Merry Christmas to all who celebrate the holiday. Here’s hoping Santa brought — or will bring — the following gifts for area sports figures.
Will Levis, Xavier quarterback: A wonderful career at Penn State.
Rob Smernoff, MHS girls basketball coach: A solid season for his team, which may be better than some people think.
Tim Kohs, Mercy basketball coach: A Class LL state championship.
Mike Kohs, Xavier basketball coach: A winning season.
Rick Privott, MHS boys basketball coach: A tournament-qualifying season against what is likely the most difficult schedule any city team has ever faced.
Trevor Charles, MHS boys swim coach: Another winning season — continuing the streak that began in 1984-85.
Kelvin Jones, MHS volleyball/girls assistant basketball coach: Good health.
Jack Doherty, MHS alum: Another great year swimming for William and Mary.
Tim Boyle, former Xavier and Eastern Kentucky U QB: A shot at the NFL.
DeAaron Lawrence, MHS basketball player: Recognition as one of the state’s elite players. How did he get left off of the NHR Top 25?
Dominique Highsmith, MHS basketball/softball star: Recognition as one of Middletown’s all-time great female athletes. She’s only a junior.
Dario Highsmith, MHS alum and Wesleyan football: An injury-free final two seasons.
Chris Serra: Another great year as AD for Portland High.
Kelly Maher: A state championship for her basketball team at Cromwell High.
John Pinone: Another good year for his Cromwell High basketball team and condolences on the recent passing of his dad.
Jenn Price, MHS indispensable teacher/coach/scorer/adviser/friend to all kids: Recognition about how special a professional she really is.
Todd Salva: A big season for his Coginchaug High boys hoop team.
Dylan Karpel, MHS track runner who rescued the lady’s dog from the icy Coginchaug River: He will be embarrassed, but Santa, recognize him for the hero he is.
Andy Guyon, Xavier football coach: A winning season next fall.
Joe Cefaratti: Please Santa, some wins for his Vinal/East Hampton/Goodwin Tech football team next fall.
Sal Morello, MHS football coach: Santa, is there any way there is a recording of his final speech to his seniors — many of whom were sobbing — after the playoff loss to New Canaan? It was one of the most inspiring speeches I have ever heard a coach give. Get this guy a state title, huh?
Tom Close, East Hampton High basketball: A state championship for the state’s newest member of the 1,000 career point club
Basketball officials: Can you get them to call fewer fouls, please Santa?
Baseball umpires: Can you get them to call more strikes, please Santa?
Football officials: Can you get them to throw fewer penalty flags, please, please, please Santa?
Yankee fans: A World Series title.
Mets fans: A team.
Red Sox fans: Wrap up David Price nice and pretty and give him to some other team for Christmas.
NY Giants fans: A running back. Some receivers. An offensive line. A secondary.
Patriots fans: A Super Bowl. Oh, I know, you’ve already given them too many.
Tampa Bay Rays: Some fans.
John Sterling: A great Giancarlo Stanton home run call. Can’t wait. And have him give it, oh, 55 times or so. Ditto for Aaron Judge.
Dan DiCenzo, Wesleyan football coach: A NESCAC championship.
Doug Wedge, Meriden Legion coach: A great state tournament, which was awarded to Meriden’s Ceppa Field by the state Legion.
T.J. Grande, RCP Legion coach: A zone and state championship.
Tim D’Aquila, Middletown Legion coach: A zone and state championship. Oh, I know, can’t give two state titles, but figure it out, Santa.
Josh Cofield, MHS baseball coach: Continued improvement for his Blue Dragons and a tourney berth this spring.
Nick Cerreta, Xavier baseball coach: A return to winning ways for his Falcons.
Dan DeConti, Xavier ice hockey coach: Another great season for his Falcons and how about a run at a state title?
Ryan DeVivo, Xavier wrestler: Continued recognition of his status as one of the state’s and region’s great high school wrestlers.
Xavier and MHS indoor track teams: How about state titles for both? They both have a shot.
Fans: Santa, give those who attend high school games the good sense to cheer for their kids, to support their coaches, and to bite their tongues when emotions might say otherwise. Everyone connected with high school athletics tries their best. The fans should emulate the kids.
Santa, please bring the gifts of acceptance to persons of all religions, all colors, all orientations and wipe away all the things that some use to separate one from another and help bring us together in 2018.
And finally, Santa, bring the gift of good health to all. And if and when illness strikes, give those persons the strength and courage to fight on and give them friends who remember with good deeds.
Each day is a blessing and to all kind enough to read this space from time to time, and for all those whose names were left out of this list of wishes because of space limitations, my apologies and thank you and have the happiest of holiday seasons.