Five questions heading into spring | Prep sports preview
Published 12:33 pm Tuesday, March 6, 2012
With the prep spring sports season underway at high schools around the state, the Reporter takes a look at five questions facing teams and individuals in Issaquah and Sammamish heading into 2012.
Which baseball team gets back to state?
2011 saw each of the five baseball teams in Issaquah and Sammamish miss out on a trip to the state tournament while Redmond, Bothell and Newport all took a spot on the state’s biggest prep stage from 4A KingCo and Seattle Prep, O’Dea and West Seattle all made the final 16 from the Metro League.
The Crusaders, which finished 2011 with a loss to Blanchet in the Metro League tournament, have a new coach in Eastlake High School and University of Washington alum Kyle Larson and will look to return to state for the first time since 2007.
Skyline looks like the closest thing to a sure bet and with stalwart Rob Reese and a bunch of veteran arms including Ethan Kalin, Andrew Kemmerer and Brandon Mahovlich, Issaquah could be poised to make a run at a league title and state spot as well.
Can Eastlake and Skyline stay on top in boys soccer?
The Wolves capped an historic season in 2011 with a state title over Sammamish rival Skyline, the third win over the Spartans on the year and the third state title in school history.
But with 12 departed seniors including captains Gerard Galvin, Sawyer Preston and Sean Klauer, the Wolves hope 2012 will be a year to reload for another shot at a league and state crown behind senior Michael Gallagher, rather than rebuild and take a back seat to the Spartans and other KingCo squads.
Who replaces departed track stars?
Haley Jacobson and Kasen Williams set school, league and state records during their prep days and won multiple titles for Issaquah and Skyline in the process. But with both now sporting the Husky purple and gold, a new class will be asked to carry the KingCo banner.
For Issaquah, Kyle Farmer (100m, 200m) and Jorrell Dorsey are the top returners after posting top 10 marks in several events last season as underclassmen.
Eastlake will look to football star Gino Bresolin in the shot put and discus and Daniel Brady in the high jump and triple jump.
Skyline seniors Drew Matthews and Jamon Rogers will be top returners on the boys side as well.
On the girls side, Skyline’s Haley Smith, Jordan Branch, Kaylie Greninger and Samantha Krahling will all look to improve on top 10 KingCo marks.
Issaquah has a pair of sophomores who could have a huge impact and help negate the loss of Jacobson in Gabrielle Gevers and Mack Wieburg.
Eastlake’s Lauren Files and Morgan O’Connor also return after impressive 2011 seasons and both will look to cap their prep careers with a trip to the state championships.
Which fastpitch team gets to state?
Eastlake was the only squad to get on the big stage last season and picked up a win over Rogers (4-3) before falling in consecutive games in the consolation round.
But with a deep senior class led by pitcher Brielle Bray, could Issaquah be poised to unseat the Wolves at the top of the division and make a postseason run of their own?
The Eagles have not made a trip to the state fastpitch tournament since a run of four straight appearances in class 3A ended in 2008.
Skyline won the 3A title in 1999, placed third in 2001 and made its most recent trip in 2004. But the Spartans have never made the 4A state tournament.
Who leads on links?
Sammamish had a huge showing at the state meet last spring, where Eastlake’s Li Wang and Evan Alston finished second and third respectively and Skyline’s Brian Mogg rounded out the top 10 finishers with a sixth place showing.
With only Alston departed from that group and sophomore and fellow state participant Spencer Weiss ready to take another step, the Wolves and Spartans each have underclassmen with state experience.
