; December 18th beginning at approximately 1:15 PM.

I would like to announce the 2009-2010 Lakeview Spartans Boys Varsity Basketball team. As always, "cuts" were very difficult, and something I feel is the hardest part of coaching. As someone who has been totally at both ends of the spectrum......out on the first cut and starter on a team, I can relate to what it is like to be in both positions!!! To those of you who did not make our club, I hope you take my individual discussions we have had, and work at your areas of improvement need.


2009-2010 SPARTANS:
Jacob A.
Michael A.
Adam A.
Joey B.
Ryan B.
Wesley D.
Tom J.
Jack M.
Louis M.
Michael M.
Christopher P.
Kovas R.
Daniel T.
Antonio T.
Joe W.



Practices have begun, with our first games scheduled for the Westmont Tournament during the second week of January.

Had the pleasure of going to the Bears game Sunday, and thoroughly enjoyed a great defensive show by both teams? ! ? ! ? ! A COUPLE of good drafts, and both the Rams and the Bears will be "Back-in-the-Hunt"!!!

Looks like the Holiday Bowl Season will be competitive as well. How many "blog-viewers" think 'Bama's defense can shutdown Colt McCoy and the Longhorns?????? The Tide "chomped" on the Gators vaunted machine in good fashion!

On a final College Football note, three Downers Grove South football alums will be involved with post-season bowl games...........

STEVEN SLAYDEN (Lakeview '04....DGS '08) is a key component in the University of Minnesota SPIRIT SQUAD. The Golden Gophers (Big 10; 6-6 overall) will oppose Iowa State University (Big 12; 6-6 overall) in the Insight Bowl on Thursday; December 31st; Tempe, Az. The game kicks off at 5 PM C.S.T. (NFL Network TV--subscription) As a "base", it is Steven responsibility to "hoist", "hurl" or "throw" a diminutive teammate many feet in the air, while making sure that he is also there to "catch her on her re-entry"!!! As an honor of being one of the best on his "squad", Steven was chosen to carry the Minnesota 45 foot high flag as the Gophers entered the field for the first game in their new stadium!!!!!

ZACK BELL (Lakeview '03...DGS '07) will travel to Ft. Worth, Tx. as a member of the United States Air Force Academy football team (#94) as they prepare to take on the University of Houston Cougars (10-3) in the Bell Helicopter-Armed Forces Bowl (Thursday; 12/31/09; 11:00 AM (CST); ESPN). The Falcons (7-5) come into the game as the representative of the Mountain West Conference.

ANDY SCHULZE (Eisenhower '02...DGS '06) will take part in the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fl. (Tuesday; 1/5/10; 6:30 PM (CST); FOX SPORTS-National). The #10 ranked University of Iowa Hawkeyes (10-2) will oppose the Atlantic Coast Conference champion Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-2 / #9 ranked) in a B.C.S. contest!!! Andy (#65) handles all the center snaps for Iowa field goals, extra points, and punts.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THREE OF THESE OUTSTANDING STUDENT ATHLETES!!! HIT HARD!!!!!

As a BONUS event this week, the first LAKEVIEW student who e-mails me with the names of the three student-athletes listed above will win "Lunch With The Coach" (Mr. Dodd) during a lunch period mutually agreed upon at Lakeview! Please e-mail me tdodd@ccsd66.org

Have a great week.....GO SPARTANS!!!!!!.................PLAY HARD!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

ONE, TWO, THREE.....CHA..CHA..CHA !!!

Hello Spartan Fans......

Our rebound from Thanksgiving vacation is rolling along with the beginning of Ballroom Dancing for our 8th graders. Under the direction of Mrs. Anne Garvey, our students are getting into the fundamentals, with nine more days till our "formal" on Friday; December 18th. 99.5% of this years' graduating class are working very hard to learn this "lifeskill" activity, and as is always the case, that .5% will catch on ......hopefully sooner than later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At this date, Boys Varsity Basketball has completed one day of tryouts with a conclusion coming tomorrrow (Dec. 2nd). The final roster for the 2009-10 season will be posted on Thursday morning (Dec. 3rd). Practices will be scheduled during the remaining two weeks in December, with game action scheduled to start in January. Please check this site for a roster and a game schedule. On behalf of my club, I would like to once again invite the members of 66 to attend games whenever possible!! 2008-09 was quite a "fun ride", one that will never be forgotten. On that same vein, I will post a list next week of our '08-'09 squad, and where they are playing in high school this season!!

GOOD LUCK to all our Lakeview girls who will be trying out for the Varsity Cheerleading squad under the direction of Mrs. Jennifer Maass. The excitement and enthusiasm of last years squad was one of main reasons for our teams' success in their tournament run!!!

On a serious note, it is my understanding that the Chicago Bears' practice was stopped on Tuesday when a player spotted a "white, powdery substance" on the field. D.E.A. and A.T.F. were called in to investigate the finding. After complete analysis, forensic experts determined that the white substance, unknown to players was the GOAL LINE!! Practice was allowed to continue after agents determined that players would not encounter the substance again this season!!! (Thanks to Coach Slayden for this F.Y.I.)

Have a great week, and

GO SPARTANS........PLAY HARD!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Monday, November 23, 2009

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!!!!

Hey Spartan Fans.....

WOW.....It's Thanksgiving already!!!!! Once again.....is this year flying by!!!!!

On a short week, there are still important things taking place in and around "66"!!!

BOWLING and VOLLEYBALL are moving along in all three grade levels, with WEIGHT TRAINING going on in 6th grade!! The 7th and 8th graders did a GREAT JOB last Thursday and Friday at the "BOWL in BOLINGBROOK"!!!!! Great bowling and MUCH food!!

BALLROOM DANCING with Mrs. Anne Garvey starts for our 8th graders when we return from Thanksgiving vacation on November 30th. This gala unit will conclude with our "formal" dance on the last Friday (Dec. 18th) before Christmas break. I know our current 8th graders will follow in the tradition of past classes and do an outstanding job....FIRE UP!!!!!

BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TRYOUTS will be held on Monday, Nov. 30th and Wed., Dec. 2nd at Lakeview from 3 - 5 PM. Boys trying out have returned signed parental permission slips, and seem ready to go!!

On a final note, I would like to take this opportunity to promote the BONFIELD EXPRESS 5K Walk/Run this coming Thursday morning in Downers Grove. Jim Bonfield was a teacher, dean, and coach at both Downers North and Downers South High School. Before passing away after a long battle with cancer, Jim touched the lives of thousands of students at both schools. Over the course of 30 plus years, Coach Bonfield was a guiding light for students of all types, colors, abilities, beliefs, and a person who made a mark on this young coach as I started my career at the high school level!

The 5K walk run has raised scholarship money for 52 graduates of both Downers Grove high schools, and again this year will provide funds for ten more graduates of the class of 2010. The run/walk starts off from Main and Curtiss in Downers Grove at 8:30 AM. To find out more on how to participate in this outstanding event, please log-on to www.bonfieldexpress.com

I hope to see many 66ers at this event!!!!!!

Have a great Thanksgiving, and .........................

GO SPARTANS.......PLAY HARD!!!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Monday, November 16, 2009

SPARTAN NEWS !!!!!!

HELLO SPARTAN FANS!!!!!!

Time to catch up on various "happenings" at Lakeview:

BOWLING and VOLLEYBALL games continue in all P.E. classes, with Strength Training also being covered in 6th grade.

