Blog
Monday, February 22, 2010
By: Nathan Joyce
MaxPreps.com
1. University takes home wrestling title: University of Spokane dominated the Class 4A state tournament at the Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome. The Titans brought 10 wrestlers, and nine took home medals (top-eight finishes). Ryan Zumwalt (152) and Jake Mason (160) took home titles for U-Hi, which snapped Lake Stevens’ run of three straight titles. Yelm won the Class 3A title and snapped a two-game state title streak. Orting, considered the best team in the state, cruised to the Class 1A title. For complete results, click here.
2. Mercer Island dynasty continues: Mercer Island won its fifth straight Class 3A state swimming title in dominating fashion. The Islanders scored 396 points, the second-most in state history. Second-place Bellevue scored 188. Mercer had only one individual title (Jimmy Deiparine in the 100 breast) and swept all three relays. Shorewood won the Class 4A state title despite bringing just five swimmers and a diver. The Thunderbirds won two relays. For complete state swimming results, click here.
3. Another gymnastics title for Woodinville: Woodinville won its fourth consecutive state gymnastics title. The Falcons haven’t lost in the regular or postseason meet in four years. Woodinville cruised to the title at 181.1 points. Second place was Federal Way’s Todd Beamer at 169.35. Auburn Mountainview won the Class 3A/2A state title for the first time, edging defending champs Columbia River 169-167.1. For complete state gymnastics results, click here.
4. First state hoops tourney on tap: The Class 1B state tournament, comprised of the state’s smallest schools, is the first of six state basketball tournaments over the next three weeks. The boys bracket for the tourney in Yakima is here. The girls bracket is here.
File photo by Dennis Lee
Joshua Smith, Kentwood
5. Joshua Smith headed to Jordan Brand Classic: Kentwood’s 6-foot-10 center Joshua Smith has been selected to play in the elite Jordan Brand Classic in April in New York. Smith, a UCLA signee, is a McDonald’s All-American.
Top performers
Derek Garcia (Sedro-Woolley wrestling): The senior became the seventh wrestler in state history to win four state titles, beating Ben Carter of North Central of Spokane 18-5.
Ryn Rollins (Republic wrestling): In the Class B tourney, he won his fourth straight title at 119 pounds.
Ethan Hallowell (Eastside Catholic swimming): The junior won his third straight Class 3A 100 free title and added a 200 free title with an All-American time of 1 minute 40.48 seconds.
Garren Riechel (Snohomish swimming): The senior fell short of his goal of setting a national breaststroke title, but he won his fourth consecutive title in the 100 breast (55.63). He also won the 50 free (20.91). He had All-American times in both.
Hailey Wells (Woodinville gymnastics): The senior won the Class 4A state all-around title at 37.9 points. Well was second last year and fourth the previous two seasons. She also won a state title on the bars and tied for the floor title.
Taisha Duran (Hudson’s Bay gymnastics): The senior won the Class 3A/2A state all-around title at 38.05 points. She also won a state title on the vault.
Upcoming events
Now that the state wrestling, swimming and gymnastics events are done, it’s all about basketball now. The Class 4A 1A and 2B district tournament will wrap up this weekend as state tournaments for those classifications begin next week. The Class 3A and 2A district tournaments will start this week. State tournaments for those classifications aren’t for two weeks.
Nate’s notes
The district and state basketball tournaments are one of my absolute favorite times of the year. Washington has become as good as any state in the union for producing top-flight basketball talent. For the next couple weeks, you can travel up and down Interstate-5 on any given night and see several of them play. The SeaKing District and West Central District tournaments are must-see run-ups to state tournaments. And it’s all cheaper than seeing a movie. … It was mentioned here a few week ago that highly recruited Garfield point guard Tony Wroten might return to the court this season. Wroten injured a knee during football season. The Seattle Times reported that his family decided Wroten needs at least another month of recovery.
Nathan Joyce has been a sports writer in Washington for 12 years. He currently works at the Kitsap Sun in Bremerton.
Thanks to Washington, Concussion Rule Reform is Spreading
AP – Rivals.com
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Young athletes who suffer concussions would not be allowed to return to practice or games without written medical clearance under legislation proposed in Missouri.
Growing attention to the long-term risks of concussions for professional athletes has Missouri lawmakers joining those in at least a half-dozen states seeking to require the benching of injured younger players, for whom concussion dangers are even greater.
Don Calloway wants to expand legistlation on concussed athletes.
Missouri’s measure – aimed at high school athletes – would require players be kept out of practices and games until cleared by a licensed health care worker trained in evaluating and managing concussions. Athletes and their families also would need to be provided information about concussions and head injuries.
Sponsoring Rep. Don Calloway, D-St. Louis, told a House health care committee Tuesday that he’s considering expanding the legislation to cover all youth sports.
