Josh Smith, Kentwood
File photo by Dennis Lee
Josh Smith's family told the Seattle Times he would announce in the coming weeks that he will play for either UCLA or Washington.
Widely considered the top center in the country, Smith is trying to arrange an official visit to Washington.
Smith visited UCLA at the beginning of the month. His family told Oklahoma he wasn't interested in visiting the school.
Jackson tops in the nation: Jackson of Mill Creek earned the No. 1 spot in the nation in the MileSplit Fab-15 Cross Country Rankings. The Timberwolves went from No. 8 to No. 1 after winning the boys title at the elite Sunfair Invitational in Yakima. Last year, North Central of Spokane was rated No. 1 in the nation.
Dixon nears record: Larry Dixon of Olympic High near Bremerton rushed for 171 yards and two touchdowns as the Trojans beat Yelm 34-13 in a key Olympic Western League game. Dixon has 1,024 yards and 17 scores on the season. He needed 156 yards this week against winless Port Angeles to beat the West Sound career rushing record of 4,654.
Mead volleyball good as ever: Mead of Spokane, the top-ranked team in the state, beat Idaho power Sandpoint 19-25, 25-21, 15-13 in the championship match of the Crossover Classic in Spokane. Mead had its run of five straight state titles snapped last year as it finished seventh. The Panthers bested a field of 64 teams.
State soccer title decided? The last three years, the winner of Skyline's girls soccer game against Issaquah has won the Class 4A state title. Last week, top-ranked Skyline of Sammamish beat Issaquah 2-0 in the KingCo 4A showdown.
Ellensburg proves it's for real: Ellensburg is 6-0 and the No. 1 Class 2A team in the state. It proved it earned both by beating No. 6 Prosser 35-7. Prosser is a traditional state power, and the Bulldogs beat the Mustangs for the first time since 1977. Ethan Sterkel passed for four touchdowns in the win.
Top performers
Rui Li (Kentwood golfer): The senior with a 3.963 GPA was named an HP Scholastic Junior All-American, an award as much for golf as it is academics.
Ryan Bergman (Issaquah football): The senior quarterback was 26-of-35 for 531 yards and six touchdowns (and no interceptions) as Issaquah beat Redmond 40-7.
Evan Peterson (Issaquah football): The junior receiver caught 11 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns.
Austin Denton (Marysville-Pilchuck football): Denton had his sixth straight 200-yard rushing performance as he rushed for 228 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries as the Tomahawks beat Lake Stevens 36-20.
Madi Barney (Skyline soccer): Had a goal and an assist as top-ranked Skyline beat Issaquah 2-0 in a key KingCo 4A showdown.
Rachel Lewis (Peninsula golf): The junior at the Purdy school scored a double eagle on the par-4 245-yard No. 9 hole at Brookdale Golf Club in Spanaway.
Recruiting news
Holy Names golfer Kristin Tan, who won a Class 3A state title two years ago and was third last year, told the Seattle Times she is leaning toward playing for Xavier. She has also been recruited by Notre Dame, Oregon State, Oregon and San Francisco.
Nate's notes
Earlier I mentioned that Olympic's Dixon is about to break the West Sound career rushing record. Couldn't happen to a better kid. I talked to him after Friday's win, and before he would answer any questions he called his offensive line over to take part in the interview. It was a little strange asking question as seven other sweaty players were listening in, but it shows you just a sliver of his character.
Jackson's ascension to No. 1 in the cross country polls is interesting. You don't see it as a story too much nationally, but Washington has to rank as one of the distance-running Meccas in the country. The Spokane area alone could compete with most other states as it constantly earns top rankings and dominates the state meet.
Nathan Joyce has been a sports writer in Washington for 12 years. He currently works at the Kitsap Sun in Bremerton.
