Athletes sign letters to play college ball
February 9, 2010
By Bob Taylor
Liberty offensive lineman Coleton Langdon (center) poses with his parents Teri and Rich after accepting a football scholarship with Portland State University. By Tim Pfarr
It was a big day Feb. 3 for several local high school senior athletes as they signed national letters of intent.
Following Jake Heaps’ early signing with Brigham Young in December, four more Skyline High School football players committed to various colleges.
Defensive end Cooper Pelluer (6-4, 229) is headed to the University of Washington this fall after turning down an offer to play at Hawaii. Husky head coach Steve Sarkisian called Pelluer just two days before the letter-of-intent signing, with an opening at Washington.
Pelluer said the decision to go to UW was pretty easy — it’s much closer to home than Hawaii and his father, Scott Pelluer, was an assistant UW coach with Jim Lambright and Keith Gilbertson.
“It was huge. Getting that call from Sark was a huge monkey off my back,” Cooper Pelluer said. “I know they got good things going.”
The Skyline player won’t be the first Pelluer at Washington. His uncle Steve was a standout quarterback for the Huskies.
Acclaimed linebacker Anthony DeMatteo (6-1, 218) signed with Central Washington University and linemen Evan Day (6-3, 255) and Jase Butorac (6-4, 289) each committed to Eastern Washington University.
DeMatteo said he looks forward to being part of a strong program, which has produced a few National Football League prospects in recent years.
Day and Butorac will join Skyline grads Jason Harris and Tyler Washburn at Eastern.
Eastern Washington head coach Beau Baldwin said Butorac “will probably be an inside lineman for us, but he’s athletic enough where he can play any spot on our offensive line. He has the smarts to play center, the toughness and grit to play guard and the athletic ability to play tackle.”
About Day, Baldwin said, “He has the potential to put on some weight and play defensive tackle, and he’s athletic enough to play defensive end. He has the combination of strength and speed.”
Issaquah’s football team had two players sign letters of intent — lineman Daniel Fleischman with the University of Wyoming and quarterback Ryan Bergman with Western Oregon University. Running back Grant Gellatly also committed to Cornell University, of the Ivy League. Ivy League schools do not offer letters to sign.
Fleischman, 6-6, 290, earned all-KingCo Conference honors in the fall. According to Wyoming’s sports information department, Fleischman was also recruited by Air Force, Arizona, Brigham Young, Hawaii, Idaho, Washington and Washington State.
Bergman, a first-year starter, had an incredible year for the Eagles. He probably would have been selected as the league’s No. 1 quarterback except for Heaps, who is recognized as one of the best in the nation. Bergman led KingCo in passing with 2,074 yards and tossed 22 touchdown passes. He broke several individual game marks during the season.
Western Oregon coach Arne Ferguson said Bergman has “good arm strength and the ability to make plays, which will expand our offense in the future.”
Coleton Langdon, a Liberty High lineman, signed a letter of intent with Portland State University.
Langdon said Portland State was a natural fit for him.
“I walked around and I felt completely comfortable,” he said. “ I loved everything about the school. It was an easy choice.”
Langdon said he looks forward to playing teams such as the University of Montana and Eastern Washington, as he said he knows players on both teams.
Liberty football head coach Steve Valach said Portland State’s coaches noticed Langdon while watching a Bellevue player’s highlight reel. On the reel, Langdon impressed the coaches by showing tremendous hustle.
Valach said he told Langdon that kind of effort would catch coaches’ eyes.
“I told him if college coaches see you doing that, they’re going to offer you a scholarship,” Valach said.
Langdon was named first-team, all-league the last two seasons.
There were some nonfootball signings last week, too.
Kristin Maris and Abby Glasgow, standout members of the Issaquah girls soccer team, and Quinn Grisham and Michael Axelson, standout players on the Issaquah boys team, signed national letters of intent. Maris is headed to Western Washington University, Glasgow to Chico State University, Grisham to Washington and Axelson to Whitman.
Issaquah volleyball player Chrissy Dickinson signed with Stevens Institute of Technology, in New Jersey. Mikenzie Voves, a standout pitcher on the fastpitch team, is also headed to the University of Pennsylvania.
