Webber making history at Everett

Nobody’s perfect, but geez … She’s a 3-sport letter winner every year, plus class prez and homecoming queen

By AARON COE

Herald Writer

EVERETT — When Tracy Webber began her high school career at Everett, she just wanted to play a little ball and have some fun.

As a lanky freshman in 1997, when she turned out for the volleyball team in the fall, thoughts of playing varsity never entered her mind.

Not only did Webber, now a senior, crack the varsity lineup, she earned a letter as a freshman.

Then came basketball season. No way she was going to find a spot on a solid Seagulls team. Another sport, another freshman letter. Softball in the spring? Same deal.

These days, Webber knows she’s on the team. Earning the title of captain — and lettering in each sport every year she has played — gives a person some certainty.

Barring some disaster this spring, Webber will likely end her career as the first Everett High female to letter in three sports all four years.

"When I was a freshman, I never thought I’d play," said Webber, who has averaged 13 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots in Everett’s first seven basketball games. "The girls all seemed so big. I was very surprised I got to play."

Webber has had the type of high school career that seems unreal. She makes Marcia Brady look like Bart Simpson.

In addition to her sports accomplishments, Webber carries a 3.92 grade point average while taking difficult courses. She isn’t taking math this year, because the high school doesn’t have anything above calculus, which she took as a junior.

Webber was the homecoming queen and is the student body president. She still finds time to give time to the community. Webber spends time in front of grocery stores collecting for the local food bank, and coaches third- and fourth-graders at the Everett Boys and Girls Club.

Did someone make this girl up?

The scary thing about Webber is how humble she has remained.

"Tracy is as far away from having a big head as anyone can be," said Christine Lee, an Everett teammate who lettered in softball as a freshman along with Webber. "I can’t imagine anyone not liking her."

Everett basketball coach Tara Landon could see right away that Webber was a very talented freshman. Landon, who was an assistant then, said the coaches wanted to be cautious and not rush their prized ninth-grader, who stood 5-foot-11. But an injury to star player Darci Pemberton gave the coaches little choice. Pemberton, like Webber, was also a three-sport star, an outstanding student and the homecoming queen.

"We were afraid she’d get knocked around, and that it would ruin her confidence," Landon said. "But she took the hits and hung in there. She was a valuable player for us that year."

Webber has grown as a player since her freshman year, but her height is about the same. When asked how tall she is, she doesn’t embellish in case a college recruiter is listening. And she won’t try to shrink herself like some people who are self conscious about being tall. Though she’s listed on the Everett basketball roster at an even 6 feet, Webber will tell you she’s 5-11 1/2. And that’s that.

Many high school athletes these days specialize in one sport. They spend every spare moment chasing the dream of an athletic scholarship. Webber is as competitive as anyone, but she plays three sports because she loves them all. She plans to attend either Western Washington University or Washington State University, where she will concentrate on being a full-time student. She plans to become an elementary school teacher and thinks coaching may be in her future.

She’ll find time to play intramural sports, where they play for fun. Those who play for glory and to see their names in the newspaper can take the limelight college sports offer.

"I just love to play," Webber said.

It shows.