BOWLING trips to the lanes in Bolingbrook take place this week.....7th graders go Thursday (19th) morning, while the 8th grade goes Friday (20th) morning. A great time is always had by our students, both on the lanes, and at the concession stand.

J.V. BASKETBALL swings into high gear with a pair of games for both Boys and Girls.......Coach Dvorak's club plays Westview Hills tonight (16th) at Lakeview, while Mr. Little's team hosts Eisenhower here on Wednesday (18th). All games tipoff at 4 PM......."Be a Fan....Support the Spartans!!!!"

CONGRATULATIONS to the following students on making the respective J.V. Basketball teams......GIRLS >> Rebecca A., Tiffany B., Megan S., Sydney D., Jacky J., Jill K., Jeannie L., Antionette Z., Rebekah O., Taylor J., Miyax., Dana K., and Ava P..
BOYS >> Jason D., Cody B., Eddie L., Braxton B., Caleb K., Matt B., Joe E., Matt S., Anthony M., Sam D., Conner M., Patrick M., and Zain R.

MANY of our current Lakeview students and parents have followed the Downers Grove South Varsity Football squad this past season. After two thrilling playoff victories over Waubonsie Valley and Bolingbrook, the Mustangs season ended last Saturday night at Glenbard North. The Mustangs and Panthers battled to the very end with Glenbard North hanging on to a 7-3 victory. On behalf of the entire varsity, I would like to say "Thanks" for the great support in 2009. 2010 looks promising, as the Mustangs return 13 starters from this past season........HIT HARD!!!!!!

On a final note, check this site Tuesday; November 17th for information regarding 8th grade Varsity BOYS basketball tryouts!

Have a great week, and.............

GO SPARTANS......PLAY HARD!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

IT'S BOWLING and VOLLEYBALL

Hello Spartan Fans,

The BAD Fall weather has been victorious, so our P.E. classes will be moving on to Volleyball and Bowling (and Weight Training in 6th grade). Our classes did do a great job during the Fall units, and as well on their written tests for those activities!!

Our Junior Varsity Basketball teams, as well as the J.V. cheerleaders have been chosen, and a big "GOOD LUCK" goes out to those teams and their respective coaches!!

VARSITY BOYS basketball tryouts will be announced shortly, with a written permission slip necessary for all players wishing to tryout!!! An e-mail and this blog site wuill have more information as the days pass....Stay Tuned!!!!

Great job by the Downers South Football, Cheerleading, and Dance teams on their performances last Saturday night at Benedictine U. vs. Waubonsie Valley. A thrilling game came down to the last :20 seconds as the Waubonsie kicker was "Wide Left" assuring a Mustang victory!!!! Another outstanding performance by the Marching Mustangs as well!!!

This Saturday night, the Mustangs travel to Bolingbrook for a rematch with the Raiders....Kickoff is 6 PM, with all tickets at $5.00. The Raiders defeated Downers South the first week of the season (16-14), so the Mustangs will be looking to get even!!!

Have a great week, "Play Hard!!!", and..............Go Spartans!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Sunday, October 25, 2009

WATCHING THE BEARS' TRAIN WRECK !!!

Hi Spartan Fans !!

Thought I'd enjoy a great afternoon watching the Bears', but the Benson-led Bengals played their game-of-the-year, and came up big!! There is always NEXT WEEK!!!

As I look at the weather, it appears we may be able to get outside with our P.E. classes, and resume our units on Flag Football (and Field Hockey / Track in 6th grade).

Parent-Teacher conferences are coming up this Thursday; October 29th...4:30 - 8:30 PM

Thankfully, our absence lists are reducing daily, and to that a hope that the sicknesses that have been going through Lakeview are on the continued decline!!!!!

A big CONGRATULATIONS to our Girls' Varsity Volleyball team on their outstanding performance yesterday (10/24) in the conference tournament at Lakeview. Due to my football commitments at Downers South, I was unable to attend any of the regular season games, so I thoroughly looked forward to watching them play!!! . The Spartans entered Saturday's tourney with a 6-4 regular season record, necessitating them to win a play-in game to reach the Final Four of the Winners Division. After defeating Butler in three games, the Spartans fell to Eisenhower in the third game of their semi-final match!!!! It was truly enjoyable to watch our team battle to the last point!!!! As a side note, Eisenhower went on to defeat Cass for the championship!!!!!!

Good luck to all our athletes (Boys and Girls) who will be trying out for the respective winter season teams....Basketball and Cheerleading!!!

Lakeview graduates Dan Miller, Christian Silvestri, Colin Pieper, Ryan Hood, Trey Bahaveolos, Devan Smith, Jeremy Schultz, Joel Roman, Kevin Carlson,Thomas Delk, Brad Widdel, Edward Rytych, and Patrick Scott have helped Downers Grove South Varsity Football qualify for the 2009, Class 8A state playoffs. The Mustangs will host Waubonsie Valley next weekend, with the exact time and date to be announced tomorrow (10/26)......HI HARD!!!!!!!!

On a final note, the Downers South Boys Varsity Basketball team will play a preliminary game before the Chicago Bulls / Atlanta Hawks game at the United Center on Saturday; December 19th, tipping off at 2:30 PM. $40.00 tickets have been reduced to $25.00 (if purchased by FRIDAY, OCT. 30) when purchased through the athletic department at D.G.S.... Any individuals with questions may contact Downers South varsity basketball coach Jay Baum at jbaum@csd99.org or tdodd@ccsd66.org Should be a fun-night for all attending!!!!!!!

Have a great week, and............................GO SPARTANS!!!!! PLAY HARD!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Sunday, October 18, 2009

NICE WEATHER ????? !!!!!

HEY SPARTAN FANS !!

Just a couple of quick points for this writing:

Has anyone ever seen such rapid changes in the weather....warm...cold....rainy....sunny.....it has been so "rollercoaster" like during the past ten days. To this, our outside unit on FOOTBALL has been put on hold, with the hope that the week of October 19 brings at least no rain. We can bundle up and deal with the cold, but rain forces us inside. Our students have been very understanding regarding the change in schedule, a fact that makes our classes run smoothly!!

Most students have turned in their PRESIDENTIAL FITNESS SCORESHEETS after having had them reviewed by their parents!!!!!

GOOD LUCK to Miss Nyhlen and the Girls' Varsity Volleyball team as they enter the conference post-season tournament next Saturday (October 24) . All eleven conference schools will be participating at Lakeview. The Lady Spartans finished the regular season with a mark of 6-4, losing three of those matches by very close scores!! On the Junior Varsity level, the Spartans posted an outstanding 9-1 record, finishing tied for 1st place in the conference!!!!!!

AND................the District 66 P.T.O. fund-raisers.....where would we be without them!!!!!!! As I look back over at least the last 15 years, the 66 P.T.O. has donated (PROBABLY) close to $200,000.00 for items that would not normally be purchased through regular funding!! Speaking personally, I am very proud as I look at all the computers at Lakeview having been secured through 66 fund-raisers. ......... Even though the fashion shows are but a memory, how can anyone forget the fun-filled nights with Mr. Slayden emceeing the activities??? !!! I mention the fund-raisers due to the district sposoring a couple of them coming up shortly...........On Wednesday; October 21st (ALL DAY), BUONA RESTAURANT (7409 Cass Ave.; Darien, Il.) will donate 15-25% of all purchases (WITH CENTER CASS 66 COUPONS) back to the district. Buona coupons are available in the offices at all three district schools.......EAT HEARTY!!!!!!!