Earlier baseball signings included Spencer Rogers, of Issaquah, with Washington, and John McLeod, of Liberty, with Wake Forest.
Comment at www.issaquahpress.com. |
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Eastern Washington added speed with many of its 14 high-school recruits and brought in transfer quarterbacks Bo Levi Mitchell and Greg Panelli to replace four-year starter Matt Nichols.
By Times news Services
Eastern Washington signed 14 high-school football players to letters of intent on Wednesday and announced the arrival of two quarterbacks who will be transferring to Eastern.
Bo Levi Mitchell, who is expected to enroll this spring, was a two-year starter at Southern Methodist. Mitchell completed 57 percent of his passes for 4,590 yards with 36 touchdowns and 33 interceptions in 19 games at SMU.
Greg Panelli was a two-time all-conference quarterback at Modesto (Calif.) Junior College, throwing for more than 5,000 yards with 56 touchdowns in two seasons.
The Eagles need to replace quarterback Matt Nichols, a four-year starter.
With the high-school recruits, coach Beau Baldwin said he focused on speed.
"When you look at what we did and the goals we had when we started recruiting, we are very pleased," Baldwin said. "We definitely made speed an emphasis in our skill players, and I think we'll definitely see that with this class."
Two of the speedy players signed are receivers Markeem Adams from West Seattle and Trenton Pinson from Federal Way. Adams has won two Class 3A 200-meter titles on the track and Pinson was runner-up at 100 and 200 meters in the 4A meet last spring.
"We have some good, young outside receivers, but we really wanted to find a couple of skilled receivers who may not be as big but are quicker," Baldwin said. "That was a goal for us, and we were able to accomplish that."
The Eagles signed offensive lineman Jase Butorac and defensive lineman Evan Day, who played for Skyline's Class 4A state champions.
Other area players signed by Eastern were linebacker Devin Topps and Dylan Zylstra of Kentridge, defensive back Isaiah Jenkins of West Seattle, linebacker John Goldwire of Lakes and offensive lineman Jared Hansen of Curtis.
The Eagles were 8-4 last season, advancing to the FCS playoffs for the fourth time in the past six years.
Central signs Skyline star
Central Washington signed 26 players, including Anthony DeMatteo, the leader and middle linebacker of a defense that helped Skyline win the past three Class 4A state titles.
Ten of the Central signees were named on The Seattle Times' white chips list. All but one of the recruits is from the state. The only out-of-state player is B.J. Bennett, son of Central coach Blaine Bennett, who played at Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Ind.
"We feel that this is the best recruiting class that we have had in our three years here as a staff," Blaine Bennett said. "We think that every player we signed has a chance to be a starter and an impact player."
The Wildcats signed three quarterbacks — Austin Dodge of Skyview High in Vancouver, Ethan Sterkel of Ellensburg and J.R. Grosshans from Peninsula High in Gig Harbor.
Eastern Washington signees
Player/Pos/Ht/Wt/High school (city, state)
Markeem Adams/WR/6-0/175/West Seattle
Mario Brown/RB/5-9/175/Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.)
Jase Butorac/OL/6-3/280/Skyline (Sammamish)
Zach Chapman/TE/6-3/240/Mountain View (Vancouver)
Evan Day/DL/6-3/245/Skyline (Sammamish)
John Goldwire/LB/6-1/225/Lakes (Lakewood)
Jared Hansen/OL/6-5/295/Curtis (University Place)
Cody Hecker/RB/6-0/210/Sandpoint, Idaho
Isaiah Jenkins/DB/6-0/170/West Seattle
Trenton Pinson/WR/5-11/185/Federal Way
Ryan Seto/TE/6-5/230/Lynden
Devin Topps/LB/6-2/210/Kentridge (Kent)
Andre Williams/WR/5-9/170/El Cerrito, Calif.
Dylan Zylstra/DL/6-4/225/Kentridge (Kent)
Central Washington signees
Player/Pos/Ht/Wt/High school (city, state)
Jason Bates/WR/6-4/185/Ferris (Spokane)
B.J. Bennett/WR/5-9/175/Harrison (West Lafayette, Ind.)
