Herald staff
MOUNT VERNON – Mount Vernon boys basketball coach Mac Fraser has decided to relinquish his coaching position after 15 years at the Bulldogs’ helm.
Fraser said his decision was made in order to allow him to watch his daughter, Erin, a sophomore at Lake Stevens High School, play for the Vikings.
Fraser, who teaches physical education at Mount Vernon, will continue to assist with the boys basketball program.
Fraser led the Bulldogs to the Class 3A state championship last season, his third at Mount Vernon. Twelve of his 15 teams went to state and his teams reached the title game six times.
The Bulldogs return to the Western Conference this season after a four-year absence. They spent the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons in the Wesco, but were in the Northwest League for most of Fraser’s time at Mount Vernon.
Former Mount Vernon player and current assistant coach Torey Swanson will take over the program as interim coach for the upcoming season. Mount Vernon athletic director Eric Monson said a decision on a permanent replacement for Fraser will be made after the season.
Mixed emotions: Former Kamiak football player Brandon Christensen will likely experience some divided loyalties this week as he prepares his charges to play against his alma mater. Christensen is in his first year as a teacher and assistant football coach at Shorecrest, which hosts Kamiak Friday night in a battle of unbeatens.
Kamiak coach Dan Mack said he tried to get Christensen on the Knights’ staff, but when a teaching position opened at Shorecrest, he recommended Christensen take the job.
Cascade soccer defense shines: It had to happen eventually. The Bruins gave up their first goal of the season Thursday in a 3-1 victory over Lake Stevens. Cascade goalie Morgan Carter and her defenders have excelled in getting the Bruins off to a 5-0 start. Cascade outscored its first five opponents 24-1 despite a grueling schedule. With the exception of 0-6 Arlington, the Bruins’ opponents have a combined 14-5-2 record excluding their losses to Cascade.
‘Dogs can play ‘D’, too: How good is the Mount Vernon football team’s defense? The Bulldogs have allowed only 13 points in three games. That’s impressive enough, but two of the three teams Mount Vernon has stymied have put up big offensive numbers in other games. Friday, the Bulldogs shut out a Marysville-Pilchuck team that had scored 97 points in two games. Mount Vernon’s three opponents – Monroe, Burlington-Edison (56 points in two victories) and M-P – combined for 156 points (26 point average) in other games, while scoring only an average of 4.3 points against the Bulldogs.
Seek the high ground: A few tips for Western Conference fans making their first trip to Mount Vernon for football. The campus is undergoing a modernization. That process began with the removal of the football stands. Until the new facility is built in two years, seating is limited to a few temporary bleachers with a view often obstructed by the players standing along the sidelines.
The best seat? The elevated berm located along the southern edge of the stadium, outside the fence. A great view, just bring a blanket or a chair.
Sponsorship deal extended: The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has extended its title sponsorship program with the Dairy Farmers of Washington for three years beginning this school year and running through the 2003-2004 school year. The Dairy Farmers of Washington has served as title sponsor of WIAA championship events since 1996.
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