Skyline pep rally Friday ahead of championship game
December 4, 2008
As the kickoff clock winds down to the start of the 4A state championship game between the Issaquah High School Eagles and the Skyline High School Spartans, students, staff and community members are rallying behind their school colors. Read more
Skyline learns from a master
December 3, 2008
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Skyline’s football team practiced at the new Seattle Seahawks indoor practice facility (Virginia Mason Athletic Center) Dec. 2. Seahawks Coach Mike Holmgren addresses the team as Skyline’s coach, Mat Taylor, looks on. Skyline will face Issaquah at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 in an attempt to win their second consecutive state title.
Photo by Jim Simpkins
Head to head
December 3, 2008
Skyline, Issaquah to face off for championship
Grant Gellatly
Jake Heaps
The Dec. 5 state football championship at the Tacoma Dome marks the first time two teams from the same school district will battle for the Class 4A title.
Both Issaquah and Skyline come into the game with numerous accolades and distinguished players. Leading them are first-team all-KingCo 4A picks Skyline junior quarterback Jake Heaps and Issaquah junior running back Grant Gellatly. Read more
Skyline tops Ferris, tries to repeat at state
December 3, 2008
Skyline’s Gino Simone intercepts pass intended for Ferris receiver Garrett Saiki in the second quarter. Skyline’s Kasen Williams was also on the coverage. Photo by Jim Simpkins.
The Skyline Spartans (13-0) managed to beat Ferris High School 24-21 in the semifinal round of the state playoffs Nov. 29 in Spokane.
Despite trailing three times throughout the game and losing a fumble on its first drive, Skyline came up with key plays in the second half to secure its spot in the final against school-district neighbor Issaquah.
It was a back-and-forth game of time-management and big passing plays for both teams.
“Their defensive line was really good,” Skyline head coach Mat Taylor said Nov. 30. “There were some holes in their secondary that we hit. Their offense was equally impressive. They made some big, big-time plays.”
Junior quarterback Jake Heaps threw two touchdown passes and completed 21 of 37 passes for 266 yards, while Ferris nearly matched him with 226. Read more
Skyline soccer wins it all
November 25, 2008
Skyline’s Michelle Bretl hoists Madi Barney into the air after Skyline’s 2-0 win over Woodinville for the state championship. Photo by Christopher Huber
Skyline girls soccer takes first state title
November 25, 2008
Skyline’s Kiara Williams takes the ball past Woodinville defender Adrienne Biddle Nov. 22. Photo by Chirstopher Huber
Skyline’s game plan was to be the aggressor — “make them come to us” — as head coach Don Braman put it before the game Nov. 22.
Woodinville had yet to claim victory over the Lady Spartans in 2008. In fact, the Falcons had fallen to Skyline 2-1 in the KingCo Championship game Nov. 4. and were hoping to win one when it counted.
In the first all-KingCo 4A state girls soccer title match-up, the Spartans executed their game plan and came out on top against the Falcons. Read more
Skyline dominates Auburn
November 25, 2008
Early in Skyline’s Class 4A state quarterfinal game with Auburn on Saturday, the Spartans had a pair of long touchdowns called back because of penalties.
Skyline's Nick Washburn during second quarter run. Washburn had 101 yards rushing and a touchdown against Auburn on Saturday. Photo by Jim Simpkins
If Skyline was a double-barreled shotgun, that might have proved disastrous.
But this Spartan team? It’s more like an Uzi.
Utilizing all of its weapons, Skyline overcame those early miscues and an early deficit to easily romp by Auburn, 38-2, at home Saturday. The victory propels the defending state champion Spartans into a state semifinal match with Ferris Nov. 29 in Spokane.
“It was a little rough at the beginning,” Skyline senior Gino Simone said. “Sometimes that can stunt a team’s momentum, but we kept at it and kept working. Read more
Winter sport athletes look for titles
November 25, 2008
Eastlake Girls Basketball
Eastlake’s Alyssa Charlston is expected to be a force for the Lady Wolves this year. Contributed
The Eastlake girls basketball crew comes off a 16-8 2007-2008 season. And despite finishing fourth in the KingCo conference with a record of 9-5, the Lady Wolves return eight players from last year’s roster, including three all-KingCo players.
Junior forward Alyssa Charlston made first team all-KingCo last year and is already getting looks from about a half-dozen Division 1 schools, head coach Scott Sartorius said.
Captains Ellie Martinez (senior forward) and Hannah Ostic (senior point guard) were named to the second team and honorable mention all-KingCo respectively.
“She (Martinez) has been a quiet leader for us,” Sartorius said. “She goes out and just does what the team needs.”
Eastlake looks to Ostic’s leadership on the court to take it to an increasingly tough conference.
“She’s just a gutsy, tough, physical player,” Sartorius said. “She sees the floor so well.”
Starting his third year as head coach, Sartorius said the team is more established this season, after spending the past couple of years rebuilding.
Games to watch: at Eastlake vs. Skyline, 6:30 p.m., Dec. 12; at Eastlake vs. Redmond, 6:30 p.m., Jan. 16; at Eastlake vs. Ballard, 6:30 p.m., Jan. 28.
Eastlake Wrestling
Wolves’ wrestling went 0-11 to finish ninth in KingCo in 2007-2008 with a tiny team of just 13 players. This winter, however, Eastlake returns with a much larger crew of 30 grapplers.
Head coach Riley Cornet said it’s a young team that looks to improve throughout the year.
Key wrestlers for Eastlake this season will be Sam Boucher, Shay Fuentes, Trevor McKinnon, Tom Kuehny, Adam Nakanishi and Al Charat.
Matches to watch: Eastlake vs. Skyline at Eastlake, 7:30 p.m., Jan. 20.
Skyline Girls Basketball
The Lady Spartans’ basketball team moves up to KingCo 4A this year after going 9-7 in conference in Class 3A competition in 2007-2008. They finished with an overall record of 14-11.
The club starts the season with its third new coach in three years in head coach Greg Bruns. The team will follow the talented senior duo of Lindsey Perry and Carlie Wolken.
As newcomers, sophomores Michelle Bretl and Lindsey Nicholson may add a little depth to the starting line-up of Perry, Wolken, senior Mikayla Neves and juniors Kassia Fortier and Amy Ziegler.
Games to watch: Skyline at Redmond at 6:30 p.m., Jan. 9; Skyline at Issaquah at 6:30 p.m., Jan. 16; Skyline vs. Eastlake at Skyline at 6:30 p.m., Jan. 30.
Skyline Wrestling
Skyline’s wrestling crew is looking for some strength at its 215-pound and heavyweight spots in the 2008-2009 season.
Coming off a 5-8 overall performance last year, head coach Gus Kiss said the team has plenty of depth from the 103- to 189-pound class to contend in the new KingCo 4A surroundings after being bumped up from 3A last year.
The Spartans grapplers, who have four state tournament participants returning to the mats, saw an influx of freshman join the team this year. The 14 ninth-graders will follow the leadership of captains Tannor Steciw (state alternate 2007-2008) and Anthony DeMatteo (third place state 2007-2008, 171 pounds), as well as Nolan Richards (130 pounds) and the lone female wrestler Alexis Wilcher.
Wilcher took second place in the girls’ 145-pound match at last year’s Class 3A state tournament.
Matches to watch: Dual meet tournament at 9 a.m., Dec. 13 at Skyline High School; Skyline at Eastlake at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 20; Skyline at Issaquah at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 28.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or at chuber@isspress.com.
