The Tacoma Athletic Commission – Celebrating and Supporting Students and Amateur Athletics for 76 years in Pierce County
For 76 years, the TAC has been making a difference in Pierce County by supporting and celebrating interscholastic and collegiate athletics
The newly appointed Executive Director/Secretary Bill White has always been impressed with the work the TAC has done supporting student athletes by recognizing them at banquets and granting scholarships to premier or inspirational students/athletes throughout the county
As a vibrant organization with a commitment to care for all young athletes, the TAC is always looking for new members to continue the rich tradition developed by the visionaries of the past Whether it was leading the campaign to get a “Dome of our Own” or supporting the cause to bring competitive sports back to the Tacoma Public Middle Schools, the TAC has always had a visible presence in the greater Pierce County Community
If you are interested in becoming a member please go to the TAC website at https://www tacomaathletic com/ or call Bill White at 253759-1124 Joining the TAC provides great satisfaction because it is supporting the youth in the community, and it provides an opportunity to make new friends and forge strong relationships with others who have a love of sports and supporting young athletes
of the Distinguished Achievement Awards event may be viewed and purchased by visiting https://sagephoto.smugmug.com
COMMITTEE
Marc Blau Chairman
Colleen Barta Honoree Arrangements
Gary Brooks, Arnold Lytle, Kevin Manning, Todd Milles, Nick Dawson, Marc Blau Publicity & Souvenir Program
Shannon Heinrick, Karen Hurdelbrink, Mollie Robertson and Linda Shelton Registration
Ed Menotti and Don Gustafson Ushers
Angie Eichholtz Centerpieces
Mike Sage Photography
Barney Phillips
Photography Photos
Shelli Williams Ticketing
Kellie Ham
Program Layout & Design
Bill White
WELCOME
Welcome Sandy Snider, TAC President
Welcome Jay Stricherz, Referee/MC
National Anthem
AWARD PRESENTATIONS
Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award
Belle Hendrickson, Junior at Life Christian Academy
SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS & EVENTS
Held at Tower Lanes –6323 Sixth Avenue, Tacoma (unless noted otherwise)
November 8
12:00pm Membership Meeting
December 13
12:00pm Membership Meeting
December 14
12:00pm Fall Athlete of the Year Banquet Star Center
January 10
6:00pm Membership Meeting
Location: TBD
Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award
Presented by Jack Connelly
Mark Polcyn, Boy’s Basketball
Allen Estes, Girl’s Basketball
Dwayne Johnson, Football
Graig Bolton, Softball
John O’Keefe, Soccer
Debbie Beckwith, Volleyball
Tom Maki, Wrestling
Presented by Mike Mauss, Linebacker on PLU’s 1999 NCAA DIII National Championship Team
Chris Gibson, Girl’s Basketball, White River High School
Sam Ring, Boy’s Track & Field and Cross Country, Wilson High School
First Family of Sports Award
Presented by Dan Hannula--Member of the 2008
First Family of Sports Award recipient
The Barsh Family— Israel, Denise, Joshuael, R-Jay, Jacob, Caleb, Joseph, Isaac and Josiah
February 14
12:00pm Membership Meeting
March 14
12:00pm Membership Meeting
March 15
12:00pm Winter Athlete of the Year Banquet Star Center
April 11
12:00pm Membership Meeting
May 9
12:00pm Membership Meeting
May 30
6:00pm Banquet of Champions McGavick Conference Center
June 6
6:00pm Salute to Sports and the Spring Athlete of the Year Banquet LeMay Museum
June 13
12:00pm Membership Meeting
July 15
Golden Whistle Award
Presented by John McCarthy, Past President, Western Washington Football Officials Association
Jack Stonestreet
Daryl Van Dinter
Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award
Presented by Joe Stortini, 2013 recipient
Tom Mustin, Tacoma Boxing Club coach
12:00pm Celebrity Golf Classic Highlands Golf Course
Dick Hannula
Male & Female Amateur Athlete of the Year Award
Presented by Dick Hannula
Margaux Arntson, Volleyball
Michael Gretler, Baseball
Closing
Jay Stricherz, MC
TAC HAS HALL OF FAMES; HONORS
ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
The TAC, upon the recommendation and coordination of charter member Clay Huntington, introduced the first Sports Hall of Fame banquet in 1957 to honor the all-time great athletes and coaches of Tacoma and Pierce County That was followed up in 1960 with the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame, another brainchild of Clay’s
From 1993–2014 the Athlete of the Year banquet was held to honor the top student-athletes from the 33 high schools in Tacoma-Pierce County Beginning in 2015, donations from the Scott Names family, the Tom Names family, and the Clint Names family as well as their respective family foundations have provided $80,000 annually toward TAC scholarships and the related awards events
For more information about these events and the honorees please visit:
www tacomaathletic com
www tacomasportsmuseum com
www washingtonsportshof com
SPORTS WEBSITES TO KEEP INFORMED
Tacoma Athletic Commission
www tacomaathletic com
Shanaman Sports Museum of Tacoma Pierce County
www tacomasportsmuseum com
State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame
www washingtonsportshalloffame com
Tacoma-Pierce County Baseball-Softball
Oldtimers Association
www oldtimerbaseball com
Tacoma South Sound Sports
www tacomasports org
Tacoma Rainiers Baseball Club
www tacomarainiers com
West Central District III
www wcd3 org
WIAA
www wiaa com
LEGENDARY VOICE OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST SPORTS FOR OVER 50 YEARS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Robertson announced his retirement on October 15th after 52 seasons calling Cougar Athletics on the radio including the play-by-play voice for WSU Football from 1964 to 2011
During his career, the 89 year-old Robertson broadcast baseball for the Seattle Rainiers, Angels and Mariners, Tacoma Giants, Cubs, Tigers and Rainiers, Wenatchee Chiefs and Spokane Indians; basketball for Seattle University, the University of Washington, WSU and Pacific Lutheran University; soccer for the Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers and Tacoma Stars; hockey for the Seattle Americans and Totems; football for Notre Dame, the Huskies and Cougars; and even bowling and roller derby
He became the first broadcaster West of the Mississippi to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame Robertson is also in the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame, the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame, the Inland Empire Hall of Fame and the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame among others He was named Washington Sportscaster of the Year 12 times and the radio booths in Martin Stadium in Pullman and at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma are named after him
Close your eyes and listen carefully You just might hear his famous sign-off:
“Always be a good sport, be a good sport, all ways ”
The “EXCELLENCE IN OFFICIATING AWARD”—Presented by Connelly Law Offices
By Kevin Manning & Tyler Scott
The “EXCELLENCE IN OFFICIATING AWARD”
THE “EXCELLENCE IN OFFICIATING AWARD” is presented to collectively honor officials previously recognized for their leadership, dedication and high standard of professionalism displayed on and off the “field of play.” Their efforts are acknowledged for laying a foundation of excellence as officiating pioneers.
Presented annually to a currently active official in Tacoma-Pierce County who has made a significant contribution to the betterment of officiating. Factors used in the selection of this individual include, but are not limited to, the following:
-Respect for the Spirit and the Letter of the “Laws of the Games.”
-Integrity and ethics.
-Exhibits a “service above self” attitude.
-Has a motivating effect on others and/or strong community involvement.