As another fund-raiser, District 66 is sponsoring a dessert purchase through MARKET DAY!!! If the district sells 250 pies, cheesecakes, or individual desserts, the district will raise just under $700.00. In addition, any individual purchasing three or more desserts will receive a FREE 12 oz. bag of coffee. ALL DISTRICT 66 STUDENTS RECEIVED A SPECIAL FLYER AND ORDER SHEET FOR THE SPECIAL BUY!!! Additional packets can be picked up at all three district schools!!!!!! Orders must be turned in by OCTOBER 29th, with delivery being Saturday; NOVEMBER 7th. Individuals with questions should contact Christina Wiseman @ christina.wiseman@comcast.net or (630)-985-8424 "SPEND HARD"...........SUPPORT THE KIDS!!!!!!!

Have a great week, and..............

GO SPARTANS..................."PLAY HARD"!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Thursday, October 8, 2009

IT'S ALREADY OCTOBER !!!!!!!!!!

Hey Spartan Fans,

Can you believe it is already October ????? The school year is flying by, with our units on Golf and Track/Field completed. We have now moved on to Flag Football in 7th and 8th grade with skills being covered. "Flag Tag" is a very popular game that leads up to our regular Flag Football games. Good Luck to all our students!!!!

On the interscholastic front, FOOTBALL has played three games, with a 25 day break between their first and second games. Even though their record current stands at 0-3, I know that Coach Dvorak and Coach Novotny are working hard with their talent, and look forward to their final games of the season.

In VOLLEYBALL, the Varsity (Miss Nyhlen) stands at 5-3, with the JV's (Mrs. Wrzesinski) at 7-1.

CROSS COUNTRY (Mr. Rodda and Mr. Urbas) will compete in the state of Illinois Sectionals this Saturday in Beecher. During past meets, the Girls record stands at 1-5, with the Boys at 5-1.

At the Troy Invitational, Amanda T. finished 2nd for 7th grade Girls, while the 6th grade Lakeview Boys team finished 5th overall.

On a final note, a hearty "Nice Job" goes out to Mr. Ohlsen, Mr. Tedeschi, and the MARCHING SPARTANS for their outstanding parade performance at the Downers Grove South Homecoming festivities last Friday afternoon!!!! The band and color guard truly sounded and looked great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great week, and....................PLAY HARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Sept. 27th, 2009

Hey Spartans!!!!!!!!

Sunday afternoon, and time to get "BLOGGING" for the week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Random happenings since last Sunday's report:

1) Great field trips for 7th and 8th to Ziegfield Troy.......I think everyone enjoyed themselves........GREAT golf played in all three areas (Course, Driving Range, and Mini)..........all faculty came back healthy......no windshields broken.......just a couple of great days!!!!!!!!

2) New aerobic steps arrived, and are ready for use in class!!!!!

3) DGS Varsity Football wins vs. Willowbrook, and remains tied for 1st place in the conference

4) White Sox finish their home schedule with a resounding 8-4 win over Detroit earlier today!!....Here's a name to keep White Sox fans hopeful during the Winter months................ DANIEL HUDSON (14-5 at three levels of the minor leagues this Summer)....................pitched a great game this afternoon!!!!!!!

What's coming up this week:

1) P.E. finishes Track and Field, and will begin units on Flag Football!!!!

2) D.G.S. Homecoming week arrives........Parade in the mid-afternoon on Friday with the Marching Spartans taking part, the Soph. and Varsity football games on Friday night, Freshmen on Saturday morning, with the dance on Saturday night............GO MUSTANGS....HIT HARD!!!!

Have Great Week, and...............PLAY HARD!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

P.S........Yes Cub fans, I am sorry to report that the CARDINALS clinched the N.L. Central Division last Saturday night, and have a "breather week" to conclude the regular season. Playoffs start a week from Tuesday......................in St. Louis!!!!!!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

SCHOOL IS ROLLING ALONG!!!!!!!

September 20, 2009

First off, I would like to send out a big "CONGRATULATIONS" to Miss Nyhlen and the Girls Varsity Volleyball team on their opening season win over Old Quarry...at Old Quarry!!!!!! To refresh memories, Old Quarry has been a power in our conference for many years.....in many sports, Boys and Girls! To go into their gym, and soundly beat them is a feat that should be seriously recognized...............Way To Go Ladies!!!

6th grade P.E. classes have finished with their first teachers/units, and will be rotating tomorrow (9/21/09) to their new activities...Good Luck!!!

7th and 8th grade GOLF field trips are this week.....7th grade to the Ziegfield Troy driving range Thursday during their P.E. classes. 8th graders go Friday to Z. Troy, with approximately 36 students with serious golf background playing the 9 hole course, while the remainder will be split in half.....driving range and miniature golf for all. 8th graders leave Lakeview at 9:30 AM, and return in time for "B" lunch!!!!!

AT THIS WRITING, MANY STUDENTS IN BOTH GRADES HAVE NOT YET TURNED IN THEIR PERMISSION SLIPS TO ATTEND THESE FIELD TRIPS......LET'S GET CRACKING!!!!!

On a final note, I would like to Thank all the parents who attended our recent "Curriculum Night" at Lakeview!! It was nice to see so many parents, "old faces" (7th and 8th), as well as our "rookies" to the building (6th grade)!!!

Have a great week, and ............................PLAY HARD!!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

.........And one final question........Have the Cubs sent out their "post-season" ticket order requests to their season ticket holders?????? I have looked everywhere, and can't seem to locate any information on this!!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

WELCOME BACK TO SPARTAN COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!

9/9/09

That's a great date to sign on and say HELLO to all the Spartans!!

It is my hope that all of the 66 family had a great and relaxing Summer, and are now back into the "Swing-of-Things"!!!!!

School has gotten off to a great start with all classes deeply involved in the first units of the year!!

7th and 8th grade classes are working on Track and Field, with sprints on the Track side and Long Jump / Shot Put on the Field side!

6th grade classes have begun with three units......Track and Field for Coach Dvorak........Field Hockey for Miss Nyhlen and Flag Football for yours truly!!!! After approximately 2.5 weeks with a unit, classes will rotate to the next teacher/unit.

A big "Good Luck" to our Fall sports teams.........Football (Mr. Dvorak and Mr. Novotny).......Volleyball with Miss Nyhlen and Mrs. Wrzesinski......Cross Country (Mr. Rodda and Mr. Urbas)............Cheerleading with Mrs. Maass and Miss Coppoletta.

Next week's edition of "Dodd's Blog" will have an update on our 66 graduates, so stay tuned!!!!!

And on a final note , Mr. Little and I would like to quietly mention that there appears to be baseball post-season-play about to happen near the Gateway Arch!! Much more on that later as well!!

"PLAY HARD"!!!!!!! GO SPARTANS!!!!!!!!!!

Tom Dodd

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

MAY 6, 2009

HEY 66 !!!!!!

As the weather becomes more beautiful, and our year rapidly winds down, I would again like to praise our students on such a successful and rewarding year for all members of our Lakeview family !!! Dr. Tiede has coined the term, "TOGETHER WE WILL", and from what I can see, everyone connected to Lakeview has rallied around that theme. .....................Alright, maybe once in awhile something may go wrong, but overall, what a great year it has been!!!!!!!

