During my relatively brief time as a sportswriter at The Herald I have been fortunate to cover dozens of unforgettable athletes and coaches.
Over the last couple weeks I compiled a list of The Herald’s All-Area High School Athletes of the Decade. (Our other writers put together all-decade lists related to their respective beats. The lists will appear in print and online before the end of the year.) That project got me thinking about my favorite memories since I started covering prep sports.
Even though it’s not exactly a “Best of the Decade” recap because I didn’t get hired at The Herald until late 2002, here are some of the most remarkable games/events I have covered, followed by a list of feature stories I wrote that truly stuck with me and constantly remind me why I enjoy my job.
10 Memorable Moments
In chronological order
*Runner Kelly Spady’s fantastic finish in Pasco
Date of event: Nov. 6, 2004
Kamiak’s Spady wins 4A boys title
*Wrestler Kelly Kubec’s come-from-behind stunner helps lift Vikings
Date of event: Feb. 19, 2005
*Jon Brockman and Jake Linton fight for one last trip to state
Date of event: March 4, 2005
*Joey Bywater’s track breakthrough
Date of event: May 19, 2006
Lake Stevens boys conquer: Bywater’s gamble pays off in boys 3200-meter run
*Jackson’s baseball perfection
Date of event: May 27, 2006
Heads of State: Timberwolves cap 27-0 season with 7-1 victory over Auburn
*Marshall Lobbestael leads Oak Harbor to state football title
Date of event: Dec. 2, 2006
Wildcats’ night: Oak Harbor beats Bothell for first football title in school history
*Edmonds-Woodway football shocks Eastlake at Seattle Memorial Stadium
Date of event: Nov. 17, 2007
*Kristi Kingma’s state-record scoring outburst
Date of event: Feb. 28, 2008
*Everett girls soccer team steamrolls to first state title
Date of event: Nov. 22, 2008
Seagulls soar to the top: Everett beats Seattle Prep 3-0 for first state title in program history
*Archbishop Murphy football wins Swamp Bowl
Date of event: Oct. 16, 2009
10 Favorite Feature Stories
In chronological order
*The origins of the Stilly Cup football battle
Date published: Oct. 1, 2004
Bragging rights, and a whole lot more
*Mariner’s Josh King rises above family struggles
Date published: Dec. 26, 2004
*Lakewood cross country team dedicates season to Scott Skiles
Date published: Sept. 15, 2006
*Paralyzed from the waist down, Stanwood’s Matt Howard finds a new way to feed his hunger for competition
Date published: May 13, 2007
Stanwood sophomore returns to track despite paralysis
*Thousands attend Terry Ennis’ memorial service
Date published: Sept. 24, 2007
Ennis remembered as caring coach, father
*Archbishop Murphy’s Dakota Bradley overcomes drug and alcohol problems
Date published: Nov. 14, 2008
A young athlete’s toughest comeback
*Being deaf doesn’t stop Brian McPartland from enjoying success on and off the diamond
Date published: April 12, 2009
Cascade’s McPartland overcomes disability in becoming complete pitcher
*Monroe superfan Larry Roberton passes away
Date published: May 6, 2009
*Snohomish’s Ike Ditzenberger lives his dream on the gridiron
Date published: Oct. 11, 2009
Local boy with Down syndrome finds hope in football
*In honor of Chase Bircher
Date published: Dec. 20, 2009
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