Once again, it’s that time of year that we all have an opportunity to be grateful and say thanks. Times have been extremely difficult and challenging with everything going on in the world today. However, we have faced each day with a positive attitude and have worked extremely hard to make each and every day a new best. As a result, please allow me once again this opportunity to publicly be Thankful. Have a great Thanksgiving weekend and stay safe. Now to the reasons for my gratitude: I continue to have tremendous gratitude for my wife Shanna, two stepdaughters and the grandkids, Mason, Charlotte, and Beatrice (an A.D.’s wife and stepdaughters must be understanding souls, my hours are not family friendly) and my deep appreciation for our service men and women protecting our freedom around the world during these trying times. As Lebanon Athletic Director, the first group that I want to publicly thank is our student-athletes, after all, they are the reason I love my job. The athletes at Lebanon High School are smart, challenging, funny, frustrating, witty, complex, competitive, friendly, and worthy of our effort. I am thankful for all of them and humbled by the opportunity to even attempt to make a difference in their lives. I am thankful for the parents of our athletes. Lebanon parents are supportive with their time, money, and emotions. It is clear that they love their children, and I am grateful that they entrust us with their most prized possession(s). Special thanks to our parent volunteers who donate time and energy to manning concession stands, helping to run tournaments and be a part of the Lebanon Sports Boosters. I am thankful for our fans, those who do not have children in school but still faithfully back the Tigers year in and year out. I am thankful for our coaches! The job of today’s coaches is even more demanding and emotionally draining than any of them could have possibly anticipated when they decided to become a coach. The level of play, the competition, and the expectations of a community such as Lebanon is pressure packed. Yet, these men and women meet the challenges daily with enthusiasm, optimism, and pride. They have earned the greatest title on earth . . . “Coach” and I am proud to work with them. They are Simply the Best! I am thankful for our Athletic Administrative Assistant Missy Bradburn. She is extremely dependable and is responsible for many of the vital “day to day” operations. Without her assistance, our student athletes and coaches would not be successful. I thank Wade Thatcher who has provided his time and effort in helping to assist the Athletic Office with their everyday needs. His willingness to stream our home athletic events, manage our athletic programs, assist with team and individual pictures, and managing the online ticketing program is truly appreciated. He has a “whatever it takes” attitude, willing to do anything that meets the needs of our student athletes and athletic programs. I am thankful for Amanda Stevens who cares so much about our students and community. She has helped manage the ticket takers and given up her personal time to assist with our athletic programs. She is Simply the Best! Thanks to Faith Hale who cleans all our student athlete’s uniforms. And for Kevin Kays, Kevin McCurdy, James Kiplinger, Jacob Kays and Mike Wynkoop, our athletic grounds and facility crew for their efforts and contributions to prepare our sports fields for games. Special thanks to the Lebanon Parks Department and Director John Messenger and Billy Smith. To Rob Hull, Penny Stout, Axton Hale, Micaela Shue, Ben Thomas, Skylar Phillips and the entire custodian crew at LHS, a huge Thank You. I thank LMS AD Amanda Skobel, for all her help and support along with LMS Principal Doyle Dunshee. Their collaboration has helped all of us achieve success. To Adam Malsanka, Jeff Williams, Geoff Hammons, Shane Newlun, Gary Morrow, Kenny Culley and John Triller, I say thank you for your everyday electrical, maintenance and AC work and more importantly, helping to make my ideas work. I am grateful for Becky Nichols, Michael Reynolds, Deanna Hoskins, and Dave Miller, in our transportation office and all the bus drivers for getting us to games and home safely. I am thankful for great teachers & administration at all our LCSC buildings as well as our School Board, Lisa Hutcheson, Craig Parks, Jordan Clouser, Brett Havlin, and Trey Hendrick. They truly understand the impact and how important athletics is to the overall education process of our students. I thank the Central Office Administration & Staff, especially our Superintendent, Dr. Jon Milleman. I thank Zach Dennis, Connie Bruder, Brittney Robbins, Vicki Miller, Nicole Asbury, Melissa Moore, Kari