New Year For Bigger, Stronger Bulldogs

DAYTON - Ask Dayton junior Garett Turner what he's looking forward to most this basketball season and you'll get a typically short and to-the-point Turner re­ply: "Success." Turner is one of 11 boys on Dayton's varsity squad this year, a group of young men who have, with little exception, been playing ball together since grade school, according to senior Dain Henderson. "I think we're going to have a good season," Hender­son said. "We're expected to have a good season, so hope­fully we'll be able to live up to that expectation." All but a couple of boys on the varsity squad, includ­ing Turner and Henderson, just finished up a better-than-expected football season.

"We played with a lot of heart all football season, and I think that will carry over to other sports hopefully until I graduate," said junior Colton Bickelhaupt. The Bulldogs football team made it to the playoffs and took fourth place in the league despite just one win during the regular season. Without hesitation, Hender­son, Bickelhaupt and others on the team will tell you what's behind their enthusi­astic spirit. "We will continue to play for Andrew Groom just like we did in football," Hender­son said. The memory of this friend and teammate, who died earlier this year at age 16, has had a profound effect on the Bulldogs. Groom, a beloved member of both the football and basketball squads, has become the heart of the Bulldogs' game, whether out on the field or inside on the court. "It's also been a long time since Dayton's been to state (in basketball), so we're motivated to get there," Bick­elhaupt said. Head coach Roy Ramirez believes this motivation and the football team's exciting post-season could carry his team a long way.

"Dean (Bickelhaupt) did a great job with these guys in football," Ramirez said. "They came out of there with one of the best attitudes I've ever seen them come out of football. Yeah, their win-lose record wasn't the best, but I think they won in other ways this year." Ramirez, who's in his third year as coach of the boys' team, said he's excited for the coming season. The entire squad is returning this year. "The guys are ready to get out there," he said. "Last year they were all really young, and at times they didn't make good decisions. A heck of a lot of shots didn't finished."

"But that's part of the pro­cess of learning to play var­sity ball," he said. "They've gotten bigger, stronger over the summer, and they're one year older. I'm hoping we have a good year. I expect us to do well." Ramirez believes the 27 boys that make up the com­bined JV and varsity team are in for some tough competi­tion this year. "This year we will have one of the most competitive leagues we've had in a long time," he said. "I don't think anybody's going to run away with it this year. I think we'll have to fight to the end." The Bulldogs play their first game Tuesday against Tekoa-Oakesdale at 7 p.m.

Dayton BulldogsBoys' Varsity Team

Dain Henderson Jason Norris Seth Jackson Garett Turner Colton Bickelhaupt Kroft Sunderland Joe Schlacter Hayden Fullerton Wyatt Frame Isaiah Lambert Jacob McCleary

Head Coach: Roy Ramirez Assistant Coach: Clayton Strong Volunteer Coaches:

Jason Mings, Michael

Field, Brian Rust

Girls' Varsity Team

Samura Miller Nicole Lambert Darci Hall Shelby Smith Mckayla Bickelhaupt Jessica Tate Malia Frame Courtney Fuller Courtney Mings

Head Coach: Scott Hudson Assistant Coach: Nikki Fullerton Assistant Coaches: Andee Thurston, Willie Tate