Major improvements could be on the way at Goddard Stadium and at other Mukilteo School District sports facilities.
On Feb. 19 voters will have a chance to approve a $139.2 million construction bond that would pay for a variety of projects. According to district athletic director Jim Peters, it includes $15.4 million that would be used to replace the wooden grandstands at Goddard Stadium, where the Mariner and Kamiak football teams play home games, along with Mariner’s boys and girls soccer squads.
Built in 1970, Goddard Stadium is located on Mariner High’s campus. Last year a new synthetic FieldTurf surface was installed. It replaced a 10-year-old AstroTurf field that was notorious for poor traction and contributing to injuries.
The new batch of Goddard upgrades would replace the aging home-team grandstands and improve the visitors’ side as well, Peters said. The changes would increase seating capacity to about 2,000. That’s about 600 more people than the current facility seats, Mariner football coach John Ondriezek said.
The bond would pay for other big changes too.
In addition to improving some athletic facilities at Kamiak High, synthetic turf fields would be built at Harbour Pointe Middle School and Voyager Middle School. They would replace grass fields at the sites that are used extensively by the community. Turf fields require less maintenance and will expand year-round athletic opportunities, Ondriezek said.
“The people that I’ve talked to in the community are definitely in favor of it,” Ondriezek said. “The Mukilteo School District is (growing) and we definitely need to improve our facilities.”
Wildcats underrated?
One local team that seems to be overlooked in state rankings is the Archbishop Murphy girls basketball squad. Winners of six consecutive games and 11 of their past 12, the Wildcats sit atop the Cascade Conference with a perfect 8-0 record against league foes. Two of Class 2A Murphy’s three losses were against 4A opponents Kamiak (12-5) and Inglemoor (14-2).
But Murphy, coached by John Barhanovich, didn’t get a single vote in last week’s Associated Press 2A poll. The Wildcats’ next chance to open eyes is Wednesday, when they play host to King’s (3-6 Cascade Conference, 3-11 overall).
One major strength for Murphy has been its defense. It has allowed just 38.8 points per game, and a mere 33.4 points in conference contests.
Terrace’s Finnicum to wrestle for Ohio State
Casey Finnicum, a senior at Mountlake Terrace, said Monday he plans to join the Ohio State University wrestling team this fall as a walk-on. Finnicum, a 2007 4A state champion (171 pounds), said he hopes to earn an academic scholarship and eventually receive athletic financial aid.
A three-time state tournament qualifier, Finnicum was expected to contend for another state title this season. But he recently had surgery on his left ankle and is out for the season.
Finnicum said he hopes to compete in the 174-pound division for Ohio State, which is ranked No. 7 in NCAA Division-I in the country by Wrestling International Newsmagazine.
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
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