THE ISSAQUAHPRESS
SPORTS
B6
Wednesday August 21, 2013
Spartan duo hopes to spark veteran volleyball squad By Neil Pierson npeirson@ sammamishreview.com
BY GREG FARRAR
Jack Gellatly, Issaquah High School running back, holds off O’Dea junior defensive back Jack Murphy on the last yard of his 19-yard touchdown run against the Irish Sept. 14, 2012.
END OF AN ERA
Final Gellatly brother prepares for senior season at Issaquah By Christina Corrales-Toy newcastle@isspress.com
Robert and Susan Gellatly could be considered the ultimate Issaquah Eagles sports fans. They’ve been going to football and baseball games for more than 10 years, witnessing two state championships and countless playoff runs along the way. They aren’t just any idle spectators, though; they are the parents of Cameron, Matt, Grant and Jack, four athletes who have left an indelible mark on Issaquah High School over the last decade. Cameron graduated from
BY GREG FARRAR
Cameron Gellatly, of Issaquah, races past Prosser tacklers on his second kickoff return for a touchdown in their nonleague game Sept. 10, 2004. than the Gellatlys, with all four boys starring for the football and baseball teams. When one graduated, another one would surely follow, leaving opposing coaches lamenting, “Another Gellatly?” Issaquah athletics without a Gellatly is something that the
BY GREG FARRAR
Matt Gellatly (30), of Issaquah, fights through Liberty Tacklers Gary Flanik (11) and Scott DeRusha (10) en route to a 27-yard run to the 1-yard line on Nov. 5, 2004, as the Eagles defeated the Patriots, 39-29. Issaquah in 2005, Matt in 2007, Grant in 2010 and Jack will do so in 2014. “If you counted up all of the games, it would be a lot, but every time you go it seems unique and fun,” Robert said. Arguably no family has meant more to Issaquah sports
Eagles haven’t had to worry about in more than 10 years, but it will soon become a scary reality, as the final Gellatly, Jack, heads into his senior year. “It will be strange next year when we take the field and there’s not a Gellatly out there,” said Issaquah football coach
Chris Bennett, who has coached all four brothers. Growing up Gellatly As can be expected in a household with four competitive, athletically gifted sons, the Gellatly home was always filled with energy, matriarch Susan said. “Everything is a competition with them,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re sitting at the dinner table, if you’re standing trying to have a conversation or if you’re literally on a field.” There were the usual sibling rivalries, but for the most part, the Gellatly brothers got along well growing up, Robert said. Jack said he fondly remembers following his older brothers around, playing spectator at their various games and just absorbing everything that they did. “My oldest brother is 10 years older than me, so they were always doing things that were well beyond my skills and expertise when I was a little kid. But it was fun to follow everything,” he said. Being the youngest of the four, he also learned very quickly to develop a thick skin. “You kind of learn that whenever you want to be a baby and quit, you’ve got to suck it up and keep going, just because there’s no room for that,” Jack said. The most important aspect of growing up as a Gellatly, See ERA, Page B7
Coming off a sixth-place finish in 2011 at the Class 4A state volleyball tournament, the Skyline High School Spartans felt 2012 would be a season for them to challenge for a championship. It didn’t quite work out that way. Skyline had a dominating regular season, and then beat Newport to capture the KingCo Conference tournament title. At state, however, the Spartans got off to a slow start, losing to Union in straight sets. They beat Wenatchee to stay alive for a trophy, but were swept out of the tourney at the hands of Auburn Riverside. It was an experience that this year’s four seniors — including reigning all-conference selections Crystal Anderson and Molly Mounsey — may use for motivation. “It was really exciting winning KingCo last year, because that was a big step for us,” said Anderson, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter. “And then we got into the state tournament, and we went pretty far, but I don’t think we met our potential last year. And so this year I’m hoping we work as a team more and we are able to get farther.” Mounsey, a 6-foot middle blocker, said the Spartans may have suffered some complacency after doing well at state in 2011. That year, they opened with a thrilling five-set win over top-ranked Bellarmine Prep, a squad that went on to win the state title in 2012. “I think that we learned that we need to have a little more dedication all the time,” Mounsey said. “I think we all expected to do well, and we could’ve pushed a little harder, even though I know we did try a lot.” With their size and skill around the net, Anderson and Mounsey figure to be huge keys in 2013 as Skyline looks to build upon last year’s 16-5 record. The pair plays all year with the Kent Juniors Volleyball Club, and they were part of a second-place finish for the under-17 squad at July’s USA Volleyball Junior National Championships in Dallas. With Kent Juniors, Anderson and Mounsey have honed their all-around
“There’s not one person that’s holding us back, and there’s not one person who’s pushing us more than the rest, because we all know we only have a few months to push ourselves as far as we can go.” — Molly Mounsey Skyline senior middle blocker
games. Both players were once middle blockers, but Anderson moved to outside hitter when she came to Skyline. They have enough versatility to play any position on the court in a pinch. “We have a lot of girls from Skyline that play for that same club,” Anderson said, “so we all get kind of the same coaching.” “We get more time practicing setting and passing, which are things we would somewhat do here at school, but not normally, because we only have two or three months here,” Mounsey said. At Skyline, “we focus more on our positional techniques, whereas with club, we have more time and we become better all-around players.” Both players are coy about their college prospects, but say they’re talking to various schools and have plans to extend their careers past high school. Although the Spartans lost a standout player — outside hitter Halle Erdahl — to graduation, they may have a deeper lineup in 2013. Anderson and Mounsey were complementary of Katy Valencia and Meghan Wedeking, the team’s two junior setters, and said they believe every player is capable of leading or starring in certain situations. “We’re all driven to accomplish the best that we can,” Mounsey said. “There’s not one person that’s holding us back, and there’s not one person who’s pushing us more than the rest, because we all know we only have a few months to push ourselves as far as we can go.” “We are a very physically gifted team,” Anderson said. “We’re talented and athletic, which is good, and our passion helps us.”