Our Physical Education classes are in the process of finishing units on soccer and badminton (softball in 6th grade), while integrating fitness testing at all three grade levels. 7th and 8th grade classes will finish the year with a large co-ed softball tournament during each class period!!

I would like to take this opportunity to put out a special "THANKS" to two District 66 individuals who have recently concluded terms on our board of education. Mrs. Sue James and Mr. Ron Eberhart have been instrumental in helping 66 grow in many ways during their tenure on the board. All one needs to do is turn into the Lakeview Campus, and see the new Prairieview building. Once inside Lakeview, the recent improvements (2003) have brought our junior high up to speed for the 21st century. Their "fair mindedness" has made 66 a great place to be!! They will be definitely missed!!!

On the flip side, Mrs. Linda Millbrandt and Mr. Mark Motuelle step in as new members of the board. Having known Mrs. Millbrandt for 16 years (and 3 children), and "Mr." Motuelle since he was in Little League and D.G.S. football, I know 66 is still being directed by great people!!!! Good Luck to everyone!!!!

Now for a look at a favorite pastime of mine....................St. Louis Cardinals baseball......N.L. East = 1st Place. I know it is only May 6th, so the Cubs still due have a chance..........right Mr. Little?????? Right Miss Trefonas ??????????? Right Sydney???????????? "Spike" ??????? "Angus" ????????

Have a great week, and ....................GO SPARTANS!!!!!!!

Play Hard!!!!!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Sunday, April 26, 2009

TIME IS FLYING BY !!!!!!

April 26, 2009

We are into the "stretch run" for this school year! It seems like only yesterday when the students assembled in the Old Gym for Mr. Windsor's greeting of students to open school.

Many things are still coming up, and I think I speak for the staff when I say that this has been a great year in all areas !!!

I would like to take this opportunity to personally commend our "Class of 2009" for not only being a very mature bunch, but at the same time, demonstrating to the 7th and 6th graders what conduct at school should be like!!!!!

Our P.E. classes are well into units on soccer and badminton (and softball in 6th grade). Our recently completed units on pickleball and table tennis went well, as did our new activity of "Cornhole" (bags). And yes, the term "Cornhole" came from the game's beginnings with players inserting corn kernels into bags that were then tossed into the hole thus scoring points!!

Our Spring sport teams are continuing to post wins in soccer, volleyball, and softball, even with the shaky weather for those teams playing outside!!

Just a reminder to our 8th graders regarding Summer high school camps. Registration is in full force at all schools in all sports! Get signed up and out in front of your coaches for next season !!!

Downers Grove South Dance Team (Fillies and Pintos) will be having tryouts shortly! It is important that you get a registration packet (on-line from DGS or from Mr. Dodd). There is tons of information, with forms needing to be filled out and signed by participants and parents !!

Have a great week, and......................

GO SPARTANS ............ PLAY HARD !!!

Coach Dodd

Monday, April 20, 2009

CATCHIN' UP !!!!

Hey Spartans

Trying to catch up on many important things, and my blog is at the top of the list!!

I hope everyone had a great Spring Break, Happy Easter holiday weekend, and starting to enjoy some consistent better weather! I hope that last phrase doesn't jinx us, as this type of balmy weather in early March was followed by 2 inches of snow!!! NOT A GOOD OMEN!!!

We have concluded our units on Table Tennis, Bags, and Pickleball, as well as Wiffleball in 6th grade. Our newest units now include Badminton, Soccer, and in 6th grade, Softball.

Last week, our 7th and 8th graders designed, practiced and performed their "Step" and "Jump Rope" routines during class. All students were graded on a number of points of emphasize and movement. MOST groups worked very hard, and did an outstanding job on performance day!! This week long unit totalled out to 25 points in the gradebook.

Our athletic teams have gotten off to OUTSTANDING starts. A "Tip-Of-The-Cap" goes out to Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Wagner, Miss Nyhlen, and Coach Little for their efforts with their respective clubs!!!

On a final note, a total of 39 - 7th grade boys indicated an interest in Varsity basketball for the 2009-2010 season. I have begun an e-mail setup to communicate with these candidates as this year concludes, and we get into Summer vacation!!!

Have a great week, and...................

GO SPARTANS!!!!! PLAY HARD!!!!!! ..............AND GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

SPRING BREAK IS ALMOST UPON US !!!!!!

Wow!!!! Did New Year's to Spring Break get here in a hurry!! It seems like only yesterday that our Boys Varsity Basketball team was competing in the D.G. Mayor's Classic on Jan. 4th at DGN. I guess when an activity that takes as much time as basketball is successful, the days seem to flow quicker!!

As the basketball season for '08-'09 has come to a halt, I would like to say a final Thanks to everyone who made it a success. I was very proud to be the Spartans coach again this season. The awards night was a great opportunity to see all the members of our "family" together one final time! To that, I would like to say "Thank You" to all the players and parents for the very thoughtful gifts I received. The gift certificate will come in very handy, and the photo album will be cherished by my future generations!.........These were the '09 Spartans!!.....Tourney Champs!!!!

Good luck to all our students as they finish the final weeks of school (approx. 41 days....but who is counting???? !!!!!). Girls Softball (Miss Nyhlen), Girls Soccer (Mrs. Wilson), Boys Soccer (Mr. Little), Boys Volleyball (Mrs. Wagner), Boys/Girls Track and Field (Mrs. Ohlander and Mr. Kukulski), and Boys/Girls Swnmming Miss Enzbigilis are in the process of formulating their teams....Best of Luck to all!!!!!

In the Fine Arts area, the 2009 musical, "GUYS and DOLLS, Jr." under the direction of Miss Berman and Mr. Ohlsen will set out at Lakeview for performances on the nights of May 14 and 15!!!

Our P.E. classes are continuing with their units on Cornhole.."Bags", Pickleball, and Wiffleball in 6th grade. Our students seem to be enjoying thesee activities!!

On a final note, the winner of last week's (and final week) "Lunch-with-the Coach" contest is Kevin R. (for the third time this year). Kevin correctly answered......"Alex Gorniak, Malcolm Herron, Mike Cahill, and Seth Carson" for the question........WHAT FOUR FORMER LAKEVIEW ALUMS HELPED DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH ACHIEVE A GREAT BASKETBALL SEASON IN 2008-2009??

Have a great Spring Break, and...........................

GO SPARTANS.................PLAY HARD!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Sunday, March 15, 2009

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY -- 2009

MARCH 15, 2009

As they say, "It's a great day to be Irish", but I believe.....
IT'S AN EVEN BETTER DAY TO BE A SPARTAN!!

Our P.E. classes will be continuing their units on Pickleball, Ping Pong, Bags, and in 6th grade, Wiffleball. As well, our 6th graders will test for their current units on Wednesday, rotating to their next activity on Thursday!! Go over those study guides!!!

My personal congratulations go out to all the Lakeview student/musicians who did such an outstanding job last weekend at the DuPage Festival of Bands competition held at Lakeview.

In the "Lunch-with-the-Coach" phase of my weekly blog, the winner of last week's question ("What is another name we use for the activity...Cornhole?") was Tosha K, who correctly answered....."BAGS".......way to go Tosha!!!

The question for this week is ...... "Who were the four Lakeview alums who helped Downers Grove South to a very successful Boys Basketball season this past year?" Remember...........first person to correctly e-mail me the answer (
tdodd@ccsd66.org) is the winner!

