Boys’ basketball begins a new era

With the first flakes of snow, many people start thinking about blinking lights and Santa Claus, but others see those flakes falling as a sign that the basketball season is about start.

This will be the first year that Wakonda and Irene will be co-oped for all sports, including boy's basketball. The head coach this year is Ken Wright, with Mike King as assistant.

Wright has a very experienced team coming back for the 2005-06 boys' basketball team. Returning letter winners from Wakonda include: Shaun Hessman, Tyler Knudson, Rob Gregoire, Mitch Hess-man, and Adam Polley. Returning from Irene to the court are Brock Mutchelknaus, Robert Hauger, Matthew Davis, Josh Neilson, Eric Anderson, and Henry Hauger.

Even with the new co-op, Wright is optimistic. "We are young, but there's talent. We had a good summer at team camps, and it appears that we can be quite competitive. I am personally optimistic, excited, and ready to start."

With a new district in Class A, the Eagles will have good competition.

Wright also added, "Viborg should be tough again, as well as Scotland and Hurley. I'm not looking at any one game, though. We'll approach it one game at a time, not looking past anyone, and try to improve every game."

With 30 kids signed up from both schools, it will be a foreign experience to both programs. It will be difficult this year to bring cohesion to the team, but Wright says, "Our strategy for this year is to play hard, play smart, and to play together."