-Excellence in officiating
-Years of service and positions held in Local, State and National Official’s organizations.
-Awards received from these organizations.
-A member in good standing of the Washinton Officials Association, if applicable.
Mark Polcyn — Boy’s Basketball
Retired contractor Mark Polcyn is being honored for his work in boys basketball, which he has helped organize and officiate since the early 1980s
Mark, a 1971 Lakes High School graduate, has a breadth of experience in sports that is hard to summarize At Lakes he was a varsity golfer, wrestler and tennis player In college at Washington State he played two years of tennis
In fact, his involvement in tennis has continued, including 10 years as a teaching pro (1970s–80s), a stint as a line judge for the Virginia Slims women’s pro tour in the late 1970s and playing in USTA competitive leagues continuously since 1987
While still in college he was a high school wrestling referee in Eastern Washington and an intramural official in football, basketball, water polo, volleyball and softball In the 1980s he umpired USSSA slowpitch softball games
That is also when he joined the Lakewood Athletic Officials Association (1983–98), which he administered from 1992–98 He also joined the Western Washington Basketball Officials Association, in which he remains active And, he joined the Tacoma Basketball Board, which helps oversee girls basketball
In the 1990s he began refereeing junior college basketball in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) and NCAA Division II and Division III basketball He also administered the recreational First Lakewood basketball league (1992–98)
This respected basketball official was pictured on the cover of Referee Magazine in 2009
Allen Estes — Girls’ Basketball
Allen Estes, whose work for girl’s basketball is being recognized, has been an all-around athlete and official since he was on the varsity in basketball and track & field at Mount Carmel High School in Los Angeles in the 1960s He was named the school’s most improved basketball player in 1966 and he was on the track varsity in both hurdles (180-yard low, 120-yard high), the long jump and the high jump
A fire battalion chief in the safety division for the Tacoma Fire Dept , Allen played freshman basketball at the University of San Francisco in 1968 He earned his degree from USF in 1971
After arriving in the South Puget Sound area, Allen became active in a range of organizations for officials
With South Sound Athletic Officials he was assigned to officiate boys football and baseball; in Pierce County he was an official for football, basketball and baseball; and in South King County he was a junior football official from 2000–05
He was involved in Fort Lewis athletics as a basketball coach (1983–85) and as an official for basketball, baseball, softball and flag football from 1991 to 2000
In girl’s basketball, Allen was involved in the Thurston Basketball Board from 1983–85, the Tacoma Basketball Board from 1986–98, and he has been a longtime Executive Board member of TBB and has twice had stints as its assigning secretary
He has been an official for the state girl’s basketball finals three times, including 1995, the last championship held in the Kingdome Allen also officiated girls finals in 2003 and 2006
The Washington Officials Association gave Allen its Distinguished Service Award in 2015
“I want to thank all those officials, past and present, whom I credit with expanding and mentoring me to be the best I could be, “Estes commented “Perhaps more important, thanks to the assigners and board members I have had the pleasure of working with ”
Allen lives in University Place and counts
EXCELLENCE IN OFFICIATING AWARD (continued)
among his friends Tom Jones of Olympia, Dennis Mullens of Spanaway, Jerry Woods of Lakewood, Clarence Dean of Tacoma, Mark Polcyn of Lakewood and John Young of Los Angeles He cites the late Gabriel Ramos as his mentor
Dwayne Johnson — Football
Dwayne Johnson came clear across the country to this beautiful part of the United States as part of his service with the U S Army Now, his role as a highly respected football official has him traveling throughout the western states and even nationally
Dwayne was born in New York City and joined the Army in 1987 after graduating a year earlier from William N Taft High School, where he played football for a couple of years After 9 ½ years in the service he decided to make Pierce County his home
Once here, Dwayne graduated from Bates Technical College and has been a software engineer for the past 21 years
His love for sports continued in his role as a youth basketball, football and baseball coach for 25 years In 2007, he turned his sports passion to officiating with the Western Washington Football Officials Association
Dwayne has worked as head linesman and referee during his football officiating career, including several playoff assignments He currently officiates college football in the NCAA Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference, and from 2015–17 has worked at least one college football playoff contest In 2017, he was assigned to a NAIA semifinal game played in Ft Wayne, Ind
Dwayne’s work on the gridiron continues to be noticed He was added to the Big Sky Conference developmental staff as a line judge in 2017 and this year was selected to the Mountain West Conference developmental staff as a referee
John O’keefe — Soccer
Soccer has been a central part of John O’Keefe’s life since the mid 1970s when he played for the Tacoma Wanderers youth club team, and it has remained that way in his role as a soccer official at every level
As a player, John had the distinction of competing for the Tacoma Kickers youth team that won a regional tournament in Las Vegas and placed third in the U S championships and fifth in the North American championships in 1976–77
During those same years (1976–79) he earned all-league honors at Bellarmine Prep before heading to California for a year as a member of the Fresno Pacific College program While in Fresno he coached girls soccer at Clovis Junior High School
2018 RECIPIENTS
Boys Basketball Mark Polcyn
Girls Basketball Allen Estes
Fastpitch Softball Graig Bolton
Football Dwayne Johnson
Soccer John O’keefe
Volleyball Debbie Beckwith
Wrestling Ton Maki
2017 RECIPIENTS
Baseball Tom Purchase
Boys Basketball Randy Black
Girls Basketball Alberto Perez
Fastpitch Softball Ken Laase
Football Dan Stivers
Soccer Dana Reinhart
Volleyball John Wohn
Wrestling Glen Kuhn
2016 RECIPIENTS
Baseball Phil Taylor
Boys Basketball Tony Schoeler
Girls Basketball Kevin Walk
Fastpitch Softball Bruce Ledbetter
Football Ron Anderson
Soccer Cy Palmer
Track Cathy Sanderson
Volleyball Lenny Llanos
Wrestling Randy Holberg
2015 RECIPIENTS
Baseball Dave Williams
Boys Basketball Ed Rounds
Girls Basketball Frank Manowski
Fastpitch Softball Ken Cheslik
Football Dennis Mullens
Track and Field Ed Viering
Volleyball Walt Gogan
Wrestling Daryl Eygabroad
2014 RECIPIENTS
Boys Basketball Larry Stevens
Girls Basketball Bill Weatherby
Fastpitch Softball Greg Farias
Football Clarence Leingang
Soccer Joe Tompkins
Volleyball Paul Jensen
Wrestling Hugh Birgenheier
2013 RECIPIENTS
Boys Baseball Rob Ruth
Boys Basketball Mark Stricherz
Girls Basketball Ross Parker
Fastpitch Softball John Everett
Football Rich Salstrom
Lacrosse Keith MacFie
Volleyball Tina Preece
Wrestling Bruce Osborne
