Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Friday, Jun. 26, 2009

PREP NOTEBOOK: Pioneers' cross country coach steps down

It's a difficult choice most coaches at some time or another will have to make - which team is more important to watch, the one they are coaching or the one that has their son or daughter on the roster.

With two middle school-age students and another one in college, Rhonda Smith chose to watch her children's games and decided to step down after 10 years of coaching the Nooksack Valley cross country teams, athletic director Tom Harmon announced this week.

"I just didn't want to miss out on my kids' stuff," Smith said in a phone interview. "It's hard to walk away, because I loved the sport and I loved coaching. But my kids keep getting older and now it's getting tougher to hear them say, 'Oh, you're going to miss my game.'"

Smith plans to continue teaching at Nooksack Middle School and said her husband, Brian, who is the athletic director and former wrestling coach at Bellingham High School, has no plans to leave his current position.

She admitted leaving a program that she helped bring back to Nooksack Valley after more than a decade of dormancy will be difficult, but she feels she leaves the program in good shape for the next coach. Harmon said that the school is getting close to naming Smith's successor.

"The kids that I have had, I've been very fortunate to work with them," Smith said. "It was the kids that built the program, not me. We always tried to have fun, and that attracted the right kids. I see them continuing to be strong. The kids we've gotten to come out the last couple of years, it won't matter if I'm there or not."

The girls' program has finished in the top eight at the state meet the past four seasons, including a third-place finish in 2006 in the first year Nooksack Valley was a Class 1A school. The Pioneers also added a fourth-place finish at the 2A meet in 2004. Bailey DeBruin, who placed 31st at the 1A state meet last fall, will be a senior this year.

The boys' program twice placed in the top eight at state under Smith, with a fourth-place finish in 2007 and an eight place in 2008. With junior-to-be Oliver Bear Don't Walk, who placed 11th at last fall's state meet, the future definitely looks strong.

Smith said she'll continue to "volunteer" when she has the time, and she said a return to coaching down the line is a possibility.

"One of my favorite trips every year ... was the Seaside trip down to Oregon," Smith said. "It was at the beginning of the year, so it was kind of a solidifying meet every year. The kids started to realize how much fun this sport can be. Plus there were so many kids there, they started to realize they weren't the only ones running eight miles after school. It brought the whole team together and got everybody to buy into it. I have a lot of special memories like that."

LUMMI SENDS SIX ALL-STARS

The Lummi football team will be well represented on the West roster for the B-8 All-State game on Saturday, June 27.

The Blackhawks have six seniors on the all-star squad, which will take on the East at Odessa.

Quarterback/linebacker Dustin Tom will lead the way and be joined by wide receiver/defensive back Gale Jefferson, running back/linebacker Tony Washington, offensive lineman/defensive end Lonnie James, wide receiver Ray Jefferson and offensive/defensive lineman Nelson Montenegro.

Lummi coach Jim Sandusky will also lead the West squad in the game.

HAGGEN TO RUN SOCCER CAMP

For her senior project, Sehome's Tanya Haggen, who was selected The Bellingham Herald's All-Whatcom County Girls' Soccer Player of the Year last fall, is running a soccer camp.

The camp will be open to boys and girls ages 6-12 and run from 9-11 a.m. July 6-9 at Sehome High School.

Participants will receive instruction from All-Whatcom County Coach of the Year Andrea Fountain and the Sehome girls' soccer team to help prepare their skills for the fall season.

The $50 entry fee includes a camp T-shirt, and participants should bring a water bottle, soccer ball and their personal soccer equipment to the camp. For more information or to register, please contact the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department at 778-7000.

BORDERITES GETTING READY TO ROLL

New Blaine boys' basketball coach Chris Spencer is planning to have a parent meeting for all boys' basketball parents and players for grades 9-12 at 6 p.m. July 15 in the main gym at Blaine High. Parents of younger players are also welcome.

