Before goalkeeper Ben Dragavon played in the United Soccer League and competed for Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC, he was a Monroe Bearcat.
Dragavon, who played in net for Monroe High School when it won the Class 3A boys soccer state championship in 2001, was inducted into the Bearcats Hall of Fame Monday before Monroe’s Class 4A District 1 tournament game against Mountlake Terrace.
The induction is a landmark for the school and community, Monroe boys soccer coach Ryan Schaeffer said Monday afternoon during a phone interview. Dragavon’s rise through the ranks inspires prep players from out-of-the-way towns like Monroe to aim high, said Schaeffer.
“It’s reality. You can really do this,” Schaeffer said.
After playing at Western Washington University, Dragavon spent three seasons with the USL Seattle Sounders. This year he signed a contract with MLS. Last month he made an appearance with the Sounders FC and recently ended a three-week assignment with the Columbus Crew.
Monroe High players know Dragavon well, partly because Dragavon’s dad, John, is a longtime Bearcats assistant coach. Before the season Ben Dragavon donated some of his extra keeper equipment to the team, endearing himself to players.
“Everyone loves him,” Schaeffer said. “Everybody knows him and thinks (the hall of fame honor is) pretty cool.”
Readers say M-P will win 4A district baseball tournament
In an online reader poll, 38 percent of voters predicted Wesco North No. 1 seed Marysville-Pilchuck will win the Class 4A District 1 baseball tournament; South No. 1 Shorewood (19 percent) received the second-most votes. M-P (18-3) beat Lake Stevens 3-2 Saturday in a first-round district game in Marysville. The Tomahawks’ next game is a winner-to-state semifinal against Monroe 4 p.m. today at Everett Memorial Stadium.
More college-bound athletes
The following student-athletes either signed or committed to play sports in college: Kamiak’s Clayton Dubin (Syracuse University soccer), Kamiak’s Chris Lynch (Seattle University swimming), Granite Falls’ Brad Beard (University of Puget Sound football), Archbishop Murphy’s Jake Hanley (Whitworth University baseball) and Snohomish alum Zach Wilde (University of Hawaii at Hilo basketball). Wilde, The Herald’s 2007-08 All-Area Boys Basketball Player of the Year, played one season at Clackamas Community College (Oregon City. Ore.).
Glacier Peak’s Froland receives Northwestern football offer
John Froland, a Glacier Peak junior, received a football scholarship offer last week from Northwestern University. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound lineman has not verbally committed to Northwestern but hopes to visit the school’s Illinois campus this summer, Glacier Peak football coach Rory Rosenbach said. Froland, who currently throws shot put and discus for the Glacier Peak track and field team, and other Class of 2010 football players can’t sign an NCAA National Letter of Intent until February.
WIAA spring academic honors
The following local teams were named spring 2009 academic state champions by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association: 4A — Edmonds-Woodway girls golf (3.85 grade-point average), Stanwood boys golf (3.671); 2A — Archbishop Murphy boys golf (3.77), South Whidbey boys track and field (3.446); 1A — King’s girls track and field (3.775), King’s boys track and field (3.69). To see all the winners, go to www.wiaa.com/tourn/acadaward/Spring09champs.html.
Mike Cane: 425-339-3471 mcdonald@heraldnet.com
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