2012 RECIPIENTS
Boys Basketball Lee Gregory
Girls Basketball Ron Rosi
Fastpitch Softball Bill Rudd
Football John Dively
Swimming/Track Dick Unrue
Volleyball Teri Wood
Wrestling Eric Davis
2011 RECIPIENTS
Boys Basketball Paul Guetle
Girls Basketball Mandel Scott
Fastpitch Softball Jack Stonestreet
Football Ken Wood
Volleyball Robyn Buck
Wrestling Brian Dunbar
2010 RECIPIENTS
Baseball Ron Shaw
Boys Basketball Steve Wusterbarth
Girls Basketball Wayne Agness
Fastpitch Softball Dick Hassan
Football Terry Keister
Volleyball Earl Powell
Wrestling Terry Beckstead
EXCELLENCE IN OFFICIATING AWARD (continued)
After leaving Fresno, John played at then-Fort Steilacoom Community College (now Pierce College) before finishing his collegiate career at the University of Portland While in Portland he was the Benson Tech boys freshman soccer head coach from 1981–82
His officiating career started in earnest in 1979, the same year he graduated from high school, and since then he has handled approximately 3,000 Washington Youth Soccer matches and another 1,000 or so Washington high school contests, including approximately 20 Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) playoff games
John also officiated at the highest level of men’s and women’s state competition from 1986–96 in addition to serving as a college soccer official from 1983–96
In nearly four full decades John has accumulated a lengthy highlight list from youth levels all the way to serving as referee for a Seattle Sounders versus Canadian Olympic team match in 1996 He was referee for the first community college women’s soccer final in the state of Washington and was in the middle for the
first-ever University of Washington men’s soccer NCAA playoff match
In addition to his on-field work, John served as Pierce County Soccer Referee Association president from 1992–94
Graig Bolton — Softball
Graig Bolton learned the skills needed to be an umpire while serving in the Marine Corps and has now spent most of his adult life officiating
A native Iowan, Bolton has umpired in 16 states and three countries since he started in 1982 He became an Amateur Softball Association umpire in 1984 in Ames, Iowa and has been an ASA member ever since He has been a member of the local Western Washington Umpires Association serving Tacoma-Pierce County since 1990
In addition to the ASA program, Bolton has also umpired USSSA, NSA, ISA (Seniors) slowpitch games and has umpired fastpitch softball at the high school and NCAA Division II and III levels His talent has resulted in selection to umpire 11 ASA national tournaments (four slowpitch and seven fastpitch) and three NSA national tournaments including one super World Series; seven USSSA Western World Series tournaments; and over 15 WIAA high school district softball tournaments Bolton has also umpired in 11 high school state softball tournaments in all classifications He was the home plate umpire for two 4A state championship games, one 2A state tittle and two other state championship
games on the bases
He has also held leadership positions in the WWUA including UIC (Umpire-in-Chief) for three years and the role of President of the WWUA for the 2017–18 season When the softball season is done, he moves indoors Bolton has been a high school volleyball referee for 21 years with the Tacoma-Pierce County Volleyball Officials Board
Debbie Beckwith — Volleyball
If you attend a high-stakes college volleyball match, chances are pretty good that Debbie Beckwith will be there with a whistle, applying her 36-plus years of experience in making correct call after correct call
Her work as a volleyball official has earned her several honors, including the Washington Officials Association Meritorious Service Award for Officials in Volleyball in 2012 and the Wayne Gardner Service Award from the Tacoma-Pierce County Volleyball Officials Board
Debbie grew up in Pierce County and graduated from Washington High School, where she was the most valuable player in volleyball and softball and the Senior Athlete of the Year in 1981 She continued her outstanding athletic career at Pierce College where she was second team all-league in volleyball and twice all-state and first team all-league in softball A versatile athlete, Debbie earned all-star honors at both catcher and third base in helping lead Pierce
EXCELLENCE IN OFFICIATING AWARD (continued)
College to NWAACC (now NWAC) championship and runner-up status in successive seasons
Debbie was inducted into the Pierce College Hall of Fame in 2009 as a member of the first women’s team to win a NWAC title, and a year later was inducted with her teammates into the NWAC Hall of Fame
Involvement in athletics didn’t end for Debbie after she wrapped up her Pierce College career
She officiated high school volleyball in Pierce, Thurston and King counties for 10 years and
has worked at the college level for a total of 34 She has officiated NWAC, NCAA Division III Northwest Conference, NAIA Cascade Conference and NCAA Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball matches during her career
In addition to officiating, Debbie was the Bonney Lake High School building athletic coordinator for three years
Tom Maki —
Wrestling
Tom Maki has been a wrestling official for 25 years after a competitive wrestling career in high school at Lakes and in college at Highline in the 1970s
Tom placed third in state while at Lakes, from which he graduated in 1973
Since then he has worked as an official at 24 sub regional tournaments, 21 regionals and four state tournaments Most recently he spent two years as an evaluator of officials at the Mat Classic state tournament at the Tacoma Dome
He is active in refereeing association circles, spending 5 1/2 years on the executive board
and becoming an integral part of training and mentoring new officials
Tom is widely respected by fellow officials, coaches and athletes For example, his selection to evaluate officials at Mat Classic was overwhelmingly approved by those he would be evaluating
One official commented, “Tom Maki is an excellent official He’s been there He knows what he’s talking about He will tell it straight and he will be unbiased and fair I’m glad he is here ”
On the side, Maki is a sales representative for Manke Lumber He also finds time to referee competitions in kids leagues, middle schools and high schools for the Western Washington Wrestling Officials Association
CONGRATS TO DEBBIE BECKWITH
We appreciate your over 30 years of dedication to the sport of volleyball as a valued referee and line judge for the Tacoma-Pierce County Volleyball Officials Board. Your professionalism and willingness to mentor new officials is greatly appreciated. www.tpcvob.com
The Frosty Westering Excellence In Coaching Award
The Frosty Westering Excellence In Coaching Award
This award was established to honor a legendary coach, Frosty Westering, and to inspire and recognize those who follow in his footsteps. Frosty emphasized a double-win theme: victory on the scoreboard and the satisfaction of playing to one’s personal potential. He instilled a love of teamwork and competition, and stressed “service above self.” For 40 years his players responded by portraying excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The award is presented to a local coach in recognition of their commitment to excellence and devotion to the personal growth of their players.
