This week's stories from the Washington prep sports scene:
1. Snohomish football player's legend grows: Ike Ditzenberger, a
Snohomish football player with Down Syndrome, became an Internet legend after his touchdown and celebration dance was a hit on YouTube last month. Now, a Hollywood production company purchased the movie rights to his life, the Seattle Times reported, and "Dateline NBC" is coming to town to do a story.
See the Seattle Times video.
2. It takes three overtimes, but No. 6 Issaquah falls: Eastlake (Sammamish) stopped a 2-point conversion in triple overtime as the Wolves upset No. 6 Issaquah 34-33.
Skyline High's Kasen Williams.
Photo by Tom Lemming
No. 5
Lakes (Lakewood) led
Enumclaw 24-7 at halftime, and the game seemed over. The Hornets came buzzing back and tied the game 31-31. The Lancers improved their South Puget Sound League winning streak to 19 by salvaging a 38-31 win.
4. All-American Bowl tour making stops: The U.S. Army All-American Bowl selection tour is stopping at
Skyline (Sammamish) on Tuesday. The tour doesn't say who they are selecting, but it seems a safe guess it's for wide receiver
Kasen Williams. Rated as one of the state's top recruits, Williams has committed to Washington. The tour will also stop at
Gig Harbor, presumably for top tight end recruit
Austin Seferian-jenkins.
5. Girls hoopsters find teams: Two of the state's top girls basketball players committed to schools.
Kennedy (Burien) junior forward Aminah Williams has committed to Washington. She also had interest from Washington State, Arizona, Arizona State and California.
Holy Names Academy (Seattle) senior forward Erika Johnson committed to California. Johnson picked Cal over Washington, Louisville and North Carolina.
TOP FIVE PERFORMERS* Tana Pritchard, Clover Park (Lakewood) football: The quarterback scored five touchdowns — three passing, two on the ground — in a 50-24 win over Washington.
* Desmond Young, Edmonds-Woodway football: The sophomore running back had 222 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-0 win over Cascade.
* Chandler Jenkins, Liberty (Renton) football: Jenkins had 253 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries in a 28-11 win over Mercer Island.
* T.J. Esekielu, Beamer (Federal Way) football: The running back rushed for 377 yards and two scores on 29 carries.
* Charlie Mroz, Redmond golf: Mroz won KingCo League and SeaKing District golf titles last week. RECRUITING NEWSMt. Tahoma (Tacoma) basketball player Xavier Bazile, a 6-foot-3 guard who averaged 19.6 points and eight rebounds per game last season, has committed to Idaho. ...
Mt. Rainier (Des Moines) pitcher Taylor Goucher has committed to Navy. His teammate, center fielder Kevin Smith, is headed to Western Oregon. ...
Kennedy (Burien) soccer player Rebekah Kurle, the Seamont player of the year last season, is going to Portland. She had interest from Washington, Oregon and California. ...
Auburn's 6-foot-4 guard Kevin Henderson will play basketball at Montana.
UPCOMING EVENTSThere's a few big football games this week. Class 2A No. 1
Archbishop Murphy (Everett) (7-0) takes on Class 1A No. 4
King's (Seattle) (7-0). Also in the 2A, No. 2
Lynden (7-0) battles No. 4
Burlington-Edison (Burlington) (6-1) and No. 5 WF
West (Chehalis) (6-1) faces No. 9
Centralia (6-1).
Also this week, the fall postseason begins. The leagues that have boys tennis in the fall has league tournaments this week. Most of them wait until May before they play districts. League meets for cross country are also this week. You'll find some district golf tournaments this week.
NATE'S NOTESMy top story in this week's notebook is the reason I so enjoy covering high school sports. Ike Ditzenberger's story has been making the rounds here in recent weeks. That rival
Lake Stevens let Ditzenberger score from 51 yards out at the end of a blowout is truly inspiring and made a huge impact on the Snohomish junior's life. And only in high school sports can you find these stories.
Nathan Joyce has covered high school sports in Washington for 13 years. He works at the Kitsap Sun in Bremerton.