Have a great final two weeks until Spring Break!!

Coach Dodd


OH, ..........and just one more thing............................................


GAME OVER!!!!!!!!!!............SPARTANS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you really think I wasn't going to celebrate Friday night??????

As a culmination to a great season, the Lakeview Spartan Boys Varsity Basketball team defeated Cass Jr. High in the S.E.D.A.A. tournament championship game by the score of 34-32. The Spartans ended their season with an overall record of 17-7, 12-3 in the conference, and 3-0 in the post-season. Following early-week wins over Eisenhower and Westview Hills, the Spartans faced the Warriors for the second time this season. Having beaten Cass 43-42 on a last second shot by Robert M., the championship game looked to be a great one before it started. Cass came off two early-week wins, including a thriller by one over 12 and 3 Old Quarry.

After a first quarter that wound up tied at 8, the Spartans ran off 10 straight points on two baskets by Robert M., a three-pointer by Andrew J., and a basket/free throw by John B.. Cass' Jerry S. hit two jumpers to bring the Warriors back to trail only 18-12 at half-time. A back-and-forth third quarter was highlighted by Cass' (former 66er) D.J.D.'s jumper to put them ahead. The next possession saw Andrew J. answer with a three-pointer of his own, giving Lakeview the lead back. The Spartans' Jeff J. hit two key baskets down the same stretch, including a three-pointer from the left corner!!! At the end of three quarters, the score stood at Lakeview 26 and Cass 23.

As the fourth quarter unfolded, the Cass guards (Jerry S. and D.J.D.) battled to keep the Warriors even, only to have their Lakeview counter-parts answer the challenge. Cass hit three, three pointers during the final stanza, but were unable to penetrate the inside of the Lakeview defense. Jeff J., Alex P., Povilas G., and Robert M. refused to allow any layups or put-backs for easy points. Andrew J., John B., Alex P., and Jeff J. handled the Cass pressure in their attempt at take-aways.

During the final seconds, Cass had opportunities to regain the lead from the outside, including a long three-point attempt at the buzzer that rimmed off.

While preparing for the game, our philosophy was to not let their guards both get into the twenties for points. At the end, D.J.D. finished with 18, while Jerry S. had 10.

Final game stats for Lakeview:
POINTS --- John B. > 9....Jeff J. > 8....Robert M. and Andrew J. > 6 .....Povilas G. > 5
REBOUNDS -- Robert M. > 7 .....Alex P. > 5 .....Povilas G. > 3 ......Jeff J. > 4 .....
John B. > 3 .....Andrew J. > 2


As far as the Spartan' fans, what needs to be said!!!!!! During all the years of games played at Old Quarry, I can not remember the hosts having to open the upper deck for the crowd......until Friday night!!!! I would like to be able to say "Thanks" to each of our fans individually, but I know this can not be done.......................so....................I think I will try to mention some groups I believe were there. Let's start with the players' parents, grandparents and other relatives; Lakeview cheerleaders and their parents; the administration (Mr. and Mrs. Liles) and the fine arts dept. (Mr. Tedeschi and Mr. Ohlsen) who had front-row, center-court seats; Coach Dvorak and his family, as well as Miss Nyhlen; what appeared to be many of my first hour P.E. class (thanks to chauffeur Slayden); many of our varsity cheerleaders from LAST year; Coach and Mrs. Little (and "Little" Little), parents of our alumni who are currently at college, MANY, MANY of our current student body, and finally , "The Superfans" (lead by Patrick Lally) from Downers South, including Lakeview basketball alums Malcolm Herron, Seth Carson, Mike Cahill, and Alex Gorniak (on crutches). I think this great support of the Spartans got our guys going during crunch time!!! Oh, and one more......my wife Julie, who holds her breathe everytime she comes and watches me get wrapped up in the game!!!!!!

I have asked a lot of my club this season, and sometimes these things have been looked at with questions, and on a rare occasion mild resistance................but accepted as the way we were going to do things!!! I truly believe that this reached the players, and hopefully they understand now what it takes to be successful!! Everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction, and Friday night, we were!!!!!!! Our "bench players" (Vincent L., Joe N., Marty L., James I., Zak P., Jeff J., Steven K., Chris W., Kevin R., Tony L.) who did not see as much playing time as they would have liked were great teammates, and worked very hard in practice. This is not the easiest mind-set to be in, but they were great in their roles on the team!!!!!!

I hope to see all of the "Spartan Nation" at the awards dinner this coming Thursday night; March 19th at Lakeview!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS to each and every one of the members of the program!!!

THE BAR HAS BEEN RAISED, AND THE BANNER WILL BE RAISED!!!!!!!!

GO SPARTANS........PLAY HARD!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

BOYS BASKETBALL TO PLAY FOR THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP

Congratulations to our Boys Varsity Basketball squad as they have qualified for the conference basketball tournament championship game.

The Spartans defeated Westview Hills 16-15 in a game that was decided in the last 10 seconds. As they have all season, a tough Spartan defense limited the Wildcats to a tough angle, baseline shot on the final play!!

The Spartans' opponent in the championship game (Friday; March 13th; 7:30 PM; Old Quarry Jr. High in Lemont) will be the Warriors from Cass. During the regular season, Lakeview defeated Cass on a last shot by Robert M.. It is our programs hope that our great fans will make the trip to Old Quarry for the final game of the season.

GO SPARTANS..........PLAY HARD!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

LAKEVIEW VARSITY BASKETBALL UPDATE

Wednesday; March 11th; 8:00 AM

Good morning Spartan Fans,

Congratulations to BOTH the Boys and Girls squads on their victories on Tuesday. Coach Little and Coach K's Girls squad defeated Old Quarry 23-20 AT Old Quarry. This victory advances the Girls into the semi-final round today (Wed.; March 11th) AT Jefferson.

Good Luck to the the Girls!!

The Boys will host Westview Hills today AT Lakeview tipping off at 4 PM. Westview Hills defeated Butler 36-31.

Thanks to all the Lakeview fans, and as well, hope to see them at today's games!!!!!

GO SPARTANS ........ PLAY HARD!!!!

Coach Dodd

Sunday, March 8, 2009

I.S.A.T.'s ARE HISTORY !!!!!!

Hi to the "Spartan Nation"!!

Congratulations to all the students and staff for the outstanding effort during our ISAT's last week!! Even though we have "early dismissal" on Thursday, and NO SCHOOL on Friday, our daily schedule should be back to normal.

Our P.E. classes will continue their units that began last week in all three grade levels! 7th and 8th graders will be continuing PICKLEBALL, TABLE TENNIS and CORNHOLE! In addition, 6th graders will be working on WIFFLEBALL skills and games! All three grades have gotten off to good starts!

On the extra-curricular front, Varsity basketball heads into their final weeks with tournament games beginning Tuesday, March 10th. Coach Little, Coach K, and the GIRLS squad begin tourney play AT Old Quarry tipping off at 4 PM. The Lady Spartans enter the tourney seeded 5th (out of 11 teams). A win at Old Quarry on Tuesday would PROBABLY place them in the second round AT #1 seed Jefferson on Wednesday. The Girls played an outstanding game last Wednesday, taking Jefferson to overtime before finally falling by 2 points! A Lakeview win in both the first and second rounds would qualify them to play for the tournament championship on Friday night; March 13th in Lemont at OLD QUARRY (Old Quarry will be hosting the championship games). Tipoff is 6 PM. GOOD LUCK to our Girls squad!

