The year 2008 was a memorable one. From stories of triumph over adversity, to tragedy, to redemption, to victory, the year that was had its fair share of memorable moments. As we reach the cusp of 2008, the Bellevue Reporter has decided to look back at 2008 and the moments that made it unique.

Basketball teams make state runs

The year 2008 was kind to Bellevue basketball teams, as three area teams made runs to the state finals. The Bellevue girls basketball team put together a late-season run that saw the team go all the way to the state tournament, before a pair of losses to teams from Eastern Washington ended the Wolverines’ season.

Students at Bellevue Christian were treated to a rare feat when both its boys and girls basketball teams qualified for the 1A tournament in Yakima. The girls couldn’t get going at state, going two-and-out, but the boys team was able to overcome the loss of its two leading scorers, Kyle Taylor and Jeremy Bohnett, late in the season that had many outsiders doubting the Vikings could make a state run. BCS responded by gutting out a third-place finish that included a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer in its second round game against Connell.

One team thought to be a state contender left on the outside looking in? The Bellevue boys team who went into the Sea-King District tournament with a record of 17-5 but lost to an upstart West Seattle team in surprising fashion in the tournament’s first round. After surviving with a win over Skyline, the Bellevue boys were sent home in a winner-to-state game against Seattle Prep.

Newport continues gymnastics dominance

Newport continued its reign of gymnastics success by repeating as the state champion in 2008. It was the third-straight title for the Knights, who have won nine titles since 1994.

Spring brings tragedy

The year 2008 wasn’t without its tragedies, as the community lost two students who were highly involved in their respective schools’ sporting worlds.

The city of Bellevue was rocked by the deaths of Newport senior Taryn Gillies and Bellevue grad Chase Anderson in a span of seven days in late April.

Gillies, a member of Newport’s state champion gymnastics team and a cheerleader, was returning from a college trip at Washington State University when the the van in which she was riding collided with a U-Haul truck. Gillies and the driver, Matthew Andresen of Redmond, were killed in the crash.

A week later Bellevue was rocked again by the death of former Wolverine three-sport athlete Chase Anderson, a UW freshman, who was killed in a skateboarding accident on the UW campus.

Bellevue would lose another of its own in the fall when long-time Sonics and Seahawks employee Scott Patrick passed away due to brain cancer. Patrick’s children attend Newport and Eastside Catholic high schools.

Fall showcases new rivalries

The beginning of the 2008-2009 school year changed the landscape of athletics in Bellevue. Newport, along with Issaquah and Skyline, moved to the KingCo 4A ranks, with Juanita joining the 3A conference.

Gone were the traditional rivalry games of years’ past with Newport not playing Bellevue, Interlake or Sammamish in football this season.

Interlake rising

The Saints took a big step this year with an appearance in the 2A state tournament – Interlake’s first state appearance since 1985. The Saints lost in the first round to Lynden 34-0. The Lions went on to beat Prosser for the state title.

Coach Sheldon Cross was selected as the Bellevue Reporter Coach of the Year for football, and wide receiver Dylan Amell was the Reporter’s Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year.

Seattle sports give us no reason to cheer

It was a bad year for Seattle sports fans.

First, Clay Bennett completed his masterplan to move the Sonics to the Oklahoma City. Fans thought they could turn to the Seahawks and Huskies to turn their sorrow into joy.

Soon after, the Mariners slogged their way to a 61-101 record, second-worst in the league.

Coach Mike Holmgren announced before the season began it would be his last as the head coach of the Seahawks. A 3-11 record going into his final two games probably wasn’t in his plans.

In Montlake, Husky fans had visions of some bowl game in their heads. Twelve games later, the Huskies sport an 0-12 record, the worst in school history. Ty Willingham was fired with four games left in the season, and the team hired Steve Sarkisian, a USC assistant coach who has so far inspired the Husky faithful. His efforts to improve the Huskies will be on display next Sept. 5, when the UW plays LSU in its season opener.

Bellevue football goes wire-to-wire

Before the season began, the Wolverines were almost exclusively thought to be the state’s No. 1 3A team.

They didn’t disappoint.

Bellevue, dedicating their season to Chase Anderson, overcame a serious bus accident right before the state semi-finals and defeated Union of Vancouver 35-6 to win the state championship, it’s sixth title in eight years.

The win brought about one of the greatest moments of 2008 – Wolverine senior Taylor Anderson, Chase Anderson’s brother, raising the trophy first on the shoulders of his teammates.

In all, 2008 was a year in which sports in the area had definite ups and defined downs. With winter sports well under way, 2009 looks to be an even better year.

Joel Willits can be reached at 425-453-5045 or at jwillits@bellevuereporter.com.

What were your memorable moments of 2008? Leave a comment at www.bellevuereporter.com.