THE ISSAQUAHPRESS
SPORTS
B4
Wednesday August 14, 2013
Muddy Buddy trail runs come to Issaquah
PHOTOS BY GREG FARRAR
Above, Andrew Pintar, an Issaquah High School graduate, and kicker on the Bellevue Bulldogs junior college football team, limbers up on the sideline. At left, Dalton Darlington (right), Liberty High School graduate and defensive lineman/ linebacker, blocks an offensive lineman Aug. 6 during a team drill.
BACK IN THE GAME Bellevue Bulldogs JC football team gives local players a second chance By Christina Corrales-Toy newcastle@isspress.com
YOU SHOULD KNOW
For most high school football athletes, their career on the gridiron ends when the last of those Friday night lights flicker to darkness. Some go on to play the sport at the collegiate level and beyond, but that isn’t an option for the majority. The itch to get on the field, tackle an opponent and be a part of a unique brotherhood is not easily tossed aside, though. The Bellevue Bulldogs junior college football team hopes to provide the relief to that itch, and encourage athletes to remain in school while continuing their career. “The biggest issue is that when an individual gets out of high school, and maybe doesn’t have the grades or a scholarship to get into a four-year school, there was nothing in this area for him to play football, until now,” said Larry Rude, an Issaquah resident and Bellevue Bulldogs trustee. Led by head coach Kevin Bouwman, the first-year team features local players from various community colleges. It will compete in the Northwest Junior College Football League, playing against teams from across the state. Though the team carries the mascot of Bellevue College, and most of its players attend the school, it is independent of the college, Bouwman said.
Local players on the Bellevue Bulldogs 4Andrew Pintar, K/WR, IHS 4Braden Bouwman-Hess, QB, IHS 4Dalton Darlington, DL/LB, LHS 4Issac Solomon, DB/RB, IHS 4Jeremy Hamm, OL/DL, SHS 4Kui Kapu, DB/WR, IHS 4Tommy Drorbaugh, OL/DL, IHS
“We can’t be involved with the schools. They just don’t have the budget for it, for liability and all that,” he said. A second chance to play The makeup of the team is largely similar, Rude said. These are young men who likely did not obtain scholarships to a four-year college, had academic issues that prevented them from going to a university or, like 2010 Skyline High School graduate Jeremy Hamm, physically matured at a different pace. Hamm did not even play football for the Spartans during his time at Skyline, opting instead to play basketball. “I was a hooper,” he said. “When I graduated high school, I got a lot bigger and did a lot of lifting. I used to be really skinny.” His size made him an attractive lineman prospect, so Hamm spent a year playing at Saddleback Col-
BY GREG FARRAR
Coach Kevin Bouwman (right) sets his Bellevue Bulldogs offense for a play during practice Aug. 6 in Newcastle. lege in Mission Viejo, Calif., before returning home to play locally for the Bulldogs. “It’s way easier on my parents. Playing out of state is pretty pricey,” Hamm said. Several of the players have similar stories, often returning from an out-of-state school because of the expenses. It is just another reason why a local option like the Bulldogs is necessary, Bouwman said. The players range in age from about 23 to fresh out of high school, like 2013 Issaquah High School graduates Andrew Pintar and Kui Kapu, and 2013 Liberty High School graduate Dalton Darlington. Darlington, a defensive lineman, managed to stay healthy during the Patriots’ unlucky run of injuries last season, but he wasn’t ready to hang up his cleats after he graduated. He joined the Bulldogs after Liberty coach Steve Valach mentioned the opportunity. “Playing under the Friday night
lights is just so cool at Liberty and I wanted to continue my football career if I possibly could,” he said. Kapu, a wide receiver and defensive back, explored some out-of-state options to continue his career, but ultimately decided to stay home when he heard about the formation of the Bulldogs. “When I heard that Bellevue was starting a team, I thought it was awesome because I still wanted to play football,” he said. “I want to cherish every moment of it that I can.” Pintar only played football his senior year, backing up talented Issaquah kicker, and good friend, Alex Shane. He had fun during his first year at the sport, so he decided to give it another shot with the Bulldogs. “My goal is to move forward past this junior college football and move on to a Division I or Division II school,” Pintar said. See FOOTBALL, Page B5
