The total package is an apt description of Meadowdale High School’s Athletes of the Year.
Kelsey Nagel and Chris Rohrbach both were instrumental in leading their respective teams into the postseason.
When Meadowdale girls soccer coach Mike Bartley talked with his fellow coaches about his team, Nagel’s name always seemed to come up in the conversation.
“She was the driving force behind the team this year,” Bartley said. “Whenever you talked about Meadowdale her name came up first … she was highly regarded throughout the league and also by myself.”
Bartley describes Nagel as one of the best defenders to ever come out of Meadowdale.
Nagel, a co-captain in soccer and track, was respected by her teammates, both on and off the field.
“She was a great person to have on the team as far as leadership,” Bartley said. “She was just a very approachable person to be around. On the field she was a force to be reckoned with. She basically led by example, as well as trying to help everybody. She knew where everybody belonged on the field. She was an organizer.
“Off the field, she was a very good friend to everybody.”
Nagel, who will be playing soccer at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., plans to study business and said that she’ll utilize some of the leadership skills she developed through sports.
Being a co-captain for the track team gave Nagel insight in how to interact with a variety of personalities and how to keep everyone happy.
“I learned how to deal with different people,” Nagel said. “I’ll be a boss someday and I’m sure I’ll have to deal with the same things.”
Nagel’s participation in track also benefited her during the soccer season. Early in her track career, Nagel ran the sprints, which in turn increased her overall speed.
“It (track) was a way for me to get in shape and stay in shape during the spring for summer,” Nagel said. “It’s fun and a different way to work out.”
Nagel did more than just stay in shape, though.
During her senior year, Nagel excelled in the discus, winning the event at the Edmonds District, Western Conference 4A South Division and Northwest District 3A championships. Nagel placed sixth overall at the state meet.
“You only get in what you put out,” Nagel said. “If you take the extra effort and the next step, you’re totally going to get everything out of it.”
Chris Rohrbach also was the type of athlete who got the most out of his natural abilities.
But what set Rohrbach from his peers was his work ethic. That was evident any time Meadowdale football coach Mark Stewart watched Rohrbach at practice or during a game.
“You can always count on him to always play hard and always give 110 percent, no matter what the game situation was,” Stewart said. “He practiced that way too … he never took a play off. He was just a playmaker.”
Rohrbach was a football co-captain as a junior and senior and a basketball captain his senior season. The Mavericks advanced to the state playoffs both in football and basketball in large part due to Rohrbach’s contributions.
It was difficult for anyone to slack off whenever he was around.
“If Chris came up to you and said, ‘Let’s get going,’ he could say it and you couldn’t question how hard he worked at practice,” Stewart said. “His teammates admired and respected him for what he was able to do.”
Rohrbach’s resolve was tested at the start of his junior year when he broke his collarbone in the second game of the season.
Despite his disappointment at not being able to play, Rohrbach attended practices to show his support for his teammates.
“I wanted to let the guys know I was there to support them,” he said.
Stewart appreciated having his split end’s presence at practices, which meant a lot more than Rohrbach probably realized at the time.
“Him being out there and just keeping things together laid the groundwork for the seniors,” Stewart said.
Just as memorable as the football team’s success was the opportunity that Rohrbach had to play at the state basketball tournament in the Tacoma Dome. Rohrbach remembered going to the state tournament when he was in the sixth and seventh grade and looking up to the players.
“Being one of those players out there was really exciting,” Rohrbach said. “I knew how the little kids were feeling.”
Rohrbach will be going to the University of Washington and plans to try and walk on to the football team.
In part because of the experience with his coaches at Meadowdale, Rohrbach is contemplating education as a major with the idea that he may want to get into coaching one day.
“A lot of teachers and coaches have really influenced and helped me out,” he said. “I just feel like that might be a fun thing to do. Every day you influence someone.”
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