The measure is modeled after a Washington state law that applies to all youth sports. Washington’s policy is named after teenager Zackery Lystedt, who suffered a debilitating brain injury in 2006 when he returned to a football game shortly after suffering a concussion.
Professional teams are paying more attention to concussions. The National Football League has implemented stricter return-to-play rules and the National Hockey League is considering restrictions on hits to the head.
Dr. Stan Herring, a physician for the Seattle Seahawks and Mariners teams, lobbied for the Washington legislation after treating Lystedt. He said media attention has made people more aware of concussions.
“How many times did you watch Tim Tebow get concussed?” Herring said. “That kind of exposure has raised everyone’s awareness.”
The Brain Injury Association of America estimates 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related concussions occur in the U.S. each year.
Concussions in young athletes generally take longer to heal than in adults. Teens or children who return to competition while still recovering from a concussion risk an even greater second injury, which can lead to serious disability or death.
Tom Martin, president of the Brain Injury Association of Missouri, said athletes and their families now recognize the seriousness of a brain injury. But there is pressure on athletes to downplay symptoms, he said.
“It is difficult for the person who had the injury to look at it unbiasedly, and for coaches, their goal is to win games, so it’s difficult for them,” said Martin, director of adult neuropsychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
The Missouri State High School Activities Association, which governs high school sports statewide, says players should not return the same day they suffer a concussion. The association also recommends athletes with three concussions in one season be benched for the rest of the season and kept out until after a thorough exam. Also, players who lose consciousness cannot return the same day as the injury without written medical permission.
Kerwin Urhahn, the association’s executive director, told lawmakers the organization has been studying concussion policies and will provide further guidance to coaches and schools. Urhahn also said that starting in the 2010-2011 school year, players will be barred from returning the same day they show signs of concussions – regardless of whether they lose consciousness.
In Washington state, Herring said most coaches and athletic directors he has spoken with are relieved they no longer have to decide when an injured player returns.
“Return-to-play after a concussion is a medical decision and simply stating that legally makes it so,” Herring said. “It allows the coach to be relieved of that burden. It allows the athletic director to be relieved. It doesn’t allow a parent who might be overly zealous to put their son or daughter back too quickly.”
Two top teams in the state schedule game
The two reigning champions for 4A and 3A will meet for what many will consider to be for the title of “best in state”. Bellevue and Skyline High will clash on September 11th 2010 and Memorial Stadium in Seattle.
After winning a combined 12 titles in 10 years, the two most successful football teams of the last decade match up to re-new a lost rivalry game. After 2003, the Spartans moved up from KingCo 3A to KingCo 4A and the annual game between the two powerhouses was lost. After countless arguments between the fan bases about which team was better, it will finally be settled on the field.
Fans, me included, have wanted a “plus one” game after the 4A and 3A playoffs are decided to determine the best team in state. With so many titles being handed to Skyline and Bellevue, the season never seemed quite over.
Both schools also agreed to play again in 2011 at Skyline in Issaquah. Hopefully this will become a yearly treat for all Washington state high school football fans.
-AAA Washington Varsity News
Brad Champoux
Special to WashingtonPreps.com
Zapien Helps Spartans Roll
Mitchell Zapien, a 6’1” junior wing, has the Granger Spartans out of the Yakima Valley in prime position to make a big post-season run. The Spartans head in to the playoffs with a 19-0 record.
They are currently the #2 ranked team in the associated press 1A Washington State Hoops poll.
Zapien, a lightning quick jumping jack, led the SCAC West in scoring at 18.8 points a game. This junior sharpshooter also adds 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals a contest for the Spartans.
He is not the only Zapien tearing up the hardwoods in Granger this year. His sister Sam led the league in scoring as well for the 18-1 lady Spartans.
While the Spartans are unbeaten and ranked 2nd in the state they are still very young and probably a season away from
being in their prime.
Junior sensation Brandon Oswalt is a 5’9” guard scoring at 13.7 points a game. Brandon Castro is a 6’4” high flying sophomore averaging 11.8 points and 8 glasses a contest.
Granger also has another sophomore sensation in Andrew Reddout a 6’2” forward.
Granger head coach Miguel Bazaldua knows he has a special one in Mr. Zapien, who scored a career high 35 earlier in the
campaign against a talented Goldendale squad.
Mitchell likely has a chance to play on the next level probably small college or the
junior college route. This hardwood hero has been the Spartans go-to guy since his freshmen season.
He still has some work to do this year though. Getting his highly touted Granger Spartans back to the Yakima Sundome to
make a run at a state title is job 1.
The Spartans have been regular’s at the 1A tourney as of late. With some added height this time around the run and gun Granger boys looked primed to do some damage.