Athlete ready to take bite out of 20th BLT By Neil Pierson npierson@ sammamishreview.com The Beaver Lake Triathlon — which will kick off its 20th go-round Aug. 17 — has a lot of repeat participants, but it seems only one man has done it every year. Jon Carlson moved to his home on Beaver Lake in 1993, a year before a neighbor, Mark Stendal, resuscitated the triathlon following its disappearance in the 1980s. Carlson was one of about 200 people who did the quarter-mile swim, 13.8-mile bike ride and 4.3-mile run in 1994, and he hasn’t stopped since. Stendal founded the popular event, but Carlson said he missed a year of competitive action. “He claims I’m the only known guy that’s done
ON THE WEB Learn more about the Beaver Lake Triathlon at http://blt.beaverlake.org. them all,” Carlson said. The 58-year-old Carlson is one of the weekend warriors who comprise a large chunk of the triathlon’s participants. Beaver Lake is the only triathlon Carlson has ever done, and his training is relatively minimal. He keeps in shape by playing in adult soccer and softball leagues. Beaver Lake is a sprint event — the shortest distance in the world of competitive triathlons — and it suits Carlson perfectly. “Swim is something I survive,” he quipped. “I’m strong enough to do a quarter-mile, but if it was a half-mile, I might not be
The Muddy Buddy Adventure Series, a 5K to 7K race along trails in Lake Sammamish State Park, will come to Issaquah from 7-11 a.m. Aug. 18. The race, expected to attract about 1,400 attendees, includes obstacles such as a rope climb, tunnels and slides, finishing off with a 50-foot mud pit. According to the event website, the run has been a “huge hit” since its start in 1999. Runners can sign up in teams or individually. Participants will each earn a technical tee, a finisher medal, post-race snacks and a race number. There will also be a beer garden for those aged 21 and older. Registration the day of the event is $90. Runners will use the sidewalk on the north side of Northwest Sammamish Road. The Issaquah Police Department will provide traffic control during the event. Learn more, and get packet pick-up information and routes, at http:// bit.ly/2013muddybuddy.
BY NEIL PIERSON
Sammamish resident Jon Carlson, 58, has competed in the Beaver Lake Triathlon every year since its rebirth in 1994. here. Most of the sprints include a half-mile swim, so I really like this one because of its short swim.” Race Director Debbie Dodd said organizers are thinking of expanding the
event next year by offering a shorter distance for kids and a duathlon consisting of only running and biking. The event attracted about 435 participants in 2012. “I’m hoping we hit
that again, but you never know,” Dodd said. “I’d really like to get it up to 600.” Race fees go to the Beaver Lake Community Club, which distributes most of the money to local youth lacrosse and cross country clubs. The rest is used for lake preservation efforts. The BLT has numerous longtime participants, Carlson said, some from other states. The scenery may be one distinguishing characteristic that brings people back, Dodd noted. “It’s just a beautiful setting on a beautiful lake,” she said. “The water is calmer and warmer than a lot of other lakes.” The Carlson family has all been involved in the BLT through the years. Jon’s wife Donna is a longSee BLT, Page B5
Skyline hosts girls soccer camp The Skyline High School girls varsity soccer team’s sixth annual summer camp takes place Aug. 30 at the Skyline community fields, 1122 228th Ave. S.E. in Sammamish. The camp, from 1-4 p.m., is open to all female soccer players ages 6-13. The cost is $35 per player, which includes a future Spartans T-shirt. Campers should bring a soccer ball, shin guards, soccer cleats, sunscreen and water. Camp participants also get first chance to sign up to become ball girls for this year’s Spartans’ home soccer matches. The camp serves as a fundraiser for the Skyline program. Last year, the camp had 35 participants and raised more than $1,000, which was used to purchase equipment and uniforms, and cover travel expenses. Register for the camp by emailing skylinesoccer@comcast.net.
Kids invited to run at cross-country camp The Issaquah Parks & Recreation Department is offering a three-day cross-country camp for elementary- and middleschool runners. The camp will take place Aug. 27-29 at Lake Sammamish State Park. Elementary school students will run from 9-10 a.m., and middle-schoolers will run from 9-10:30 a.m. daily. Learn more or register by calling 837-3300 or on the city of Issaquah’s website at www. ci.issaquah.wa.us. Click on the Parks & Recreation tab.