Sam Ring — Boy’s Track & Field & Cross Country, Wilson High School
By Gary Brooks
Fifty years after he was a league champion two-miler at Mount Tahoma High School, Sam Ring was named the Pierce County League cross country coach of the year in 2017 The combination of recent success and exceptional longevity on the local distance running scene, are part of the reason Ring is being recognized with the Frosty Westering Award for Excellence in Coaching
Ring has influenced the lives of hundreds of student athletes at the high school and college level in the Tacoma area
Born in Tacoma in 1948, Ring was a standout runner at Mount Tahoma and then had his greatest individual success during his collegiate years at Central Washington University
While competing for the Wildcats, he won eight league and regional championships in cross country and track & field He set three CWU records Sam qualified for seven national meets and earned NAIA All-America honors in 1968 and 1969 While still at Central, he participated in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the 1968 Olympic Trials
Ring continued to compete following his graduation in 1970 and won the first Sound to Narrows race in 1973 He began his teaching and coaching career at Mason Junior High in 1970 He started the cross country program at the school that attracted large numbers of kids to running for the first time
As Bellarmine Prep cross country coach from 1976–80, Ring produced girls teams that won three consecutive state championships One of his boys teams finished third in state The Washington state cross country Coach of the Year in 1978, Ring led Bellarmine to a total of nine league championships
During the spring months Ring helped Jim Daulley guide the Wilson High boys track team to four state titles, then took over in 1982 and led the Rams to two more state championships and four league crowns In 1982 he coached Darrell Robinson, who ran 44 69 in the 400 meters to set the national high school record, also at the time the world junior record
COACHING IN EXCELLENCE
2018
In 1986, Ring started a 15-year run at the University of Puget Sound where the women’s cross country teams won national championships four consecutive years from 1992 to 1995 and three more placed in the top three A nine-time regional cross country coach of the year and the 1993 NAIA Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year, Ring coached 31 cross country AllAmericans, 36 track All-Americans, and four individual event national champions
RECIPIENTS
2016
2015
2014
He returned to Wilson High in 2001 as the boys cross country and track coach
Ring was inducted in the Washington State Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in January 2013 and the University of Puget Sound Hall of Fame in 2006 He is also a member of the TacomaPierce County Sports Hall of Fame
The Frosty Westering Excellence In Coaching Award (continued)
Chris Gibson— Girls’ Basketball, White River High School
By Nick Dawson
His own personal mantra, “You are only as good as your 12th player feels about you,” has served Chris Gibson and the many young athletes he has coached well throughout his outstanding multi-decade coaching career in high school athletics
Gibson has compiled a brilliant 714 winning percentage with 537 wins and 215 losses throughout his prep girls basketball coaching career, including a 104-87 record in eight seasons at Franklin Pierce High School and a 433128 mark in 21 years at White River High School
Along the way were nine West Central District championships spanning 1997 through 2018, 20 state tournament appearances netting seven trophies, and 11 undefeated records among 18 league championships
His personal accolades across those nearly three full decades of coaching is staggering: 16-time league coach of the year, News Tribune Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2011, and WSCA All-State Game coach in 2007 and again in 2017
Gibson lettered in basketball and baseball at Puyallup High School, from where he graduated in 1982, and attended Green River Community College prior to being hired at Boeing in 1984
His coaching career started, humbly enough, helping his father coach his sister’s softball team in 1983, and two years later he started “The Sting” select softball program In 1990, Gibson led the team to the ASA national championship
Gibson caught the eye of then Franklin Pierce High School athletic director Jim Meyerhoff while Chris and The Sting practiced at the FPHS field Meyerhoff, called by Gibson an “instrumental mentor and strong influence” on his career as a coach and athletic director, hired the erstwhile young coach to lead the school’s girls’ basketball program prior to the 1989-90 season Setting aside his select softball coaching career, Gibson turned his focus into building an outstanding girls basketball program at the school He did just that, leading the Cardinals to two state tournament appearances and a 1997 West Central District title Gibson also found time to coach the softball team for three seasons, winning a state championship in 1992 and finishing fifth in 1993
Meyerhoff, who had moved on to become athletic director at White River High School, hired Gibson to be the girls’ basketball coach and to work in the White River Community Activities program prior to the 1997-98 academic year Chris worked at that program until he was hired as the White River Athletic Director in 2009, and he has been in that position ever since then
Chris and his wife, Shelly, are proud parents to Nolan, a journeyman sheet metal welder and himself a former basketball player at White River, and Kailyn, who works in the field of pathology at Tacoma General Hospital Gibson credits Shelly (“the best scorekeeper in the business”) for being unselfish and allowing him to pursue his passion of coaching
“This outstanding honor is a testament to the many very talented and dedicated young ladies who have come through our program,” Gibson says “I will be forever grateful to my assistant coaches and the countless parents and community members who have supported our program for so long I will cherish the lifelong friendships and the many relationships that have been made with so many while involved in the game of basketball ”
There is NOTHING like THE NET!
Chris Gibson compiled a a 104–87 record in eight seasons coaching the Franklin Pierce High School Cardinals
2014 White River Hornets West Central District 2A Champions
Mats In Tacoma call 252-383-2636 Fax 253-383-1061 In Western Washington Call 1-800-232-1012
The First Family of Sports Award
The First Family of Sports Award recognizes the contributions of parents, foster parents or guardians who instill and help maintain athletes’ successes.
From the “Hi Mom” TV wave at a sports event to more formal acknowledgement of family interest in and encouragement of sports from generation to generation, athletic achievement, whether in team or individual sports, is fostered by and also can foster family life.
The First Family Of Sports Award
The Barsh Family
By Todd Milles
Denise (Dillingham) Barsh never feared one bit having a large family on her own Growing up, she had 11 siblings, including eight brothers
So when close friends would razz her about having seven splashy, athletic, tough-minded sons over a 16-year span, her comeback response was divine
“It was a God thing,” she said, with laughter in her voice “I kept telling people, they will make out a positive role in society ”
As athletes, the Barsh boys — Joshual, RJay, Isaiah, Caleb, Joseph, Isaac and Josiah — could easily fill out an NBA starting five, or half an NFL offense As people, they have developed into diverse community leaders, especially in the coaching profession
“Everything in our family was about synergy, and bringing everyone together to find that common ground,” Isaac said “That often meant making decisions of sacrifice in support of the whole team ”
Israel Prince Barsh is the patriarch He grew up in Georgia, and was a senior starting forward on LaGrange High School’s 1977 state boys basketball championship team He also played football
Israel spent a decade in the U S Army, and was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord when he first met Denise, a former dance-team standout and 1973 Wilson High School graduate, at New Jerusalem Church of God in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood
FIRST FAMILY OF SPORTS AWARD RECIPIENTS
2018 The Barsh Family—Israel, Denise, Joshuael, R-Jay, Isaiah, Caleb, Joseph, Isaac and Josiah
2017 The Beauchene Family—Paul, Janice, Angie, Suzanne, Renee and Lisa
2016 The Mullen Family—Mike, Rosanne, Pat, Molly and Nick
2015 The Carrigan Family—Paul, Jean, Andy, Mike, Casey, Tim and Clancy
2014 The Shelton Family—Al, Shari, Aaron, Aubrey, Ben, Austin, Karina and Kaleb
2013 The Clark Family—Bob, Pat, Jackie, Denise, Robyn, Lori and Michele
2012 The Medved Family—Bob, Shirley, Ron, Judy, John, Susie, Michael, Pat, Tom, Tim, Karen, Kevin, Jim and Jerry
2011 The Tingstad Family—Ed, Darlene, David, Mark and Ed
2010 The Huard Family—Mike, Peggy, Damon, Brock and Luke
2009 The Westering Family—Frosty, Donna, Holly, Sue, Brad, Scott and Stacey
2008 The Hannula Family—Dick, Sylvia, Dan, Dave, Dick and Debby
2007 The Names Family—Scott, Sis, Tom, Clint, and Paula
2006 The Williams Family—Joe, Cleo, Joe, Jerry, Dave, Susan, John, Jordan, and Jennifer.
They immediately hit if off
And after a few short months, they went from dating to married
Since Israel was on the fast track to becoming a church pastor, the couple moved to Pullman so he could finish up an undergraduate degree in sociology at Washington State University
