Archbishop Murphy lineman to play in all-star football game

Published 11:43 pm Friday, June 20, 2008

Leadership.

It’s the first word that pops into Rick Stubrud’s mind every time he thinks about Ryan Bourke.

This past fall Bourke was a senior captain on the Archbishop Murphy High School football team. Following the death of Terry Ennis, Stubrud became Archbishop Murphy’s interim head coach a day before the Wildcats’ third game.

Throughout the rest of the season Stubrud repeatedly saw the positive influence that Bourke, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound lineman, had on teammates. Bourke has natural presence, emotional strength and maturity, said Stubrud.

“He’s just about as good as you’ll ever find,” Stubrud said.

Today Bourke will use his leadership and athletic ability to help the West team in the 2008 Earl Barden All-Star Football Classic. The 14th annual event features dozens of Washington’s best Class 2A/1A/2B/1B high school football players. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Zeapfel Stadium in Yakima.

Bourke, who has been practicing all week with the West team, said being selected for the game is a huge honor: “Definitely representing my school is pretty important to me and I take a lot of pride in that.”

He is one of three area athletes on the West squad. The others are from Cedarcrest: running back/defensive back Brady Paxman and linebacker Jonathon Kriegbaum.

Cedarcrest is one of Murphy’s rivals in the Cascade Conference. Bourke has gotten used to the idea of calling Paxman and Kriegbaum teammates instead of foes though.

“It was different at first,” said Bourke, “but they’re pretty good guys and it’s pretty fun playing with all this talent.”

Murphy beat Cedarcrest 28-0 on the field this past season. The victory was eventually erased when Murphy was forced to forfeit eight wins for using a player whose physical exam had expired.

Still, Stubrud remembers the game as one of Bourke’s best all-around performances. The lineman dominated on both sides of the ball and energized teammates all night, said Stubrud.

For the West team, Bourke said he expects to mainly play offense, as a right guard — the same offensive line spot he filled at Murphy.

But defense is in his future. He was recruited to play defensive end for Willamette University, an NCAA Division-III school in Salem, Ore.

In the meantime, Bourke said he will savor his final prep game today and proudly represent Murphy.

Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.