North Kitsap teams battled into the history books in 2005 as three teams finally made it back into the state tournament including the first-ever NK fastpitch team to make the state trip. Steve Frease became the first new football head coach the school had seen in 32 years, taking the reins and leading the team to the post-season in his inaugural year.
Though no North squads made a ton of noise statewide, they’ve provided a sound building block for the future purple and gold to build on. Here are some of the top stories of 2005:
First time since ‘88,
North Kitsap to state
Following a heart-breaking 55-53 defeat at the hands of the Prairie Falcons — one which the Vikes gave up a five-point lead with only a 1:30 left — no one knew how NK would come to play in their last chance to draw a state berth.
On the back of a gutsy team comeback against Mount Tahoma, the North Kitsap boys basketball team advanced to the state tournament for the first time since 1988 with a 58-57 victory.
The Vikings’ seemingly magical season finally met its end March 11, at the the hands of Yakima-area school Eisenhower in the consolation draw of the state tournament.
Frease leads NK football
Though eight-year Bainbridge Spartans’ offensive coordinator Jake Haley was offered the Vikings’ head position, a grievance, filed by the North Kitsap Athletics and Activities Alliance (NKAAA), claimed that “there were contractual gaps in the interview process.”
The job was first supposed to be offered to in-building candidates, followed by in-district candidates and finally, if no candidate was qualified, the school could search out of the district.
Previous head baseball coach Steve Frease assumed responsibilities as the head Vikings’ football coach for the 2005 season. Though the road wasn’t without its share of bumps, Frease was happy to be in the position.
That joy followed him through the season as he led the Vikings into the playoffs in his inaugural year and earned the Kitsap News Group’s Coach of the Year honors.
Kingston girls undefeated again
It took awhile for the Kingston and Ridgetop girls’ basketball teams to get on the board.
But when the points started blinking on, in large red numbers, the Cavaliers’ offensive attack was swift and decisive. In less than three minutes, they were up comfortably 9-2. The visiting Raiders were overwhelmed.
It was easy to see early on that KJH would not, and possibly could not, be denied its second undefeated season.
And the jubilee commenced as the Lady Cavaliers cruised to a 56-31 final victory over the Ridgetop Lady Raiders.
Nations leaves hoops program
North Kitsap boys basketball head coach Aaron Nations headed home.
The two year Vikings’ skipper accepted the head basketball job at Everett High School, a move that took him closer to his native Marysville and back to the side of Puget Sound where much of his family is from.
His two-year stint with the Vikings saw a transformation from the 2-17 team he took over to a 6-14 year his first season a year ago and an 18-11 record his second this year. The 2004-05 season also brought about North Kitsap’s first appearance at state since 1988.
“I’m gonna miss these kids, these parents and this community,” he said.
Fastpitchers make
first-ever trip to state
For many teams this year, underestimating the North Kitsap Vikings fastpitch squad was a big mistake. What NK players discovered — and their opponents failed to notice — was that any talent they may have lost in 2004 they made up for in chemistry in 2005.
The Dectaur Golden Gators were looking to single-handedly knock Kitsap County from the district tournament, following their victories against South and Central. North, however, behind the pitching of Coreena Stout, took a 1-0 win and with it, the team’s first ever bid to the state tournament.
The Vikings entered state again as a team on the outside looking in. But when they left the tournament after posting a 2-2 record, they’d put NK on the state fastpitch map and the 2005 fastpitch in school history.
Homegrown pitcher
returns to Ms’ bullpen
The fateful return of Aaron Sele to the Seattle Mariners in 2005 has seen the Poulsbo native making a contribution to the team both on the field and off it.
While he’s compiled an up-and-down 6-8 record while posting a 4.70 ERA this season, Sele has also become one of the pitching staff’s veteran leaders, offering advice to a team that is increasingly reliant on its youth and future success.
Both cross country teams
run into state meet
Cheers to the Vikings.
For the first time ever both Cross Country teams from North Kitsap High School are lacing up their shoes for the 4A State Championship meet in Pasco.
The Vikings earned the right to compete at the West Central Districts in Tacoma where each team finished just above the cut-off point. The ladies ran into seventh place with the help of a tiebreaker and the boys finished eighth.
Their history-making efforts were lauded by the NKHS community when a crowd of parents, students, teachers and administrators gathered to send them off with an extra dose of pride.
Bast gives his best at state
When Cory Bast finished fifth at the 2005 4A Regional tournament, it looked like his season was finished. But the North Kitsap senior got another shot when the team found out Feb. 16 that he was headed to state as an alternate.
Bast faced an uphill battle however, taking on Mike Sewell of Inglemoor, a heavily favored wrestler at 160. Sewell proved his reputation beating Bast 22-10 en route to the state title.
Bast’s career ended when Chase Jackson of Auburn beat him 15-4 in the consolation round.
Reeves swims to 17th best
Jeffrey Reeves swam a 57.07 in the 100M backstroke at the state meet Feb. 17. After battling a chronic shoulder injury all season, he was the lone competitor for the Vikes as he sealed a qualifying time early in the season and finished in sixth place at the district meet with a time of 58.71.
Local athletes grab
gold at international tourney
Arissan Ugles, 13, and Master instructor/coach Jose Lugo earned top honors in their respective weight classifications during competition at the 14th annual U.S. Open Taekwondo Championships March 3-6 in Atlanta, Ga.
Both athletes, affiliated with West Sound Taekwondo, competed in forms (poomse) and sparring (gyoroogi). More than 1000 athletes from more than 26 countries participated at the Olympic-style competition.
NKHS sports medicine
students earn accolades
Out of 90 high school sports medicine programs in the state of Washington, the North Kitsap crew took home an eighth-place finish at the state championships April 15. The competition consisted of NK’s 13 students taking three 100-question written tests and four oral-practical tests.
Chris Williams (13th) and Emily Rice (14th) were North’s top-finishers in the field of 350 participants.
Narrows Bridge
title comes north
The pendulum continued to swing in favor of North’s Vikings on the baseball field in 2005.
Following years of South Kitsap domination on the diamond — NK hadn’t beaten their archrival opponents since 1976 before 2004’s sweep — North blasted the Wolves March 7 in a mercy rule ended contest 10-0. The game further solidified the Vikings’ position atop the Narrows League Bridge division.
North fell to Olympia for the overall NL title, 5-4, but avenged the loss May 23 as they edged out the Bears, 1-0, to secure a trip to the state tournament on the back of a strong defensive performance.
Lady Vikes doubles to district
North Kitsap took second in the Narrows League Bridge division and saw three singles and two doubles teams compete in the NL tourney along with sending the two doubles teams — Kearney Bangs/Erin Gallagher, Megan Grandall/Emili Kishi — to district, a first ever for North.
Bangs and Gallagher continued their run through the consolation bracket of the West Central District tourney to earn a bid to the state tournament where they finished fifth.
Young defends javelin title
“I had a good sleep last night,” admitted North Kitsap javelin thrower Ryan Young, June 3 at Star Track, the Washington state 3A/4A track and field championships. “I felt strong.”
He clearly channeled that strength into his first throw of the event.
Measuring 202 feet, 9 inches it relegated the rest of the competitors into seeing who would finish second and made young a two-time champion of the event. Even better, the trow established a new state standard for the “new implement,” a different type of javelin that was adopted in 1985.