BY NEIL PIERSON
Crystal Anderson (left) and Molly Mounsey are hoping to make their senior seasons with the Skyline High School volleyball team a special one.
B8 • Wednesday, August 21, 2013
The Issaquah Press Sheriff’s office to host 9-1-1 Citizen’s Academy
Come to the King County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 28 to learn about the role 9-11 communications specialists play in the public safety system and what to do when you dial 9-1-1. The 9-1-1 Citizen’s Academy class, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 516 Third Ave., W-150, Seattle, includes everything from the history of 9-1-1 to what the KCSO has done for quality improvement. There is also a tour of the KCSO 9-1-1 Center, with an optional observation time with a call receiver and dispatcher. Attendees must be at least 18 years old with no felony convictions and live or work in King County. The office is now accepting applications to attend. Space is limited and completed applications are due Sept. 20. Mail forms to RCECC, Attn: Tara Murker, 3511 N.E. Second St., Renton, WA 98056, or scan and email them to KCSO911.FB@kingcounty. gov. You can also fax them to 206-205-7969. If you scan, email or fax forms, you must bring the originals with you. Find the forms and more information at http://bit.ly/ septKCSO911academy.
Remember Kathi Goertzen on LifeStory.com Longtime KOMO news anchor Kathi Goertzen lost her battle with brain cancer Aug. 2012, at the age of 54. Amid the search for a cure for meningioma — the most common type of brain tumor — viewers and colleagues of the long-time Seattle journalist continue to honor her spirit through the social media website LifeStory.com. The online community, launched by Bellevue’s Efinancial founder and CEO Mike Rowell, is a free interactive forum that allows people to share stories, memories and lessons passed on by everybody from an elderly relative to well-known celebrities. On the site, people can write about Goertzen’s three decades on the air, including her public 14-year struggle with her disease. “Kathi was truly one of the best people I have ever known,” Kris Guthrie, a friend of the anchor, said in a press release. “Her concern for the welfare of others was just a reflection of the generous heart.” Anybody can post on LifeStory.com and invite others to comment through connections with Facebook and email. Go to www.lifestory.com. Add your LifeStory for Goertzen at http:// bit.ly/rememberingkathi.
Volunteers needed to mentor young parents The Healthy Start Parent Mentor Program, a service of Youth Eastside Services, is looking for volunteers to guide young parents toward positive, healthy relationships with their children. Volunteers act as mentors for the parents through friendship, support and by providing information that can help in making healthy choices for the young families. Mentors refer their Healthy Start participant to outside agencies for additional support and encourage steps toward family independence. Following screening and training, volunteers are matched one-to-one with a parent younger than 23 who is pregnant or parenting an infant. Mentors should expect an obligation of three to six hours per month, for a minimum of one year, to support the needs of the family and completing paperwork required for funding. The program seeks mentors who are nonjudgmental, communicative and organized. Mentors must also have some flexibility in their schedule and understand that they will often have to take the lead in planning activities. In addition to English and Spanish speakers, the program encourages bilingual volunteers to apply. Interviews are being set up now in anticipation of training sessions to take place at Youth Eastside Services in Bellevue’s Crossroads Park in October. Learn more by contacting Karen Wherlock at 5862320 or KarenW@YouthEastsideServices.org.