The End Zone

Last week, I wrote a story about 16-year-old Sammamish resident Yina Moe-Lange, who will be competing for Denmark in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Yina has a Web site where she will be updating her experiences from the Vancouver games. Be sure to check her page out and follow her endeavors. Her dad also sent me the link to the above promotional video of her training at Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire.

Yina will be participating in the giant slalom on Feb. 24 and the slalom on Feb. 26. NBC will air pieces of the events from 8 to 11:30 p.m., both nights.

Be sure to check out the Reporter’s extended coverage of local athletes on the Passport to Vancouver 2010 blog. Mercer Island sports reporter Megan Managan and Central Kitsap reporter Wesley Remmer are doing a great job providing daily updates leading up to the games.

According to Bellevue Reporter sports editor Joel Willits, the possibility of a Skyline-Bellevue football game in 2010 is still alive.

The main obstacle as to setting the game in stone appears to be the vote on whether or not to allow Eastside Catholic into the KingCo 3A. League principals are set to meet Monday, Feb. 8, for a final decision on the matter. If EC is allowed into KingCo, it would allow for one less non-conference game for Bellevue.

We’ll update the situation as soon as a decision is reached.

The Crossfire Premier ‘91 select soccer team achieved a pretty cool feat yesterday when it had its entire 2010 graduating class sign National Letters of Intent to college programs.

The group will compete in seven different Division I conferences across the nation, including Pacific Ten, Big Ten, Conference USA, Ivy League, Southeastern Conference, Southern Atlantic, Patriot League and an independent.

Of the 16 singees, four attend Eastlake High School.

Allie Beahan and Lindsay Elston both signed with the University of Washington, while Courtney Pixler signed with the University of Alabama and Emily Hurd signed with Penn State University.

Other players on the team include Kathryn Bennett, Bellevue (California-Berkeley); Julia Besago, Kennedy Catholic, (Seattle University); Lindsey Bos, Archbishop Murphy (University of Washington); Maggie Graham, Bush School (Northwestern University); Mary Hill, Mercer Island (Seattle University); Alexa Hughes, Archbishop Murphy (Marshall University); Sierra Keeler, Seattle Academy (Colorado College); Alexes Lopez Shaw, Holy Names Academy, (Navy) Maya Marder, Overlake, (Columbia University) Stine Schoening, Woodinville (UNC- Greensboro); Annie Sittauer, Everett (University of Washington) and Brianna Sweeney, Woodinville (University of Washington).

The group of Crossfire players are two-time Region IV Champions, earned a National Championship, are five-time State Champions and have earned several tournament championships each season. Since 2002 the team has a record of 236-62-41, scoring 1,000 goals, allowing only 225 goals and tallying 187 shut-outs.

“We are very proud of this group of fantastic athletes,” head coach Dick McCormick said. “They are the best team we’ve ever had in our Crossfire Premier Club. So many of the girls have been with the team since U11-12, which shows a true sign of development.”

There are a ton of Issaquah and Sammamish area athletes expected to sign with colleges tomorrow during National Letter of Intent Day 2010. The day is the first that high school seniors competing in football, field hockey, soccer, track and field, cross country and men’s water polo can officially sign their letter of intent to attend their institution of choice. Right now, we have 24 athletes on the list. Eastlake High School has 12 athletes expected to sign letters. Here’s a look at the list of athletes and schools we have been provided so far.

Eastlake

Girls Soccer
Courtney Pixler – University of Alabama
Alexandra Beahan – University of Washington
Lindsey Elston – University of Washington
Emily Hurd – Penn State
Candice Osei-Agyemang – University of Pennsylvania
Kellie Shreve – Gonzaga University

Football
Cameron Hunt – Illinois State
Austin Reifeis – University of Montana
Trent Butler – Montana Tech
Michael Maguire – University of Minnesota – Duluth

Boys Soccer
Bradley McIntosh – UCLA
Renato Bandeira – Seattle University

Girls Basketball
Alyssa Charlston – University of Idaho (already signed in November, but participated in ceremony)

Skyline

Football
Jase Butorac – Eastern Washington University
Evan Day – Eastern Washington University
Anthony DeMatteo – Central Washington University
Cooper Pelluer – University Of Washington (Originally was going to sign with the University of Hawaii)

Issaquah

Football
Ryan Bergman – Western Oregon University
Daniel Fleishman – University of Wyoming
Grant Gellatly – Cornell

Girls soccer
Kristin Maris – Western Washington University
Abby Glasgow – Cal State Chico

Boys soccer
Quinn Grisham – University of Washington
Michael Axelson – Whitman College

Volleyball
Chrissy Dickinson – Stevens College

Here is the ninth Reporter Newspaper basketball poll of the season.

