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Thanks for the super article on coaches Watters, Umayam, Sood and Myers, a.k.a. “The Mountlake Mount Rushmore of the New Millennium.” It’s been neat to follow these young men over the years, especially since I remember all of them from when I was a student at Terrace back in the late 80s. In an increasingly mobile, sometimes de-personalized society where people ask a la Rod Stewart “Doesn’t anyone stay in one place any more?” it’s rare to see that many alums return to their alma mater to give back some of what they’ve learned and received.

Part of what I’d attribute this unique “Mountlake Magic” to is the organizational vision and effort that Bruce Beaman, Elaine Klein and Kim Wilson (among others) poured into the school while they were there, leaving a solid blueprint for others to eventually follow. There were many talented, servant-hearted, students-first leaders who cared deeply about kids that made MTHS feel like a community and a family rather than just a school.

Also, Mountlake Terrace (“My Hometown” — Bruce Springsteen) has always felt small enough that you could know people pretty well but also big enough, progressive enough, and close enough to a big city (Seattle) that you weren’t embarrassed to remain a part of it, and weren’t necessarily itching to (“Breakaway” — Kelly Clarkson) at all costs or be against returning to it later (“Who says … you can’t go home?” — Jon Bon Jovi).

I’m not so naive that I’d assume all my former classmates feel the same way as me, but I think I probably speak for many of them. So thanks to all the administrators, teachers, and miscellaneous people who have helped make MTHS great, and to those four featured coaches: Congratulations, you’re shining brightly as “native sons” and are blessing the next generation with your skills. STEVE GOODMAN

(Class of 1989)

Mountlake Terrace