Sports Stories - South King County

Auburn's Kukors advances to 200-meter IM final

Campy Campolo doesn’t always have the best view of the football action. By design, someone’s often right in her way.

Tackling another hurdle

Bumps. Tumbling falls to the pavement. More bruises than one has fingers and toes on which to count. Not exactly a relaxing day at the office. But for Auburn’s Kyndall Bayard and many others who comprise Dockyard Derby Dames roller derby league in Tacoma, it adds up to a sport that provides a relief from the ordinary.

South Sound women blow off steam with roller derby

Gallyn Mitchell became the first jockey to ride 1,000 winners at Emerald Downs when he guided Cherokee Echo to a 5¼-length victory in the third race Saturday.

Mitchell notches his 1,000th Em Downs win

Ariana Kukors, an Auburn Mountainview High graduate, finished sixth in the 400-meter individual medley finals on Sunday during the first day of action at the U.S. Olympic swim trials in Omaha, Neb.

Kukors 6th in 400 IM at Olympic trials

Marcus Brooks scored two dramatic touchdowns – one on an interception return, the other on a kick return – and Tank Proctor also found the end zone twice as the King County Jaguars opened their minor league football season on Saturday with a 44-7 rout of the Kitsap County Bears at French Field.

Speaking of football: Jaguars win opener

He took a flight down to Florida three Tuesdays ago.

Top trio from Pepsi Handicap gear up for Tacoma test at Emerald Downs

Abijah Alastra loves to take a few swings with the bat whenever he can.

Equine art show set for Emerald Downs

‘Big Fella’ gets the big calls

Auburn tabs Alastra as baseball coach

Houston Astros send Tahoma grad to Tri-Cities affiliate

Work ethic and desire have never been a problem for Danny Meier. The issue with him was size – the thing that college and professional baseball scouts long for when assessing a kid’s future potential. And when Meier graduated from Tahoma High in 2004 – all 6 feet and roughly 170 pounds of him — it was something he lacked. So much, in fact, that few schools, other than a couple local community colleges, even gave him a second look.

Kentlake grad, Hoosier swimmer heads to Olympic trials

There was a time about a year ago when Sarah Stockwell’s relationship with her lifelong love was … well, a bit on the rocks. Suffice to say that she and swimming were still on speaking terms. But for a while, they weren’t exactly best friends.

ON THE SIDE

Third-round 62 highlights state amateur win Covington’s Lee claims golf title

When you’re hot you’re hot.

Taking advantage of opportunity

He took a flight down to Florida a couple weeks ago.

Kentlake girls hoops coach to lead Relay for Life team

Scott Simmons has lost a pair of uncles to cancer. His dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer a little more than a year ago, but is doing better each and every day. To say Simmons has had his eyes opened by the disease is an understatement. Simmons will be leading a team in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Covington, Maple Valley and Black Diamond this Friday and Saturday at Tahoma Junior High.

Maple Valley man qualifies for national 'Strongest Man' competition

The Des Moines Marina was plenty crowded Saturday, June 7. But the event didn’t call for water sports. Instead, spectators filled the parking lot to see who would be crowned “Washington’s Strongest Apple,” a feats of strength competition that includes weight-lifting events such as keg loading and the tire flip.

RECREATION CALENDAR

BASEBALL

Loss of father didn't halt Kentlake baseball coach's success | Coach of the Year

The Kentlake High baseball team spent pretty much the entire spring on an emotional high, winning game after game en route to a state finals berth at Safeco Field. On that same diamond, however, coach Jason Evans was in the midst of an emotional roller coaster ride, stemming from the loss of his father Dale, who passed away April 14 after a short bout with lung cancer.

South Puget Sound spring All-League Teams revealed

A listing of players on the South Puget Sound League's 2008 spring All-League Team.

Don’t miss Little League all-star action

The 2008 District 10 Little League Baseball All-Star Tournament kicks off July 5 at Sunset Park in Auburn — and three Federal Way teams will be ready to go.

4 Federal Way-area players head to annual East-West All-Star Football Game

The Federal Way School District will be heavily represented at the annual East-West All-Star Football Game on July 3 at Spokane’s Central Valley Stadium.

Water Polo returns to Marine Hills Pool | Federal Way Sports Briefs

Water Polo has returned to the Marine Hills Pool. Marine Hills Pool brings water polo to boys and girls ages 8 to 18, who are able to swim 50 yards. Practices are held at the pool Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 to 9:30 p.m. with preseason scrimmages scheduled for Saturday mornings.

McConnaughey inducted into University of Central Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame

Longtime Federal Way resident Don McConnaughey was officially inducted into the University of Central Arkansas’ Sports Hall of Fame last month.

Fall soccer registration open in Federal Way | Sports Briefs

A fast look at sports in the Federal Way area.

Memorial Stadium gets a facelift

Welcome to the 21st century, Federal Way Memorial Stadium. It’s nice of you to join us.

Inaugural athletic Hall of Fame class paves the way

The Federal Way School District has produced thousands of sports team lineups at Federal Way, Thomas Jefferson, Decatur and Todd Beamer high schools throughout the years.

Tiger Woods proves he’s the best of all time

Have you ever been out to the Northshore Golf Course on a nice summer weekend?

I’ll take the pureness of T-ball over Seattle vs. Sonics in court

It’s all my 6-year-old son can talk about.

