Cascade RB/DB Fortino nominated for state award

Herald staff

Cascade running back/defensive back Andy Fortino has been nominated for the Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year Award for the state of Washington.

Fortino garnered Red Zone Player of the Week honors three times during the season. In the Bruins’ final game, a 42-21 victory over Snohomish which knocked the Panthers out of postseason contention, Fortino had a key pass interception that led to a Cascade touchdown.

“Andy is a tremendous team leader, especially in the red zone,” said Cascade coach Rollie Wilson. “His offensive leadership and emotional defensive play set the bar for our team. He’s definitely the type of kid you want on your team, whether you’re driving inside the opponent’s 20 or defending inside your own.”

In its inaugural season, the Red Zone Award recognizes high school varsity players who elevate their play and that of their teammates during competition, serve as both physical and emotional team leaders, and best exemplify the highest level of personal performance and desire to lead their teams to victory.

Great start: Monroe’s Chelsea Zimmerman, a sophomore point guard, had 27 points, nine assists and five steals to lead the rebuilt Bearcats to a 67-54 victory in the non-conference season opener at Bellingham.

“She looked like John Stockton out there,” Monroe coach Alan Dickson said.

Not a bad start either, for a team that lost eight players after going 21-6 and earning a berth in the Class 3A state tournament last season.

Senior captain Kaylee Kolrud helped spark the Monroe victory.

“Kaylee played real spirited defense,” Dickson said of Kolrud, who also hit a trio of 3-point goals and scored 11 points.

Her sister Kacey Kolrud, a sophomore, got in on the act with eight points and nine rebounds while Karissa Barnes, a junior, added 10 points.

“We’re excited. The kids have worked real hard. It’s a new team totally.”

Coaches honored: Wayne Dickey of Touchet, Rob Friese of Willapa Valley, Michael Morgan of Colfax, Bob Wollan of Rochester, Sid Otton of Tumwater and Rick Giampietri of Central Valley were recipients of the 2001 WIAA Football Sportsman of the Year Awards presented by the Seattle Bowl. Each coach was recognized at last weekend’s Gridiron Classic and received a plaque and two tickets to the inaugural Seattle Bowl between Stanford and Georgia Tech on Dec. 27 at Safeco Field.

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