With a new prep sports season upon us, plenty of fresh names and faces are sure to emerge. Here, The Reporter takes an A to Z look at some of the faces who have made news or should do so in the coming months.
A — All-sports trophy: This prize goes to the most successful school for that particular year. Kentwood took home the honor for the SPSL North in 2007-2008.
B — Bronze: The color of medal which Kentridge’s Matt Overland earned in boys singles as a sophomore at last spring’s state tennis tournament.
C — Continuity: Few in the area have provided more of this than Tahoma football coach Tony Davis. The Big Bear is entering his 15th season at the helm of the program, which has become one of the steadiest in the state.
D — Defensive-minded: The Kent-Meridian football team took a big step forward last season. And though the Royals graduated a considerable amount of talent, they did land coach Jim Sutrick. Yes, the same Jim Sutrick who was the defensive mastermind behind Kentwood’s back-to-back state titles in 2001 and 2002, a span during which there wasn’t a better or more intimidating group than the KW ‘D.’ Sutrick will be the defensive line and special teams coordinator for the Royals this season.
E — Emerald City Kickoff Classic: The annual slate of games will feature 4A power Kentwood vs. 3A power Kennedy on Sept. 6 at 5:30 p.m. at Qwest Field. For prep football fans — and especially those who have followed the history of one or both of these two schools — this is a must-see.
F — French Field: Every Friday night during the fall, there isn’t a place to be, as French Field is the home for Kent-Meridian, Kentlake, Kentridge and Kentwood.
G — Golf trophies: No doubt, there’s plenty of golf talent in the Kent School District as the Kentwood boys (third place) and the Kentridge girls (fourth) earned hardware at state last spring.
H — Heyden: As in Tahoma quarterback Heyden Johnson, who possesses one of the strongest throwing arms in the SPSL North. Look for Johnson to take a big step forward in during his senior season.
I — Intimidating: There wasn’t a more intimidating linebacker in the SPSL North a year ago than Kentlake’s Stephen Morse, a second-team all-leaguer who led the entire SPSL in tackles with 84.5. The next closest in tackles was Tahoma’s Kyle Phippen with 76.5.
J — Jessie Genger: Power. Finesse. The reigning Player of the Year for SPSL North volleyball has it all and is primed for a big senior season at Kentwood.
K — Kozy: As in Melissa Kozy, Kentlake’s powerful outside hitter on the volleyball court. The agile and athletic 5-foot-10 Kozy racked up double-digit kills with regularity last fall, helping the Falcons to a second-place SPSL North finish.
L — Lewi Larson: The Kentlake quarterback missed most of last year with a dislocated shoulder. Finally healthy, Larson is looking better than ever and is ready to lead a resurgent Falcons team.
M — Max Manthou: Like Ichiro, this guy could easily go by just Max in tennis circles, and everyone would know who it is. He’s that good. Manthou is the two-time defending Class 4A state boys singles champion and is back for his junior year at Kentwood.
N — Nevada-Las Vegas: The college to which Marley Prothero has taken her swimming talent after winning back-to-back state 200 IM championships for Kentwood.
O — Osborn: As in Marty Osborn, head football coach of the Kentridge Chargers. All Osborn ever does is produce winner after winner. A class act on and off the field, Osborn is entering his 18th season at the school. His overall record? 128-83.
P — Perfect league records: Such was life last fall by Kentwood boys golf (8-0), Kentridge girls swimming (7-0), Kentridge boys tennis (12-0) and Kentwood volleyball (14-0) teams.
Q — Quicker: As in quicker state-qualifying times for this year’s Class 4A state girls swim meet. Of the 11 swimming events, nine of them have faster qual times, including drops of a full second in the 200-yard freestyle (from 2:01.50 last year to 2:00.50 this year), more than five seconds in the 500 free (5:25.35 to 5:20.00) and a full quarter-second in the 50 free (25.75 to 25.50).
R — Rivalry: Albeit a friendly one between golf stars Rui Li of Kentwood and Lauren Sewell of Kentridge; they’ll match talents on Sept. 11 at Fairwood (KR’s home) and Sept. 30 at Meridian Valley (home of the Conquerors).
S — Shutouts: A nice habit to have for goalkeeper Courtney Johnson, who factored into nine of them last fall as a Kentwood freshman, earning three on her own and sharing six with now-graduated Britney Almon.
T — Taylor Trophy: The annual showdown between Auburn and Kent-Meridian on the football field. The second-oldest rivalry in the state dates back to 1908. Auburn has won the last 10 match-ups between the two schools, but the Royals still hold the overall advantage — 47-45. Since the beginning, there have been 13 ties and seven of the scores were never recorded. The only rivalry that has lasted longer is between Aberdeen and Hoquiam, which started in 1905. This year’s Taylor Trophy showdown is slated for Sept. 19 and will count in the standings once again as Kent-Meridian welcomes rival Auburn back to the SPSL North.
U — University of Washington: The the new home of Kentwood’s all-time rushing leader Dimitrius Bronson, who went off for 3,683 yards during his time as a Conk.
V — Varelia: He graduated this past June, but Kentwood golfer Nick Varelia isn’t finished with his career on the links just yet. Varelia, who tied for 11th in the state golf tournament last spring, will be playing this fall at Western Washington University.
W — Welcome back: The tip of the cap should be given to Auburn and Auburn Riverside, as both schools rejoin the SPSL North after a two-year stay at the Class 3A level.
X — XC: The shorthand and increasingly popular designation for cross country. Kentwood and Kentlake each had a solid front-runner last year — Jordon Jacobson at Kentlake, who ran 15th in the sub-district meet, and Erin Chinchar at Kentwood, who was 19th in that same meet. Both girls led their teams to district.
Y — Yokers: One of Kentridge’s true stars on the soccer pitch last fall was Brooke Yokers, who was the SPSL North’s co-MVP despite the Chargers’ sixth-place finish. Yokers will be playing soccer at Seattle Pacific University this fall.
Z — Zorn: No, not former Seahawk quarterback Jim Zorn, but Tahoma volleyball coach Kim Zorn. Entering her sixth season this fall, Zorn has helped the Bears become perennial playoff contenders.
