Foes on – friends off the field
Published 9:00 pm Monday, September 5, 2005
Prep notebook
Friday night’s Marin Catholic (Calif.)-Archbishop Murphy game was one of the biggest crowd-pleasers of high school football’s opening weekend, but on-field action was only part of the experience.
After Murphy secured a 35-28 victory at its home field in Everett, Murphy players and their parents hosted Marin student-athletes for the night. Unlike most prep events, which at best end with a friendly handshake, the good-natured connection between the teams continued well into the weekend.
“The overall experience was pretty unique in the sense that the (Marin Catholic) kids went home with our kids after the game,” Archbishop Murphy coach Terry Ennis said. “They seemed to really have enjoyed the time they spent together.”
“It’s probably what you’d like to see a little more of – to get to know the team as people,” Ennis added.
It could be the genesis of a spirited rivalry. The experience went so well, Marin has invited Murphy to travel to California for a non-conference game next season. Ennis, also Murphy’s athletic director, hasn’t committed yet but said he’ll seriously consider it.
The game wasn’t all good news for Murphy, which went 13-1 and reached the Class 2A state semifinals last season. Talented senior Stan Smith (1,694 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns in 2004) suffered a severely bruised left shin and will miss at least one game, possibly two, Ennis said. Smith was hurt in the first quarter when a Marin player’s helmet hit him in the leg, and he sat out the rest of the game. An X-ray later showed there is no fracture.
Murphy hosts Lakeside this Friday.
Bumbaugh picks Washington: It’s tough to ignore Monroe midfielder Chelsea Bumbaugh on the soccer field. She’s usually the one scoring goals, giving opposing coaches migraines.
“She has really quick feet, and I think that’s a huge key to her success,” said junior Keena Hopkins, one of Bumbaugh’s teammates. “She jukes people a lot. She’s really tricky.”
But when it comes to deciding where she’ll play in college, Bumbaugh is on the up and up. The Bearcats senior has made a verbal commitment to play for the University of Washington.
“I love the campus and the atmosphere,” said Bumbaugh, who also considered Washington State and Oregon. She’ll take an official visit to the UW later this month.
“I really liked the coaches,” Bumbaugh said of Washington. “It just seemed like a place that I will fit in well.”
Bumbaugh, who plans to study sports medicine or physical therapy, plays for the Maple Valley Marauders club team. Her high school coach, Kathleen Potthast, sees success for Bumbaugh at the next level.
“She’s a competitor,” Potthast said. “Ever since she was a freshman, she’s been on my varsity team. I think she’ll fit in just fine wherever she goes.”
Bloodlines, drama aid Lakewood’s Wiederkehr: Lakewood senior Anthony Wiederkehr is a talented running back/linebacker for the Cougars football team. One secret to Wiederkehr’s success is a noteworthy gridiron pedigree. His uncle, Hans Wiederkehr, was a standout lineman at Syracuse and later played for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. Hans went on to coach prep football on the East Coast.
The younger Wiederkehr said his background in Lakewood’s drama program also gives him an edge, especially when he pretends to receive a handoff. His acting skills regularly fool incoming tacklers, which opens up running lanes for teammates.
“I’ve been told my fakes are real good,” Wiederkehr said.
