The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder already is well-known for his sharp-shooting skills on the basketball court as the Rams' starting point guard. Last season, he led the Rams in scoring on his way to earning first-team All-Western Cascade Conference honors.
While he was acclaimed, he was not fulfilled. There was more for him to accomplish in his high school athletic career.
Football, perhaps?
That was the answer.
Prior to this season, Sharp hadn't played organized football since middle school. But that didn't stop him from deciding - what the hey - to turn out for football his senior year.
Four games into the season, Sharp, one of the Rams' speedy and skillful wide receivers, has helped North Thurston to an unblemished record at 4-0, and the Rams are one of only two undefeated teams remaining in South Sound. They travel Friday to play Shelton.
"It's great," Sharp said. "I think we've surprised a lot of people so far with our success.
"All the seniors left last year, and there are a lot of new players. It's like, 'Whoa' - surprise feeling."
Sharp transferred to North Thurston from River Ridge halfway through his sophomore year for academic and personal reasons. He saw something more in North Thurston's program than River Ridge's.
"I would watch Thurston, and they would always be hyped up," Sharp said. "I kind of missed it."
While he wanted to play football for Rams coach Rocky Patchin his junior year, he was forced to sit out because of transfer rules. He worked with Patchin and his teammates during spring ball to help prepare him for this season.
So far, he's made a strong impression on the football field and is a key player for opposing teams to try to stop. Through four games, he's rushed for more touchdowns than he has caught. His longest TD run was a 12-yarder in the Rams' 48-26 win over Clover Park.
"He's got great quickness, and he's very dangerous on the outside," Patchin said. "We knew he was a good athlete, and we wanted someone who could complement (Brett) Robertson.
"When you haven't played for a few years, you miss some things but he's a natural athlete and picks things up very well."
n NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN STILL EXCITED ABOUT FIRST WIN: Nearly a week after its historic 30-0 win over North Beach, the Northwest Christian football team's excitement can still be seen and heard.
Navigators coach Pete Fulton received e-mails from as far away as Germany and Winnipeg and received numerous phone calls of congratulations from parents and fans that missed the game.
And the players?
"They're still thrilled," Fulton said. "This has added new excitement to the program. Now they realize 'Hey, winning is fun, too.' "
Fulton said North Beach was missing a couple of their key players, and he said they knew they were taking the Navigators lightly.
Running back Tyler Johnson had the best game of his career, rushing for 186 yards and two touchdowns.
"He was outstanding," Fulton said. "He's been running hard all year."
And after a chaotic bus ride home with players singing and celebrating, many players celebrated by heading to Denny's on Martin Way and College Street. Fulton joined them, too.
"They were hungry," he said.
The Navigators will play Friday against South Bend, a team that's favored to win by four touchdowns.
"I know we'll be improved," Fulton said. "Might have to come down a notch in our excitement."
n NOTES: Morgan Schwegler, Tumwater's 6-foot-1 post who helped the Thunderbirds finish second at the Class 2A girls basketball state tournament last year, signed a letter of intent Tuesday to play at The Master's College, an NAIA school in Santa Clarita, Calif. Schwegler had been looking at other schools, such as Santa Clara, St. Mary's, Portland State and Eastern Washington. … Olympia fastpitch coach Tom Jones has resigning after leading the Bears to the Class 4A district tournament this past spring. … The Tumwater football team will honor its 1987 state championship football team prior to Friday's kickoff against Hoquiam.
n A LOOK AHEAD: There are two good battles tonight between the top teams in the Western Cascade Conference in girls soccer and volleyball. In soccer, Shelton, which is off to one of the best starts in program history, will try to remain undefeated (5-0-2 overall, 4-0 WCC) as they travel to play Capital (5-2-1 overall, 3-1 WCC). … In volleyball, undefeated Capital (4-2 overall, 4-0 WCC) will host Timberline (4-2 overall, 3-1 WCC).
Meg Wochnick covers high school sports for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-5473 or mwochnick@theolympian.com.
