PREP NOTEBOOK: Edmonds-Woodway seeks girls hoop head coach
Published 7:07 pm Monday, March 30, 2009
The Edmonds-Woodway High School girls basketball team needs a new head coach.
Following two seasons as Edmonds-Woodway’s interim coach, Wayne Edwards has stepped down. This past season, Edwards guided the Warriors to a 16-4 regular-season record. E-W won a share of the Western Conference South Division title, went 1-2 in the Class 4A District 1 tournament and finished 17-6.
“I had a fabulous time. Working with girls is just a great time — great athletes,” Edwards said. “It was certainly a pleasure to work with those girls and it’s a great school.”
A late-season cluster of sickness and injuries ultimately derailed E-W, said Edwards, whose team was at times ranked among the 4A top 10.
Shortly before the 2007-08 season began, Edwards took the E-W head coaching position on an interim basis, with the understanding he would guide the program for one season. Edwards stepped in after a different coach who was offered the job backed out at the last minute because of family reasons, Edmonds-Woodway athletic director Julie Stroncek said.
Edwards returned for a second and final season when asked by Stroncek. The district hopes to hire a new coach by mid-May, said Stroncek.
“Wayne was a blessing to have, really,” she said. “I cannot say enough about him.” Edwards is a class act who always makes time for others and finds something positive to say about everyone, Stroncek added.
Looking ahead to next winter, Edwards said he is excited to have more time to watch his grandsons play basketball for Edmonds-Woodway and Everett. As for the E-W girls, Edwards predicts more success. “They’ve got a great team coming back,” he said. “Whoever they get as a coach, they are going to have a great team intact to make a run at the end of the season.”
The Warriors are expected to return important contributors like Angela Woods (a sophomore forward who earned All-Wesco South first team recognition), sophomore point guard Alex Kenney and sophomore post Sydney Donaldson (all-league honorable mention).
Locals shine in all-state games
South Whidbey’s Lindsey Newman and Archbishop Murphy’s Alyssa Smith helped the City team beat the State team 74-63 Saturday in the small-school game during the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association All State event at Bellevue Christian High. Newman scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds; Smith had eight points, nine rebounds and three steals.
In the big-school game, Snohomish’s Katie Benson had 14 points and 11 rebounds in the 4A team’s 75-72 loss against the 3A squad. Also playing for the 4A team were Snohomish’s Emily Guthrie (six points, five assists) and Cascade’s Katy Gross (four points, two rebounds).
Royals 2009 Golf Classic
The Royals 2009 Golf Classic is set for 1 p.m., April 24 at The Golf Club at Redmond Ridge. The individual fee is $125. The event will benefit the Lynnwood High School Booster Club. To sign up go to www.lhsroyalboosters.com/registration. For more information call Bill Jackson at 206-510-8747 or send an e-mail to info@lhsroyalboosters.com.
