By John McDonald
Prep Editor
Is this any way to treat a champion?
The Monroe Bearcats, who won the Class 3A state title last season, find themselves in a new, and perhaps much tougher, 4A league this season. On top of that, they have to play their home games at Pop Keeney Stadium in Bothell, a 14-mile trip one way from Monroe High School.
“It’s tough. I feel sorry for our kids and their parents,” said Monroe athletic director John Kniseley. “They win a state championship and have to play all of their games on the road.”
Kniseley said the team’s usual home field at Monroe Stadium is still torn up from football in the fall.
“There’s no drainage. It’s a rotting mess,” Kniseley said. “Part of it is under water.”
Kniseley said he plans to take another look at the field as a possible soccer venue this spring if the weather improves. But in its current condition, it’s unsafe.
Fortunately, Monroe assistant softball coach Mike Dale is the facilities coordinator for the Northshore School District and he was able to get the Bearcats into Pop Keeney.
“It’s not too bad,” Kniseley said. “There’s a lot of traffic on (Highway) 522.”
And Monroe had to make some accomodations in its schedule to avoid conflicts with the three Northshore high school teams.
But it looks as if the displacement will be for one year only. Kniseley said the Monroe School District is looking at price quotes on fixing the field and replacing the sod.
Now, all the Bearcats have to worry about is keeping their heads above water in the tough Western Conference North Division.
Wesco North: Monroe joins fellow 3A district competitor Stanwood in the talent-rich division. The Bearcats graduated Herald All-Area Player of the Year Josh Carswell, but return first-team all-Wesco 3A goalkeeper Ben Dragavon, first-team defender Blake Bural, second-team forward Brett Walsh and second-team defender Austin Allen.
Winning another league title, however, means getting by perennial power Snohomish, a state quarterfinalist last season. The Panthers were hit hard by graduation losses, but return second-team midfielder Cameron Bailey, honorable mention midfielder Justin Abel and honorable mention goalkeeper Brian Harrison. Snohomish is also blessed with a bevy of talented, albeit inexperienced freshmen and sophomores.
Stanwood and Oak Harbor appear to be the other two teams likely to make the playoffs.
Wesco South: Defending champion Shorecrest, a state playoff team last season, will almost certainly be one of the division’s four district playoff teams. The division coaches also like Edmonds-Woodway and two former 3A playoff teams, Jackson and Meadowdale.
Shorewood, Kamiak, Mountlake Terrace and/or Mariner could slip into the playoffs if one or more of the favorites stumbles.
Shorecrest returns first-team goalkeeper Brent Donner, second-team midfielder Jason Wong and second-team defender Kyle Halbert.
Edmonds-Woodway returns first-team defender Shea Simpson, second-team forward Dale Kellett, honorable mention forward Kevin Forrest, honorable mention defender Tristan Louden, honorable mention forward Nicolas Varlamos and honorable mention goalkeeper Hawk Mummey.
Jackson returns first-team forward Kris Pope, first-team midfielder Enrique Alvarez, first-team midfielder Kory Pope, first-team defender Mike Rood, second-team goalkeeper Matt Ditto, honorable mention midfielder Sam Hartman and honorable mention midfielder Julian Flunder.
Meadowdale returns first-team goalkeeper Ryan Bluhm and second-team defender Ben Kiriluk.
Kamiak returnshonorable mention midfielders Kyle Andrews and Kristian Melby as well as honorable mention goalkeeper Nick Brown.
Mountlake Terrace returns honorable mention forward Brandon Hanson. Shorewood returns honorable mention defender Drew Mack.
North Cascades: Lynden Christian is looking for a repeat championship and return to the state playoffs. But most league coaches are predicting a title for Meridian. South Whidbey, the league runnerup last season, is the best-bet among the Snohomish County schools to make the postseason.
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