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For the first time, Lacey and Olympia hosted three Washington Interscholastic Activities Association state high school tournaments – Class 3A fastpitch, and 4A/3A and 2A volleyball.
And to top it off, two local volleyball teams – Tumwater and Olympia high schools – played in state volleyball championship games in front of hometown crowds.
Two local high school teams – Olympia volleyball and Northwest Christian girls cross country – won state titles. Three others – Tenino baseball, Centralia wrestling and Tumwater volleyball – finished as state runners-up. Several individuals in tennis, golf, wrestling, and track and field also were crowned state champions.
But with the good came tragedy. A local football legend died. And an athletic facility in Shelton, built by students, burned to the ground because of arson.
Here are The Olympian’s Top 10 South Sound sports stories of 2011
10. A share of Capital City Marathon history
In May, when Jesse Stevick crossed the finish line at the Capital City Marathon in 2 hours, 33 minutes, 12 seconds – more than 18 minutes ahead of runner-up Alex Bunn – he tied Phil Jasperson for most career wins in the race.
Stevick won the men’s race in 2006-09, and this year for his fifth title to match Jasperson, who won in 1990, 1994, 1999, 2001 and 2003.
Stevick is a science teacher and cross-country and track and field coach at Olympia High School. He can go for the record outright in the upcoming year.
9. Almost for Tumwater volleyball
With all that offensive firepower, Tumwater High School rolled past Sehome, Port Angeles and Selah in the Class 2A state volleyball tournament to advance to the finals for the third time since 2007.
But the Thunderbirds, the Evergreen Conference and District IV champions who played in a packed gymnasium at The Evergreen State College, lost to arguably the best team in the state – Burlington-Edision – in four sets in the title match.
In 2008, Tuwmater beat Selah to capture its only volleyball crown.
8. Forfeiting the season
It wasn’t the start Mychael Heuer had envisioned as women’s basketball coach at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia.
Because the Clippers did not have enough eligible players, the team forfeited the final 10 games of last season, finishing 0-23 and in last place in the NWAACC West Division.
Initially, nine players had joined the team in the summer. Because of injuries and eligibility, that number was reduced to six at the start of last season – and down to five players at the start of league play.
SPSCC’s last game was Jan. 5 – a 62-48 loss to Centralia College – before the administration called it a season.
7. Poole dominates GNAC
Blake Poole made a big impact in his senior season on the men’s basketball team at Saint Martin’s University. He was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference player of the year after being the league’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.
6. Tenino’s baseball run
Despite being the fifth and final seed into the Class 2A District IV baseball tournament in the spring, Tenino High School played its best baseball at the right time – the postseason.
The Beavers made magic, winning an extra-inning game over Kiona-Benton (7-0 in nine innings) to open regionals. They went on to defeat Zillah, 8-4, for the regional championship.
In the state semifinals, Tenino upended Meridian, 9-4 – scoring all nine runs in the final three innings to earn a trip to the title game for the first time since 1998.
Chimacum ended the run with an 8-4 title-game triumph in Yakima.
“They know they made our community proud,” Tenino coach Jesse Elam said afterward.
5. Going the distance
Very few cross-country programs have accomplished what Northwest Christian High School of Lacey did in November by winning its sixth consecutive Class 2B/1B girls championship in Pasco.
Senior Elizabeth Weber led the way by finishing third at 19:36. Four Navigators placed in the top 10, and the team scored an eye-popping 30 team points to run away from second-place Reardan (94 points).
“They exceeded expectations,” Northwest Christian coach Larry Weber said.
The state-meet record for consecutive team titles is held by the Mead High School boys of Spokane, who won nine straight titles from 1988-1996.
4. Destructive fire in Shelton
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 stored 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. Students have since vowed to rebuild the 2,400-square-foot building, which was designed by Shelton baseball coach Erik Engstrom.
3. Holmes dies at 48
Known as one of the greatest athletes to come out of Thurston County, Ron Holmes passed away from natural causes Oct. 27 at age 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 going on to an eight-year NFL career with Tampa Bay and Denver.
He also led Timberline to the 1980 Class 2A boys basketball state title, which remains the school’s only state championship in that sport. Up until this season, 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.
2. Keller calls it a career
After a 20-year career in professional soccer – including the final three seasons as goalkeeper for the Seattle Sounders of Major League Soccer – Kasey Keller retired from the sport.
His final match was Nov. 2 against Real Salt Lake in the MLS playoffs, ending one of the most decorated soccer careers the United States has ever seen.
Keller, 42, 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 MLS All-Star.
Keller had his No. 18 high school jersey retired by North Thurston in the spring.
1. Olympia wins 4A volleyball
For the second time in school history, Olympia High School’s volleyball team was crowned state champion, edging District III rival Kentwood in five sets (23-25, 25-18, 14-25, 25-6, 15-13) to win the 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.”
The Bears defeated Newport of Bellevue, Mead, defending state champion Jackson and Kentwood en route to the 4A title.
Olympia’s first state title, in 1998, came on the same floor as its 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. This year, they finished second in the 4A Narrows League and second in District III to Bellarmine Prep.
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473 mwochnick@theolympian.com