Ottinger, Deanna Nibarger and Maravene Inman for helping with supervision, professional development and keeping the finances in order, allowing us to avoid that dreaded “pay to play” and/or “activity fee”. And for always putting the safety of our student athletes and needs first. I thank Lexi Buis for her help with social media and promoting the good work, accomplishments, and achievements of our student athletes. I thank Chad Martin for his assistance in scheduling facility usage. I thank Bronsen Smith, Isaak Hunckler and Will Renn for their help with our ever-changing technology. I thank Director of Guidance Megan Lewis, her Administrative Assistant Alexis Jones and counselors Susan Woosley, Regan Matthew and Lorie Schroeder for their academic help and support of our student athletes. I thank Linda Bartlow, Janna Langebartels, Jaci Coyle, Sara Forsythe, Michelle Howe and Paige Beard for keeping things running smoothly in the offices and clinic. Ultimately, helping our student athletes achieve success in the classroom and academic arena. I am blessed to work LHS Principal, Frank Meyer and Assistant Principals Bill Gee, Jeremy Rodibaugh, and Kristen Scott. All these folks are committed to putting children first and frequently must make the tough decisions that come with all leadership positions. I am thankful for our Witham Athletic Trainers Susan Glazebrook and Abby Hulen, and Witham Sports Medicine for providing our doctors, Dr. Herschell Services, and Dr. Daniel Kraft and Dr. Michael Hornbecker. I thank Strength and Conditioning Coaches Noah Rodgers and Josh Yoder. Noah and Josh have dedicated themselves to making sure our student athletes stay fit, increase their strength, endurance, flexibility, and speed to be able to perform their best in competition. In addition, they have helped to reduce injuries from occurring and to support student athletes in need of rehabilitation. I am grateful for the construction company Meyer Najem, especially project managers Mike Luse, Kassidy Boosler, and Steve Reeve. These individuals are working incredibly hard to provide our student-athletes with new, state-of-the-art facilities that will give our coaches and athletes the tools and equipment they need to improve performance and achieve great success. And they do it all while school is in session, working around our practice and game schedules, meeting our many needs, and keeping the construction mess to a minimum. ​ I am thankful for the IHSAA officials and official assigners who accept our criticism, anger, and biased opinions, for very little compensation. I am thankful for our consistent event workers over the years, ticket takers, bench officials, clock operators, announcers, concession workers, etc.; Jane and Jack Phillippo, Steve and Danna Bushman, Amanda Stevens, Rex Princell, Doug Curts, Greg Sickles, Tony Richardson, Andy Huse, Scott Hood, Holli Decker, Mark Arington, Greg Gibbs, Bill Conley, Joe LePage, Vince and Sharon Hollingsworth, Bob Lugenbeal, David Horn, Sarah Zell, Reagan LePage, Amy Stokes, Shelby Boling and Christen St. Martin. These individuals are well under paid but dependable and superb people that are dedicated and committed, regardless of the rain, cold, heat, snow, or high wind. I thank Stuart Anstead, Heather Wilson and all the workers in our Food Services Department. I thank the LCSC SRO’S especially Rob Hawkins at LHS and Chief of LCSC Police, Steve Smith along with all LPD for providing security at athletic events and keeping us all safe. I am thankful for the press and media who work so hard to honor and recognize our student athlete’s achievements. I thank Scott Carney from Radio Mom and Will Willems from the Lebanon Reporter. I am thankful for our Sponsors and Lebanon Sports Boosters. Without their (your) generosity, we would not be able to operate our athletic program. Gate receipts along with the donations we receive from fans and sponsorship are the life blood of the LHS Athletic Department. ​ I thank Booster President Natalie Parks, Vice President Mike Gramlin, Secretary Amy Stokes and Treasurer Shelby Boling, along with the rest of the booster team representatives and members. I am grateful for our opponents, especially the new schools in the Sagamore Conference and our local Boone County Schools. The A.D.’s, Coaches and Athletes that we compete against are first class and I love our relationship! And in conclusion, I am most grateful for the Lebanon Community. There it is; I am sure I have forgotten someone – if it is you, I apologize and want you to know that I am thankful for you too! Have a Happy Thanksgiving Day – I suspect you have much to be grateful for as well! Sincerely, Phil Levine CAA Lebanon High School Athletic Director