A pair of losses dropped the Issaquah girls from No. 2 to No. 4 this week, while the Skyline boys dropped from No. 7 to No. 8.

The poll is voted on by sportswriters from various Reporter papers in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts and opinions.

CLASS 4A BOYS
1. Federal Way (16-1)
2. Gonzaga Prep (16-1)
3. Curtis (17-1)
4. Jackson (15-1)
5. Walla Walla (15-2)
6. Kamiakin (12-3)
7. Richland (14-3)
8. Skyline (13-3)
9. Lake Stevens (13-4)
10. Garfield (12-4)
Others receiving votes: Beamer (13-5), Decatur (13-6)

CLASS 4A GIRLS
1. Auburn Riverside (18-0)
2. Newport (15-1)
3. Woodinville (15-1)
4. Issaquah (13-3)
5. Federal Way (15-4)
6. Edmonds-Woodway (15-1)
7. Chiawana (16-1)
8. Jackson (13-3)
9. Kentwood (14-4)
10. Wenatchee (11-4)
Others receiving votes: South Kitsap (13-5), Richland (13-4), Mount Tahoma (16-3), Marysville-Pilchuck (13-4), Bethel (14-4)

CLASS 3A BOYS
1. Enumclaw (16-0)
2. Bellevue (16-1)
3. Rainier Beach (13-3)
4. Seattle Prep (14-3)
5. Lakes (14-2)
6. Mount Si (12-4)
7. Capital (14-1)
8. Shadle Park (12-4)
9. Meadowdale (13-3)
10. O’Dea (12-5)
Others receiving votes: Bremerton (10-4), Mount Rainier (11-5), Franklin Pierce (10-5)

CLASS 3A GIRLS
1. Holy Names (15-2)
2. Kennedy Catholic (14-3)
3. White River (15-2)
4. Mercer Island (13-3)
5. Bonney Lake (13-4)
6. Port Angeles (13-2)
7. Mount Rainier (14-2)
8. Yelm (12-4)
9. Sumner (11-5)
10. Lakeside (11-6)
Others receiving votes: Central Valley (12-4), Shorecrest (11-5), Prarie (13-3), West Valley (11-4)

When rivals Skyline and Eastlake square off tomorrow at 8 p.m., at EHS, it will be more for more than pride on the Plateau.

The two squads enter tomorrow’s game with identical 8-3 league records, tied with Garfield (8-3) for the top spot in the KingCo 4A. Three schools — Inglemoor, Lake Washington and Woodinville — all have 7-4 records, and are in a tie for second. Only the top eight teams in the league make the post-season.

With just four regular-season league games remaining after tomorrow’s contest, the outcome will go a long way in determining who has the best shot finishing atop the league.

Eastlake, which lost 62-51 to Skyline on Dec. 12, has won five straight games. Skyline has lost its last two games to Garfield and Inglemoor.

The Skyline and Eastlake girls are slated to tip off at 6 p.m. With 5-6 league records, they are both in a battle to grab one of the final eight playoff spots.

The Reporter will be at both the girls and boys varsity games sending live updates via Twitter.

With his rise to the Division I college level, and Brigham Young University, Skyline quarterback Jake Heaps better get used to being put under the spotlight of the national media.

Sports Illustrated writer Stewart Mandel’s article Searching for sleepers in weakest QB class in recent memory, released today, did just that.

Mandel quotes a couple of the “experts” from national recruiting publications Scout.com and Superpreps.com.

Scout’s national recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg complimented Heaps, while criticizing him at the same time:

“Heaps is probably the most ready to play in college,” said Newberg, “but he needs to get bigger.”

