High school sports is a grand tradition, standing tall amidst the dreary scene of Seattle sports, the downtrodden economy and a looming Puget Sound winter. A fundamental building block to a community’s identity — or lack thereof — sports hold true while the world around us spins and spirals. The competition, camaraderie and compassion found on any high school field, between the 50-yard-line and end zone or around a 400-meter track, are as pure as you’ll find during the current professional sports age of nine-figure salaries and dirty laundry lists full of warrants and thrown-out court charges.
That’s why as the new sports writer here at the Patriot, I will deliver a breed of reporting as pure, fair and honest as the sports we watch from the bleachers.
Tradition in Bremerton is strong. And Knights athletics more recently have produced world-class athletes at both the professional (Marvin Williams) and Olympic (Kirk sisters) levels. Not to mention others.
The football program at the high school celebrated its 100th birthday last year and continues to close the gap between historical dominance and recent struggle.
I want to see “a return to dominance.”
As the sports writer for the Patriot, a position I held for a short time last year and into May, I am the bridge between a game-winning field goal and a flat tire, a last-second goal and a conflicting schedule, a heartbreaking loss and family vacation.
If it happens, I want to be there and tell you exactly what happened and how.
Reader feedback is both necessary and desired, and the Patriot sports section is a better place with it. If you have a story idea, like or dislike something printed or just want to chime in, please do so (wremmer@bremertonpatriot.com). This is a community paper, making it yours.
With fall sports moving right along, Bremerton figures to stay in hunt in various sports. The boys and girls tennis team has a new coach, Erich Anspach, who will take over for Athletic Director George Duarte. Homecoming is on the horizon for the football squad — 7 p.m. Oct. 10 against North Thurston — and the team has been competitive, even beating Klahowya 16-10 in the season’s first game.
There’s plenty more action to go around, with cross country, volleyball, girls swimming and girls soccer in full swing as well.
King’s West will have a new girls basketball coach to replace Bryan Hanley, who led the Lady Warriors to fourth-place finish at state. The team also loses four-time SeaTac League Most Valuable Player Megan Spence, who now plays for Lewis & Clark University.
The 2008-09 season could bring a big-time learning curve to a now-younger team. But then again, who knows, that’s why they play the games.
So whether you’re a Knight, Warrior or just a sports nut like me, flip through the Patriot’s sports section, pick a game or two and come watch your athletes.
It doesn’t get much better.
