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Here are the top 10 South Sound sports stories of 2011:
No. 10
Stevick ties Capital City Marathon history
Jesse Stevick and the winning the Capital City Marathon have come hand-in-hand the past few years. In May, when Stevick cross the finish line the 2011 Capital City Marathon in 2 hours, 33 minutes and 12 seconds – more than 18 minutes ahead of the runner-up -- he tied the record for most career victories at the marathon. He and Phil Jasperson, who won the marathons in 1990, 1994, 1999, 2001 and 2003, are the only men to win it five times. Stevick, a science teacher and cross country and track and field coach at Olympia High School, can go for the record six victories in 2012.
No. 9
Tumwater reaches 2A volleyball state title match for third time since ‘07
For the first time, The Evergreen State College hosted the 2A state volleyball tournament and Tumwater took advantage of the big hometown crowd on hand. The Thunderbirds, who were 2A EvCo and District IV champions, advanced to the state title match for the third time in school history – all since 2007 -- with three-set sweeps over Sehome, Port Angeles, and Selah, before falling to Burlington-Edison in four sets in the title match. In 2008, Tumwater defeated Selah for the school’s first volleyball state title.
No. 8
SPSCC women forfeit remaining season
The start to coach Mychael Heuer’s head coaching career didn’t start on a positive note, as the South Puget Sound Community College women’s basketball team was forced to forfeit its remaining 10games because it not enough eligible players.
The Clippers lost their first 13 games, before the SPSCC administration decided to cancel the rest of the season because of only five healthy players. They played most of the 2010-11 season with only six players. Heuer lost players because of academic issues, injuries and players leaving the program. It was the third time the program went winless since its inaugural 1992-93 season.
No. 7
Blake Poole’s monster senior year
Blake Poole made a big impact in his senior season on Saint Martin’s men’s basketball team. He was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference player of the year after being the GNAC’s top rebounder (11.8 per game), fourth in scoring (19.2 per game) and in the top 10 in steals, blocked shots and field-goal percentage. He finished his career No. 2 all-time in GNAC history with 1,099 rebounds and 10th in scoring (1,740). He also was runner-up for West Region player of the year honors. He now plays professional basketball in Germany.
No. 6
Tenino’s late-surge to 1A baseball title game
Despite being the fifth and final seed into the District IV baseball tournament in the spring, Tenino played its best baseball at the right time – the postseason. The Beavers pulled off upset after upset on their way to making the 1A state title game in Yakima, which was the first time Tenino played for a state title in baseball since 1998. The Beavers’ made magic in the postseason, including winning an epic extra-inning game over Kiona Benton (7-0 in nine innings) at regionals. Scoreless after eight innings, the Beavers put up seven runs in the ninth, despite striking out 16 times in the game. They went on to defeat Zillah, 8-4, in the regional title game, and then defeated Meridian, 9-4, in the semifinals, scoring all nine runs over the final three innings. They fell to Chimacum, 8-4, in the state title game.
“We came into the weekend with one goal, and that was to get a championship ring,” coach Jesse Elam said after the game. “The kids are hut about it right now, but they know they made our community proud.”
No. 5
Northwest Christian harriers six-peat
Northwest Christian High School’s cross country program has put a stamp on the best small-school program in the state, as the girls team claimed its sixth straight 2B/1B state title in November at the state cross country meet in Pasco. Senior Elizabeth Weber led the way, finishing third at 19:36, as the Navigators had four runners place in the top 10 to finish with an eye-popping 30 team points, besting runner-up Reardan (94 points). NWC’s six titles matches the total that the North Central boys have won. The state record for consecutive team titles is held by the Mead boys, who won nine straight title from 1988-’96.
“They ran great, they worked hard all year and they did very well,” coach Larry Weber said after the meet. They exceeded expectations.”
No. 4
Shelton athletic complex destroyed in arson
An athletic complex at Shelton High School, constructed by three students – Colton Twiddy, Joe Strand and Forrest Peterbaugh -- was destroyed by arson in early September. The students constructed the building as part of their senior projects. Damages to the building totaled $300,000, including a loss of about $100,000 worth of football and baseball equipment that was housed in the building. The fire broke out less than 48 hours following the Shelton football team’s 69-6 season-opening loss to North Thurston at Highclimber Stadium. The students said they vowed to rebuild the 2,400-square-foot building, which was designed by Shelton baseball coach Erik Engstrom.
No. 3
Ron Holmes passes away at age 48
Known as one of the greatest athletes to come out of Thurston County, Ron Holmes passed away from natural causes on Oct. 27 at the age of 48. Holmes, a 1981 Timberline High School graduate, was a three-year starter and two-time football All-American (1983-84) at the University of Washington before his eight-year NFL career with Tampa Bay and Denver. He also led Timberline to the 1980 AA boys basketball state title, which remains the school’s only state championship in that sport. Most recently, Holmes coached football at Northwest Christian High School for his former coach, Pete Fulton.
“He loved the kids so much, and he loved coaching football,” Fulton said.
No. 2
Kasey Keller calls is a career
After a 20-year career in professional soccer that spanned over four countries, South Sound native Kasey Keller retired in November. He spent the past four years as the Seattle Sounders’ goalkeeper; his final game was Nov. 2 against Real Salt Lake, ending one of the most decorated soccer careers the United States has ever seen. Keller, 42, and a 1988 North Thurston High School graduate, was named to four World Cup teams, earned U.S. Soccer Athletes of the Year honors three times, and was a two-time all-star. He also was named Major League Soccer’s Goalkeeper of the Year recently. Keller had his No. 18 high school jersey retired by North Thurston in the spring.
No. 1
Olympia captures 4A volleyball state title
For the second time in school history, Olympia High School’s volleyball team was crowned state champions, edging District III rival Kentwood in five sets (23-25, 25-18, 14-25, 25-6, 15-13) to win the state title at Saint Martin’s University in front of a hometown crowd of nearly 500 fans. Senior outside hitter Christie Colasurdo had a school-record 26 kills in the match and earned tournament MVP honors.
“This is a sweet victory,” Olympia coach Laurie Creighton said after the match. “It’s an awesome way to finish off a great season. I hope they cherish this.”
Olympia’s first state title in 1998 came on the same floor as their 2011 title – at Marcus Pavilion at SMU. Coincidently, both of the Bears’ state titles came when they finished second in league and second in district. In 1998, the Bears were second in the Rivers League and second in District IV to Camas, then defeated Selah for the AA title. This year, they finished second in the 4A Narrows League and second in District III to Bellarmine, then defeated Newport, Mead, Jackson and Kentwood at state on their road to winning the 2011 state title.
-- Meg Wochnick
