SPORTS | Bothell, Inglemoor and Cedar Park Christian athletes make all-league teams [13]
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Police chiefs, community members say the Seattle shootings affect everyone also had a gun in his possession, inside of a tavern. He had a concealed-weapThe tragic, fatal shooton permit, but, according ings that took place at a to law, can’t carry a weapon quaint coffee shop and inside an establishment parking lot in Seattle on that serves alcohol. The May 30 can happen anyweapon violation where — big cities was part of his and smaller ones arrest. — says Kenmore Over in Bothell Police Chief Cliff on May 6, two Sether. men — one of Recently, whom brandished Kenmore officers a handgun — led arrested a man a night manager Cliff Sether who became angry into the back ofand unveiled a fice of the Yakima handgun when Fruit Market, he confronted tied him up and the driver who robbed the place. allegedly cut him Bothell Police off in the Safeway Chief Carol Cumparking lot. mings called the “He slammed Reporter while his fists on the Carol Cummings taking a break on hood of the May 31 and noted person’s car and that her detectives some words were and the North Sound Metexchanged. (The handro SWAT Team arrested gun) wasn’t pointed at the three men in Kirkland and person, it was displayed,” Lynnwood in connection said Sether, noting that with the robbery. the man was charged with “This is big, it was a good second-degree assault and case,” she said regarding felony harassment. “It’s not the evidence detectives real common, but it does gathered, which included a happen occasionally. That’s cell phone that belonged to why we always tell people one of the suspects. that road-rage incidents Cummings said the can happen and weapons May 30 activities hit home can come out over stupid because her daughter takes stuff where just any little classes near where the thing can trigger people’s shootings occurred. She anger. So you’ve got to just spoke with Bothell officers be very careful on how you about the events and the respond and what you say importance of their emerto people.” gency response training Also in Kenmore, Setthat could come into play her’s men recently arrested someday. a man on a warrant, who [ more SHOOTINGS page 4] BY ANDY NYSTROM
anystrom@bothell-reporter.com
FRIDAY, June 15, 2012
Hekker’s ready for the Rams Bothell High, OSU standout punts his way into the pros BY ANDY NYSTROM anystrom@bothell-reporter.com
Johnny Hekker tweeted the following news on April 28: “Your boy is going to be a St. Louis Ram! Free agency deal.” The former Bothell High player, at 6-foot-5, 221 pounds these days, was a standout four-year starting punter at Oregon State University. During his senior season, he punted 50 times for a 44.0 yard average. Now 22, Hekker is set for the next level in his football career. On June 14, he headed to St. Louis to join the National Football League squad. “It’s an exciting time for us,” said mother Joy. “I’m one of their employees. I’m ready to work when they need me. I’m on call,” Johnny said last week after finishing a workout at OSU in Corvallis. He apologized for returning the Reporter’s call about an hour after it was placed, but extensive training prevails in his world. “Most teams don’t keep two punters around. I’m going to do my best and work hard,” said Hekker, noting that either he or Tom Malone could earn the punting spot. “It’s an open competition between him and me. It’s survival of the fittest.” As for being fit, Hekker said he works out for about 3 ½ hours a day on his craft, which includes punting
Johnny Hekker jokes with a friend before playing a senior-day game versus the University of Washington on Nov. 20, 2011 at Oregon State University. JOY HEKKER, Courtesy photo and upper-body and legs work. Along with his OSU workouts, he traveled to Pratville High in Alabama in the winter to train with his friend Mike McCabe of One On One Kicking. Hekker, who recently shaved his long hair and donated it to the charity Locks of Love for children suffering from long-term medical hair loss, said that walking on as a punter at OSU was a major decision in his life. Bothell High football coach Tom Bainter said that Hekker was a believer in that dream and whole-heartedly put in the maximum effort to make it a reality. Hekker could have accepted a Division IAA scholarship to play quarterback at Southern Utah, but he felt that punting at OSU was his calling, Bainter recalled of the tough decision during the player’s senior year.
And now it’s NFL time for the former Bothell Cougar. “The day Johnny signed with the Rams, he called me on the phone while our staff was on a coaches’ retreat. I put him on speaker phone and it was really cool to hear the excitement and joy in his voice, which matched our feelings exactly,” Bainter said. “As only Johnny can, he deflected the glory and thanked us for helping him to get to this point in his life. I can’t even begin to explain how proud we are of him, both as an athlete, but also the young man he has become.” Bothell High athletic director Yonni Mills said she was impressed with Hekker’s football and basketball abilities when he donned a Cougar uniform. “Boy, that kid could jump through the ceiling, he’s a fabulous athlete. Johnny
is such a great guy and so much fun and we’re excited for him,” she said. “I think we’re going to have to start wearing some Ram gear for Johnny, where everybody gets dressed up because Johnny has a big game.” Hekker said it was Bainter and his four older brothers — Joel, Judah, Tim and Zach — who pushed him to be successful on the gridiron and in life. As a youngster, Hekker joked that he dreamt of playing pro football, basketball and soccer all at the same time. He soon narrowed his sports down to football and basketball, and whichever sport was in season, he was completely focused on his and the team’s performances. On being selected to play with the Rams, Hekker said: “It’s an amazing miracle — I couldn’t be more blessed.”
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