Post Championship Letters
This section contains letters (E-mail), received after the Knights won the Class 3A Championship. You can send your Congratulations by simply clicking here Knights football message.
Date: Sun, 07 Dec 1997 20:15:27 -0200
From: Marcelo Kekligian <marcelok@nvc.com.br>
Congratulations to all team members !! We have been following from Sao Paulo - Brazil, knights football games and we were sure that a team tha has Shaun Wenz only would end as State Champions!!
The final game was unbelievable! I want you to know that you have international fans. Congratulations from Brazil!!
By the way, you have an amazing web page!!
Marcelo Kekligian - Sao Paulo - Brazil
Date: Tue, 09 Dec 97 17:31:14 PST
From: "Jan Carlson" <janc@elnet.com>
Several weeks ago I discovered the Knights web page and was very impressed. Today, it was my pleasure to present a motion before the County Board honoring the football champs and their coach. It is my hope to make a formal presentation to the coach at the meeting of the board to be held the second Tuesday in January.
Congratulations to the Knights, and a special thanks to those who developed this page and have kept it current. Its a big (and often a thankless) job.
Jan Carlson
POBox 90, Elburn, IL 60119
Tel 630.365.2414 / Fax 630.365.2992
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 01:58:53 -0500 (EST)
From: KANELAND@aol.com
The "1997" Kaneland Knights Football (14-0) season finalized with a State Championship Title was a unbelievable experience, topped only by my marriage to my wonderful wife and the birth of my children.
The "1997" Kaneland Knights entire Football Organization provided more than 14 weeks of GREAT feelings and the experience of accomplishing what many others will only dream about. The Knights accomplished what many area political officials could not. They UNITED several communities, bringing together thousands of people who all believed in the cause and supported the efforts towards accomplishment in anyway possible.
The Knights provided QUALITY time for families to attend a function that the entire family could enjoy and feel good about for days afterwards. The Knights set a high standard of SPORTSMANSHIP, LEADERSHIP, and CLASS that will be felt and remembered in this community for many years to follow.
By leading by example, our competitors of the future will need only to follow the path paved by their "1997" MENTOR"S in order to receive the deserved RESPECT that our Kaneland Knights now have.
As for me, I have attended Kaneland Knights Football games for the past several years. I remember that finding a spot at the fence line came quite easily. I remember frustrated coaches, quite fans, and oh yes not having to wait in line for food or drink. During the last 3 years however, I remember that I must leave early to secure my spot on the fence line, happy coaches, very loud and proud fans, time management when it came to getting in line in time to get my pork chop sandwich and make it back to my spot before the start of the second half, and the many new friends I made during the halftime breaks.
I remember it was FANtastic Anyway you look at it the "1997" Kaneland Knights Football Team has accomplished and provided many good things that has and will continue to provide positive results long after these STATE CHAMPIONS are out in the world on their own.
I would like to congradulate and thank the Kaneland Knights Football Team, their Coaching Staff, and the Athletic Department for allowing me to participate in their DREAM. (SEE YOU NEXT SEASON)
Respectfully;
Ricky A. Thomas
Fan Forever
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 22:42:35 PST
From: "eman wit" <radioern@hotmail.com>
I saw you guys on TV and let me tell you, they looked good. Too bad that the Devils did not get a shot at it. If the devils played their best it would have been a good game. I still think that Kaneland might have pulled it off.
ERNIE WHITE
Spring Valley Hall Red Devil Radio Announcer
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 1997 23:16:27 -0600
From: "Kevin Landers"
<landers@mc.net>
I just wanted to congratulate you on your Class 3A state championship. I hope you enjoy it, because I'm sure it is something you will remember for the rest of your life.
I was more than a little upset on Friday evening when I discovered our local
cable company wasn't broadcasting SportsChannel Plus. Fortunately, I was able
to barely pick up WSPY. I didn't expect it to come in up here, but it did.
I taped the game when it was replayed on SC at 12:30. I watched the game
Saturday afternoon. What a game! The only way Harrisburg could score was on a
trick play! Hmmm.....that sounds familiar. It looks like the best football in
the state is played up north. Do they ever throw the ball down south?
I don't think there is much doubt who the best 3A team in the state was this year. You guys earned it. Congratulations on a great season!
Kevin Landers
Marian Central senior defensive back, #12
Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 08:26:27 -0600
From: "Jamie Zylinski"
<983846JZ@D302.KANE.K12.IL.US>
Nice Job Knights!!!!
Congratulations on your State win!!!
Big Country #33
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 1997 00:29:03 -0500 (EST)
From: Clanashton@aol.com
Having grown up in Elburn, I was past suprised to hear about this web site. After looking around the site, I must say I'm impressed. Thanks for a link to my old home town.
Dan Ashton,
Kaneland Class of "76"
HC71 Box11,Eagle
Nest,N.M.87718.
Clanashton@aol.com.
P.S. congats to the Knights on an outstanding season!!!
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 1997 11:12:16 -0500
From: dashton@lcp.com (Dave
Ashton)
Hey Knights,
Congratulations on a perfect season and on winning the state
championship!!! Keep up the great work with all your sports teams! Makes me
proud to be a graduate of KHS.
Also, your web site rocks!! Super job! (and I do web site support as part of my job.)
Again, Congratulations and . . . G O K N I G H T S ! ! ! !
