Wrestling and soccer don’t have much in common. But one of the area’s newest head coaches believes at least one aspect of wrestling can help his players reach their potential on the soccer field.
Andy Knutson, first-year head coach of the Lake Stevens High School girls soccer team, has implemented a routine that often has the Vikings practicing twice a day: once bright and early at 6 a.m. and then again after school. The sessions are short and more productive, said Knutson, a 1989 Lake Stevens grad who participated in football, wrestling and soccer in high school.
Knutson, an assistant for the powerful Lake Stevens wrestling team, borrowed the two-a-day approach from his wrestling background. The method has helped Vikings grapplers consistently be among the state’s best.
Will it work for soccer players? So far this season Lake Stevens tied Stanwood in its only game. Its next challenge is tonight against Monroe.
“I want to be able to say we’re doing everything we can as a group to be the best we can every week,” said Knutson, whose team had practiced 23 times before its first game.
Knutson was the Lake Stevens junior varsity girls soccer coach for 14 years before taking over this fall for longtime Vikings coach Dianne Mattingly. Mattingly, who in 2005 guided the team to fourth place in the Class 4A state tournament, decided to take a year off to support her 7-year-old daughter’s acting interests. Mattingly and her daughter, Ainsley, live in Los Angeles.
No Mariner soccer forfeits
Originally the Mariner girls soccer team was going to forfeit its first two games of the season due to low turnout and lack of eligible players. But thanks to cooperation from Wesco officials and the two opponents (Edmonds-Woodway and Shorewood) Mariner was able to reschedule the games for later in the season and avoid forfeiting.
Guided by first-year head coach Michelle Marklund, Mariner finally begins its season tonight against Jackson. Mariner has just 20 players eligible in its program and canceled its entire JV schedule, said Scott Powers, the school’s athletic director.
Don’t mess with Sunshine
Sunshine is an odd nickname for a football player, but it perfectly fits Edmonds-Woodway senior nose guard Mose Fuga. Fuga, a relentless 5-foot-8, 220-pounder, helped devastate Mariner’s offensive line Friday in E-W’s 54-20 victory.
“He was smiling the whole time,” E-W coach John Gradwohl said of Fuga. “He’s a player. He’s just a joy to be around, as you can see. I call him Sunshine because he’s just happy.”
Kamiak wins tournament
The Kamiak volleyball team earned some sweet revenge on its way to winning the prestigious Puget Sound Adidas Invitational Saturday in Auburn. The Knights went 10-2 in pool play in the 24-team tourney before eventually beating Rogers of Puyallup in the championship match. Rogers eliminated Kamiak last November at the 4A state tourney.
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