Patriot repeats as state’s No. 2
February 22, 2011
Hamilton Noel reached the finals at the Mat Classic for the second straight year. This time, the Liberty High wrestler reached the 152-pound finals of the 3A state competition Feb. 19 in the Tacoma Dome.
But, once again, Noel came up a bit short.
Noel lost to Enumclaw’s Josh Musick 6-2, after opening the match with a 2-0 lead.
Hamilton Noel, Liberty junior, has the better position on Enumclaw’s Josh Musick early in their 152-pound state 3A championship match Feb. 19 at the Tacoma Dome. By Sebastian Moraga
A disappointed Noel blamed himself for the loss.
“I knew it was going to be a good match; I came out, I scored on him, thought I had him, but I didn’t finish strong enough,” he said. “I’m just glad there’s next year.”
As it turned out, Noel was just one of two 3A KingCo Conference wrestlers to reach the finals.
Noel pledged to work on his conditioning for his senior season.
“I was a little gassed,” he said. “More than I should have been.”
Noel’s road to the finals began with a pin of Bishop Blanchet’s Myles Hollowed in the second period, a pin of Yelm’s Anthony Allred in the third, and a 4-2 decision over Mount Spokane’s Austin Pea.
Liberty coach Manny Brown praised his wrestler and the new champion.
“He gives us his all in practices and matches, everything,” Brown said of Noel. “Congratulations to Josh, who had a good match.”
Two local wrestlers grab regional titles
February 15, 2011
David White, of Issaquah High School, and Hamilton Noel, of Liberty High School, each won individual titles Feb. 12 in their respective regional wrestling tournaments.
White captured the 145-pound class at the Region II Tournament at Skyline. He defeated Austin Henderson, of Bethel, 7-2 in the final. White was the only 4A KingCo Conference wrestler to win a regional title.
He opened the tournament with a 10-0 victory against Bothell’s Dustin Rhode and defeated Inglemoor’s Brian Trabun 13-2 in the semifinals.
Issaquah teammate Max Tickman placed third in the 112-pound class after defeating Brett Dykman, of Beamer, 10-4. Almen Thorpe, of Issaquah, took fifth in the 135-pound class with a 7-0 victory against Redmond’s Brandon Long. Sean Novak, of Issaquah, placed fifth in the 140-pound class after pinning Eastlake’s Nykolai Peterson in 2:26.
Issaquah finished ninth in the tournament with 56 points. Graham-Kapowsin took first place with 194 points.
Duo fuels Liberty’s big dreams
February 8, 2011
Jay Chakravarty (left) has a leghold on Shane Small during the second period of their all-Liberty championship bout at 160 pounds during the KingCo 3A championships Feb. 5. Chakravarty won the title with a 3-2 win. Photos by Greg Farrar
It was Liberty against Liberty at Liberty.
The KingCo Conference finals, housed at the Renton school Feb. 5, had a duel of Patriots at 160 pounds: Jay Chakravarty against Shane Small.
Middleweights leading the way for the Patriots
January 25, 2011
Jay Chakravarty, Liberty High School senior, throws Mount Si junior A.J. Brevick to the mat during their 160-pound wrestling bout Jan. 20. Chakravarty won an 11-3 major decision. By Greg Farrar
Despite a tough loss at Mount Si High School and a fourth-place finish at a tournament in Lacey, Liberty High School wrestling coach Manny Brown remains optimistic.
Not only are standout middleweights Jay Chakravarty and Hamilton Noel having good seasons, but better days might lie ahead, too.
The varsity alone has six freshmen.
Skyline Spartans earn all-state soccer honors
January 21, 2011
NEW — 3 p.m. Jan. 21, 2011
Three members of the Skyline High School girls soccer team were voted to the Washington State Coaches all-state Class 4A first team.
Forward Michelle Bretl, midfielder Maddie Christ and goalkeeper Tina Vargas were on the first team. Three other Spartans were honored, too. Midfielder Madi Barney was voted to the second team. Defenders Jackie Wilson and Dom Randle earned honorable mention.
Forward Jaclyn Softli, of Eastlake, also received first-team honors.
Forward Kimi Fry, of Liberty, was named to the Class 3A first team. Cassidy Nangle, of Liberty, made the second team.