There, he met standout WSU guard Aaron Haskins, a Mount Tahoma High School
Israel Barsh
L. to R.: Isaiah, Joseph, Josh, Israel (Dad), R-Jay, Josiah, Caleb and Isaac.
The First Family Of Sports Award (continued)
graduate who led the Cougars to a pair of NCAA Division I men’s tournament berths
By the time Israel and Denise arrived at the college in 1985, Haskins was past his playing days, instead serving as a WSU admissions counselor and minority recruiter Israel teamed up with Haskins as mentors for football and basketball players
Israel’s young sons, Josh, RJay, Isaiah and Caleb, would often accompany him at oncampus activities
“We were always in the gym, and went to a bunch of games,” RJay said “We still have pictures of us in our WSU gear ”
Israel graduated from Bishop Hardy Seminary School in 1992, and was ordained as a Christian international bishop
As his family grew, Isaiah and Denise set down rigid guidelines for their sons’ upbringing
“For my boys, it was about two things—the Bible and the ball,” Israel said
Being a pastor, Israel emphasized life principles with his sons, mainly discipline and hard work He constantly stressed concentrating on academics Denise always spoke to teamwork and character, and was the one who constantly offered positive encouragement, especially amid tough times
“One brother represents all of us,” RJay said “We needed to protect our name ”
That name began cropping up all over town in youth and AAU basketball circles And when the organized games were finished, the brotherly court wars — whether they were held in the driveway of Northwest Academy of Excellence (founded by Israel) in Tacoma, or in the neighborhood cul de sac in Puyallup
“I put a (basketball) goal outside, and they went crazy,” Israel said “It was like, ‘Man, you could not park a car near them ”
As the oldest, Josh was the one who really set a competitive tone He was fierce and firm, but fair
“It was physical, and we got after it,” RJay said “But with a few little brothers, Josh would always play with a handicap, like playing a game all left-handed, or just shooting
jumpers He wanted you to do OK
On the court, Josh was everything a coach could want He put the team first He was defensiveoriented And he did the little things to help win games
The all-SPSL South guard from Puyallup High School eventually led Tacoma CC to the NWAC men’s title in 2002, and was named the tournament’s most valuable player After that, he went on to start two seasons at Montana State in Bozeman
Off the court, Josh never shied away from a teaching moment with any of his younger brothers He was, by all accounts, the exemplary role model
“Josh led by example He walked the walk,” said John Wetterauer, the former boys basketball coach at Puyallup High School “And he was the glue…His hard work and dedication is what they saw, and how much to put into it to
BARSH FAMILY—R J Barsh (standing) and brothers in R-Jay’s room Top bunk: Josh, Josiah and Isaac Bottom row: Joseph, Isaiah and Caleb Peter Haley/THE NEWS TRIBUNE, January 8, 2001.
Denise Barsh
The First Family Of Sports Award (continued)
get something out of it ”
Josh’s playing success certainly carried down All six of his younger brothers played at least one varsity sport in high school All of them won league titles And only one of them— Joseph — did not play sports in college
Two years behind Josh, RJay won an SPSL South title at Puyallup in 1991, and joined his brother to help Tacoma CC win the NWAC crown He went on to play two more seasons at the Univer-
sity of Puget Sound
Isaiah, a 2004 Puyallup graduate, opted to play football He was a three-time, all-SPSL South performer, and was twice picked as an all-state linebacker
And while at Pima Junior College, he was a first-team JUCO All-American in 2004, and ended up at his father’s alma mater — WSU He later had a couple of NFL tryouts, including one with the Seattle Seahawks
If there was ever a peacemaker in the family, it was Caleb, who was the family’s first multiple-sport standout He was part Puyallup’s SPSL South championship teams in basketball (2005) and football (2005–06), and went on to Western Oregon University as a defensive back
were part of Lincoln’s longstanding run atop the Narrows League boys basketball standings Isaac was the doeverything undersized post player while Josiah — the only left-hander in the family — flashed more scoring skill than any of his brothers, capturing co-league MVP honors in 2015
Both Isaac and Josiah also were part of something unique, too — playing college basketball for RJay, who is currently the head coach at NAIA’s Southeastern University in Florida Josiah will be a senior on the team in 2018–19
Much like Caleb, Joseph was more of a cerebral multi-sport athlete, except he played football and basketball at Bellarmine Prep before going off to Gonzaga University to pursue an undergraduate degree in sports management
And the two youngest siblings, Isaac and Josiah,
“One of my favorite moments was that I got to call my mom to tell her I offered my youngest brothers a scholarship,” RJay said And now, the oldest five Barsh brothers are either coaching or have been involved in athletic development
RJay is the most accomplished coach, having been part been part of conference championships at every level, from high school (Lincoln was Narrows League champion in 2009), to
R-Jay coaching at Southeastern University in Florida
Caleb played defensive back for Western Oregon
Caleb reaches out to snare Humboldt Lumberjacks running back Isaac Barsh
The First Family Of Sports Award (continued)
junior college (Tacoma CC won four consecutive NWAC West titles from 2009–2012; NWAC title in 2012) as an assistant coach, to a fouryear university as Southeastern’s coach (Sun Conference champions last season; NAIA final four team in 2014)
After years as an assistant at Life Christian Academy and UPS, Josh was named the new
varsity boys basketball coach at Foss High School last spring
Joseph is currently an assistant boys basketball coach at Williston High School in North Dakota
IF INTERESTED CONTACT:
Baseball Sylvester Collins
After his dreams of playing in the NFL were over, Isaiah coached in the Independent Youth Football League (IYFL) from 2011–13, and is now a personal trainer Caleb is an athletic trainer, focusing on mental-skills development There seems to be a long-lasting motto for this remarkable set of brothers: Play hard and always give back to whatever team you are a part of
Just like mom predicted
Sports Officials Wanted For Youth And Adult Recreation League And Interscholastic Athletic Games. Training Provided. Earn Money And Provide A Much Needed Service To The Youth Of The Tacoma-Pierce County Community.
206-496-8230 pcua2013@gmail.com @PierceCountyUmpires (Facebook)
Boy’s Basketball Steve Brown 253-405-6977 wwboa@me.com Facebook.com/wwboa
Girl’s Basketball Al Perez 253-223-5800 al.perez2@netzero.net http://tbbofficials.com
Football Jan Wolcott 253-826-2460 jswol@comcast.net www.wwfoa.com
Lacrosse Keith MacFie 253-229-7364 linesref53@gmail.com
Soccer Scott Webster 253-792-9103 scottwebster1982@comcast.com
Softball Ken Laase 253-380-1840 kenlaase@yahoo.com
Track & Field Cathy Sanderson 253-495-2886 crssped@net-venture.com
Volleyball Marc Blau 253-677-2872 mhblau@comcast.net www.tpcvob.com
Water Polo Marvel Shoen 206-390-2945 WApoloRefs@msn.com
Wrestling Daryl Eygabroad 253-222-6721 deygabroad@gmail.com
NOTE: Officiating can be a great part-time job for high school and college students as many assignments are in the afternoon. With proper training, you can officiate two afternoons a week and earn $100. Don’t wait—call us now!!
Josiah Barsh
L. to R.: Isaac, Josh, Josiah and R-Jay.
The Golden Whistle Award
The Golen Whistle Award was established to honor 50 years of service as a football official representing the Western Washington Football Official’s Association. The award recognizes an individual who has served the “football community” and has experienced a successful officiating career.
