It doesn’t seem possible that a year has gone by since I had the privilege of becoming sports editor at the Whidbey News-Times. Time seems to fly by when you’re having fun.

And what a year it has been!

State championships, a new stadium, a new athletic director, new friends — shoot, I even got the low down on how to catch pinks.

Just like a kid on his birthday, I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Well, maybe to have some publisher pick up one of my book manuscripts so I can be a wealthy sports editor.

Because this is my anniversary with the newspaper the kid, (you have to have a little bit of kid in you to be a sports editor), has a wish list for the fall sports season.

Sort of like Christmas in September minus the chubby guy in the red suit and his reindeer. But then again it is archery season, so maybe the sliver slingers would like eight more targets to shoot at.

First of all, I would like the Oak Harbor Wildcats to win the state football championship again.

Guys, the 2006 season was a real blast. What do you say about a repeat? Keeping in that particular vein, let’s start things off with winning the first home playoff game in recent memory at the new stadium.

Second, I would like to see the Coupeville High School soccer team win a couple of Cascade League games this fall.

Come to think of it, four or five victories would be nice — maybe even more. There is a lot of talent on that team and every player is a hard worker.

They justly deserve to be rewarded.

Then I would truly like to see a couple of Oak Harbor tennis players make it through the district tournament to reach state competition.

Again, the team has a bunch of experienced, talented players, particularly in singles, and I would like to see how they match up against some schools where they have indoor facilities and play tennis year round.

Another wish is for the Coupeville football team to make it through the first round of the playoffs and show folks around the state that we also have a championship caliber class 1A team on Whidbey Island.

I coached at a small high school in years past and I know the pride it gives the players and fans to win a playoff game.

My friend Steve Barker, (us silver-haired guys gotta stick together), is now coaching fall as well as spring soccer.

The team, like the coach, has that go-go type of attitude and it is my hope the Wildcats can have a successful year after a couple of rough ones.

Yet another wish is for the Oak Harbor volleyball team to reach the playoffs. The team has fallen just short the past two seasons and it’s time for the seniors to make it to state.

Finally, coach Erika Miller promised the swim team if two individuals and two relay teams qualified for the state meet, she would get the paw-print tattooed on her ankle.

That would look cute just above or opposite of the seahorse she already has. What would happen if the team exceeded it’s qualifying goals? We can only speculate.

Anyway, that’s my wish list for the fall.

Most importantly, the fans need to get out and support their favorite teams so we all can make the magic happen.

Happy holidays.