Jackson teams have had an amazing fall

What a great time to be an athlete — and a fan — at Jackson High School in Mill Creek.

This fall, Jackson teams have been either very good or flat-out dominant in every sport. There’s the undefeated, fourth-ranked football team, the unbeaten girls soccer team, the much-improved state-bound volleyball team … and that’s just part of the story.

“Any time you have this amount of success, obviously it’s kind of infectious around the whole school in terms of the level of school spirit,” said Joel Vincent, head coach of the 10-0 Timberwolves football team.

“It’s a little overwhelming right now. We’ve got so much going on,” third-year Jackson athletic director Larry Fritts said.

“We’ve got a great set of fans, a great set of kids and obviously a great coaching staff,” Fritts added.

A coach and teacher at Jackson since it opened in fall 1994, Vincent said the last few years of athletic excellence at the school have been remarkable. But this fall the excitement has reached new heights.

About 2,000 students attended a school pep assembly on Oct. 23, the day of Jackson’s homecoming football game against Mountlake Terrace. It was a celebration of the T-wolves’ gridiron success, and also a chance to recognize all of Jackson’s fall sports domination.

“It was probably the most spirited and fun pep assembly that I’ve ever seen here,” Vincent said.

Here is a closer look at Jackson’s fall sports squads, many of which are gearing up for state-tournament competition this week.

Football

Head coach: Joel Vincent

Team win-loss record: 10-0

Notable achievements: Won second straight Wesco South title. Ranked No. 4 in 4A by the Tacoma News Tribune. Beat Eastlake 38-15 in the quad-district playoffs.

What’s next: Plays host to Issaquah (7-3) in a first-round 4A state playoff game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Everett Memorial Stadium.

Girls soccer

Head coach: Michael Bartley

Team win-loss record: 17-0-1

Notable achievements: Won Wesco South and District 1 titles. Ranked No. 6 in the region as of Nov. 3 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Has outscored opponents 59-5.

What’s next: Plays host to Todd Beamer (12-3-3) in a first-round 4A state tournament game at 7 p.m. tonight at Everett Memorial Stadium.

Volleyball

Head coach: Erik Champoux

Team win-loss record: 16-3

Notable achievements: Co-Wesco South champion and third in District 1. Qualified for 4A state tournament for first time since 2004 and second time in program history. Bounced back from four-win 2008 season.

What’s next: Plays Olympia in a first-round 4A state tournament match on Thursday at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.

Girls swimming

Head coach: Drew Whorley

Team win-loss record: 5-3 in Wesco North (tie for third place)

Notable achievements: The 2008 state champion T-wolves placed third at the District 1 meet. They are led by Class of 2010 college recruits seniors Alana Pazevic (University of Florida) and Courtney McDermott (Emory University).

What’s next: Will compete in the 4A State Swimming and Diving Championships Friday and Saturday at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Boys cross country

Head coach: Eric Hruschka

Notable achievements: In addition to winning several prestigious invites, Jackson won its fourth straight Wesco South championship and second straight District 1 title. The team was ranked No. 1 in America going into the 4A state meet; Jackson finished second behind No. 9 nationally ranked Ferris of Spokane.

What’s next: Will run at the Nike Cross Nationals Northwest Regional on Saturday in Boise and will send three runners (Sean Roe, Mitchell Briggs and Connor Frederickson) to the 2009 BorderClash on Nov. 22 in Beaverton, Ore.

Girls cross country

Head coach: Craig Bowen

Notable achievements: Finished third in the team standings at the Wesco South championships and fifth at the 4A District 1 meet, 14 points behind third-place Oak Harbor (top three teams advanced to state). Senior Juliette Becker and sophomore Kelsey Fruland placed top-10 at districts and competed at state.

Boys tennis

Head coach: David Hutt

Team win-loss record: 16-0

Notable achievements: Unbeaten in division dual meets (9-0) en route to Wesco South title. It was coach Hutt’s first perfect season in his 12 years with the T-wolves, who also won the District 1 team title. Mitch Williamson won South and District 1 singles championships; Robin Choi and David Kim placed third in the district doubles tournament.

What’s next: Williamson, Choi and Kim will compete in the state championships in May.

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