Skyline, Issaquah wrestling teams open season with wins
December 20, 2011
The Skyline and Issaquah high school wrestling teams opened their KingCo Conference 4A seasons Dec. 8 with victories.
Skyline hosted Ballard and Roosevelt in a double dual. The Spartans crushed Ballard, 66-15, and topped Roosevelt, 46-36.
Issaquah overwhelmed visiting Redmond, 60-18.
In the Skyline-Ballard match, Griffin Howlett (113), Jerred Kiss (126), Tyler White (138), Tyler Aguirre (145), Ian Crouch (152), Michael Mecham (160) and Douglas Lawson (170) recorded pins for the Spartans.
In the Skyline-Roosevelt match, Nathan Swanson (106), Howlett, Tristan Steciw (120), White, Crouch, Lawson and Cyrus Sarkosh (182) had pins for the Spartans.
Louden Ivey (120), Joseph Tonnemaker (145) and Matt Solusod (220) had pins for Issaquah in the Eagles victory against Redmond.
On Dec. 10, Tonnemaker finished first at the Battle of the Border Tournament at Blaine. He defeated Ryan Meggison, of Lynden, 4-1 in the title match.
Liberty’s Hamilton Noel took first place in the 160-pound division. He defeated Jordan Watts, of Mount Vernon, 4-0 in the title match.
Skyline girls basketball team routs Redmond, Newport
December 20, 2011
The Skyline High School girls basketball team posted to impressive KingCo Conference 4A victories last week. On Dec. 14, the Spartans raced to a 34-8 halftime lead and coasted to a 52-23 victory against Redmond.
Skyline blew out Redmond 18-1 in the second quarter.
Megan Wiedeman, of Skyline, led all players with 14 points. Haley Smith added nine points and Allie Wyszynski eight points for the Spartans.
On Dec. 16, Skyline shot to a 16-1 advantage in the first quarter and cruised by visiting Newport 47-32.
Skyline led 26-11 at halftime.
Rachel Shim, of Skyline, led all players with 15 points. Wiedeman added nine points.
Skyline wrestlers whip Eastlake
December 20, 2011
The Skyline High School wrestling team trounced rival Eastlake, 72-5, Dec. 15 in a KingCo Conference 4A match.
Tristan Steciw, a 120-pounder, and Christian Caldwell, a 145-pounder, each had pins for Skyline.
Justin Manipis (113), Ian Crouch (152), Michael Mecham (160) and Sean McAlhaney (195) all won their matches by technical falls for Skyline.
The Spartans also downed Bothell, 37-21, Dec. 13. Tyler White (138) and Caldwell had pins for Skyline. Crouch won his match with a major decision.
Skyline quarterback selected state player of the year
December 20, 2011
Skyline High School quarterback Max Browne, who directed the Spartans to the Class 4A state championship earlier this month, has been selected as the Associated Press Player of the Year.
The selection was based on voting by sports writers across the state.
Browne, a junior, completed 288 of 409 passes for 4,034 yards and 45 touchdowns this season.
On Dec. 3, he led the Spartans to a 38-7 victory against Skyview, of Vancouver, Wash., in the state championship game. The state title was Skyline’s fourth in five years.
Over two years, Browne has thrown for 8,216 yards and 95 touchdowns. In addition to the award, Browne was selected as quarterback on the Class 4A all-state offensive team.
The Associated Press honor was the latest for Browne, who was selected as one of The Seattle Times’ state players of the year. Browne was also named the Gatorade Washington Player of the Year.
Joining Browne on the Associated Press Class 4A all-state team was Skyline teammate Peyton Pelluer, who was voted to the defensive unit. Pelluer, a junior, had 122 solo tackles during the season.
Liberty boys basketball team tops Black Hills
December 20, 2011
Tynan Gilmore scored 18 points Dec. 17 to lead the Liberty High School boys basketball team to a 60-53 victory against visiting Black Hills in a nonleague game.
Liberty, trailing 26-24 at halftime, shot ahead in the third quarter to 45-41.
Matt Campbell and Robbie Thomas each had 14 points for the Patriots, who are 3-3 for the season.
On Dec. 12, Liberty got off to a promising start but could not keep up with host Mercer Island the rest of the way as the Patriots fell, 68-44, in a KingCo Conference 3A/2A contest.
