Athletes excel on the field and in the classroom

Student athletes continued a string of successful sports seasons by clinching several league titles last spring while demonstrating excellence in the classroom.

Rick Wells, director of athletics, health, and fitness, presented the Puyallup School Board with a spring athletics season wrap-up in June featuring team and individual highlights.

The board congratulated the Rogers High School boys track and field team and the Emerald Ridge High boys golf team on being named 2015 Washington Interscholastic Athletics and Activities (WIAA) Class 4A State Academic Champions for the spring sports season.

The Rogers High boys track and field team, accompanied at the meeting by coach Dan Carlson, earned a 3.627 combined team GPA, which was the highest in the state for that Class 4A sport.

The Emerald Ridge High boys golf team, recognized by the board along with coaches Doug Hovde and Tim Spears, earned a 3.721 combined team GPA — also the highest in Washington state for that sport.

The South Puget Sound League (SPSL) South Division also honored Puyallup High School athletic teams as the 2015 Spring Sportsmanship winner and the 2015 South Division All Sport Champions.

Several teams throughout the district won SPSL league titles, including the Puyallup High baseball, fastpitch, girls tennis, and boys soccer teams. The Vikings baseball team went on to place second in the West Central District and advanced to the state playoffs, where it tied for fifth place.

The Emerald Ridge High boys track team also shared a league title, and several track and field athletes from all three comprehensive high schools placed high in the standings at the state meet.

Students who secured one of the top five track and field spots in Washington included the 4 x 100-meter relay team featuring Rogers High runners Tyliah Fort, Shaiyenne Monroe, Tammy Kayongo, and Jelani Heath. The team placed second in state. The same team also took fourth place in the 4 x 200-meter relay.

The Rogers Rams Malaina Thacker also clinched third place in the 800-meter run, while teammate Jelani Heath took third place in the long jump.

Emerald Ridge High track team member Karlee Stueckle, a ninth grader at Stahl Junior High last year, took fifth place in state in the 300-meter hurdles. In boys track and field, Rogers High athlete Kyler Ooley took fifth place in the 100-meter dash.

The SPSL South Division also awarded two district coaches with Coach of the Year honors in their respective sports.

The spring coaching recognition went to Puyallup High girls tennis coach Brooks Hazen and Emerald Ridge High boys track coach Bob Frey.

“I commend all of our student athletes for their work this spring,” Wells said. “While I place a premium on academic performance … the values and character traits that athletics teach are what will matter most for being successful in life.”

View a compilation of spring sports season highlights from all three comprehensive high schools