Five questions for Bellevue area preps | Spring sports preview
Published 2:02 pm Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Can Saints continue dominance on court as member of 3A?
It was an all-Interlake final at the 2A boys singles tennis tournament last year, as Connor Garnett defeated teammate Luat Le for the title. Both were dominant throughout the season and Le captured a state title of his own the year prior.
The two are now a combined 14-1 in state tournaments over the past two years.
Zach Kosanke of Bellevue and Mercer Island’s Jordan Smith both graduated in 2012, leaving the field open this year.
Does Bellevue defend the throne on track?
The Wolverines ran away from Lakes and the rest of the 3A field at the state meet last year, taking the team scoring title by 20 points and winning a handful of individual and relay crowns in the process.
Junior football standout Budda Baker leads the returners in the sprints after a fourth place finish in the 200 last year. He and the rest of the state title winning 400 meter relay team, Reuben Mwehla, Myles Jack and Max Richmond return this year.
Will Sheeran, a top-five finisher in a pair of individual events and Woody Butler are gone from last year’s 1600 meter relay squad, which also won the championship at Star Track.
Blake Erickson (pole vault) and Mitchell Stuart, who was the runner-up in the shot put, also return after earning points at state in 2012.
How low can Nimmo’s Knights go?
(Left to right) Newport’s girls golf captains Isabel Chein, Jessica Kent, Marianne Li and Maddie Dietz bring state experience and the drive for a team scoring title to this year’s squad. JOSH SUMAN, BELLEVUE REPORTER
Newport finished fourth in the team scoring at the 4A state golf meet last year, qualifying five to the final round at MeadowWood in Spokane.
Marianne Li (T-5) and Jessica Kent (14) led that group and both are back this year to help coach Frank Nimmo and the Knights try and claim the 4A state championship.
After setting the KingCo scoring record with a 204 in a match last year, Newport out-shot defending state champion Bellarmine Prep at Newcastle in the opening match of the year. They followed that with a 192 team score in a conference win over Skyline, which set the conference team scoring record.
Nimmo said Li, only a sophomore, has already garnered interest from Division I programs and is on track for a high-profile collegiate career when the time comes. Her play is bolstered by the rest of the group, which gives the Knights talented depth that is unrivaled in the prep ranks.
“She just brings a level of golf that is as high as you see in the league. We’re just fortunate to have her,” Nimmo said of Li. “Jessica and all of them bring that consistently good play.”
Who breaks through on the diamond?
Newport’s Jake Rosen got the start in his team’s win over Kentlake to begin the season. JOSH SUMAN, BELLEVUE REPORTER
Only one Bellevue-area prep squad made it past its conference tournament last year, as a wave of departed senior stars and new coaches led to a trying season in 2012.
Interlake and coach Marc Linn used the school’s final season in Class 2A to make its second straight appearance in the round of 16 before falling to Archbishop Murhpy.
Newport posted its first sub-.500 record in conference play since 1992 a year after winning the Crest Division.
Bellevue, which ended its season in the conference tournament, will look to build around second-year coach Pete Wilkikson, while Sammamish will do likewise under Pete Orgill.
Do rest of the pack make up ground on greens?
Interlake’s Aleana Groenhout finished third at the 2A girls state meet last year and is the top returning state placer from 2012. On the boys side, Radleigh Ang will look to better his 20th place finish in 2012.
Contact and submissions: jsuman@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/bellevuereporter
