Robinson is a first-time high school head coach, having spent the past five seasons as an assistant under Zandrea Edenstrom at Timberline. He was part of the 2001-02 Evergreen State College men’s basketball team that earned its first NAIA tournament appearance. He also played basketball professionally in Germany.
“I believe Jackie Robinson will do a great job here at River Ridge,” Bates said. “He is a super communicator, extremely likeable, and a great competitor. I believe he will continue the tradition of championship basketball here at River Ridge.”
Robinson replaces Tom Kelly, who stepped down in June after two seasons to take the same position at Morton/White Pass.
Robinson inherits a program that went 24-4 last winter. The Hawks, who had a 21-game winning streak, earned the third-place trophy at the Class 2A state tournament in Yakima after winning the 2A Evergreen Conference regular-season title and the 2A District IV crown.
The team will return four players with significant varsity experience – starters and seniors-to-be Necy Wade (11.5 points a game) and Kyahri Adams (5.8), and sophomore-to-be Rebecca Stevenson, who averaged 6.3 points a game off the bench.
Senior-to-be Samira McDonald, who earned first-team all-state honors as a sophomore in 2009 but missed the majority of last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, also is expected to return at point guard.
LOW-COST PHYSICALS
North Thurston Public Schools is holding its annual low-cost sports physicals for middle-school and high-school athletes in the district from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Providence St. Peter Family Practice Medicine Clinic, 525 Lilly Road, N.E., in Olympia.
Fee is $20, with proceeds going back to the district to fund medical supplies for the high schools. Athletes in neighboring districts are also welcome to receive physicals.
WATCH THESE GUYS
Longtime prep football authority Ron Siegel, known as “the man who knows where they are,” released his 2011 preseason all-state team, which features five South Sound players on the watch list.
Olympia running back Spenser Killman, Tumwater tight end Zach Wimberly and Tumwater punter Brennen Hinkle made the seniors-to-watch list.
Tumwater lineman Jamie Bryant and River Ridge running back Brad Wallace made the juniors-to-watch list.
The first day of high school football practice is Aug. 17.
COACHING CHANGES
Mike Evans is Mary M. Knight’s head football coach, replacing Eric Smith, who guided the Owls for the past two seasons. Evans was a volunteer coach last season. … Capital boys soccer coach Tom Boatright has stepped down after two seasons coaching the Cougars. Boatright led the Cougars to the 3A state semifinals in 2010 and the district playoffs last spring. …
Olympia girls tennis coach Margie Reed has resigned, and assistant coach Donald Craig has been hired to fill the position. Reed led Olympia to the 4A West Central District III title in May after going undefeated in the 4A Narrows League. …
Loni Smith takes over as the boys golf coach at River Ridge, replacing Gary Larson. … Elma has named longtime teacher and wrestling coach Rick Rakevich as its athletic director, replacing Steve Bridge, who retired following the 2010-11 school year after 19 years as AD.
SUMMER BASEBALL
Tenino, the lone South Sound team competing at the Washington “A” Legion baseball state tournament last week at North Thurston High School, finished 1-2. Woodinville defeated Snohomish in the title game. … Jason Monda and Kellen Camus, both of whom graduated from Capital in 2010 and play baseball for Washington State, had stellar seasons in the Cape Cod League and Valley Baseball League, respectively, which wrapped up Sunday. Monda batted .328 at leadoff with 44 hits in 134 at-bats for the Brewster Whitecaps. Camus posted a 4-0 record on the mound in seven starts with a 1.41 ERA and 22 strikeouts for the Winchester Royals.
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473 mwochnick@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/prepsportsblog Twitter: @MegWochnick