The all-state teams were based on voting by state high school soccer coaches.
Issaquah boys basketball team snaps losing streak
January 19, 2011
NEW — 3 p.m. Jan. 19, 2011
Steven Rael scored a season-high 20 points Tuesday as he led the Issaquah High School boys basketball team to a 69-64 victory in overtime against visiting Roosevelt. The victory for the Eagles snapped a five-game losing streak.
Issaquah, 2-6 in 4A KingCo Conference play and 5-9 overall, made a tremendous fourth-quarter rally to send the game into overtime. The Eagles trailed by nine points after three quarters. However, Issaquah outscored Roosevelt 17-8 in the final period to send the game into overtime. The Eagles outscored Roosevelt 16-11 in overtime to win the game.
Counting Rael, five players in all scored in double figures for Issaquah. Nik Landdeck contributed 14 points. Fletcher Martin, Evan Peterson and Nick Price each had 11 points. Joe Knight had 15 points to lead Roosevelt, which is 2-7 in league play and 3-10 on the season.
Liberty grapplers’ comeback comes up short in pin bid over Bellevue
January 18, 2011
Josh Muttart thrills with emotional pin in first match after injury
Heading into the final four matches of the Liberty High School wrestling team’s final home meet of the year Jan. 13, the scene was grim. Bellevue High School wrestlers had manhandled the Patriots most of the evening, dampening Liberty’s spirits.
But when Liberty junior Hamilton Noel took to the mat, it was as if the Patriots’ passion had been reignited. It was the beginning of a thrilling late-meet comeback, and although it was not enough to get the win, it made the 46-35 3A/2A KingCo Conference loss feel slightly less painful. Read more
Former Spartan helps Eastern win national title
January 11, 2011
Tyler Washburn, a former Skyline High School football standout, started at middle linebacker for Eastern Washington University on Jan. 7 and helped the Eagles defeat Delaware 20-19 in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision title game in Frisco, Texas.
Washburn was one of the key defensive players in Eastern Washington’s run to the title. He scored a key touchdown on a fumble recovery Dec. 17 to help Eastern Washington defeat Villanova 41-31 in a semifinal at Cheney.
The former Spartan had 10 tackles Dec. 11, when the Eagles defeated North Dakota State 38-31 in overtime in the quarterfinals.
Senior tight end Jason Harris, and freshmen Jase Butorac and Evan Day are other former Spartans on the Eastern roster. Read more
Liberty High School swimmers sprint past Sammamish
January 7, 2011
NEW — 1 p.m. Jan. 7, 2011
The Liberty High School boys swimming team swept the three relays Thursday and cruised by visiting Sammamish 118-64 in a 3A/2A KingCo Conference meet at Julius Boehm Pool.
Logan Briggs, who won the 100 butterfly, anchored the winning 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays. He also swam on the Patriots’ winning 200 medley relay.
Kevin Hays, Raymond Ha and Luke Duschl also swam with Briggs on the three winning relays.
Other Liberty first places came from Connor Biehl in the 200 individual medley, Matt Shepardson in the 50 freestyle, Jesse Herrild in diving and Thomas Hughes in the 500 freestyle.
Skyline boys basketball team tops Ballard in OT
January 5, 2011
NEW — 10 a.m. Jan. 5, 2011
The Skyline High School boys basketball team outscored host Ballard 14-6 in overtime Tuesday en route to a 68-60 4A KingCo Conference victory.
Skyline, 3-1 in KingCo play and 6-3 overall, trailed by eight points entering the third period but outscored the Beavers 18-10 to sent the game into overtime.
Bryan Cikatz and Will Parker each scored 21 points for Skyline, which hosts Issaquah at 8 p.m. Friday.
Salim Gloyd, of Ballard (3-2, 6-4), led all players with 29 points.
In other 4A KingCo action, Issaquah fell to host Garfield 89-55. Garfield, 5-0 in KingCo and 8-1 overall, shot to a 17-9 first-quarter lead and steadily pulled away.
Nick Price topped Issaquah (1-4, 4-7) with 22 points. Steven Rael added eight points. Garfield’s Tony Wroten led all players with 29 points.
