HeraldNet: Prep athletes remind cynical writer of fun days



RECENT POSTS:
• Time to release M's dead wood July 23 • Great fun, no question about it July 21 • Sexson, Yanks won't mix July 17 • Random testing ban: Does it serve troubled youth? July 15 • Sexson's gone; who's next? July 10

Archives:



RECENT COLUMNS:
• Hey, M's: Shift your focus July 23 • The Answer Man knows everything July 21 • M's fans deserve more July 20 • Winning bowling title was an adventure July 19 • Wage war on teenage drug abuse July 16 • If Seattle wants NBA, it's time to be like Clay July 13 • Mariners' Sexson wanted to succeed in Seattle -- maybe too much so July 11 • Frogs, M's and other assorted musings July 9 • The Sonics move, from Nooooo! to who cares? July 6 • Politicians pushed Sonics out the door July 3


ADVERTISEMENT <script language=JavaScript src="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/169233/0/vj?z=heraldnet&ct=122081&dim=169231&abr=$scriptiniframe"></script><noscript><a href="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/169233/0/cc?z=heraldnet"><img src="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/169233/0/vc?z=heraldnet&ct=122081&dim=169231&abr=$imginiframe" width="160" height="600" border="0"></a></noscript>

Dangling Participles

May 19, 2008

Prep athletes remind cynical writer of fun days

Posted at 8:22 am by John Sleeper

I cover pro and college sports so much I've forgotten how much fun prep sports can be. Did some preview work last week and wrote a couple stories -- one on Marzell Jenkins, star sprinter for Mariner High School, and one on Chase Anselment, catcher/relief pitcher for Meadowdale.

Both are bright, cheery, hard-working guys. I enjoyed talking to them. I found myself thinking about them afterward and thinking how nice it would be if they both realized their dreams.

Both did. Jenkins won the district 100, 200 and 400 meters, setting a meet record in the 400. He has to be a favorite to come way with at least one state title. The kid's earned it. Anselment went wild in leading the Mavericks over West Seattle and Seattle Prep, putting Meadowdale m in the state semifinals at Safeco Field for the s.econd straight year. Anselment told me that going there and winning one game would be the highlight of his prep career.

My question to Anselment: Why stop at one?

I also met some pretty cool coaches in my research. Dave McFadden has invested a lot of time and effort in helping Jenkins. McFadden deserves all the happiness that comes his way. The job of a teacher doesn't end in the classroom. In Jenkins, McFadden sees a kid with huge potential, but hasn't gotten a break yet. McFadden and others have tried to help in motivation and have worked to open doors. Now it's up to Jenkins. Good luck to all of them.

Meadowdale baseball coach Bill Hummel is a modern-day coach who obviously knows baseball and can teach the finer points to his kids. He talks a lot about having a plan at the plate and producing quality at-bats. It's harder than it sounds, but he must be doing something right. After battling 4A programs all year, they're in the middle of the stretch run for a 3A state title for the second straight year.

Pretty darn cool.

Return to Dangling Participles

TODAY'S TOP JOBS

View All Top Jobs

>> view all top homes

>> view all homes

<script language=JavaScript src="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/105699/0/vj?z=heraldnet&dim=100749&abr=$scriptiniframe"></script><noscript><a href="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/105699/0/cc?z=heraldnet"><img src="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/105699/0/vc?z=heraldnet&dim=100749&abr=$imginiframe" width="728" height="90" border="0"></a></noscript>
\|Contact Us \|Advertiser Services \|Home Delivery \|Newsstand Locations \|Classifieds \|Feedback \|About the Company \|Work@the Herald \|Site Map	© 2008 The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA.