Great year for Redskins’ Athletic Teams

Dave Fredrick
Tribune Recorder Leader

After several years of some athletic programs strugglin

g with consistency and participation, the 2014-2015 sports season at Sandusky was one to remember. A number of teams earned league and district championships, with individuals landing spots on various State Finals platforms.
Athletic Director and girls basketball coach Al DeMott said he is proud of everyone, the parents, coaches and the players. “It was a great year for the Redskins,” said the longtime A.D. and coach. “I can remember in the 80s and 90s, all of our teams were pretty good. The programs all had good numbers and the coaching staff did a great job. Top to bottom, the sports teams all had winning seasons for quite a while there.”
DeMott, who guided his girls hoops team to league and district championships, added, “it’s nice to see us returning to that kind of success. Everyone has worked hard to get to where we are. I felt every athletic program had a successful season. Not all won championships, but showed nice improvement and had some good wins.”
With success comes hard work and determination, and it starts with the A.D. DeMott said he feels good about the coaching staff the district has assembled. “Our coaches have done a great job and are super with the athletes. Sandusky is fortunate to have the coaching staff we do,” he pointed out. “Of, course, the athletes have worked hard and put in a lot of time practicing to get better too.” ZdeMott wondered aloud, “without the support of the parents, where would we be?”
DeMott said the athletic program won, “the most district championships that we have in a long time.”
In the fall, the Redskin Equestrian team captured district and regional honors while the football team, under the direction of Craig Jacobson, finished strong – reeling off five consecutive wins to land them a spot in the post season play-offs. The cross country teams enjoyed a solid season, with the boys team being a state qualifier and the girls team sending one of their athletes to the Finals. The tennis team also had an individual state qualifier.
This past winter was a thrilling one for Sandusky, with both basketball teams providing banner seasons as well as the wrestling and bowling teams. “This was one of our best winter seasons, top to bottom with all of the teams, that I can remember,” said DeMott. “They all did a great job.”
The bowling teams rolled to league championships and qualified for the State Finals with the boys team capturing a regional crown along the way. The wrestling team, under the direction of Coach Mike Stolicker, won a district crown in thrilling fashion and sent a number of individual wrestlers to the State Finals.
On the hardwood, the boys basketball team had probably the most dramatic win of the season, at the best possible time. Senior Connor Green hit a shot as time expired to life the Redskins past Marlette to win a district championship. The girls enjoyed another great season under DeMott, winning league and district titles before bowing out of the tournament.
In the spring, the Redskin golf team enjoyed a solid year under Coach Brian Jones, winning the GTC championship. Danny Franzel’s softball squad earned a piece of the GTC crown and another district title while both the boys and girls track teams sent individuals to the State Finals.
“We want to keep things rolling in a positive direction,” DeMott pointed out. “I think the Sandusky athletic program is in good shape and we’ll just keep working hard.”
It starts all over again in a few days as the 2015-2016 fall sports teams begin conditioning and practice drills. First scheduled contests are slated for later in August