Mandel says he thinks Heaps will have a chance to start as a freshman:

“With the departure of three-year Cougars star Max Hall, Heaps, a consistent and accurate passer, will be one of four thus-far untested quarterbacks competing for BYU’s starting job this spring.”

SuperPrep’s Allen Wallace was less kind, saying he thought Alabama recruit Phillip Simms had more long-term potential.

“As we looked at [Heaps] and studied him, we felt like he was going to be same guy five years from now that he is today,” he said.

Of course, only time will tell if any of these guys are right, but Mandel’s article was interesting nonetheless. Take a peek.

Woodinville High School athletic director Terry Agnew, president of KingCo athletic directors, confirmed in an e-mail this afternoon that a final vote will be taken on Feb. 8 on whether or not to admit Eastside Catholic into the KingCo 3A.

According to Agnew, the KingCo principals are still in “study mode” and have a visitation set for tomorrow.

League officials have been evaluating the proposal since Eastside Catholic presented in early January.

Eastside Catholic is a private school with an enrollment between 400-500 students. It has operated as a member of the Metro 3A conference for more than two decades. With all its opponents in the Seattle-Metro area, the Sammamish-based school is looking to branch out to KingCo 3A, which has schools spread throughout the Eastside.

Here is the eighth Reporter Newspaper basketball poll of the season.

The Issaquah girls moved up a slot from No. 3 to No. 2 this week, while the Skyline boys stayed strong at No. 7.

The poll is voted on by sportswriters from various Reporter papers in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts and opinions.

CLASS 4A BOYS
1. Federal Way (13-1)
2. Gonzaga Prep (13-1)
3. Curtis (15-1)
4. Jackson (13-1)
5. Walla Walla (13-2)
6. Richland (13-2)
7. Skyline (12-2)
8. Kamiakin (12-3)
9. Lake Stevens (11-4)
10. Decatur (11-5)
Others receiving votes: Kentridge (11-5), Garfield (10-4), Foss (11-4), Lake Washington (11-3)

CLASS 4A GIRLS
1. Auburn Riverside (16-0)
2. Issaquah (13-1)
3. Newport (13-1)
4. Woodinville (13-1)
5. Edmonds-Woodway (13-1)
6. Federal Way (12-3)
7. Chiawana (12-1)
8. Jackson (12-2)
9. Marysville-Pilchuck (12-3)
10. Kentwood (11-4)
Others receiving votes: Bellarmine Prep (11-5), Mount Tahoma (13-3), Lewis and Clark (9-5)

CLASS 3A BOYS
1. Enumclaw (14-0)
2. Bellevue (14-1)
3. Rainier Beach (12-3)
4. Seattle Prep (12-3)
5. Lakes (10-4)
6. O’Dea (11-4)
7. Mount Si (11-4)
8. Shadle Park (10-3)
9. Capital (12-1)
10. Foster (11-3)
Others receiving votes: Sammamish (11-4), Meadowdale (11-3), Franklin (7-7), Kennedy Catholic (10-5)

CLASS 3A GIRLS
1. Holy Names (13-2)
2. Kennedy Catholic (12-3)
3. White River (12-2)
4. Mercer Island (11-3)
5. Lakes (10-4)
6. Mount Rainier (12-2)
7. Bonney Lake (11-4)
8. Yelm (11-4)
9. Port Angeles (12-2)
10. Sumner (10-4)
Others receiving votes: Shorecrest (9-4), Seattle Prep (10-4), Juanita (10-5), Shadle Park (8-5), Lakeside (9-6)

The original voice of the Seattle SuperSonic’s, and Issaquah resident, Bob Blackburn, will be remembered during a wake at 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 22 at the Gaslamp Bar & Grill. The event will feature highlights of the Sonics’ 1979 NBA Championship and other works of Blackburn’s career that stretched from 1967-92 with the Sonics.

Blackburn, who passed away of pneumonia Jan. 8 at the age of 85, lived in the Timber Ridge community at Talus.

There will be a formal public memorial service at 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 23, at Bellevue’s First United Methodist Church.

Fans are invited to attend both events.