On the BOYS side, the Spartans enter tourney play as the #1 seed, having finished the regular season with a record of 12-3 (tied with Old Quarry). Their 12-3 record placed them 2nd in the conference behind Jefferson (15-0). Jefferson elected to particiapete in the Illinois Elementary School Association state tournament, thus disqualifying them from playing in our S.E.D.E.A.A. tournament. As a side note, the Wolverines made it to the semi-finals in Peoria before falling to Pekin. My personal congratulations to Coach Troy Johnson and all the Wolverines!

BOYS tourney play begins Tuesday; March 10, as the Spartans HOST the winner of the Monday play-in game between Eisenhower (3-12) and Lisle (2-12). Tipoff for Tuesday's game at Lakeview is 4 PM. A win on Tuesday will move the Spartans into a second round game AT Lakeview on Wednesday (March 11) vs. the winner of the Tuesday game between Westview Hills (8-7) and Butler (7-7). A win Wednesday would move the Spartans into the conference championship game Friday night (March 13) in Lemont at Old Quarry. Tipoff or the BOYS championship is set for 7:30 PM.

The SPARTAN fan base has been outstanding all season!! I think I speak for Coach Little and Coach K when I say it is very uplifting to have a loud, supportive crowd pulling for the Spartans!! ALL members of both programs hope that Spartan "followers" continue their great support!!! To that, I would like to personally congratulate Miss Jennifer Casey and the Spartan cheerleaders for their wonderful support and energy throughout the season!!!!!

On a final note, the winner of last week's "Lunch-With-The-Coach question ("What were the three units the 6th graders finished the previous week?) was Varsity basketball (and volleyball) player Steven K. who correctly answered, "Basketball, Weight Training, and Floor Hockey." Way to go Steven!!

This week's question (rom last week's blog) is, "What is the other name commonly used for the game "Cornhole?" Remember, you must be the first person to e-mail me the answer at tdodd@ccsd66.org to be the winner!!!!!

On a final....final note, my personal congratulations go out to our Lakeview alums who are members of the Downers Grove South Boys Varsity Basketball team. Starters Mike Cahill, Malcolm Herron, and Alex Gorniak, and well as 6th man Seth Carson lead the Mustangs to a thrilling 45-42 come-from-behind win last Friday night vs powerhouse Mt. Carmel in the Hinsdale South regional. Even though he has been a reserve player this season, junior Bobby Mueller has provided energy and enthusiasm from the bench. Cahill and Carson's tenacious defense, Herron's lights-out shooting, and Gorniak's ice-water-veins ball-handling helped the Mustangs erase a 10 point deficit with one quarter to play. Good luck to these outstanding young men as they continue tounament play on Tuesday night (March 10) at the Hinsdale Central Sectional vs. Hyde Park of Chicago!!!!

Have a great week, and.............GO SPARTANS!!!!!........PLAY HARD!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Monday, March 2, 2009

HAPPY PULASKI DAY !!!!!!

Hello Spartan Fans !

Here's hoping that everyone in 66 enjoyed a day of relaxation today, and got caught up with whatever was needed!!

Tomorrow (Tuesday; March 3) begins our four days of ISAT testing. Tests begin at 8 AM, and conclude at 10:18 AM, with a ten minute break in the middle. GOOD LUCK to all our students !!

P.E. classes will begin new units (Ping Pong, Pickleball, "Cornhole", also known in some quarters as "Bags", as well as Wiffleball in 6th grade) tomorrow. As of this writing, our students who have had makeup work in P.E. class have done an outstanding job in catching up!!

Boys Varsity Basketball heads into their final week of the regular season sporting an overall record of 14-6; 12-2 in the conference. Last week, the Spartans defeated Eisenhower and Westview Hills for the second times this season, while losing a tough home game to Jefferson 42-40. Tomorrow, the Spartans host Old Quarry in a rematch of their first game of the season won by Lakeview 44-30. Tipoff is set for 4 PM. Old Quarry is currently in 3rd place with a conference record of 11-3. What a way to end the regular season! Lakeview will begin tournament play NEXT Tuesday (March 10th) AT Lakeview vs. an opponent yet to be determined!!!!

The winner of last week's "Lunch-with-the-Coach" was Mitchell B. who correctly answered "Alex P." to the question, "What Lakeview basketball player did Jeff J. replace in the starting lineup due to illness vs. Jefferson?"

The new "Lunch-with-the-Coach" question for this week (from last week's blog) is......"What units did the 6th graders finish with last Friday?" Send your answer VIA E-MAIL to
tdodd@ccsd66.org

Good luck to Coach Little, Coach Kukulski, and the Girls Varsity Basketball team as they finish their highly successful regular season!!!

GO SPARTANS.......PLAY HARD!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Sunday, February 22, 2009

WHERE DID ALL THIS SNOW COME FROM????

March is only seven days away, and here comes another foot of snow!! With temperatures hitting almost 60 degrees last week, everyone had a false hope of good weather on it's way!! OH WELL!!!!



Physical Education classes head into their final stretches of basketball and weight training (and floor hockey in 6th grade). As reported earlier, students are doing a great job, and seem to be enjoying themselves. In addition, students who have had makeup work from earlier in the trimester are getting these taken care of.



In my blog from last week, I inadvertently failed to mention the great work our Lakeview moms did at the 6th grade Valentine's Day party......THANK YOU SO MUCH!!



Varsity basketball heads into the final two weeks of the regular season, with some big rematch games coming up. Tomorrow (Monday; Feb. 23rd), the Boys travel to Eisenhower to take on the Generals. Wednesday brings Jefferson to Lakeview, pitting the one-loss Spartans vs. the undefeated Wolverines. The Spartans get right back into action on Thursday, as they travel to Westview Hills and the Wildcats. All games are scheduled for a 4 PM tipoff.



The final regular season game forthe Boys will be at Lakeview on Tuesday; March 3rd vs. Old Quarry!! Pick a date, and "Catch-Us-If-You-Can!!"

On a final note, the winner of last week's "Lunch with the Coach" question was Varsity basketball player Joe N.. Joe correctly answered ST. LOUIS CARDINALS to the question, "What National League team started Spring Training the previous Friday and did not overspend in signing Milton Bradley." The question for this week is what Lakeview player missed the Jefferson game due to illness, allowing Jeff J. to step into the starting lineup, recording 15 points and 6 rebounds.

Have a great week, and ...........GO SPARTANS!! PLAY HARD!!

Coach Dodd

Sunday, February 15, 2009

HAPPY N.B.A. ALL-STAR SUNDAY

Hello Spartan Fans !!

PHYSICAL EDUCATION classes are rolling along with our units on Basketball and Weight Training, plus 6th grade Floor Hockey . The week of February 9th saw our annual "Bench Press" contest in all grades. The coming week will give all grade levels the opportunity to review and understand the seriousness of steroid abuse. ALL students will spend an entire P.E. class in the IMC studying and reviewing areas and information regarding this program that closely relates to athletics. After reviewing the website information, all students will then be computer-quizzed on a variety of steriod problems and issues. Upon completion of the information and quiz of same, students will get immediate feedback on the correctness of their answers. Any questions returned as wrong will necessitate the student taking the test again. In past years, MOST students have gotten 100% on their first try!! I know this years classes will do well!!!!

