Rohrich succeeds Koester at Cascade

By Aaron Coe

Herald Writer

Kevin Rohrich knows he’s replacing a coaching great, but believes he is ready for his new job as head coach of the Cascade boys basketball team.

Rohrich, a former Woodinville assistant, has been selected to fill the void left by Jerry Koester, who resigned after the 2001-02 basketball season. He won 557 games and coached eight state tournament teams at Redmond and Cascade.

Rohrich, a 1995 Woodinville graduate, grew up watching Koester win two state titles at Redmond. He got to know him during summer-league play.

“He’s a fabulous coach,” said Rohrich, 25. “I’m replacing a coaching icon. But, I feel like I’m ready for this.”

Cascade athletic director Doug Kloke said he was impressed with Rohrich’s combination of enthusiasm and organization.

“We are extremely pleased to have him as our new head basketball coach,” Kloke said. “He seems to have the ability to have a strong connection with kids both in the classroom and on the basketball floor.”

Rohrich, a two-time All-Kingco Conference player at Woodinville, was the junior varsity coach and varsity assistant at his alma mater the past three seasons. His J.V. teams went 42-18 during that time, including a school-record 17-3 in 2000-2001.

He called the defensive plays for the Woodinville varsity and expects to use an aggressive defense and fast-paced offense at Cascade.

“That’s the way the kids like to play,” Rohrich said.

Rohrich will finish this school year teaching language arts and social studies at Highland Middle School in Bellevue. He will teach at a yet-to-be-determined Everett School District site next season, possibly at Cascade.

Strong spring for South Whidbey: The South Whidbey girls’ sports teams cleaned up this spring. The Falcons won North Cascades Conference titles in all four sports – tennis, golf, softball and track.

Track honors: Kamiak sprinter Derrick Bradley was honored Friday as the top District I boys track athlete. Snohomish’s Lucy Miller was named the top girls track athlete, while teammate Emily Enders won the honor for field events. McKane Lee was named the top boys field athlete. Coaches Randy Davis of Marysville-Pilchuck and Kolleen Seals of Edmonds-Woodway were also honored.

Rodland honored: Dick Rodland received the Meritorious Award for outstanding lifetime service to the Snohomish County Basketball Officials Association. The award, given at the WIAA office on May 4, recognized Rodland’s 37 years of officiating and service to community athletes.

Lynnwood wrestling coach selected: Gustavo Anaya has been selected to succeed Kevin Judkins as head wrestling coach at Lynnwood. Anaya, who wrestled at Kamiakin High School and Pacific Lutheran University, is on track to graduate from PLU in the fall. He is expected to serve a portion of his student teaching assignment under Judkins in the fall of 2003.

Minaker commits: Edmonds-Woodway shortstop Chris Minaker has accepted a partial scholarship to play baseball at Stanford. The two-time Western Conference South Division selection bats leadoff for the Warriors, who qualified for state for the first time in five years this season.

Tough field: Snohomish’s Katelyn Waterhouse, who finished fourth in the triple jump at the 2001 state track meet, was edged out by a quality field of competitors at Friday’s District I meet. Waterhouse’s fifth-place leap of 36 feet, 4.75 – which was just an inch shy of the state automatic qualification mark – would have qualified her for state in any other district. She would have placed no worse than second in the other meets.

Waterhouse, who qualified for state in the long jump and two relays, would have won and finished 3 1/2 feet ahead of the seventh and final qualifier at the District 3-4 meet.

Woodinville football coach resigns: Terry Agnew, who was 71-39 during 12 seasons at Woodinville, has resigned to become the school’s athletic director. The Falcons were 6-3 last season. Agnew, who coaches the Woodinville baseball team, has the Falcons in this weekend’s state baseball semifinals. His son, a senior shortstop, was the Falcons’ starting quarterback in the fall.