Dave Ashton class of '72
dave.ashton@westgroup.com
West
Group
Rochester, NY
Date: Sun, 30 Nov 1997 14:29:00 -0500 (EST)
From: LinDav1@aol.com
It's been exciting and a real joy to watch the Knights win the state championship. We look forward to many more years of the same with the upcoming teams.
The Stevens Family
Date: Sun, 30 Nov 1997 13:15:57 -0600
From: "mclaesson"<muz@elnet.com>
Congratulations to everyone connected with this wonderful accomplishment in winning the 3A Championship. Our heartiest congratulations to all who helped the team and coaches achieve such a memorable milestone.
It was a delight to follow the game on TV as well as your website and to be able to "talk" with you in this manner. Keep up the hard work and determination to achieve another championship in the future....you have certainly made your community proud.
Ken and Mary Claesson, (parents of former Kaneland students, Rhonda and Robert).
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 1997 23:58:06 -0500 (EST)
From: KARBIZ@aol.com
Thank-you for the exciting season. We appreciate being a part of your history making year. We had a ball.
It was quite an experience watching you "men" from your winning 8th grade season thru a 1997 State Title. What an accomplishment! Best of luck to all of you!
The Parrilli's and Knoerzer's
P.S. Maybe Kyle can be on Couch Thorgeson's winning team of 2014!!!
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 1997 20:20:47 +0000
From: KHoinkes <KHoinkes@chicago.avenew.com>
Congratulations to the 3A State Champion Kaneland Knights! Your team and coaches certainly deserve this honor. The team played well today and throughout the season. Kaneland has a lot to be proud of!
-Coach Karl Hoinkes and the Oswego Panther football team
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 1997 21:09:22 -0600
From: "ann and bill
collett" <collett@mychoice.net>
Hi: I am from Harrisburg and an ardent Bulldog fan. We had a good team this year. You don't not have a good team when you are 13-2!!! I got to say, however, you guys have one of the best, most balanced best coached team I think I have ever seen.
We play some pretty darn football down here but I don't see how we could have beaten you. I do know, however, we are much better than we looked. I wish that our super running back had been able to play. He gained over a 1000 yds. and only played in half the games. Think you would have gotten us anyhow.
Congratulations and "wait til next year".
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 1997 00:58:51 EST
From: Yfsg4254 <Yfsg4254@aol.com>
Congratulations to Coach Thorgeson and all the members of the Kaneland High School Football Team on an unforgettable year and the 3A State Football Championship.
Ernie Campbell
Kaneland Footbal Fan
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 1997 03:27:11 -0500
From: Christopher Ryan Spencer <polevault@mindspring.com>
Kaneland football players and coaches,
Congratulations on an excellent
season!!!!! I just found out about the State Championship and the KHS web page
and had to write to express my excitement.
Having played on the teams that struggled through the tough Little 7 seasons, I cannot imagine the excitement around Kaneland. I am now living and coaching out in Western Maryland, so I have not made it home for games. I have however followed your season very closely.
I can honestly say that it brought chills to my spine when I read about the win against Morris. I know the guys I played with who have younger brothers on the team (Troy and Jason) really experienced that excitement through their brothers. And then to hear about your dominance throughout the play-offs was icing on the cake.
Coach Thorgesen and Coach Kearny have put in many seasons of hard work and really deserve this as much as anyone around. It is time they get what they deserve.
Again, Congratulations to everyone involved. I look forward to seeing and congratulating many of you over Christmas break.
WAY TO GO KANELAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Continued Success,
Chris Spencer
Class of 1993
P.S. Feel free to e-mail me anytime at polevault@mindspring.com
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 1997 08:55:47 -0600
From: dmartin@cornell-iowa.edu
Is Wave Player available for use on a Mac? Both my husband, Bob Martin, '67 and myself, Diane Pingel Martin, '69 are Kaneland grads. We live in Wheaton and my husband refused to go to the games since we had not been to games in years even both he and my brother are former players.
Once we found out about your site in the Elburn Herald I started checking it several times in the last few weeks and also shared the info with my two brothers, also Kaneland grads who have Windows platforms. They were both quite impressed with your web site as we were. Thank you for all your time and effort on this site on behalf of present and former Kaneland students. I would still like to be able to bring up some of the sound bites if possible.
To finally see the game last night we first called and went to Chili's in Wheaton since they told us they had Sport Channel Plus which the announcers on Sports Channel had been saying late in the day the game would be broadcast on live. We got there and they were not able to bring it in so we just searched for a sports bar with a dish and ended up at Satisfied Frog in Warrenville. At least we heard all the first half and saw all the second.
Congratulations to a fine effort by the team, coaches and school.
Thank you for your help.
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 1997 10:40:05 -0500 (EST)
From: HolmTalk@aol.com
I may be from Yorkville, and you may have kicked us bad this year - But I am very happy for you and excited for you all. Congratulations on a great victory.
What a wonderful thrill for you all.
Anita Holmgren Yorkville
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 1997 17:07:16 -0800
From: Dan Ragan <dragan@midamer.net>
Congratulations on your state championship! We, here in Harrisburg, realize that the Bulldogs played a superior team that Friday. You have some really fine fine players! We'll be back!
Hope to see as classy a team next time!
Dan Ragan
dragan@midamer.net