As we prepare to celebrate President's Day tomorrow (Monady; Feb. 16), let me congratulate my Lakeview Varsity basketball squad on a great week of action. Following wins on Monday and Tuesday vs. Westmont and Gower, the Spartans traveled to Woodridge to battle Jefferson. Even though the final score had the Spartans on the wrong end of 48-35, the effort put forth was just about all a coach could ask for.

Playing without Alex P. (illness), Jeff J. stepped up big-time at both ends of the floor tallying 15 points and 6 rebounds. In his Friday role as 6th man, Joe N. contributed 9 points off the bench to help the Spartan cause. When preparing for the Wolverines, we stressed that there were five things needed to be done to win. First was limit the opponent to one shot each trip down the floor, control the tempo of the game, keep composure if things were not going well, not back-down physically and finally, not let Jefferson run off a string of unanswered points. WELL...................our guys did a great job on the first four, but did allow the opponent to run off 8 points twice without a Lakeview score. The Spartans and Wolverines will meet again Wednesday; February 25 at Lakeview. It is my hope that we have another great fan base, just as we did for the game at Jefferson, and also for the Pack-The-Place victory over Westview Hills.

This Tuesday, the varsity reserves who have not seen as much action as the regulars this season will have a "Reserve Game" AT CASS tipping off at 4 PM. This will give our reserves a chance to demonstrate, in game conditions vs. non-teammates, what they are capable of doing. It is my hope that all family and friends attend if at all possible! A special "Thanks" goes out to Dr. Tiede, Mr. Windsor, and Coach Dvorak for supporting this opportunity for our reserves!!

On a final basketball related note, it has been one of my personal goals this season to emphasize to the members of our squad the importance of conducting themselves in a manner appropriate for someone representing our school. I discussed with the squad the difference between their god-given right to attend school, and the privilege of being a member of an extra-curricular activity such as basketball. As I left the gym as Jefferson, I was approached by a new Jefferson administrator who I had never meet. Mr. John McClenahan, Jefferson asst. principal stated that, TO A PLAYER, the Lakeview basketball team said Thank You to him for unlocking the lockerroom following the game. He stated that he didn't see that very often, especially after a tough loss!!!! Our squad and their parents who have raised them should be acknowledged for these comments they made!!! I am very proud of them for this act!!!

Please find listed below the final regular season schedule. Again..........it is my hope that our positive and enthusiastic fan base will continue their support as 2009 winds down.

Thursday; Feb. 19 -----Butler (home)
Monday; Feb. 23 -------AT Eisenhower
Wednesday; Feb. 25 ---- Jefferson (home)
Thursday; Feb. 26 -----AT Westview Hills
Tuesday; March 3 ------- Old Quarry (home)

SINGLE elimination conference playoffs begin Monday; March 9th, and conclude with the conference championship game AT Old Quarry on Friday; March 13th; 7:30 PM.

And....Finally, finally, the correct answer to last weeks "Lunch-With-The -Coach" question (What former World War II general and President of the United States has his name hanging in one of our gyms?) was Dwight D. Eisenhower. The winner once again was 8th grader Kevin R.. As year goes on, it is my hope that some other individual steps up and tries to win the prize.

This weeks question is (from last week's blog) what baseball team started Spring Training and their drive to the 2009 World Championship last Friday in Florida? Being an "Employee of the Company", Mr. Little is excluded from answering this question. HINT -- They did not over-spend on Milton Bradley this Winter, but have won NINE World Championships!! E-Mail me the answer at tdodd@ccsd66.org



Have a great week!!

GO SPARTANS.............PLAY HARD!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Monday, February 9, 2009

CORRECTED LOCATION FOR GOWER GAME...2/10/2009

TOMORROW'S LAKEVIEW VARSITY BOYS BOYS BASKETBALL GAME (TUESDAY; 2/10/2009) IS ...AT GOWER.... AND NOT AT LAKEVIEW AS POSTED ON MY BLOG YESTERDAY (2/8/2009)

Thank you for your understanding, and see you at Gower for the 4:00 PM Tipoff!!!

Play Hard!!

Coach Dodd

Sunday, February 8, 2009

IS SPRING FINALLY HERE ??????????

Hello Spartan Fans,

Was last week wild, or what??

First of all, our P.E. classes are cruisin' along with basketball, weight training, and floor hockey (6th grade only). Although we are not keeping standings in our classes, the basketball games have been very competitive. It seems like everyone does enjoy this unit, while at the same time are showing improvement in their individual skills!!!! KEEP IT UP!!

In the area of extra-curriculars, the varsity basketball teams went 5-1 for the week! Coach Little's squad won 2 out of 3, including a great victory on Wednesday at the Girls' "Pack-The-Place" vs. Burr Ridge . Coach Little's squads defeated Burr Ridge and Westview Hills, and also had the pleasure of attending the Downers South - Benet Freshmen game on Thursday. Several former Lakeview players competed for their respective schools, and from what I understand did an outstanding job!!

Our boys posted wins vs. Eisenhower, Burr Ridge, and Westview Hills. As of this writing, the boys varsity squad has an overall record of 9-4, and are 7-0 in the conference. Our early season tournaments have definitely prepared us for the conference season.

I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all the individuals that worked on the two "Pack-The-Place" games last week. Mr. Little has taken an idea. and made it into one of the great school activities of the year!! The individual list of "helpers" is monumental, so a general "THANKS" goes out to them. At the top of the list is obviously Dr. Tiede who, without his support, this activity would have never begun!! Miss Casey has always done a great job each year with her cheerleaders, and to that, this year is no exception!!

Immediately prior to the start of the boys game, the District 66 athletic department recognized the Lakeview Boys Jr. Varsity basketball teams who have registered conference championships (coached by Mr. Dave Dvorak) during the last five years. The 2008 squad finished with a record of 8-1, while the 2003 team finished undefeated at 15-0. Members from the 2003 squad in attendance were Joey Johnson, Ryan Pjescich, Peter Li, Malcolm Herron, Mike Mascitti, Mike Cahill, Seth Carson, and Alex Gorniak. Teammates Matt Frett and Ricardo Lee were unable to attend the game, but were recognized. Herron, Cahill, Carson, and Gorniak are all currently starters for the Downers South Mustangs varsity, and carry a record of 17-4 into this week's action.

During the coming week, the Boys varsity will continue conference play with games Monday (Feb. 9) AT WESTMONT, Tuesday (Feb.10) HOME vs. GOWER, and Friday (Feb. 13) AT JEFFERSON! As of this writing, Jefferson and Lakeview are both undefeated in the conference. It will be "HIGH NOON" in Woodridge on Friday vs. Jefferson, with the game tipping off at 4 PM! Hope many of the "Pack-The-Place" fans can travel to our games this week!!!!!

As a final item, the question of the week is......."What former U.S. president (and World War II general) has his name hanging in one of the Lakeview gyms"??????...................Be the 1st person to e-mail me (tdodd@ccsd66.org) the correct answer, and win a "Lunch-With-The Coach".

The winner of last week's contest was Kevin R., an 8th grader at Lakeview, and a member of the football and basketball teams. ......Kevin correctly answered, "Old Quarry" to the question,..."Which team did Lakeview defeat in their first conference game"? .......Way to go Kevin!!!!!!

