Geneva High pulls out the stops in Hall of Fame honors
Not only did Ron Johnson get inducted into the Geneva High School Hall of Fame last weekend, he saw a basketball game that probably reminded him of his playing days in the late 1940s.
The longtime St. Charles coach, who graduated from Geneva in 1950, saw his former teams clash - and St. Charles East won the low-scoring 1940's-style affair, 39-34.
It was great to see Johnson, who was already in his 15th year at the helm of the Saints when I first came along to cover his team in 1978. He's been honored by every high school in the region for his contributions to basketball.
It was a night for all long-timers as fellows like former St. Charles athletic directors Paul Bergeson and Wayne DeMaar were on hand, as well as former coach Dan Hall and super fan Dave Pichik, among others.
Geneva had a great contingent as well in honoring Johnson and Todd Searcy, the most ferocious middle linebacker the Vikings have ever had. Sarah Landau, arguably the most prolific athlete these parts has ever known based on her national status in pole vaulting, was also honored.
With all of the hoopla for the former and current athletes, it was an excellent touch when Geneva High School Principal Tom Rogers asked the crowd to acknowledge public address announcer Kurt Wehrmeister, who was calling his final game for Geneva.
Wehrmeister had announced earlier last month that he wanted to step down from the role as the voice of the Vikings, after doing it since 1974.
This guy will be missed. I have never heard a more exciting and devoted public address announcer, or national anthem singer, at a high school game.
For the horses: The Field of Dreams Horse Rescue and Adoption organization will get a boost from funds raised at two events that should elicit plenty of laughs in addition to dollars.
A Bunco Night on Friday at the Campton Township Community Center and a performance at Zanies on March 18 are scheduled for the group. Information is at fodhra.org.
Are they nervous?: It's just a matter of polishing up a couple of techniques and making sure your arms and legs do what they are supposed to do.
That's basically where the mindset should be for the six couples competing in Saturday's "Dancing with the Geneva Stars" event at Eagle Brook Country.
Will they be nervous for the show? Of course. But a little nervous tension before a big event is a good thing. It means you care and will likely do just fine.
Is there a chance that once you get in front of hundreds of people, you'll forget everything you learned? No. You're doing the dance twice in rehearsal before anyone even shows up at the country club - and that does wonders. An instructor once told me not to worry about dancing in front of other people, because they're not likely to know whether you did something right or wrong.
He is right.
Mostly, this will be fun. Probably the most you have had during the winter around here in a long time.
dheun@sbcglobal.net