2011-2012 Prep year recap
Published 11:34 am Monday, June 20, 2011
It’s that moment. The one before the National Anthem starts, when the teams are lined up on the field. Both have a flash in their eyes – hopeful, anxious, and above all, ready.
It’s sports at its most pure. Blood, sweat, tears for colors and a mascot decided on long ago. Fifty meters to 3.1 miles, one goal to 70 points, victory vacillates from in-hand to out of reach. It’s the first week of practice, when every team is a contender.
It’s Lauren Kaufman’s grace in the water, which brought her three state titles. It’s Nicole Lecoq and the other swimming stars.
It’s Sarah Reiter crossing the finish line and winning a state cross-country title. Before that, it’s hundreds (yes, hundreds) of miles in the offseason building to that exact moment.
It’s the Liberty crowd chanting “We are one!” as Trey Wheeler and Chandler Jenkins connect for yet another touchdown.
It’s Bakari Davis and Diondre Toms making big play after big play and helping push Lindbergh back to state.
It’s a pack of Lindbergh runners storming the league meet and winning with a perfect score, then moving on to take second at state.
It’s the Liberty girls soccer team going undefeated through KingCo play.
It’s simple math. Twelve practices a week plus 11,000 meters day equals a dominating state title and All-American consideration for Steve Sholdra. It’s Logan Briggs and Andrew Franco-Munoz, giving Renton an outstanding group of returning swimmers.
It’s the Hazen crowd chanting “State!” with 5.9 seconds left, and four years of hard work finally paying off for the boys basketball team.
It’s James Keum hoisting up shot after shot on the way to 49 points, despite constant double teams, in the district playoffs.
It’s Aaron Garcia’s technical dismantling of anyone who faces him on the wrestling mat, and Noel Hamilton winning a regional title plus second place at state.
It’s fresh hope for the Lindbergh and Renton swim programs. Down in recent years, both are looking lively now. The Eagles placed second at districts and sent 10 to state, while the Indians had Sholdra win a state title.
It’s the Renton boys track team’s flat-out dominance, led by Justin Bennett and P.J. Benedictus. It’s Josh Gordon and Amadi Bentley, flying to state titles of their own.
It’s Joe Kwiatkowski’s steady demeanor, plus Adrian Villanueva and Sam Bayna’s synergy on the tennis court, leading the Eagles to a state title.
It’s the Lindbergh baseball team turning a final-day disappointment into playoff motivation, winning a district title and going to state. It’s Hazen’s steadiness, leading to a Seamount title.
It’s the details. The chirp of shoes on hardwood. The ping of bat on ball. A perfect spike. A devastating serve. A birdie. It’s getting outside after a long winter.
It’s unrelenting dedication. Miles on the road, meters in the pool and hours in the cage. It’s the athlete who wholly dedicates himself or herself to a sport, transcends the competition and becomes the best. It’s the bench player having fun.
It’s victory. It’s defeat. It’s unexpected. It’s fun. It’s prep sports. And it was a fantastic year.
1. Renton’s P.J. Benedictus
2. Renton’s Justin Bennett
3. Hazen’s De’Corrius Sampson, Dawit Kasa, D.J. Perry, R.J. Magar and Brandt Graybeal (from left to right)
4. Lindbergh’s Mohamud Abdi (center) and Luke Garcia
5. Renton’s Amadi Bentley
6. Lindbergh’s Billy Hernandez
7. Lindbergh’s Bakari Davis
8. Hazen’s Zac Kolterman
9. Hazen’s Lauren Kaufman
10. Renton’s Aaron Garcia
11. Liberty’s Hamilton Noel
12. Renton’s Steve Sholdra
13. Liberty’s Chandler Jenkins
14. Lindbergh tennis coach Steve Bergquist, Joe Kwiatkowski, Sam Bayna and Adrian Villanueva (from left to right)
15. Liberty’s Logan Briggs
16. Liberty’s Josh Gordon
17. Lindbergh’s Sarah Reiter
Lauren Kaufman (9), Chandler Jenkins (13) and Logan Briggs (15) photos by Chad Coleman.
Hamilton Noel (11) photo by Charles Cortes.
Lindbergh tennis team (14) photo submitted.
All other photos and page design by Adam McFadden.