Sean Coley/DB/5-9/175/Bellvue
Teddy Cotton/RB/5-11/190/Lakes (Lakewood)
Darrian Creamer/LB/6-1/205/Peninsula (Gig Harbor)
Julian Cruell/RB/5-8/179/Foss (Tacoma)
Anthony DeMatteo/LB/6-0/210/Skyline (Sammamish)
Austin Dodge/QB/6-2/205/Skyview (Vancouver)
David Eargle/LB/6-1/215/Clover Park (Tacoma)
Travis Erb/DL/6-3/235/Yelm
Joe Fuerst/RB/5-11/195/Eisenhower (Yakima)
Cole Graves/DB/5-11/191/Juanita (Kirkland)
Marshall Green/OL/6-5/310/Black Hills (Tumwater)
Alex Griffith/DL/6-2/260/Sumner
J.R. Grosshans/QB/6-1/180/Peninsula (Gig Harbor)
Leon La Deaux IV/WR/6-3/188/South Kitsap (Port Orchard)
Shey Patton/LB/5-9/231/Spanway Lake (Spanaway)
Tyler Rogers/QB/5-11/175/Lakes (Lakewood)
Nick Rouser/OL/6-5/240/Oak Harbor
Saipele Siafuafu/DL/6-1/264/Kent-Meridian (Kent)
Martin Smitherman/DL/6-1/215/Lakes (Lakewood)
Jake Steelhammer/DL/6-3/215/W.F. West (Chehalis)
Ethan Sterkel/QB/6-3/205/Ellensburg
Levi Taylor/DB/6-1/195/Lewis and Clark (Spokane)
Christian Wesley/WR/6-4/210/Central Kitsap (Silverdale)
Tyler Wright/DB/5-11/180/Kentlake (Kent) |
February 2nd, 2010 at Tue, 2nd, 2010 at 3:05 pm by Kevin Endejan
There are a ton of Issaquah and Sammamish area athletes expected to sign with colleges tomorrow during National Letter of Intent Day 2010. The day is the first that high school seniors competing in football, field hockey, soccer, track and field, cross country and men’s water polo can officially sign their letter of intent to attend their institution of choice. Right now, we have 22 athletes on the list. Eastlake High School has 13 athletes expected to sign letters. Here’s a look at the list of athletes and schools we have been provided so far.
Eastlake
Girls Soccer
Courtney Pixler – University of Alabama
Alexandra Beahan – University of Washington
Lindsey Elston – University of Washington
Emily Hurd – Penn State
Candice Osei-Agyemang – University of Pennsylvania
Kellie Shreve – Gonzaga University
Football
Cameron Hunt – Illinois State
Austin Reifeis – University of Montana
Trent Butler – Montana Tech
Michael Maguire – University of Minnesota – Duluth
Boys Soccer
Bradley McIntosh – UCLA
Renato Bandeira – Seattle University
Girls Basketball
Alyssa Charlston – University of Idaho
Skyline
Football
Jase Butorac – Eastern Washington University
Evan Day – Eastern Washington University
Anthony DeMatteo – Central Washington University
Cooper Pelluer – University Of Washington (Originally was going to sign with the University of Hawaii)
Issaquah
Football
Ryan Bergman – Western Oregon University
Daniel Fleishman – University of Wyoming
Grant Gellatly – unknown
Girls soccer
Kristin Maris – Western Washington University
Boys soccer
Quinn Grisham – University of Washington
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January 19, 2010
By Christopher Huber
“Everybody wants to win state,” said Skyline football player Cooper Pelluer. “That’s everybody’s goal.”
Last season, athletes from Skyline High School met that goal more than any other school in the state, and made history in the process, as the football, girls soccer and girls swimming teams won titles.
Skyline was the first high school in Washington to take home 50 percent of the state championships in one season, according to Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.
The only other school to do something similar was Bellarmine Prep in the spring of 2005. It won four of nine state team titles and tied for first in another.
