ND'S NENNINGER TO STEP DOWN AS SOCCER COACH

One of the truly nice guys on the area coaching scene, Notre Dame High soccer coach Wayne Nenninger, is stepping down.

Nenninger, a long-time teacher and coach at Notre Dame, announced recently that he was calling it quits after six years as boss of the Bulldogs, although he will continue to teach at the school.

"Personal reasons head the list, of which my son's graduation plays a part, for this departure," said Nenninger. "I love the game of soccer, even though I had never played it before. I plan on being around the sport by officiating games at different levels for both CAYSA and high school matches."

Nenninger, a Cape Girardeau native and a 1964 graduate of Notre Dame, has taught at the school for 21 years. His background was primarily in basketball and he assisted current Southeast Missouri State University women's coach Ed Arnzen for nine years while Arnzen was the head boys coach at Notre Dame.

"I then got out of coaching for five years," explained Nenninger. "When soccer first started at Notre Dame, Joe Gilmore ran it on a club basis for four years. When soccer became a varsity sport, someone on the staff had to take it. Joe asked me if I would.

"I said I'd take it on a one-year basis. Then, with my son coming up, I thought I'd stay through and coach while he was on the team."

Now Nenninger's son, Eric, is a senior, so Wayne figured this was a perfect opportunity to let somebody else take over the program.

"With as big as soccer is getting in this area, I felt it would be good for somebody who really has a soccer background to take over the program," he said.

Even though Nenninger had no soccer background, he didn't take his position lightly or halfheartedly. He spent countless hours trying his best to learn the game and the results were not shabby.

Under Nenninger, the Bulldogs went 42-46-7 in varsity play and 30-25-7 on the junior varsity level. The varsity Bulldogs had two winning records and finished second in the 1987 district tournament.

"The record isn't very impressive but my emphasis wasn't on winning games for the sake of a win," Nenninger said. "I devoted much of the time on developing a positive attitude on playing a sport within the rules of the game and trying at the same time to instill Christian values.

"I take great pride in knowing that I had the opportunity to work with the sons and daughters of very supportive fans and I will always treasure those experiences."

Nenninger leaves his coaching duties with fond memories, not the least of which was his final regular-season game.

"The last game of the regular season was against Cape Central and we won," Nenninger said. "The very first game of my coaching career we also beat Cape Central. So that's kind of nice.

"I've had some really good memories and I've totally enjoyed it."

Nenninger isn't sure who will become the new Notre Dame soccer coach, but he hopes whoever that is gets as much out of it as he did.

"My true hope for Notre Dame High School is that whoever takes over as coach will have as much enjoyment as I had and will be given the same amount of support from the parents, fans and booster club," he said.

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Congratulations are in order for Vicki Lohmann, a former basketball standout at Perryville High School and currently an assistant coach for the Lady Pirates.

Lohmann will be inducted into the John A. Logan College Hall of Fame this Saturday's in Carterville, Ill., where the junior college is located.

Lohmann, who also played at Southeast Missouri State University, starred for Logan in 1985 and 1986. She was a key member of the first Logan women's team to participate in the junior college national tournament (third place, 1986).

During her two years at Logan, Lohmann made all-conference twice and all-region and all-national tournament in 1986. She finished her juco career as the school's second all-time leading scorer and rebounder. She is also second in most field goals made during a career and season.

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If Tonia Harris isn't the best female high school guard in the state, then she's certainly among the top few.

Harris, Scott County Central's 5-foot-5 senior who will play for Southeast Missouri next season, put on quite a show last week as the Bravettes won the Charleston Tournament. Harris averaged better than 30 points for the three-game tourney and she had 36 in Saturday's finals against Perryville.

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While Scott Central's girls are the cream of the crop in the immediate Southeast Missourian coverage area, Kelly's Lady Hawks aren't that far behind.

Kelly is having a sensational season with a 17-5 record prior to Monday night. The Class 2A Lady Hawks own impressive victories over Jackson and Cape Central, a pair of 4A schools.

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District basketball tournaments aren't too far off and probably the most interesting one around should be the Class 3A, District 1 affair at New Madrid County Central.

Trying to pick a winner in that one is nearly impossible. Things are so balanced, six of the seven teams actually appear to have a legitimate chance at bringing home the title.

Two-time defending 3A state champion Charleston has already lost to district foes Malden and Kennett. All three squads, along with host New Madrid, Dexter and Caruthersville, are extremely capable.