The Golden Whistle Award
Jack Stonestreet
By Arnold Lytle
When Jack Stonestreet’s brief career as a minor league baseball pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization ended, his umpiring career began in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas at the NBC World Series tournament for semi-pro baseball That was 1956 More than half a century later, he was still officiating sporting events and most of his involvement eventually came in Pierce County For his lengthy service and contributions to amateur sports in Pierce County, he is this year’s recipient of the Golden Whistle Award
Stonestreet was born in 1931, became an all-state multi-sport athlete at Wichita North High School and went to college at the University of Kansas His KU batterymate on the baseball
team at one point was Dean Smith who went on to become the legendary basketball coach at the University of North Carolina
After the minor league baseball stint (which was wrapped around time in the U S Air Force and included pitching to Hank Aaron), “Stoney” began working for Travelers Insurance and was placed in Seattle He joined the Washington Officials Association in 1963 and refereed Pac-8 basketball for several years before focusing more on local small college football and basketball for 20 years He was president of the Western Washington Football Officials Association for two years He also officiated high school football, basketball, softball and volleyball He worked two state championship football and basketball games and five state high school slowpitch championships He was an official in the first football and basketball games played in the Tacoma Dome in the early 1980s
Stonestreet estimates he worked close to 10,000 games over nearly 60 years That’s why many people in Pierce County recognize him and many outside of his family call him “Grandpa Jack ” His officiating influence didn’t stop in Pierce County however From 1978–80 he even went to Australia and New Zealand to give basketball officiating clinics In 2005, he was inducted into the Tacoma Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame He stopped basketball officiating in 2013 and football in 2014
Daryl Van Dinter
By Bill Schey
Officials who work football and basketball games with Daryl Van Dinter know him as a traveling man Not only has he refereed high school and college games in a number of places — Salem, Portland and The Dalles in Oregon and Tacoma, Seattle and Longview in Washington, to name a few — but he has moved around in other ways as well During a 29-year stint with the Western Washington Football Officials Association, from 1987 to 2016, Van Dinter and his wife took a year off to travel around the country in their motor home Then after the 2015 football season in Tacoma, the couple got the itch again and hit the road for nearly two more years in their RV
But the Kelso, Wash , native didn’t pack away his whistle for long “I did miss officiating in 2016,” Van Dinter says, “but we returned to the Northwest in August of 2017 and stayed at an RV park near McMinnville, Ore , so I could again officiate out of the Salem Football Officials Association during the 2017 season ” Then it was back to his home area of Longview where he spent the 2018 fall season — his 54th season as a referee — officiating with the Lower Columbia Football Association, and more than qualifying him to receive the Golden Whistle Award for 50 years of service as an official
Over the years, Van Dinter, a retired sales manager, worked many small college football games, refereed a state high school basketball championship game in Oregon, several playoff games in Washington and “officiated as a referee, back judge and line judge at numerous Oregon state and Washington state playoff, semifinal and championship football games ”
For Van Dinter, two highlights stand out: 1) in 2008, working out of Tacoma, he officiated a football game with Bill Cheatley of Longview, a man he had last worked with in 1970, a 38-year gap; and 2) receiving the Golden Whistle Award alongside a Tacoma legend “It will be especially special to be receiving the award at the same time as Jack Stonestreet,” he says “I do not know of anyone who enjoyed officiating sports as much as Jack ”
Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award
The Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who captures the true passion for athletics. This passion can be demonstrated through participation, promotion and organization.
Athletics brings out the best of us as individuals as well as collectively as a team. It challenges us both physically and mentally. It brings out our best in moments when our best is required. This competitive spirit shows itself in a variety of ways over the course of a lifetime. It is not about winning but about competing. It is about sustainability and perseverance. It is about bringing out the best in yourself and others, through ability, effort and attitude.
When one does that, it leaves a legacy, a road map of courage, for others to follow.
This award recognizes all of the above and the Tacoma Athletic Commission is proud to honor Angie Eichholtz as the 2017 recipient of the Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award.
2018 Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award — Tom Mustin
By Arnold Lytle
What does it take to blaze a trail of competitiveness, selflessness and courage for others to follow?
What does it take to ignite a competitive spirit and keep that flame alive for a lifetime?
What does it take to earn recognition for a lifetime of sports participation, promotion and organization?
Tacoma Boxing Club coach Tom Mustin could tell you He’s too humble to brag about himself, but he’s been doing everything for boxing for nearly 45 years while coaching at TBC
We recognize him today as the 2018 Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award winner because he embodies an enduring passion for athletics; because he has spent decades coaching and shaping the character of young athletes
Boxing wasn’t always Tom’s primary interest The oldest child in a large family, he came out of Stadium High School in 1964 wanting to make his mother proud of him
He told former Tacoma News Tribune columnist John McGrath in 2016, when he was inducted into the Tacoma/Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame shortly after the death of his mother, Hildred, that, “One of the reasons I became a boxing coach is to make her proud of me I think she was ”
Mustin coached several youth sports as a young adult He coached Pop Warner-level football, including a team that won the county junior high championship and became the core of the 1975 Foss High School football state champions He coached tailback Vince Coby, defensive lineman Fletcher Jenkins and linebacker Ken Driscoll, all of whom starred for the Washington Huskies in the late 1970s to early 1980s All were part of the Huskies’ 1981 Rose Bowl victory over Iowa
He coached Pee Wee-level basketball He even dabbled in Little League-level baseball
He found his passion when he started coaching at Tacoma Boxing Club in 1974 Why?
“Well (in other sports), you started kids off coaching, then they would go off and win for others,” Mustin said in a recent interview “In boxing, you can coach kids as far as they can go, all the way to national and world championships ”
In boxing Mustin found a place to excel In 1983, he led a boxing squad at the Junior World Championships
In 1989, he coached in the World Boxing Championships in Moscow The following year he was in charge of the U S Boxing team at the Seattle Goodwill Games The boxing competition was held in Tacoma
He was an alternate coach for the U S Olympic boxing team in both 1992 (Barcelona) and 1996 (Atlanta)
PAST RECIPIENTS
2018 Tom Mustin
2017 Angie Eichholtz
2016 Dick Hannula
2015 Stan Naccarato & Ken Still
2014 Bob Robertson
2013 Joe Stortini
2012 Ruggles Larson
2018 Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award (continued)
The cherry on top was when he was the head coach of the U S Olympic team at the 2000 Games in Sydney, where his team won four medals, two of them silver
In between he held positions of responsibility in multiple competitions, including head coach of the U S team at the 1999 World Championships in Houston The U S team won four gold medals and for the first time was ranked No 1 in the world
Now 72 years old, Mustin is just back from leading a contingent of 16 boxers to the Junior Olympic nationals in Mesquite, Nevada He was helped by three assistant coaches plus two chaperones for the two girls on the team
Girls? Yes, there have been changes over the years for Mustin and the Tacoma Boxing Club Title IX started opening the doors of top-level athletics to more women in the 1970s The national sanctioning body, USA Boxing, faced a court order and the threat of $500 fines daily if it didn’t admit females So, rules were written and the girls start boxing — not against the boys, but alongside the boys
“At first I didn’t know how to coach the girls,” Mustin said “But it came to me that you have to be as tough on the girls as you are with the boys If you are soft with the girls, they’ll get hurt (in the ring) ”
Mustin’s decades of coaching show his durability, while his world-level experience shows his passion and competitive spirit Mustin thinks globally and acts locally
For instance, in 2016 Tacoma Boxing Club was faced with eviction from its longtime base at the Al Davies Boys & Girls Club Did Coach Mustin throw in the towel?