Liberty led 18-17 after the first quarter but Mercer Island surged ahead in the second quarter to lead 33-27 at halftime. The Islanders blew out Liberty 23-9 in the third quarter to pull away.
Gilmore scored a game-high 17 points. BJ Demps added 10 points for the Patriots.
Liberty girls basketball team rallies by Mercer Island
December 20, 2011
The Liberty High School girls basketball team staged a tremendous fourth-quarter rally Dec. 15 as the Patriots overcame visiting Mercer Island, 45-41, in a KingCo Conference 3A/2A contest.
Liberty trailed 35-20 with five minutes left in the game but outscored Mercer Island, 25-6, down the stretch to win the game.
Aspen Winegar had 14 points to lead Liberty. Sierra Carlson added nine points and Delane Agnew scored eight points as Liberty improved its league-leading record to 4-0. The Patriots are 6-0 for the season.
Mercer Island’s Krista Brackman led all players with 15 points.
Skyline football coach Mat Taylor in all-star game
December 20, 2011
Skyline High School football coach Mat Taylor has been selected as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for the West team at the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl on Jan. 3 in Phoenix.
The contest features 100 of the nation’s top high school football players.
Eastlake snaps Issaquah win streak
December 20, 2011
The Issaquah High School boys basketball team suffered its first loss of the season Dec. 16 when the Eagles fell to host Eastlake, 68-61, in a KingCo Conference 4A contest.
Although senior guard Nick Price scored a season-high 30 points for the Eagles, Issaquah had its coldest shooting game of the season. The Eagles hit just 23 of 71 field goal attempts, and were zero for 23 in the 3-point range.
Fletcher Martin added nine points and pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds for Issaquah, which is 5-1 for the season and 2-1 in league play.
The Eagles led 15-14 after the first quarter, but Eastlake shot ahead in the second period to lead 30-27 at halftime. The Wolves held off Issaquah in the final quarter by outscoring the Eagles, 22-18.
Connor Perry topped Eastlake with 16 points. Five players in all scored in double figures for Eastlake, which is 1-2 in league play and 2-4 for the season.
Off the Press
December 20, 2011
It’s the little things that really matter
Kathleen Merrill Press managing editor
They say it’s better to give than receive. I think both feel pretty good.
In my mind, though, giving lasts longer.
Purse strings have gotten tighter for many people in the past couple of years, and it’s hard to give to others when you’re receiving less.
Then again, I think many people overthink giving on a regular basis. We see pleas for $50 or $100, or sometimes even more (such as in the case of tickets to fundraising events). I don’t know about you, but I often can’t afford $50, let alone more than that.
However, even as paychecks and benefits have gotten smaller, many people have found ways to give. I was thinking about this the other day when the reporting staff was discussing the subject of compassion fatigue. People do get tired of being asked to give when their expenses are going up and their salaries are not going up to match.
But here’s something I’ve learned: Even the smallest things count to someone with little or nothing.
Prevent the spread of cold and flu germs
December 20, 2011
Ten easy steps to keep you and others healthier this holiday season
Novanhealth.org
Each year, millions of people suffer from a cold or flu, and this year is likely to be no different. Between 15 million and 61 million people in the United States will get the flu this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Temperature taking is a key indicator of flu patterns and should be taken seriously, according to Mary Pappas, the New York-area school nurse credited with first alerting officials about the H1N1 outbreak in 2009.
“The flu usually comes with a fever while the common cold does not, so taking your temperature is the easiest way to tell the difference,” she said.
A high or prolonged fever can be an indicator of when to seek medical attention, so it’s important to monitor your temperature on an ongoing basis when you are sick.
Pappas has been taking temperatures for nearly 30 years and, as a school nurse, takes as many as 50 per day. But whether it’s one temperature or 100, she maintains that the most important consideration is that it be accurate. While there are many types of thermometers available, Pappas favors the Exergen TemporalScanner because of its proven accuracy and ease-of-use; all it requires is a simple swipe across the forehead.
“Whether it’s a student at my school or a parent at home, I know taking a temperature can be a challenge, especially with young children who may be uncomfortable and fussy,” Pappas said. “What I love about the TemporalScanner is that it’s not invasive like an ear, rectal or oral thermometer. No matter what a student comes to see me for, I’m able to get an accurate reading. It’s so easy to use that you can take someone’s temperature even when they are sleeping and not disturb them.”
