Nineteen years of covering girls basketball on the hardwood and 18 seasons of football coverage on the gridiron for The St. Ignace Saints News continues, and each year the passion for athletics grows.

This preview is dedicated to my dad and also to my wife. The first six months of 2005 was spent with many mixed emotions as my father, Ted Latva, succumbed to cancer and passed away May 19, but on the opposite side my wife, Kim, and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary June 28. During my tenure with The St. Ignace News, my dad and Kim have always been very supportive, which has made my job much easier to do.

The decision to keep the sports alignment in the same season is very favorable to the area coaches. The decision affected not only girls basketball and volleyball, but also boys golf for the SAC teams and soccer for Mackinac Island.

The head coaches will stay the same, with the exception of Cedarville and DeTour with the coop program for football beginning with the 2005 season.

There's a lot of work involved in putting together this preview, and without the help of the entire staff, it would not be possible. Thanks to Wes and Mary Maurer, Dawn Huskey, Wendy Colegrove, Ellen Paquin, Sherry Cece, Steve Underwood, Ryan Schlehuber, Debbie Sterk, Jeff Metz, Marty Wolski, Amy Polk, Karen Gould, Lisa Zyble, Kerri Fountain, Rick Caldwell, Eileen Nye, and Joe Mielke.

The preview includes the St. Ignace Saints girls basketball, football, golf, cross country, cheerleading, and marching band, Cedarville Trojans girls basketball, football, and cross country, Engadine Eagles girls basketball and football, Pickford Panthers girls basketball, and football, DeTour Raiders girls basketball, Mackinaw City Comets girls basketball, Brimley Bays girls basketball and football, and Rudyard Bulldogs girls basketball and football.

The SAC continues to change, with Rogers City and Lincoln-Alcona dropping out for football and Cedarville and Pickford remaining as part of the league for cross country.

After years of St. Ignace dominating girls basketball, Sault High won the conference title last season, but this year the league will have a stronger balance.

Newberry won the SAC football title last year, and this season Cheboygan and Sault High will be the front-runners for the league crown.

The Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference (EUPC) girls basketball race will be one of the toughest in recent memories with Cedarville, Pickford, and Engadine as the teams to beat, but Brimley and DeTour will have a say in the league title.

The gridiron season in the EUPC will balance, with any team capable on any given night. Teams must come ready to play.

Mackinaw City returns junior varsity players that will help their program and overall strength in the Northern Lakes Conference.

In the SAC cross country the Cedarville Trojans, defending league, and Upper Peninsula state champions will be the favorite in both the boys and girls divisions.

This will be another exciting year on the hardwood, gridirion, golf, and cross country courses. Thanks, to all the coaches and athletic directors, for their support to this preview and during the upcoming season. Good luck to all the teams.