• Wes Bloomquist •
• Originally published July 26, 2008 at 12:15 a.m., updated July 26, 2008 at 12:15 a.m.

Chances are slim to none that John Mares sat up at night this summer thinking about personal milestones.

There probably isn’t a secret scrapbook of newspaper clippings under his bed and he isn’t missing sleep while writing in a diary about his 13-year head coaching career at St. Joseph high school.

But there is a milestone reachable for the Flyers coach this season.

Mares, who took over the head coaching duties at St. Joseph in 1996, is only 10 wins shy of 100 victories.

He led the Flyers to a 6-4 record his first season and has only two losing seasons on his resume. St. Joseph has won 10 games each of the past two seasons, including going 10-2 and picking up a TAPPS 3-5A championship last year.

“My mind set has always been to take it one game at a time,” said Mares, who enters this year with a 90-42 overall record. “I’m not worried about my record at all. We’re just getting ready for another season.”

Mares and the Flyers begin their 2008 campaign next Monday with the start of three-a-days. St. Joseph’s linemen show up at 7:30 a.m. to start the practices which run all day with everyone preparing for their first game on Aug. 29 at Refugio.

Mares said he liked what he saw out of his kids this summer in the weight room and on the field, but that he’s ready to start his 13th season.

“Our kids responded well all summer,” Mares said. “It was hot but they didn’t let it stop them from having good workouts. Now it’s time to put the real stuff on.”

St. Joseph is looking to replace some key members from its team last season and took steps in that process over the summer. The Flyers graduated running back Brett Stanford, who broke the single-season rushing record at the school last year, and its quarterback Kyle Kotzur. Still, St. Joseph is in good position with experienced players along its offensive and defensive lines as it enters the season.

“I think a good attitude and work ethic is all we are really looking for on the first day,” Mares said. “We just want everyone to be ready to go. The main thing we did this summer was have open gym where they come in and work out. The summer camps get them ready to go once we start the season. Our kids always come out and give great effort.”

Mares said he is interviewing coaches to fill out his staff this week and is looking forward to starting this season.

“We’re getting our coaching staff together so when the first day rolls around we’re ready,” he said. “This is always an exciting time.”

Wes Bloomquist is a sports writer at the Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6509 or wbloomquist@vicad.com, or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.

• 1996 - 6-4

  1997 - 9-2

  1998 - 4-6

  1999 - 1-9

  2000 - 7-3

  2001 - 8-3

  2002 - 12-1

  2003 - 8-3

  2004 - 8-4

  2005 - 7-3

  2006 - 10-3

  2007- 10-2

  St. Joseph Flyers

  ...
• SHOW ALL »

1996 - 6-4

1997 - 9-2

1998 - 4-6

1999 - 1-9

2000 - 7-3

2001 - 8-3

2002 - 12-1

2003 - 8-3

2004 - 8-4

2005 - 7-3

2006 - 10-3

2007- 10-2

St. Joseph Flyers

All games at 7:30 p.m.

8/29 - at Refugio

9/5 - at Schulenburg

9/12 - Austin St. Andrews

9/19 - Second Baptist at El Campo

9/26 - Pope John Paul II

10/3 - Open

10/10 - Giddings State School

10/17 - at San Marcos Baptist

10/24 - at San Antonio TMI

10/31 - Hyde Park Baptist

11/7 - San Antonio Christian

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