Cascade inducts first six into Hall of Fame

EVERETT — Cascade High School’s nickname is “The School of Pride.” The Bruins had a lot to be proud of in their gym on Friday.

In between a Cascade versus Everett basketball doubleheader, Cascade honored its inaugural group of inductees into the newly created Cascade Athletics Hall of Fame: Terry Ennis, Dawn Lawrence, Ann Matheson, Reg Scodeller, Bob Smithson and Pat Sullivan. All of them are former coaches.

After Cascade beat Everett 48-35 in the girls basketball game, a huge crowd that included loads of Cascade alums and inductees’ family members listened to master of ceremonies Elliott Cheap — a former Cascade teacher who worked with all six Hall of Famers — recognized each of the former coaches, who received standing ovations.

Lawrence, Matheson, Scodeller and Smithson all attended the ceremony.

“I think it’s so important to honor the past coaches that meant so much to the school and did so much for our kids,” said Doug Kloke, Cascade’s 10th-year athletic director.

After about 18 months of planning that included forming a Hall of Fame selection committee made of former and current coaches, administrators, teachers and students, Cascade celebrated its first group of honorees. The committee will induct outstanding individual athletes and teams in the future, Kloke said.

Here are details about Cascade’s inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame inductees.

Terry Ennis

Sport coached: football (1988-1998)

Highlights: Guided Cascade to 10 straight conference championships and a state title in 1991. Known as an incredibly inspiring coach and administrator, Ennis finished with 287 career victories (No. 2 in state history) and just 87 losses, guiding several programs along the way including Cascade and Archbishop Murphy. Named Snohomish County’s Most Successful Coach of All Time in 2008. Inducted into the Washington State Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1996.

Update: Ennis died of cancer in September 2007.

Dawn Lawrence

Sports coached: girls track and field (1979-1998), boys track and field assistant (1976-1978)

Highlights: The 1968 Cascade High graduate coached track for 20 years and was also a versatile science teacher. Her track teams won back-to-back conference championships in 1981 and 1982; the latter squad finished 10th at the state meet. Selected National Federation of High Schools District 8 Coach of the Year in 1998.

Update: Lawrence teaches science at Archbishop Murphy High School and lives in Marysville.

Ann Matheson

Sports coached: girls basketball (1972-1989), volleyball (1967-1979), girls tennis (1966-1967)

Highlights: Starting off as girls tennis coach, she also became the school’s first volleyball coach in 1967 and its first girls basketball coach in 1972, when the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association added girls hoops as a sanctioned sport. Guided Cascade’s girls basketball program to the 1985 conference championship and three regional tournament appearances (1975, 1982, 1986).

Update: Matheson has a dog-walking business and lives in Seattle.

Reg Scodeller

Sports coached: boys basketball (1962-1978), baseball (1963-1966)

Highlights: Part of Cascade’s original staff, Scodeller was the school’s first boys basketball coach, first baseball coach and first athletic director. Earned the nickname “Father of Cascade Athletics” and in 2001 had Cascade’s gym named after him. Suggested that Cascade incorporate crimson and gray into its school colors, influenced by his days as Washington State University. Tallied 350 career wins in boys basketball, ranking him among the state’s all-time top 50. His hoops team won two league titles, two district titles and made four state-tournament appearances. Inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1984.

Update: Scodeller has been retired since 1991 and lives in Everett.

Bob Smithson

Sport coached: baseball (1986-2004)

Highlights: A member of the school’s first graduating class, the 1963 Cascade graduate lettered in football, basketball and baseball. Drafted by the California Angels. Became a teacher and coach at Cascade, guiding the baseball team to five conference championships, five district championships and two regional championships. Coached the Bruins to two top-four state-tournament finishes (second in 1993, fourth in 1994). Served as athletic director for Cascade and the Everett School District. Inducted into the Washington State Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Everett Community College Hall of Fame in 2009.

Update: Smithson retired from his job at Oak Harbor High School’s athletic director in 2007 and lives in Oak Harbor.

Pat Sullivan

Sports coached: girls soccer (1977-1987), boys soccer (1978-1988)

Highlights: A huge proponent of girls soccer, Sullivan organized unofficial state girls soccer championships before the WIAA officially sanctioned the sport. Guided Cascade’s 1979 girls soccer team to a 19-0 record and an unofficial state title. Guided the school’s boys and girls soccer squads to 13 conference championships (seven boys, six girls) and 13 official state tournament appearances, including Cascade’s 1987 boys team that went 20-0 and won the state title. Sullivan was honored during his career as Regional Soccer Coach of the Year, Washington State High School Soccer Coach of the Year and The Herald’s Man of the Year in Sports. Also a Cascade teacher and administrator.

Update: Sullivan is retired and lives in Arizona.

Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.