Granite Falls boys soccer team makes dramatic turnaround

Bob Weinmann could see good things ahead. He just wondered if the team could believe in what he saw.

The Granite Falls High School soccer team is finally doing what Weinmann believed it could – winning soccer games, something that had happened just twice in the history of the Tigers soccer program prior to this season.

Granite Falls did not win a game in its first two seasons of boys soccer. The school hired Weinmann, a former assistant at Skagit Valley College, last year with hopes the team might eventually win. Though the Tigers finished the 2003 season 2-14 (after forfeiting one victory), Weinmann saw signs that gave him optimism for 2004. He admits, however, that he didn’t expect the Tigers to enter Monday night’s contest against Lakewood in second place with a 10-2 record.

“The first two years, they were 0-32 and gave up like 300 goals,” said Weinmann, who lives in Everett. “Last year, we gave up 50 goals and scored 20. This year we’ve got all the same kids back and picked up some good freshman.”

Seniors J.J. DeNoma, Darin Johnson, Matt Jackson and Chad Wagner endured the glum days, when losing by 10 goals was a regular occurrence. The battle scars seem more worthwhile these days. Led by junior forward Kyle Nelson’s 17 goals and 12 assists, the Tigers are no longer a team that offers opponents a chance to pad their statistics. Prior to Monday’s game, the Tigers had lost only to Sultan and Lakewood, a pair of teams that finished among the top four in the state last year. Granite Falls gets a second shot at Sultan on Friday.

Weinmann had hoped for a decent season in 2003, but said the team struggled with some academic suspensions. This year’s team, he said, is a cohesive unit that is beginning to believe it can win. Eight of the team’s 19 players are freshmen, including starting midfielders Chile Brown and Zac Londerville, and goalkeeper Brandon Turner, who has three shutouts so far. Kevin Willard, a senior who switched from baseball to soccer, has also helped the team.

“They’re still trying to grasp that they’re actually going to the playoffs,” Weinmann said. “We’re trying to get them to realize that as long as they play together, they can make it to state. That’s the goal.”

Who would’ve thought?

Goodbye shot clock?: Though many fans would like to see boys high school basketball played with a shot clock – like the girls game – the opposite may be happening. According to Washington Interscholastic Activities Association executive director Mike Colbrese, the shot clock may soon disappear from the girls game as well. The rule change survived its first reading on Thursday and could be implemented in May or July.

“It’ll be interesting to see what kind of feedback the board gets,” Colbrese said. ” … (The board) feels it wants both games to be the same, and they believe that our officials will much more easily be able to work both boys and girls games.”

Colbrese also said that the Class 3A basketball tournaments will remain in the Tacoma Dome for at least two more years despite a desire by many to put them back in Seattle, where they were last played in 2000. The board, he said, likely will table proposed changes to the double-elimination format until the venues are finalized.

Parker to be a Grizzly: Micaela Parker, The Herald’s 2003 All-Area Volleyball Player of the Year, has signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Montana. Parker, an outside hitter, led Marysville-Pilchuck to second place in the Class 4A volleyball tournament last fall.

“Micaela’s two strengths are her work ethic and her attacking style of play,” Montana coach Nikki Best said in a press release. “Her work ethic is unbelievable. She’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen while recruiting a players. Micaela is the player that always seems to be everywhere on the court making plays.”

Milone signs letter: Edmonds-Woodway soccer player Lindsay Milone has signed a letter of intent to play for three-time defending NAIA national champion Westmont College. Milone scored 35 goals and contributed 10 assists during her four seasons with the Warriors.

Monroe mixer: The Monroe girls and boys basketball teams will form coed teams for a game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Monroe High School. The junior boys and girls will play the seniors. Fans can watch the game for $2 (adults), $1 (children) or for free (students with ASB cards).

Shorecrest’s Hale picks Willamette: Geneva Hale, a four-year starter at first base for the Shorecrest Scots, has made a verbal commitment to play college softball at Willamette University in Salem, Ore.

Hale’s team has made three straight state tournament trips, finishing first in 2001 (Class 4A) and second in 2002 (4A) and 2003 (3A).

A team co-captain, Hale is currently batting .500.

“I am really excited to coach a player like Geneva Hale,” Willamette coach Damian Williams said. “She will bring a lot of leadership and excitement to our program. Geneva will instantly became an impact player.”

Hale plans to major in exercise science with the ultimate goal of a post-graduate degree in physical therapy.

Glove work: The Everett School District is looking for adult volunteers to work at regional and state baseball tournament games May 22, 28 and 29 at Everett Memorial Stadium. Volunteers can work as few as one game or as many as all of them and would help with moving the field tarp and shagging fly balls. Those interested can call 425-385-4260.

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