Friday, May 23, 2014 • Port Orchard Independent
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Page A23
League meet offers mixed results for Wolves SK battles through some challenges to advance several placers
shot,” Zimmer said. “It was a big lesson learned.” Van Amen and his teammates also had some positive moments, though. He returned to win the discus (155-09) — an event where South had the top three placers. Senior Marcus Burk (15503) finished second, while junior Chandler Van Amen (139-04) was third. Those performances helped the boys team to a second-place finish with 125 points. Bellarmine Prep (143) won the meet. On the track side, the Wolves’ boys team had four first-place finishes. Senior Brayden Maynard won the 110 hurdles (15.28) and classmate Caleb Rodriguez (41.18) finished first in the 300 hurdles. “He’s pretty focused this year,” said Zimmer, referring to Maynard. “He was a little banged up the last few weeks, so we took him out of the 300 hurdles. We’re just trying to keep him healthy.” Tabacchi also won the 200 (22.5), while he served as an anchor on 400 relay that finished first (43.1). “We got a little lucky,”
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR Sports Editor
Coaches often say it is their job to prepare their teams for the postseason. From that point, many contend that success often is based on good fortune. Count South Kitsap cocoach Paul Zimmer among those that believe in that. And that was more negative than positive for the Wolves’ track team during last week’s Class 4A Narrows League Track and Field Championships. South’s boys 1,600-meter relay team, which once had aspirations to repeat as Class 4A state champions, lost most of that hope before the postseason began. Junior Mason Villarma, the team’s anchor runner, sustained a season-ending right ankle sprain May 4 while jogging in Banner Forest.
Dannie Oliveaux/Staff Photos
Senior Caleb Rodriguez, left, won the 300meter hurdles in 41.18 seconds and junior Alexus Richardson, right, was fourth in the shot put and third in the discus during last week’s league championships in Shelton. “It was black and blue all over it,” Zimmer said. “We thought we could get him to go, but it just didn’t happen.” The 1,600-relay team, which consisted of Josh Rhynes, Troy Delgado, Albert MacArthur and Tabacchi, finished fourth in 3 minutes, 30.98 seconds, which was enough to qualify for the West Central/Southwest Bi-District
meet, which begins today at French Field in Kent. The top four placers in each event at the 4A Narrows meet qualified for districts. But Zimmer estimates the loss of Villarma will cost the relay team about 3 seconds. “Losing Mason Villarma and having to replace him on that thing was really hard to do,” he said. “It definitely put
a damper on things.” That was not the only challenge the boys team encountered. Freshman Nolan Van Amen, who entered the meet with the top shot put throw (55 feet, 3/4-inches), scratched on all three of his hurls at the league meet and did not qualify for districts in that event. “He had a rough day in the
Zimmer said. “Gig Harbor, which is one of the better teams in the state, dropped the baton so that opened the door for us.” That performance just reinforced Zimmer’s perception of the playoffs. “I compare it to the NCAA Tournament,” he said. “There’s a reason why you have [top-seeded teams] knocked off. You play the games to see what happens. Sometimes it doesn’t line up the way you want it.” South’s girls team, which finished sixth with 51 points, featured one individual champion. Junior Shannon Laupola, won the javelin (124-02). Despite that, Zimmer was pleased with the volume of top placers on both teams. “I don’t think we’ve had that many in a long time,” he said. Junior Alexus Richardson did not win any events, but placed in two. She was fourth in the shot put (34-02 ¾) and third in the discus (98-09). The top seven finishers at districts will advance to the May 29-31 state meet at Mount Tahoma.
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MC – Mayor Patty Lent
Keith Highlander’s Pipe Band
Sinclair Baptist Church Choir
Suquamish Warriors Honor Guard
Navy Junior ROTC Close Order Drill Team – Bremerton High School
Dale Nitz Museums: - Medal of Honor John “Bud” Hawk - Vietnam War
Keyboard – Roberta Daniel
Saturday, May 24th – Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts will place flags in the park at 10:00 am
Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park 5505 Kitsap Way, Bremerton, WA 98312 www.miller-woodlawn.com