Knights become rivals
Published 11:36 pm Wednesday, February 6, 2008
MUKILTEO — Rivals. Teammates. Rivals again.
That describes the athletic journey for Justin Glenn and Skylar Stormo. Before becoming teammates at Kamiak High School, the standout football players competed against each other at Harbour Pointe and Olympic View middle schools.
Now Glenn and Stormo are officially on track to become foes once more.
Glenn, a defensive back, and Stormo, a tight end, both signed an NCAA National Letter of Intent Wednesday, respectively accepting football scholarship from the University of Washington and Washington State University.
It was the first day high school seniors were allowed to sign for football, soccer and cross country/track.
With Glenn wearing a black Huskies sweatshirt and purple shoes and Stormo sporting a gray Cougars sweatshirt, Kamiak football coach Dan Mack jokingly warned the two to avoid a tussle.
“Don’t start scrapping here guys. You’ve got to wait until next fall,” Mack said.
Since one is expected to play offense and the other is expected to play defense, it’s possible that Glenn and Stormo will have some memorable collisions in college.
“It will be a little bit different, but exciting,” Stormo said of competing against Glenn.
Who will come out on top? Stormo grinned and made a prediction: “I’m going to run over him.”
Switching teams won’t spoil their relationship, said Glenn, a 2007 All-Wesco South first team defensive back and second team running back.
“We’ll still be friends, no matter what. It’s just football,” he said.
Stormo, an all-league first team defensive end and second team tight end, had to change a lifelong allegiance to sign with WSU. He has been a Husky fan since age 7 and said he has missed just two UW home games since then.
Stormo’s parents are gearing up for a big transition too. Gary Stormo, Skylar’s dad, said he has had Washington season tickets for 30 years.
“That’s it,” Stormo’s dad said after his son signed with WSU. “We’re officially converted.”
A third Kamiak athlete also signed at the ceremony, which was attended by family members, friends and coaches.
Kelli Stewart, a high-scoring forward, cemented her commitment to the Washington women’s soccer program. She’s following in the footsteps of her mother, Beth Stewart, who played college soccer at Pacific Lutheran University.
“It’s a perfect ending to youth soccer,” said Kelli Stewart, who scored 28 goals and tallied 13 assists this past season.
Stewart, a three-time all-league first team honoree, finished her prolific varsity career with 60 goals and 38 assists. She was recently asked to play this summer for the Seattle Sounders women’s team.
Three other Class of 2008 Kamiak recruits celebrated Wednesday with Stewart, Glenn and Stormo. Julia Church (University of Idaho volleyball), Jordan Keller (Seattle University volleyball) and Dylan Goodwin (Washington golf) accepted athletic scholarships from their respective programs in November.
Asked about the collective success of the group, Stormo said: “It’s hard to believe. Our class worked hard all the time in athletics and it all paid off.”
Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
