Local high schools’ track teams evaluate mid-season progress
April 10, 2012
Joey Domek, Issaquah High School junior, leaps a barrier as he wins the 110-meter hurdles in a time of 17.54 seconds April 5 against Bothell. Domek also persevered in the 300 hurdles with a time of 44.4 seconds. By Greg Farrar
If there’s one single word in the English language to describe a strategy in high school track, it might be survival.
Retiring Sports Editor Bob Taylor shares milestones from a long career on the sidelines
March 6, 2012
Kasen Williams, then-Skyline High School senior, makes his winning triple-jump leap of 45 feet, 5 1/2 inches, during the KingCo track and field championships May 13, 2011, at Juanita High School. File
I kind of know how Bill Gates must have felt when he made his first million. When I joined The Issaquah Press news staff May 22, 2000, I struck it rich, too!
Five days after being hired at The Press I covered my first Issaquah School District state championship team. Actually, it was inevitable that an Issaquah team would win when Issaquah and Skyline met for the 3A state baseball title in Tacoma’s Cheney Stadium. Issaquah won 5-3.
Fair or not, sports bring in more money than arts
January 24, 2012
Katie Sutherland Eastside Catholic High School
After continued cuts in funding for budgets that support high school art programs nationwide, an important question has been raised in the minds of students: Do high schools devote a disproportionate amount of their focus and money to athletics? Opinions are split on this issue.
Regarding the extracurricular funding at Skyline High School, some students are outraged at the cuts made to the art program budget, complaining athletics get all of the money and attention. Although this seems unfair to students involved in art programs, athletics — specifically football — generate more school spirit, national attention and revenue for the school than art programs do.
The Spartan football legacy includes a state championship title this year and five additional state titles since 2000. Alumni like Jake Heaps and Kasen Williams, have earned Skyline national recognition. Supporting the team generates income via game ticket sales, concessions and spirit merchandise. Skyline, like many high schools in the country, relies on the success of its football and other sports teams for important funding.
Kasen Williams leads parade of 2011 best efforts from individuals, teams
December 27, 2011
Peyton Pelluer (right), Skyline High School junior linebacker, and teammate Nic Sblendorio (9), junior defensive back, combine to throw Woodinville senior running back Devin McKee to the turf during the 4A state semifinal game Nov. 26. By Greg Farrar
It was a year of state titles for Skyline High School, and the end of a career for a Spartan who always seemed to be in championship form.
When he graduated last spring, Skyline’s Kasen Williams left a legacy that might never be duplicated in the Issaquah School District. He was definitely the most dominant figure in the local sports scene in 2011.
Skyline grad Kasen Williams stars in Apple Cup
November 29, 2011
Kasen Williams, who had many memorable moments at Skyline High School, likely won’t forget his first Apple Cup, either.
The freshman wide receiver caught five passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns Nov. 26 to help the University of Washington beat rival Washington State University, 38-21, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
Williams caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Keith Price in the first quarter to put the Huskies ahead 14-0. Then, with just 24 seconds left in the first half, Williams hauled in a 21-yard pass from Price to put Washington ahead for good at 21-14.
Three other Skyline graduates saw action in the game. William Chandler was the holder on all Washington placekicks and linebacker Cooper Pelluer also played some on defense. For the Cougars, Gino Simone caught a pass for 32 yards.
Chandler recently earned Pacific-12 Conference All-Academic Team second-team honors. He has a 3.83 grade point average and is a business/accounting major.
Skyline, Issaquah football teams size up next opponents
November 1, 2011
The Skyline and Issaquah high school football teams, both hoping to reach the Dec. 3 state title game in the Tacoma Dome, take the first step Nov. 4 when they enter the preliminary round of the Class 4A state playoffs.
Skyline, 6-3, will host Monroe at 7 p.m. while Issaquah, 7-2, travels to southwest Washington and meets Skyview in Vancouver’s Kiggins Bowl.
Both Skyline and Issaquah won their crossover games last week.
Skyline rolled by Roosevelt, 45-14, Oct. 29 in Seattle’s Memorial Stadium. The Spartans shot to a 13-0 lead in the second quarter. Sean McDonald booted two field goals and quarterback Max Browne connected with Andrew Giese on a 42-yard touchdown pass.
Issaquah, Skyline to face off in powerhouse battle
September 20, 2011
NEW — 10 a.m. Sept. 20, 2011
Issaquah High School football coach Chris Bennett knows Skyline is better than its record shows and that concerns him.
Bennett’s Eagles and the visiting Spartans collide at 7 p.m. Friday in a big KingCo Conference 4A confrontation in Gary Moore Stadium.
The contest is the league opener for both teams. Issaquah enters the game with a 3-0 overall record. Skyline meanwhile is off to an unusual start. The Spartans are 1-2 on the season, having lost their last two games.
“The difference is that two of Skyline’s losses were to two pretty good teams,” Bennett said of Skyline’s losses to Bellevue and Lake Oswego, Ore.
Skyline Spartans nip Liberty Patriots in girls soccer
September 7, 2011
NEW — 11 a.m. Sept. 7, 2011
Nicole Candioglos scored a goal at the 72nd minute Tuesday as Skyline High School nipped visiting Liberty 1-0 in a nonleague girls soccer game.
Jordan Branch assisted on Candioglos’ goal. The shutout was shared by Tina Vargas and Sydney Martinez, who were Skyline’s goaltenders.
The contest was the season-opener for both teams, who each qualified for the state tournament last year. Skyline finished third at the 4A state tournament while Liberty made it to the first round of the 3A tournament.
In other action, Eastlake and Lake Washington fought to a 2-2 draw.
Skyline quarterback Max Browne uses last season’s title-game loss as motivation
August 31, 2011
NEW — 9 a.m. Aug. 31, 2011
For all the things Max Browne accomplished as a sophomore, it is the one thing he didn’t that pushes Skyline’s quarterback.
When the 2010 Class 4A state title game ended with Ferris claiming a 24-16 victory over the Spartans, Browne didn’t drop his head, at least not right away. Instead, he turned to the Saxons’ sideline. He watched them celebrate.
“Some people may think it’s crazy,” he said. “But it definitely fueled me.”
From that moment on, through every workout, camp and practice, one thing has continued to carry him: Get it back.
“His dedication to this team is unbelievable,” Skyline coach Mat Taylor said.
Skyline Spartans reload for championship run
August 30, 2011
Max Browne, Skyline junior quarterback, looks for a receiver during practice Aug. 25. By Christopher Huber
It didn’t take long for the Skyline High School Spartans football team to bounce back from defeat at the 2010 state 4A title game.
From players’ reactions after the final buzzer sounded, the loss to Ferris stung.
Ultimately, it inspired the team to start preparing for the 2011 season earlier than ever. Players began optional workouts in January instead of March. And, coupled with the handful of team and 7-on-7 camps they attended, the Spartans seemed to exude as much confidence as ever during late August practices. That’s despite losing Kasen Williams, considered by many national publications to be last year’s top wide receiver prospect in the nation.
