By AARON MANAGHAN
Sports editor
Legends of the fall
Football: Gridiron greats on fire
No sport experienced such district-wide success in 2007 than football.
That may have been a surprise to anyone outside of Silverdale’s general boundaries, but for those at Central Kitsap, Olympic and Klahowya, it was simply the result of hard work that had been a long time coming.
Central Kitsap, fueled by Howard McDonald, Caleb Brown and Co., proved nay-sayers wrong time and time again, earning a state ranking twice in the season and advancing to state for the first time since 1997. Brown earned the Narrows League’s overall MVP award, while McDonald took offensive MVP honors for the Bay Division. Brown finished with 25 catches for 689 yards and 8 touchdowns, earning an all-state nod for the second consecutive season. McDonald ran for 1,619 yards and 17 scores.
CK finished the regular season at 9-1, second only to an Olympia team that beat them. CK advanced all the way to the state playoffs, falling in the round of 16 to Bothell, still alive in the race for the state’s 4A crown.
The Trojans saw three years of hard work pay off big with a state preliminary round berth — the school’s first since 1996. Not bad for a one-win team three years ago. With a league title under their belts, the Trojans also will be back for more next year. Running back Larry Dixon was the Oly League’s 3A MVP, while Oly’s coaching staff, led by head coach Eric Allen, took staff of the year honors. Dixon ran for 1,462 yards and 12 scores. Dixon as well as sophomore defensive back Blake Johnson, who had 11 interceptions, both made the all-state 3A team.
And at Klahowya, while the team traveled to Fife for a prelim round game last year, the difference was immense, as the Eagles went from a one-win team in 2006 to a 5-5 (3-1 against the league’s 2A teams) and earning a berth to play Fife in the same round this year. Eagle Andre Moore was named the league’s 2A MVP with his new school-record 1,573 yards and 17 scores. Moore was a 2A all-state selection.
Girls soccer: Goals galore
Soccer ruled in Silverdale in 2007. Not only did all three area teams make deep postseason runs, but both Klahowya and Olympic advanced to state, both coming painfully close to making the quarterfinals.
For Klahowya, the addition of former cross country state placer Sierra Cook, the Olympic League’s co-MVP, helped the Eagles to state for the first time since 2001 and nearly helped Klahowya advance farther, as the Eagles fell in a 1-0 (4-3 shootout) nailbiter. Cook notched 20 goals and 8 assists.
The Trojans, behind the Oly League’s other MVP, Liz Curry, allowed just eight total goals this season. The Trojans finished 14-2-0 overall, winning the Olympic League title for the second-consecutive season while also going undefeated in league for the second year. It also was the second-straight season Curry took the MVP.
Central Kitsap made a strong run behind prolific scorer Brandi Hamre, who set career bests for herself this season with a mind-boggling 26 goals, accounting for more than half of the Cougars’ goal scoring this fall. CK finished tied for second in overall wins in the Narrows League, finishing 12-7-1. The Cougars were bounced by South Kitsap before districts.
Volleyball: Regrouping
A year after both Olympic and Central Kitsap went to, and excelled, at state, both found themselves trying to fill holes and find identities.
For Central Kitsap, coming off the school’s top finish with a state trophy in 2006, that meant finding a new offensive nucleus to replace key cogs. Defensively stellar, CK was able to advance deep into districts. Cougar Reese Dever showed just how important the libero position could be, winning co-MVP honors with 762 digs. Setter Angie Spieker also was huge, setting the new school single-season assist record, dishing out 806 this year.
For Olympic, which saw nearly all of its state team of a year ago graduate, it meant finding a new identity all together as the team advanced to districts as well with a team that had zero seniors.
Boys tennis: Before and after
In the spring of 2007, when boys tennis athletes kick off postseason play, Klahowya’s Chris Zumdieck was the lone player to make state for the 2006-07 season.
For Olympic, Justin Hike nearly moved on to state from districts, but fell just shy.
He’s one of several who will get another chance this spring in 2008, however, after taking second in the Oly League singles tourney. He’ll be joined by Trojan doubles tandem Scott Lutz and Cory Smith, a duo that won the Oly League doubles crown this fall.
Girls swimming: A final splash
Olympic’s Kelly Fitzgerald was among the top area female swimmers in 2007, finishing in 10th place at the 2A/3A WIAA State Girls Swim & Dive Championships in the 200 individual medley, also wrapping up 12th in the 100 breaststroke. Elexis Metzger was the other, landing on the podium for Klahowya taking eighth in the state in the 100 free.
Cross country: Going the distance
The Central Kitsap XC boys finished in 12 place overall at the 4A WIAA State Cross Country Championships Saturday, the school’s top finish under coach John Emery.
Shane Moskowitz highlighted the team’s effort, taking ninth place overall, finishing the course in 16 minutes, 15 seconds. Moskowitz’s effort also was the top finisher under Emery.
Shannon Moskowtiz, Shane’s twin sister, was the lone female runner to advance for CK, but showed marked improvement in taking 39th overall with a time of 20:11.
• This is part two of a two-part series looking back on Silverdale-area sports in 2007.
