GENOA COACHES RESPOND TO DRUG TESTING POLICY

An Ever-Teetering Tax Levy.

The clamor of the construction of a new football facility that in any
other school district would sound like bells ringing in a new day, but
in this community resembles one final good night for a forever
darkened, 70-year-old stadium and Genoa institution in Bergman Field.

A pay-to-play policy that in the face of a languishing economy looks
to charge athletes $125, $100, and $75 to participate in sports.

As the school prepares to embark upon what traditionally has been
known as a time of year signifying fresh beginnings, new chances to
shine in the classroom, and ever-fleeting moments to carve one's name
and legend in the dusty annals of local athletic lore, the Genoa
faculty finds itself entering the fall of 2004 divided down the middle
on these issues.

Yet, they stand united on the school's mandatory drug testing program,
implemented in 2003 and designed to screen student athletes against
the harmful use of nearly every kind of recreational and performance
enhancing substance.

The penalties for testing positive for such agents range from an
athlete losing up to 20 percent of his or her season as well as being
enrolled in a drug counseling program and a nicotine class for a first
offense; being denied participation in sports and being enrolled in a
clean-up program for a full calendar year for a second offense; and
being outright banned from ever wearing a silver and maroon uniform
again for a third.

One thing is for certain - the parents of prep in small towns like
Genoa have to be sleeping a little easier these days knowing that at
least a little something is being done by their educators to keep
football players, hoopsters, and cheerleaders, and tomorrow's leaders
of society in good, safe hands...

"I don't think we've necessarily ever had a stronger problem than any
of the other neighboring schools in this area, it's just that we
finally took a look at what pioneers such as Lake and Otsego were
doing to change the youth culture and keep their kids' minds and
bodies clean and safe, and we felt it was time for Genoa to get on
board. It's not that we're trying to out our students, or even
humiliate or bust them. What we're hopefully doing is primarily
preventative. We're attempting to keep them from making bad decisions
that could ultimately ruin some of the best years of their lives and
their very futures on the basis that if they do use, they know that
they will get caught." - Athletic Director Mike Thomas on why drug
testing at Genoa was implemented.

"We can basically test for anything. I can't divulge the particulars
because that would give it away, and as we all know students can be
quite inventive in the ways they try to get around things. What I can
tell you is that the procedure is virtually fail safe from start to
finish and includes the student going to the testing site where he/she
is told to empty his/her pockets, wash his/her hands, and is then
given a cup to collect a urine sample in. Meanwhile, there's a monitor
on duty to watch the whole sequence. It works so well that out of the
500 or so kids we've tested each year so far, only a small handful
have tested positive." - Thomas on the effectiveness of the program
and how it works.

"I think that such policies have definitely become necessary tools
with the way the world is today. After all, if you have programs like
this anchored in place, maybe it'll help kids make wiser decisions. If
not, then it wouldn't be difficult at all for me to suspend a player
from my team, regardless of what his name is, how good of a season
he's having, or whether the ultimate success of my squad relies on his
presence or not. I guess I believe that a team leader places himself
in the spotlight not only by the way he performs on the playing field
or the course, but through how he sets an example to those players who
look up to him. Therefore, if he uses drugs, he must not be interested
in setting good examples, in leading his team, or in playing period.
And that would go for my own children, as well." - Golf coach Tom Pickerel.

"It's a shame that it's come down to this, but I definitely feel that
it's a necessary thing to do. Would I have a problem suspending one of
my players for using? Sure I would. But at the same time, it would be
something I wouldn't hesitate to do. I'm a firm believer in tough
love, and if one of my own kids got into trouble of this variety and I
knew that the only way they would ever really learn is by taking
something away that they loved and by showing them that there is a
steep price to pay, then I wouldn't hesitate to do it." - Soccer coach
Dave Bertz.

"Thus far here at Genoa I haven't had any problems with any of my
girls using drugs. As a matter of fact, what I've encountered is that
all of the athletes, students, fans, and people of the community
pretty much seem to be on the up and up. Actually, this situation is
really a breath of fresh of air for me when you consider the state of
the outside world. It makes me feel good. It makes me feel confident
that we're all trusting in one another, and that we're all reading the
same page. The page that reads that the Comets are winners in all
aspects of their scholastic careers. Maybe the drug testing policy
helps enforce that excellent attitude. If so, I'm all for it.
Especially if it helps some poor kid who has a problem get the help
he/she needs."-Softball coach Tom Kontak.

"I'm absolutely in favor of it. After all, if it enables us as
nurturers of the future leaders of our world to identify the athletes
with problems and then help them to get the care that they need, then
we've done our jobs as coaches, teachers, and caretakers. Because what
are our responsibilities as educators, if not to take care of our
children and see that they grow up into well-rounded adults, with all
of the possibilities of a healthy future intact?" - Cross country and
track coach Dave Miller.

"If it were my own kids growing up in today's world and going through
the system, I'd be happy to have them tested every day. Winning and
being a good athlete is important, but in my mind keeping the kids
safe, away from bad influences, and getting them the help they may
need is far and above any championship." - Baseball coach Danny Clayton.