January
Skyline wrestling team ranked 10th
The Washington Wrestling Report ranked the Skyline Spartans wrestling team as the 10th best team in the Class 4A Division in mid-January. The Spartans were the highest ranked school in the KingCo Division. Spartans grappler Nate Swanson (120) was ranked ninth in the state, Tristan Stecise (132) was ranked 10th in the state individually and Bo Longmore (170) was ranked eighth in the state in his weight class.
EC’s Iwicki wins wrestling tourney
Crusaders junior Matt Iwicki captured a first place title in the Lynden Annual Invitational wrestling tournament in the 138-pound weight class. Iwicki defeated Oak Harbor’s Jahleel Vester 5-2 in the championship match. Iwicki was the only wrestler from Eastside Catholic to win an individual championship at the tourney.
February
Skyline Athletic Director resigns
Skyline Spartans athletic director Ryan Gilbert announced his resignation from his position after accepting a new job as the director of ministries at Sambica, a summer camp and retreat center on Lake Sammamish. Gilbert, who became the athletic director during the 2011-12 school year, witnessed Skyline High School win two state championships in football and girls soccer during his tenure.
Kim earns KingCo record in the pool
Eastlake Wolves senior Edward Kim clocked a time of one minute, 54.6 in the 200-yard individual medley at the KingCo Conference Swim and Dive Championships at the University of Washington. Kim’s blistering time in the 200 IM set a KingCo record in the event. Kim also captured first place in the 100 fly with a time of 51.33.
Kim takes first at state swim meet
Eastlake swimmer Edward Kim finished his high school swimming career in style, earning individual state titles in the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle at the Class 4A state swim and dive championships in Federal Way. Kim won eight individual titles in four years during his high school career.
March
Issaquah football gets a new coach
Buddy Bland was hired as the Issaquah Eagles new head football coach. Bland, who coached the Eagles for seven seasons before resigning in 2006, led the Eagles to an undefeated regular season in 2003.
Rainier Beach tops EC in title game
The Eastside Catholic Crusaders suffered a heartbreaking 47-45 loss to the Rainier Beach Vikings in the Class 3A state basketball championship at the Tacoma Dome. The final eight minutes of the game featured four ties and four lead changes. Mandrell Worthy scored a team-high 21 points in the loss.
Skyline’s Lee sets state discus record
Skyline Spartans senior Bryan Lee broke a decade-long discus school record with a throw of 156 feet, 3.5 inches in a dual meet against the Newport Knights. The previous record was held by Paul Clary who hurled the discus 155 feet in 2004.
April
Lunde tosses a complete-game
Skyline Spartans ace pitcher Drew Lunde surrendered just two hits and two earned runs in Skyline’s 4-3 victory against the Issaquah Eagles. Lunde pitched all seven innings and struck out six Issaquah hitters.
May
Eastlake’s perfect finish on the links
The Eastlake Wolves girls golf team defeated the Redmond Mustangs 206-238 in the season finale, completing a 10-0 undefeated record in the regular season. Wolves golfer Ashley Fitzgibbons shot a 35 (one under par) and Maddie Nelson shot a 36.
Issaquah takes soccer title
The Issaquah Eagles defeated the Skyline Spartans 2-1 in a shootout to win the Class 4A KingCo championship. Issaquah senior goalie Saif Kerawala stopped two Skyline shots and scored one goal of his own during the shootout, propelling his team to win.
June
Former Skyline star transfers
Former Skyline Spartans star quarterback Jake Heaps transferred to the University of Miami Hurricanes football program. Heaps, who played for BYU (two seasons) and Kansas, is one of the most decorated quarterbacks in the history of Washington state football. Heaps led the Spartans to state championships in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
July
Former Crusader football coach dies
Chuck Tarbox, former head coach at Eastside Catholic and one of the area’s coaching legends, passed away at the age of 77 in Surprise, Ariz. Tarbox was the head coach at Eastside Catholic from 1992 through 1999.
Eastlake Little League wins District 9 title
The Eastlake Little League team defeated Kirkland American 7-2 in the District 9 title game. Elston Miller picked up the win on the mound for Eastlake. Eastlake hitters Cooper Safon, Garrett Carney and Grady Robison each recorded two hits in the championship game.
August
Changes at Reporter sports
After three years of writing sports for the Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter, Josh Suman resigned to join nonprofit Jubilee REACH in Bellevue. New sports reporter Shaun Scott begins “Beyond the Athlete” spotlight series with a profile of Skyline Spartans defensive end Riley Griffiths.
September
Skyline crushes Issaquah on gridiron
Spartans running back Rashaad Boddie scored a game-high four touchdowns in Skyline’s 48-21 victory against the Issaquah Eagles. Boddie scored on an 81-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Blake Gregory on Skyline’s first offensive play from scrimmage.
Eastlake scores big against Gig Harbor
The Eastlake Wolves football team rallied for a 24-21 upset against the Gig Harbor Tides in front of a raucous crowd in Sammamish. Rudy Gonzalez hauled in a 78-yard touchdown pass from Mark Whitley with 4 minutes, 20 seconds left in regulation which cinched the game-winning score.
October
EC hoopsters reveal college choices
Matisse Thybulle (University of Washington) and Mandrell Worthy (Montana State University) attended a signing ceremony where they announced what colleges they would attend. Teammates, students, family, friends and community members were in attendance for the celebration.
Issaquah captures KingCo soccer title
The Issaquah Eagles completed an undefeated regular season with a 2-1 victory against the Skyline Spartans in the season finale. Issaquah’s Lyrik Fryer and Devan Tally scored a goal apiece in the win. Eagles goalie Anna Miller made several clutch saves in the second half to preserve the victory.
November
Skyline girls soccer earns third at state
Skyline put together a dominating performance against the Gig Harbor Tides in the Class 4A third/fourth place game. Amanda Johnston, Lindsey Fujiwara and Kelli Sullivan each scored a goal in Skyline’s 3-1 win against the Tides at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup. The Spatans scored two goals in the second half to clinch the win.
Cronk commits to Division-1 school
Eastside Catholic Crusaders lacrosse player Cameron Cronk signed a letter of intent with the New Jersey Institute of Technology. NJIT is a Division-1 lacrosse program located in Newark, N.J.
December
Eastside Catholic conquers Bellevue
The Eastside Catholic Crusaders snapped the Bellevue Wolverines 67-game winning streak with a 35-13 victory in the Class 3A state football championship at the Tacoma Dome. Crusaders quarterback Harley Kirsch completed 20-of-22 passes for 188 yards passing and two touchdowns in the state title game. Eastside Catholic outscored Bellevue 28-0 in the final 24 minutes, 30 seconds of the game.
EC accepts bid to play in Florida
The Eastside Catholic Crusaders football team accepted a bid to play in the Burger King State Champions Bowl Series, which took place in Boca Raton on Dec. 27.