Including Skyline-bound freshmen at Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus, as well as junior varsity teams, 513 athletes turned out for fall sports in 2009 and about 165 were on state-champion teams. That means about 32 percent of fall athletes — and 9 percent of the student body — won state.
Throughout the fall months, as the state championship chances came into view, the school anticipated good things, they held spirit walks and the atmosphere was electric, said ASB president Tara Northey.
“Kids definitely know what’s going on. There’s just a lot of energy,” Northey said. “You look at the athletes and they really deserve it,” she said.
“I don’t know what’s in the water up here on the hill, but we’re pleased it’s in the water,” said Issaquah School District Superintendent Steve Rasmussen.
Ingredients of a successful team
“Success breeds more success,” said Skyline athletic director Kevin Rohrich. “You’ve gotta have a combination of a lot of things.”
One of those things is strong and dedicated coaching. Girls soccer head coach Don Braman has coached at Skyline since the day it opened 13 years ago and has headed the girls team for six years. Football coach Mat Taylor spent eight season assisting before becoming head coach in 2008. And although swim and dive coach Susan Simpkins just finished her first season, she has been around for eight years.
“There’s a lot of consistency within those programs,” Rohrich said. “It says a lot when those coaches stick around.”
Assistant swim coach Peter Wicklund said this year’s girls team was the deepest, most talented team ever at Skyline.
“Coming into the season, we knew that the girls would be in contention to win state, but obviously nothing is guaranteed,” he said. “For a team to be successful, even in a somewhat individual sport like swimming, there needs to be strong team unity. Our girls did a great job supporting and encouraging each other, and held each other accountable to the high standards we set at the beginning of the season.”
Overcoming adversity seemed a common thread during the fall season.
The swim team went undefeated, but soccer and football had moments where the team had to pull together after a loss.
Although both teams bounced back quickly, those who were there remember all too well each team’s eye-opening defeats in their respective KingCo 4A Championships — soccer lost to Issaquah 3-1 and football lost it to Bothell 25-20.
A common phrase guided the girls from the KingCo loss to the state win against Issaquah: We might have lost the battle, but we haven’t lost the war.
“That phrase kind of motivated us. It was like the dream set-up,” said Coral Anderson, a senior on the team.
There’s also that other element that only comes together every now and then: a perfect confluence of team cohesiveness, coaching, community support and pure talent.
“There’s gotta be a chemistry there that you can’t necessarily coach,” said football coach Mat Taylor.
It’s a full-time job
Playing high school sports to win state championships is a full-time job, many of the athletes said.
Even in the summertime, football players get up at 9 a.m. to workout and train for the fall, Pelluer said. Soccer players attend various camps or play on club teams. Swimmers like Nina Zook, Andie Taylor, Megan O’Keefe and Maria Volodkevich spend hours per week year-round staying in shape for weekly meets.
During the season, it’s to school by 7 a.m. and practice until 7 p.m., said Pelluer, not including game nights. It’s about the same for soccer, but many of Skyline’s swimmers swim on a club and practice two to three times per day — Andie Taylor drives to Federal Way after school each day to train.
Bring together commitment, skill and passion for sport with sheer determination to be the best and you get a winning combination.
Friendships andintense rivalries
From travel and team dinners to long practices and overtime victories, the Skyline athletes experience a lot of life together. That makes their determination and hunger to win for each other all the more potent a force against an opponent.
“When you spend every day together, you become really close,” said senior midfielder Anna Morgan.
But they also know well the players from cross-town rivals like Issaquah and Eastlake. Some play club sports together. Many played together as freshmen at Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus, and some have played on the same team since elementary school.
The rivalries are there because neighboring schools have to be competitive — football and soccer get rough and heated at times — but the Skyline athletes said they try to keep it on the field.
“I’m more calm here than I am out on the field,” said linebacker Anthony DeMatteo. “I don’t like people doing better than me.”
In the end, they do what it takes — with class and without breaking rules — to win.
“I don’t think anyone goes into a game saying they don’t want to win,” said Anderson, the soccer player.