Of course not While the Al Davies gym was transformed into a basketball court — with help from a $50,000 grant, backers thought the change would get more children involved in athletics — Mustin set about finding a new place for a new generation of young athletes to get their introduction to boxing TBC found its new home in the former
gym of the old Gray Middle School on the grounds of Edison Elementary in South Tacoma
There, Mustin greets about 100 children each year who are interested in learning what it takes to be a competitive boxer
“Some kids are in there because their parents don’t want them sitting around the house (playing video games),” Mustin said
Each young athlete is required to pay $75 in dues to join USA Boxing They also must pay gym dues of $200
In exchange, they get access to the gym starting at 5:30 p m every Monday through Thursday The routine?
Stretching and cardio exercise Then laps, sometimes sprints, then rope jumping From there, they move on to 8 1/2-minute drills each on the speed bag and the power bag All before they lace up the gloves and get in the ring
That kind of rigor tends to thin the ranks of prospects Those who stick with it earn their rewards in more than medals and trophies
“I’ve had kids come back from college and tell me that boxing was the reason they could learn to study and do the work (to earn a degree),” Mustin said If coaching dozens of young athletes isn’t enough, Mustin is a vice president of the Pacific Northwest Association of USA Boxing In that role he helps drill people twice a year on what it takes to become a certified coach or boxing official under the USA Boxing banner He is also instrumental in keeping up the local tradition of Golden Gloves boxing every year
So, how did this child of the South find his way to the Pacific Northwest?
His oldest uncle got out of the service at the end of World War II at Fort Lewis and found a place to put down roots in the Tacoma area The uncle was especially fond of his younger sister, Mustin’s mom, and urged her to move to the Northwest
“The (Mustin family moved the) same way many African-Americans found their way out of the South,” Tom said While many traveled up the Mississippi to Chicago, Detroit and other urban centers, the Mustins headed west
Though Tom was a tyke under 5, he vividly recalls how his family moved They traveled by car, alternately driving through dusty, burning deserts followed by stretches in windy, freezing mountains
His maternal grandfather made his way to the Tacoma area, too, and soon the family was finding a new way of life in a new place
Tom’s father also worked locally with Tom teaching children how to box He had roots in Mississippi and
Alabama, and when he returned to the South, he coached boxing there, too
Mustin became a coach at TBC about the same time he started a 40-year career at The News Tribune as a production manager But he didn’t always get recognition from the very newspaper where he worked
He credits a couple of publishers for their assistance Bill Honeysett helped Mustin get the news coverage TBC deserved in the 1980s Betsy Brenner made sure Mustin had the time and resources he needed to coach in the 1999 world championships and the 2000 Olympic Games In return Brenner got a 10-gallon cowboy hat and a USA Boxing shirt signed by each member of the world’s top-ranked team
While helping young athletes become productive citizens, Mustin has earned his share of professional and civic awards He received the Tacoma Rotary’s Community Service Award in 1994 He had a role in the first induction ceremony in 2002 when the Northwest Boxing Hall of Fame was established in Couer d’Alene, Idaho He was inducted into the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame in 2016
And now he has a McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award to add to his collection Congratulations, Tom
~Bob Young
Isaac Schaefer Ronda Haase Craig Tuttle TJ Tuttle
2018 Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete of the Year Award Recipients
Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete of the
Year Award
The Dick Hannula Award is given to the top male and female amateur athletes in or from Tacoma-Pierce County for the past year. Hannula, an internationally-known coach and a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, also led his Wilson boys swim teams to 24 straight state titles, and coached numerous worldclass swimmers such as Kaye Hall-Greff, Janet Buchan Elway, Barbara Mitchell, Chuck Richards, Dick, David and Dan Hannula, Miriam Smith, and Sarah Rudolph.
2018 Tacoma-Pierce County Male Amateur Athlete of the Year — Michael Gretler, Bonney Lake
By Kevin Manning
Recognizing contributions he made as a leader of the College World Series champion Oregon State Beavers, Michael Gretler is the Dick Hannula Male Amateur Athlete of the Year for the 2017—18 season
Gretler, a 2014 Bonney Lake High School grad, completed his senior college season in grand style helping the Beavers win six consecutive elimination games on the way to defeating Arkansas for the NCAA College World Series title in Omaha in June
Long-time Oregon State coach Pat Casey called Gretler the “heart and soul of Beavers baseball ”
“It was the best decision of my life going to Oregon State and playing for coach Casey, coach (Nate) Yeskie, coach (Pat) Bailey and coach (Andy) Jenkins,” Gretler said “Everyone there, from the support staff the second you show up — it was everything I could have dreamed it would be ”
The Beavers spent much of Gretler’s junior and senior seasons ranked No 1 in the nation as he started mainly at third base Gretler finished his career with the Beavers with a 285 batting average, 100 RBIs, 91 runs scored and 13 home runs
His performance and leadership qualities led to Gretler being selected in the Major League Baseball draft three times He was the 10th-round pick of the Pittsburg Pirates in the 2018 draft He signed quickly and had a strong season for the Class A West Virginia Black Bears in the New York-Penn League Gretler batted 274 average, with 2 home runs and 30 RBI in 164 at bats He mostly started at third base but also played second, shortstop and catcher He was named a NY-Penn League mid-season All-Star
“Anything that he accomplishes, I’m not surprised anymore It wouldn’t surprise me one bit,” his high school baseball coach Mike Olson said
What Pittsburgh saw in Gretler is what Oregon State discovered It was what his family — parents Nancy and Jim and his younger brother Matthew (also headed to OSU) — already knew about Michael Gretler: his character and makeup is off the charts
“I watched him play shortstop and I thought he’s pretty good,” Nancy Gretler said “He reminds me a lot of my dad (Jim Braun) Kind of charismatic, you know, good at sports and everybody likes him He’s just that likeable guy ”
Even former rivals, as with Grant Koch who played for Arkansas, the team Gretler helped Oregon State defeat in the championship, couldn’t help but like Gretler after the two roomed together while they played together in West Virginia
“And he’s a hard worker,” Nancy Gretler said “So driven — sometimes I would think don’t push yourself so hard, but that’s what I think made him so good Sometimes I thought doesn’t he need a break, but no, no, he was doing what he loved to do ”
That’s the first thing that stood out to Olson when he first met Gretler as a seventh-grader Back then, at that age, kids are still trying to figure out what it takes to be a young adult, let alone make it in the baseball world
“From the first time I met him, I could see there was something about him,” Olson said “He told me he wanted to get a college scholarship and win the College World Series, and many kids say the same thing but don’t realize how hard it is
Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete Of The Year Award (continued)
and how much work it takes to get to college, let alone on a championship caliber team But with the way he worked, always working on improving himself, I knew he would get there He would have a chance ”
Rarely has he left people wishing for more He has made an impression on a lot of people with special moments
“It’s been fun,” Jim Gretler said ”He’s devoted a lot of time and energy to be the best that he can be as a player All the credit and work is certainly up to him He’s done it all ”
