Dwayne Owens has over 15 years of coaching girls Fastpitch softball. Starting at the 8u level up to the 18u gold level with experience as a College Assistant at Lindenwood University – Belleville. Prior to joining the Cheetahs, Dwayne coached the Taylor Made Titans 12u Team where he brought a calm to a very toxic situation that existed prior to his arrival and helped those young ladies finish the year with several accolades (3rd Place Finish – PGF Schaumburg Sluggers, 2ndPlace Finish – ASA Game day USA – Taylor Made Titan Series#2, 3rd Place Finish – ASA Capital City Shootout, 2nd Place Battle of the Borders, 2nd Place ASA Metros). The team went on the next year to win several prestigious tournaments including Capital City Young Guns – ASA, Strike Out Cancer Tournament, Diamonds Memorial Day Classics – PGF, as well as a second place finish in the Battle of Borders tournament in Salem, WI – PGF). During the 2017 season the 12u team that Coach Owens is responsible for has already finished 1st in the USSSA Live the Dream Fall tournament, and 2nd in the Trojan Horse Tournament at Triton College – ASA.
Last year the 12u Cheetahs under Coach D.O’s leadership had an impressive inaugural season.
- 1st Place – Battle of the Borders
- 2nd place – Peoria Futures Championships
- 2nd Place – IL Gold National Qualifier
- 2nd Place – Palatine Stingray
- 3rd Place – PGF National Qualifier
- 5th Place – ASA Metros
- Capped off by a 3rd Place finish at ASA Northern Nationals
Prior to dropping back down to the younger age groups the teams coached by Coach Owens at the upper age groups experienced a great deal of success as well:
1st year 16u:
- 2nd Place – Diamonds Robin
- 3rd Place – SIU Special Olympics Duquion Classic
- 3rd Place – KGSSL Classic (Kankakee)
- 3rd Place – ASA Chenoa Invite
- 7th Place – State (16u ‘A’ Northern IL)
2nd Year 16u:
- 4th Place Nationals – MN (NAFA) – 84 Teams Across USA and Canada
- 1st Place – Fury Dad’s Day Classic – 18u Division (Roscoe / Rockford, IL) – USSSA ‘A’ Nationals Qualified
- 1st Place – The Legacy’s Winter Classic (Lafayette, IN) ASA ‘A’ Nationals Qualified (undefeated)
- 1st Place – Ghost n Goblins Robin (undefeated A Robin)
- 1st Place – Battle Royal (NSA ‘A’ Nationals Qualified) – Undefeated
- Undefeated Weekend – USSSA College Expo (Terre Haute, IN)
- 3rd Place – 17th Annual Woodstock Classic – NAFA ‘A’ Nationals Qualified
- 5th Place – State (16u ‘A’ Northern IL)
- Midland Magic Showcase 4-1 record
- Colorado Sparkler (qualified for division 3 out of 7 divisions) Record of 6-3
18u:
- 2nd Place QC Spooktacular ASA National Qualifier
- 3-1 Elgin Sparks Exposure
- 4-1 St. Louis 1 (PGF Bid Obtained)
The personalities and characteristics of our players, coaches will be based on the following principles:
- HONOR
- STRONG CHARACTER
- COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
- FORTITUDE
- LOYALTY
Mission and Coaching Philosophy:
Through high standards instilled for both players, managers and coaches, we will develop young athletes of the utmost integrity. Members of our Program will be committed to hard work and loyalty while pursuing excellence on the field, in the classroom and off the field. The desire to improve one’s skills as it promotes the good of the team and sets aside personal agendas that do not go hand in hand with team goals is the major focus. The success of this team will be measured not only by its play on the field, but also by the lifelong impact it will have on all persons who totally commit themselves to the team.