Don’t take success for granted
Skyline made history for fall season after winning half of the team state championships, but Bellarmine Prep was the first ever to win half or more in any one season. It won four of nine team titles in the spring of 2005 — boys golf, girls golf, girls track and girls tennis — but also tied for first place in boys tennis.
One would think a feat like that would add some pressure to the next season.
“I wouldn’t call it pressure. Sometimes there’s unrealistic expectations. People forget how difficult it is to win a state championship. You just kind of have to have the ball roll your way a little bit,” said Bellarmine Prep Athletic Director Ed Ploof. “I do think success breeds success. People see that it can be done.”
Skyline’s Taylor agreed there’s potential for Skyline athletes and community members to become complacent and take the school’s success for granted, but it may just serve as motivation.
“Sure, pressure will be there. There’s always going to be pressure,” Taylor said. “That is what motivates the kids and makes a program so strong, because of those expectations.”
Boosters further success
Like many schools, the Skyline fall sports benefited from booster club support. The football team received about $2,000 for things like gear and video cameras to review game film, said Dane Gorman, co-president of the booster club. The club gave out about $5,000 total to all the fall sports, but a significant portion went toward preparing for the nationally televised game against Oaks Christian and soccer team travel, she said.
Any team can apply for grants, which are available thanks to various fundraisers and concession stand revenues.
The football team also benefits from the nonprofit Gridiron Club, which current and alumni parents and players run. Dozens of parents volunteer countless hours throughout the season, said president Pam Thorsen. They donated grills for pre-game tailgate parties and offer scholarships for players moving on to college. Donations have also bought the team a tackling dummy set and new headsets for the coaches, she said.
“There’s a lot of bright, giving people out there,” she said. And they share resources among other teams, too, often helping others organize fundraisers. “We would never not want to share the wealth.”
Students first, athletes second
With so much of the emphasis and attention on the student-athletes’ successes out on the field and in the pool, students and coaches find time to recite their mantra: “student first, athlete second.”
In fall term, the girls soccer team averaged a 3.63 grade-point average among the 21 players, the 70-person swim and dive team maintained a 3.54 and the football team held a 3.17 GPA, according to Skyline administration.
“They find time to get it done in the classroom,” said Kevin Rohrich, Skyline athletic director.
By the numbers:
Football
Total state championships: 5
Points scored: 571
Points allowed: 160
Touchdowns: 76
GPA: 3.17
Girls Soccer
Total State Championships: 2
Goals scored: 37
Goals allowed: 18
Shutouts: 10
GPA: 3.63
Girls Swim and Dive
Total state team titles: 1
2009 individual state titles: 3
2009 relay state titles: 2
GPA: 3.54
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. Comment on this story at www.SammamishReview.com. |
January 14th, 2010 at Thu, 14th, 2010 at 2:09 pm by Kevin Endejan
The Skyline football team will be recognized in the fifth annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 17 in the Skyline High School commons.
The Spartans will receive the National Guard Ranking trophy for finishing as the No. 26 ranked team in the nation. MaxPreps started touring its top 50 ranked schools in December, and continues to recognize teams through February.
Skyline finished the season with a 12-2 record and their third consecutive state championship.
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Posted by Mason Kelley
Kasen Williams Wide Receiver for the Skyline Spartans
Jim Bates / The Seattle Times
The Skyline football program will be presented with the National Guard National Ranking trophy in the Skyline High School commons at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. The trophy presentation is a part of the fifth-annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions.
The Spartans, who finished the year 12-2 and won their third straight state title, finished No. 26 in the final rankings. They are one of 50 teams to be recognized by MaxPreps. |
January 5, 2010
By Bob Taylor
When it comes to local high school sports, the new decade faces quite a challenge.When Skyline won the 4A state football title Dec. 5, the Spartans capped a championship decade for the Issaquah School District. Teams from Issaquah, Skyline and Liberty combined to win 20 state titles in Washington Interscholastic Activities Association-sanctioned sports from 2000-2009. Skyline won 10 state titles and Issaquah captured nine titles.
Skyline dominated football, winning five championships, three at the 4A level and two at the 3A level. The Spartans also won two girls soccer titles, and one title each in girls track and field, girls swimming and girls cross country.