Have a great week! ................, and don't forget ..................the Cardinals' pitchers report to Spring Training on Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GO SPARTANS!!!!!!!........................PLAY HARD!!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

Sunday, February 1, 2009

IT'S SUPER BOWL SUNDAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday to all the "Spartan Nation"!!!!

There is so much to catch up on, so we'll start with the outstanding job that our 8th grade class did at the formal dance on the 23rd of January.

Following some outstanding daily classes with Mrs. Garvey, Kim, and Mike, our Class of '09 performed as you would expect this class to do. On January 23rd, the afternoon was spent in style as the '09ers looked spectacular, and danced even better than anticipated. Lavish outfits, and even blue suede shoes highlighted the two hour gala event. A special performance by Mrs. Garvey's Celebrity Dance Company rounded out the afternoon's event. OUTSTANDING!!!!!!

A special thanks also goes out to the moms and dads who graciously served refreshments to all attendees (including the staff............great meatballs in particular)!!!! As well, another THANKS goes to those parents who donated treats, but were unable to attend!!

Our Physical Education classes are cruising along with Weight Training and Basketball, as well as Floor Hockey in 6th grade!! Although you would hope that all our students would enjoy all our units, these three we are currently working with seem to be favorites. The 6th graders have played Floor Hockey for the past three years, with basketball being something that many have done since a much younger age. In addition, so many of our Lakeview students move on to participate in athletics in high school, making our weight training unit so important for their future. Again, a special thanks goes out to our administration for allowing the P.E. department to obtain the new equipment we have acquired. What a difference six years has to a program!!

On still another front, I must say I can not be any happier with the performance of our Boys Varsity Basketball squad. The Spartans represented Lakeview extremely well during the two pre-season tournaments at Downers North and Westmont. These six games have allowed me to evaluate my squad in preparation for the conference season which is now well under way. Again, I must say that the support of our tournament involvement from the Lakeview administration over the past six years has allowed us to do this!!!!!

As of this writing, the Spartans are 4-0, with victories at Old Quarry and at Cass, as well as wins at home vs. Westmont and Lisle. Anytime you can win road games at Old Quarry and Cass, you have a successful team!! MAKE NO MISTAKE, WE STILL HAVE A LONG SEASON AHEAD!!!!!

This week (Feb. 2 - 6), the Spartans host Eisenhower on Monday (2nd), travel to Burr Ridge (4th), and play host to Westview Hills (5th). The Westview Hills game will be the 2nd annual BOYS "Pack-The-Place". Many week-long and pre-game activities on the 5th will take place for all the Lakeview students. Due to expected large crowds, the game on the 5th vs. Westview Hills will be played in the "Old Gym" due to lack of sufficient seating in the "New Gym". Come early and avoid the standing room only that took place last year. Many pre-game activities will take place beginning at 3:10 PM (approx.), with the Lakeview Band and Choir once again performing.

As well as the BOYS "Pack-The-Place" on Thursday, I would like to wish Coach Little and his GIRLS squad the best of luck as they host Burr Ridge on Wednesday. This will also be a "Pack-The-Place"event with the same activities as scheduled for Thursday!!!!!

IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT THE SPARTAN NATION HELP MAKE BOTH WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY GAMES S.R.O.. I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU WILL SEE GREAT BASKETBALL FROM ALL FOUR TEAMS INVOLVED!!!!!!!

On a final note, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate four Lakeview alums ('05) on their hard-fought 66-63 Downers Grove South overtime victory over highly-ranked Morton last Friday night. Alex Gorniak, Malcolm Herron, Mike Cahill, and Seth Carson played significant roles in the victory. Gorniak and Herron combined for 41 of their 66 points, and physically took over the game late in the fourth quarter and the overtime. A fifth member of the squad from Lakeview is junior Bobby Mueller who has had a great JV season, and is a great teammate of all!! GOOD LUCK TO THE MUSTANGS AS THEY CHALLENGE FOR THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP OVER THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS!!!!

Have a great week, and....................."PLAY HARD"!!!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

P.S. ---->>>> I am going to once again challenge my readers for a chance to have "Lunch with the Coach"!! .......... The first person to present to me (Face-To-Face) the answer to this question will win the lunch..............
WHAT TEAM DID THE SPARTANS DEFEAT IN THE FIRST REGULAR SEASON GAME THIS YEAR??????? (Hint......It was a ROAD game).
Remember......Face-To-Face answer!!!!!

Friday, January 16, 2009

LAKEVIEW BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL

Friday; jan. 16th, 2009

Good morning Spartans;

CONGRATULATIONS to the Boys squad on your victory last night vs. GOWER. We played hard, and the end result showed!!

We will play in the Consolation Championship game tomorrow (Saturday; Jan. 17) vs. the winner of tonight's Westmont / St. Mary's game.

Our game tomorrow will tipoff at 2:45 PM, with players to be at WESTMONT Jr. High NO LATER THAN 2:15 PM. Please BOTH jerseys.

Play Hard!!

Coach Dodd

Sunday, January 11, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!

Happy New Year to all of Center Cass District 66. It is my hope that all of the 66 family had a great holiday break, and are re-energized for a great '09 !!!

The weather threw a wrench into the Lakeview Physical Education Dept. plans for the gala 8th grade formal dance scheduled for December 19th. Fear not.................... as a rescheduled date of Friday, Jan. 23rd has been set. Mrs. Garvey will come in during the 8th P.E. classes the week of Jan. 19th, and review with our students all the necessary steps for all our dances!! A good time still awaits all!!

After a great week of rollerblading for all Lakeview grade levels, Monday; Jan. 12th marks the beginning of our new units.........WEIGHT TRAINING and BASKETBALL, as well as FLOOR HOCKEY for our 6th grade classes. Many of our 7th and 8th grade students have had a peek at the stage, and are eager to get started with our new weight equipment. This new equipment was made possible by both District 66 funding and the generosity of Good Samaritan Hospital, through the efforts of Mrs. Cathy Killian! TOGETHER, WE WILL!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS once again to all the members of the Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball teams, as well as the Varsity Cheerleaders. The 2009 season officially kicked off last Sunday; Jan. 4th, as the Boys squad made a strong showing at the 7th annual D.G. Mayor's Classic. After losing a tough game by 4 to Our Lady of Peace, the Spartans responded with an outstanding effort, defeating St. Joseph's by 20. In the final game, the Spartans got behind by 12, only to fight back and tie the score with 2 minutes remaining. At that point, St. Joseph's put on a spurt, and defated Lakeview by 4 to capture the Consolation Championship. As a side note to the tourney, Andrew J. tied a tournament record sinking nine 3 point shots during the 3 games!! A personal congratulations goes out to Andrew who, by my view, is a self-made player through his tireless work during the season, as well as during the off-seaon.

The Boys return to action this week beginning Tuesday night in the Westmont Rotary Tournament at Westmont Jr. High School. The Boys game tips off at 7:45 PM, while the Girls start their game at 6:30 PM............SAME LOCATION!!! The opponent for both teams will by conference arch-rival Jefferson!!! Both teams will return to action Thursday night, with game times dependent on the outcome of the games on Tuesday!! (CHECK MY BLOG ON WEDNESDAY, with scores of the Tuesday night games being posted!!!) If either team wins a game on either or both nights, they will have an opportunity to play a third game (for a trophy) on Saturday; January 17th.

Have a great week, stay warm, and come watch our teams play!!

PLAY HARD!!!!!!!

Coach Dodd