The 13th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard passed through Washington on Monday, May 21 to honor
Central Valley (Spokane Valley, Wash.) High School and its girls basketball team for winning a state championship and earning a high national ranking.
Having upended Woodinville 70-39 in the
WIAA Class 4A state championship contest, the 29-0 Bears claimed their second girls state basketball title in three years, the fifth overall and earned the No. 4 ranking in
MaxPreps' National Rankings. Freddie Rehkow's club was crowned National Champion in the
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Writers' Poll!
One of just 10 girls basketball programs nationally to be honored by the Tour of Champions, Central Valley received recognition for a season of unparalleled accomplishments when MaxPreps and the Washington Army National Guard joined forces to celebrate Bears girls basketball at a school assembly in the school's gymnasium.
The end of the school day was in full buzz as students, family, friends and media gathered for the ceremony. Donning their commemorative Tour of Champions t-shirts, each Central Valley basketball player was introduced to the rambunctious crowd, followed by the coaches, statisticians, trainers and ball boys. MaxPreps representative Todd Gowin kicked off the program by recapping Central Valley's National Championship season.
Gowin then introduced the MaxPreps Tour of Champions and informed the rowdy crowd of Central Valley's high national ranking. After a long ovation from the crowd, Gowin thanked the Washington Army National Guard for its ongoing partnership and invited Sergeant Ismael Perez to the floor for the long-awaited trophy presentation.
SGT Perez of the Washington Army National Guard talked briefly about teamwork and the pursuit of excellence, shared character traits of a state championship basketball team and the Army National Guard. SGT Perez then presented the Army National Guard national ranking trophy and a nationally ranked rafter banner to Central Valley head coach Freddie Rehkow and the Bears.
Rehkow, who was truly grateful as he accepted the trophy, expressed his gratitude and thanked MaxPreps and the Washington Army National Guard for the prestigious award and national recognition. It was a perfect ending to a No. 1 ranked season by the girls basketball program.
Congratulations to Coach Rehkow, his entire coaching staff and all of his players. All of the hard work paid off. Way to go Bears!
Click
here to view the Central Valley TOC photo gallery and for more information about the Basketball TOC, please visit the
MaxPreps Tour of Champions site.