Issaquah captured three 3A titles each in baseball, gymnastics and girls soccer.
Liberty’s title came in baseball. However, the Patriots hold the distinction of developing the only district player to reach the Major Leagues — pitcher Tim Lincecum. The San Francisco Giants pitcher has been sensational, winning two National League Cy Young Awards and pitching in an all-star game.
Liberty also had a football player play in the professional ranks. Mkristo Bruce, after a stellar career at Washington State University, has played on National Football League and Arena Football League teams.
In addition to WIAA sports, the Issaquah Lacrosse Club won three Washington High School Boys Lacrosse Association state titles.
There were some near misses, too. The Issaquah boys basketball team took second in the 3A state tournament to Rainier Beach in 2003 and the girls basketball team came up second to Chief Sealth in 2006. However, Chief Sealth later had to forfeit its title, because of a variety on infractions.
The Liberty football team took second to Bellevue last December. The Issaquah football team finished second to rival Skyline in the 2008 4A title game, and the Issaquah girls soccer team ended up second to Skyline in the 2009 4A championship game.
The Issaquah boys cross country team was second at state in 2002, and the girls track and field team placed second in 2008. Liberty’s fastpitch team was second in 2000.
Besides team titles, the decade had many individual state champions.
Heading the list was Skyline’s Andie Taylor, who won seven state girls swimming titles. Skyline’s Peter Wicklund was almost as dazzling, winning five boys swimming titles.
Other boys state champion swimmers were Brian Davis, of Issaquah; Will Antisdale, of Skyline; and James Schuyleman, of Liberty. Davis won three championships.
Other girls state champion swimmers were Alissa Hollowell, of Liberty; Lauren Hill, Helen Liu and Jessie Snowden, of Issaquah; and Maria Volodkevich, of Skyline. Snowden won her title in diving. Issaquah’s Allison Vance, Sarah Davis, Jill Minehan and Sarah Shannon made up a winning 200 medley relay team.
Skyline, which won the girls 4A state swimming title last fall, had two winning relays. The 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay teams were Nina Zook, Meghan O’Keefe, Volodkevich and Taylor.
There were several state champions in track and field. Liberty’s Kara Bennett was the only local athlete to win two titles, capturing the girls high jump title in 2004 and the triple jump in 2005. Other girls state champions included Jamie Corwin, of Liberty; Christina Tupper, of Skyline; and Lauren Maris, of Issaquah.
Issaquah had two state championship 1,600 relays in track and field. Lauren Baba, Jenna Suttmeier, Mary Wuest and Abigail Richert took first in 2006, and Kim Varney, Bonnie Young, Haida Ikeda and Kaley Allison took first in 2008.
Skyline had three state champion relays. Heather Bromberg, Teresa Lee, Jazmin Dickey and Tupper took first in the 400 relay in 2003. Shea O’Donnell, Kaylyn Berry, Lauren Matthews and Tiffany Tibbot were first in the 400 relay in 2007. O’Donnell, Berry, Danielle Matthews and Tibbot also took first in the 800 relay in 2007. Kiara Williams, Rachel Butenko, O’Donnell and Berry finished first in the 400 relay in 2008.
Boys state champions in track included Jon Harding, of Issaquah; Justin Ireland, Jeff Skiba and Kasen Williams, of Skyline; and the Liberty 1,600 relay team of Kaebee Burns, Reid Christensen, Mitchell Byron and Ian Smith.
In girls golf, Issaquah’s Brittany Tallman won 3A state titles in 2005 and 2007. There was also one state champion wrestler, Liberty’s B.J. Ward, who captured the 140-pound title in 2003.
Overall, it was quite a decade. Hopefully, the new one will measure up.
Bob Taylor: 392-6434, ext. 236, or
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Skyline quarterback Jake Heaps speaks in October after officially receiving his U.S. Army All-American invitation. He will play in the game at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 5 on NBC.
Jake Lynch/Reporter
Jan 05 2010, 1:24 PM
Skyline's Jake Heaps is no stranger to the national television participating in games on ESNPU the last two seasons.
