Community roundup: Jackson grad competes on world stage

Jon Cook received the opportunity to test himself on the world stage.

The Jackson High School graduate, now a senior on the Stanford University men’s swimming and diving team, recently represented the Philippines at the FINA 25-meter short course World Championships, which wrapped up Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Cook competed in two events at the meet, which took place in a 25-meter pool instead of the standard 50-meter Olympic pool, and featured Olympic medalists among the participants. He placed 21st out of 37 competitors in the 200-meter breaststroke, finishing in a time of 2 minutes, 9.40 seconds, and he placed 36th out of 65 competitors in the 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:00.75.

Cook will be looking to score points for the Cardinal at the Pac-12 Championships for the fourth straight year when the meet takes place March 2-5 in Federal Way.

Kamiak grad Hamilton named All-America

Kamiak High School graduate Donte Hamilton, who just completed his graduate season as a linebacker with the Central Washington University football team, was named a second-team NCAA Division-II All-American by the Conference Commissioner’s Association.

Hamilton recorded 78 tackles — including 14.5 for loss — 5.5 sacks, six interceptions and five pass breakups for the Wildcats, who finished 8-3 and reached the national playoffs. He was named the Great Northwest Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year and earned GNAC Defensive Player of the Week honors three times.

Hamilton was Central’s first All-American since 2017.

AMHS grad Sullivan to play for national title

Archbishop Murphy High School graduate Tommy Sullivan, now a freshman long snapper on the Montana State University football team, will be playing for a national championship when the Bobcats face North Dakota State on Jan. 8 in the FCS championship game.

Sullivan and the Bobcats were the No. 8 seed to the tournament, receiving the bracket’s final first-round bye. Montana State beat University of Tennessee at Martin 26-7 in the round of 16, upset top-seeded Sam Houston State 42-19 in the quarterfinals, then topped South Dakota State 31-17 in the semifinals Saturday in Bozeman, Montana. Sullivan served as the long snapper in each, making one tackle against Sam Houston State.

The Bobcats (12-2) will be underdogs when they face second-seeded North Dakota State (13-1), winner of eight of the past 10 FCS titles, in the championship game, which kicks off at 9 a.m. (PT) in Frisco, Texas, and will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Gilmore selected for prestigious softball committee

Edmonds-Woodway High School graduate Sheryl Gilmore, now the head coach of the Western Washington University softball team, was selected to be a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s NCAA Division-II Head Coaches Committee. Gilmore, who’s in her fourth season as Western’s coach and previously coached at Edmonds College, will be part of a group that discusses legislation, playing rules, championships, schedules and other aspects that impact the game.

Silvertips ink first-round pick Smith

The Everett Silvertips signed defenseman Tarin Smith, the team’s first-round pick in the this year’s WHL prospects draft, to a standard player agreement, committing Smith’s future to the team.

Smith, a 15-year-old from Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan, was taken 20th overall in the draft, which took place Dec. 9. The 6-foot-1, 174-pounder has three goals and 18 assists in 24 games with the Saskatoon Blazers U18 team.

Smith joins forward Jesse Heslop, who Everett selected in the third round, as players signed from this year’s draft. Players drafted this year are eligible to join the team full-time in 2022-23.

If you have an item for the community sports roundup, email Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.