Teammates gravitate toward him and have recognized him for being an inspiring athlete and person
If you talk to Michael Gretler, the first thing he mentions is others who have helped
Dick Hannula
Amateur Athlete of the Year Award Recipients
2018 Margaux Arnston Annie Wright HS/Claremont McKenna
Michael Gretler Bonney Lake HS/Oregon State
2017 Kate Landau Tri-Valley HS (NY)/Georgetown University
Sefo Liufau Bellarmine Prep/University of Colorado
2016 Jenna Mullen Emerald Ridge HS/Portland State University
Morgan Weaver Curtis HS/Washington State University
Josh Garnett Puyallup HS/Stanford University
2015 DaVonte Lacy Curtis HS/Washington State University
2015 Whitney Conder Puyallup HS/Northern Michigan University
2014 Scott Crichton Foss HS/Oregon State University
2014 Courtney Schwan Bellarmine Prep HS/University of Washington
2013 Andrea Geubelle Curtis HS/University of Kansas
2013 Taylor Meeks Orting HS/Oregon State University
2012 Andrea Geubelle Curtis HS/University of Kansas
2012 Austin Seferian-Jenkins Gig Harbor HS/University of Washington
2012 Kaleb Shelton-Johnson Lincoln HS/University of Puget Sound
2011 Alex Montgomery Lincoln HS/George Tech University
2011 Andrew Putnam Life Christian Academy HS/Pepperdine University
2010 Brie Felnagle Bellarmine Prep HS/University of North Carolina
2010 Isaiah Thomas Curtis HS/ University of Washington
2009 Melanie Roach 2008 Summer Olympic Games
2009 Johnny Spevak Puyallup HS/Central Washington University
2008 Christal Morrison Puyallup HS/University of Washington
2008 Brandon Gibson Rogers HS/ Washington State University
2007 Megan Quann Jendrick Emerald Ridge HS/Pacific Lutheran University
2007 Kellen Harkness Cascade Christian HS/Ohio State University
2006 Christal Morrison Puyallup HS/University of Washington
2006 Joe Rubin Foss HS/Portland State University
2005 Ryan Moore Cascade Christian HS/University of Nevada at Las Vegas
2004 Reggie Williams Lakes HS/University of Washington
2003 Ryan Moore Cascade Christian HS/University of Nevada at Las Vegas
2002 Dana Boyle University of Puget Sound
2001 Chad Johnson Rogers HS/Pacific Lutheran University
2000 Megan Quann Emerald Ridge HS/Pacific Lutheran University
1999 Kirk White Curtis HS/Boise State
1996 Karl Lerum Pacific Lutheran University
1997 Shannon Forslund Mt. Tahoma HS
1996 Dusty Brett Bellarmine Prep HS
1995 Brock Huard Puyallup HS/University of Washington
1994 Marc Weekly Rogers HS/Pacific Lutheran University
1993 Kate Starbird Lakes HS/Stanford University
1992 Sonya Olejar Bellarmine Prep HS/Stanford University
1991 Damon Huard Puyallup HS/University of Washington
1990 Andy Maris White River HS
1989 Sonya Brandt Pacific Lutheran University
1988 Mike Oliphant University of Puget Sound
him along the way Getting him to open up about himself can be difficult
But ask him about growing up in Bonney Lake or playing for the Panthers baseball team — or even who in the area that he’s played with or against and where they are at and what they’re doing, and he’s got a lot to say
Just not about himself Character — real, true, honest integrity from a man who knows where he’s come from and where he wants to go in his life
After winning the College World Series with Oregon State, Gretler raced to the stands to be with his family, past coaches, teachers and his girlfriend Emily Fahsel, giving them all hugs and kisses, celebrating his goal from back in 7th grade There was a lot of support from Bonney Lake in the stands in Omaha Gretler acknowledges the origins of his baseball success and his heart is forever in his home of Bonney Lake
“Growing up in the time I did at Bonney Lake, even younger, we had an unbelievable group of guys,” he added “We still keep in contact — a core group of guys, I think that it was just special Just growing up, you follow guys that you meet in elementary school, middle school and high school — it was a great place to grow up and it still is ”
“Being around Matthew who’s four years younger and all his friends — I always wanted to be a positive role-model, someone
they could look up to,” Gretler said “You know, try to do things the right way both on and off the field I think that’s huge ”
He is a Panther He is a Beaver Perhaps one day he’ll be a Major League Baseball player He is Michael Gretler, a deserving honoree as the Dick Hannula Male Athlete of the Year
Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete Of The Year Award (continued)
2018 Tacoma-Pierce County Female Amateur Athlete of the Year — Margaux Arnston, Annie Wright
By Arnold Lytle
Margaux Arnston is making a big impression for a young woman who attended small schools
The daughter of Anne and Eric Arnston of Puyallup attended Annie Wright School (enrollment in preschool through 12th grade, 517), became a volleyball star and earned a place on the 2013 Puget Sound Region all-region team to top off a high school career that included three citations as an Emerald City League all-league player
A feared middle hitter for the Gators, Arnston credits trips with her parents to Oregon for top-flight competition for helping her hone her volleyball skills She also participated in the Puget Sound Volleyball Academy and played Puget Sound region club volleyball from 2012–14 Her development was so thorough that she matriculated to Claremont McKenna College (enrollment: 1,300) in Southern California The school, part of a consortium of seven liberal arts colleges in Claremont, about 35 miles east of Los Angeles, is highly selective of its students Her arrival marked the start of the ClaremontMudd-Scripps Athenas’ march to the 2017 NCAA Division III volleyball championship, the school’s first women’s national title
Her warmest memory in the wake of an avalanche of awards that followed the 2017 triumph was that her mom was able to travel to Michigan for the Division III finals to see her daughter compete
The Athenas swept through the national finals by completing a 3–0 victory over the Wittenberg Tigers, 25–18, 25–19, 25–22 CMS finished with a 31–5 record, the most single-season victories in school history for the Athenas
“It’s a special day,” coach Kurt Vlasich told Claremont-Mudd-Scripps sports information director Matthew Fenton after the title match “It seems like every week we are saying for the first time ever …It’s an incredible feeling to do it with this senior class that have all been pillars of our success ”
Arnston was named Most Valuable Player of the championship tournament with 18 kills and a 519 hitting percentage, a performance that earned her a place in Sports Illustrated magazine’s “Faces in the Crowd” in October 2017
“The biggest thing for me was just saying to myself, ‘I belong here,’ and having that confidence,” Arnston told Fenton “To make it to this level, at some point you have to forget your level of volleyball and just have the confidence …The biggest thing was to stay confident ”
The national title topped off a college career that saw Arnston help the Athenas win the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) championship twice (2015, 2017), helped them reach the NCAA round of eight in 2014 (when she was SCIAC rookie of the year), make all-league second team twice and first team in 2017 when she was SCIAC Athlete of the Year As a senior, she led her team with 358 kills and 392 points
All the while, she remembered a quote from legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden: “Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability ”
Arnston shared honors with teammates Mikena Werner, a second-team selection of the American Volleyball Coaches Association, and Clara Madsen, an honorable mention The All-American teams were announced two days before the quarterfinals in Grand Rapids, Mich
Arnston’s achievements earned her CMC’s Female Athlete of the Year award, and the prestigious William G Dickinson Award at CMC, emblematic of the student who best embodies the qualities of leadership, self-discipline, determination and conscientiousness in campus life as well as in athletic competition
Little more than a year after her team won its volleyball championship, Arnston is using her degree as a management trainee with the McMaster-Carr Supply Company, a diversified industrial supply firm based in Chicago with distribution centers across the U S