Spencer is also planning to host the Blaine Boys' Hoop Camp on July 27-30. The morning (8 a.m. to noon) session will be for players in kindergarten through sixth grade, while the afternoon (1-5 p.m.) is for players in grades 7-12. Registration is $75 and will be available at the door.

For more information on either event, please contact Spencer at (360) 303-5501 or spencercr@eou.edu.

STATE TOURNAMENTS SET

The Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association earlier this week released its sites and dates for state tournaments during the 2009-10 school year. Here is a look at the schedule for tournaments that might have Whatcom County teams:

- Cross Country State Championships (all classes): Nov. 7 at Sun Willows Golf Course, Pasco.

- Girls' Swimming and Diving State Championships (all classes): Nov. 12-14 at King County Aquatic Center, Federal Way.

- Class 1B Volleyball State Tournament: Nov. 13-14 at Yakima SunDome.

- Class 1A Volleyball State Tournament: Nov. 12-13 at Yakima SunDome.

- Class 2A and 3A Volleyball State Tournament: Nov. 13-14 at Toyota Center, Kennewick.

- Class 1A and 2A Girls' Soccer state semifinals and finals: Nov. 20-21 at Sparks Stadium, Puyallup.

- Class 3A Girls' Soccer state semifinals and finals: Nov. 20-21 at Harry Lang Stadium, Lakewood.

- Football state semifinals (all classes): Nov. 27-28 at Tacoma Dome and various eastside sites.

- Gridiron Classic (football state championships, all classes); Dec. 4-5 at Tacoma Dome

- Girls' State Bowling Championships: Feb. 5-6 at Narrows Plaza Bowl

- Boys' State Swimming and Diving Championships (all classes): Feb. 18-20 at King County Aquatic Center.

- State Gymnastics Championships: Feb. 19-20 at Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall.

- Mat Classic (wrestling state tournament, all classes): Feb. 19-20 at Tacoma Dome.

- Class 1B Boys' and Girls' Basketball State Tournaments: Feb. 24-27 at Yakima SunDome.

- Class 1A Boys' and Girls' Basketball State Tournaments: March 3-6 at Yakima SunDome.

- Class 2A Boys' and Girls' Basketball State Tournaments: March 10-13 at Yakima SunDome.

- Class 3A Boys' and Girls' Basketball State Tournaments: March 10-13 at Tacoma Dome.

- Boys' and Girls' Golf State Championships (all classes): May 25-26 at various sites in Tri Cities and Yakima.

- Class 2A and 3A Boys' and Girls' State Track and Field Championships: May 27-29 at Mount Tahoma High School, Tacoma.

- Class 1A Boys' and Girls' State Track and Field Championships: May 28-29 at Eastern Washington University, Cheney.

- Class 3A State Baseball semifinals and final: May 28-29 at Safeco Field, Seattle

- Class 2A and 1A State Baseball state semifinals and finals: May 28-29 at County Stadium, Yakima.

- Class 1B State Baseball state semifinals and final: May 28-29 at Parker Field, Yakima.

- Class 1A and 2A Boys' Soccer state semifinals and finals: May 28-29 at Sunset Chev Stadium, Sumner.

- Class 3A Boys' Soccer state semifinals and final: May 28-29 at Harry Lang Stadium, Lakewood.

- Class 3A State Softball Tournament: May 28-29 at SERA Fields, Tacoma

- Class 2A State Softball Tournament: May 28-29 at Carlon Park, Selah

- Class 1A State Softball Tournament: May 28-29 at TRAC Softball Complex, Tri Cities.

- Class 1B State Softball Tournament: May 28-29 at Gateway Sports Complex, Yakima.

- Class 3A Boys' and Girls' State Tennis Tournaments: May 28-29 at Vancouver Tennis Complex.

- Class 2A Boys' and Girls' State Tennis Tournaments: May 28-29 at Nordstrom Tennis Center, Seattle.

Reach David Rasbach at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2271.