The BYU-bound quarterback will make his network debut at 10 a.m., this Saturday, Jan. 9, however, when he takes to the field as the starting quarterback of the West team at the 10th annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. The game will be broadcast live on NBC.
Heaps is one of three quarterbacks on the West roster along with Austin Hinder of Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Connor Wood of Second Baptist in Houston, Texas.
During his senior season, Heaps completed more than 60 percent of his passes for 3,191 yards and 45 touchdowns on the way to his third state title as a starting quarterback. He finished his Skyline career with a 40-2 record, passing for 9,195 yards and 114 touchdowns. He also rushed for 30 career TDs.
This will be the final high-school football action for Heaps, who is set to early enroll this month at BYU. He hopes to vie for the starting quarterback position next fall. |
December 30th, 2009 at Wed, 30th, 2009 at 1:08 pm by Kevin Endejan
MaxPreps writer Nathan Joyce put out a list this week of the top 10 Washington high school sports dynasties of the 2000s. The Skyline football program pulled in at No. 2 behind Bellevue football, while Issaquah and Newport gymnastics are tied at No. 7.
It’s a pretty interesting, and I feel accurate list, as it takes a look at both sides of the state.
Washington: Top 10 high school sports dynasties of decade
Here are the top programs in the state from the 2000s.
1. Bellevue football: The Wolverines won seven titles in the last nine years. Butch Goncharoff's program has sent countless players to college programs and beat several out-of-state powers along the way. The highlight was in 2004 when nearly 30,000 people watched Bellevue end De La Salle's (Concord, Calif.) national-record 151-game winning streak.
File photo by Todd Shurtleff
Jake Heaps, Skyline
2. Skyline football: The Spartans won five state titles in the decade. The Spartans have won three straight state titles in two different classifications. The Sammamish school won the Class 3A state title in 2007 and then moved up to the 4A classification, where it won two more. BYU-bound Jake Heaps was the quarterback during the run, as he went 40-2 as a starter and won all three state titles.
3. Rainier Beach basketball: When it comes to the Class 3A state title, the Vikings are in the conversation every year. The Seattle school won three state titles, finished second twice and won four other trophies (via top-eight finishes). Among Beach alumni playing in the NBA are Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson and Terrence Williams. Perhaps even more impressive is that the Vikings' enrollment is that of a 1A school.
4. Spokane cross country: Just as in every year since 1988, a Spokane boys team won the big-school state meet. Mead won five titles and Ferris won five, including this year when it knocked off Jackson, which entered the state meet ranked No. 1 in the nation. It's not just the 4A meet, either. North Central has won the last four Class 3A titles.
5. Mead volleyball: The Panthers of Spokane have won the Class 4A state title six of the last seven years. They won five in a row, a record for schools in the bigger classifications, before taking a year off. They've been powered in recent years by 6-foot-5 Alexis Olgard, who is heading to USC. Mead trophied every year this decade.
6. O'Dea basketball: The other Metro League school that consistently challenges Rainier Beach's supremacy. The Fighting Irish of Seattle won three state titles this decade. Sadly, the architect of the program, former NBA player Phil Lumpkin, died over the offseason.
7. Issaquah and Newport gymnastics: The two KingCo schools have dominated the sport. Since the state meet split into 4A and 3A meets in 1998, Newport (six) and Issaquah (three) won every state title except one. The streak ended in 2008 when the schools moved up to the 4A classification.
8. Mercer Island and Mount Rainier boys swimming: If one school doesn't win the Class 3A state title, the other does. Mercer Island won five state titles (including four straight) and Mount Rainier won four. O'Dea, in 2000, was the only other school to win the state title this decade.
9. Spokane girls basketball: There's always a girls team from Spokane in the mix at the Class 4A state tournament. Spokane teams won five state titles. Central Valley (2001-02) won two and Lewis & Clark (2006-08) won three. Spokane also had two runner-up finishes and countless trophies.
10. DeSales baseball: The small Walla Walla school wins the Class 2B title just about every year. In this decade, the Fighting Irish won every year but two, and in one of those years finished second. DeSales has won 16 titles in the last 20 years.
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