Barnette throwing well in Alabama

Thomas Jefferson High School graduate Tony Barnette is having a solid season for the Mobile (Ala.) BayBears.

Seattle Majestics put a spin on male-dominated football

Campy Campolo doesn’t always have the best view of the football action. By design, someone’s often right in her way. Campolo – who just finished a community college automotives degree and played softball and tennis at Jefferson High School in Auburn – is a fullback. And an outside linebacker. And a woman.

BACK IN THE GAME

There was a time about a year ago when Sarah Stockwell’s relationship with her lifelong love was … well, a bit on the rocks.

Jags rout Kitsap in opener, 44-7

On Deck

TODAY

Supplying hope, inspiration

Scott Simmons has lost a pair of uncles to cancer.

Jaguars glad to be back home for new season

During Lorrie Jean Rarey’s early days as general manager of the King County Jaguars, the minor league football team had its home field in Kent. But not really a home.

Atlanta Braves draft Kentlake's 'Big Fella' Voelkel

He took a flight to Florida a couple Tuesdays ago. But had Ryan Voelkel thought about it, he probably could’ve skipped the flight and flown south using nothing but his two arms. That’s just how much of a high the former Kentlake High star was on. And who could blame him? The big fella, in a roundabout sort of way, had realized a lifelong dream less than a two days earlier and was busy packing his belongings – and dreams – in a suitcase and bracing for the next step in his baseball career. That next step for Voelkel, a 6-foot-6 230-pound first baseman is playing for the Atlanta Braves rookie league affiliate in the Gulf Coast League.

A GOOD CAUSE

• WHAT: American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Covington, Maple Valley and Black Diamond.

Loss of father didn't halt Kentlake baseball coach's success | Coach of the Year

The Kentlake High baseball team spent pretty much the entire spring on an emotional high, winning game after game on the way to a state finals berth at Safeco Field. On that same diamond, however, coach Jason Evans was in the midst of an emotional roller coaster ride, stemming from the loss of his father Dale, who passed away April 14 after a short bout with lung cancer.

Many Kent coaches stand out in 2007-08 season

A listing of some of the top coaches in boys and girls high school sports for the 2007-08 school year.

Additional work helps Tahoma’s Meier realize professional dream Creating his own opportunity

Work ethic and desire have never been a problem for Danny Meier.

Kentlake grad, Hoosier swimmer heads to Olympic trials

ON THE SIDE

Third-round 62 highlights state amateur win Covington’s Lee claims golf title

When you’re hot you’re hot.

Kentlake girls hoops coach to lead Relay for Life team

Maple Valley man qualifies for national 'Strongest Man' competition

RECREATION CALENDAR

BASEBALL

South Puget Sound spring All-League Teams revealed

A listing of athletes on the 2008 South Puget Sound All-League Teams for spring high school sports.

Maple Valley native, MLS draftee joins Seattle Sounders

In a perfect world, Nik Besagno would be getting 90 minutes every game with Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer. It’s not a perfect world. And Besagno wasn’t getting any minutes. The perfect solution for the Maple Valley native? Come on home and get some minutes with the Seattle Sounders.

Loss of father didn't halt Kentlake baseball coach's success | Coach of the Year

Seattle Majestics undefeated so far in Independent Women’s Football League

Campy Campolo doesn’t always have the best view of the football action. By design, someone’s often right in her way.

Renton card shop owner reflects on 20 years of business

To some, a 1985 Topps Alvin Davis card doesn’t mean much. Its worth is less than a dollar, and this one isn’t even in mint condition. To Don Joss, that card means nostalgia. Memories versus dollars and cents. Or even collecting for joy versus collecting for profit. That’s the power of trading cards. To many they’re more than simple pieces of cardboard smeared with pictures, names and statistics. They’re a glimpse of personal history.

Renton Little Leaguers mop up area teams

For every baseball player, Major League dreams start on Little League diamonds. Little League is where players hone their skills: How to bat, how to throw, how to field and for some select Renton Little Leaguers, how to win. Renton Little League Cardinals teams swept the Minors and Majors titles in the District 7 Tournament of Champions competition on June 15. District 7 includes areas around Renton, West Seattle, Seatac and Des Moines.

Renton Taekwondo team headed to Jr. Olympics

Taekwon do is loosely translated as “the way of the first and foot” from Korean. Renton Taekwondo Athletics is an Olympic-style sport Taekwondo team. The team is a mix of fighters of all ages that travels to competitions around the country and practices at Lee’s Martial Arts in downtown Renton. The team’s season will come to an end when it travels to Detroit July 1-6 for the USA Taekwondo Junior Olympics, where the fighters will have a chance to put all of their practice to the test.

Renton, Lindbergh, Hazen grads move on to next level

Three seniors. Three different schools. Three different seasons. One common goal for the future: continue playing. Renton High’s Justin Gunn, Lindbergh’s Patrick Claussen and Hazen’s Nathan Bunch all knew coming into the 2008 season that their teams would look to them for leadership. The three seniors had different levels of success this season, but all are moving on to play at the next level.

Doofers Bar and Grill softball squad is Renton dynasty

A group of local friends that found a way to use softball to stay together and active for decades has found an unexpected side effect: winning, lots and lots of winning. The team, sponsored by Doofers Sports Bar and Grill, has been one of the best teams in the area for quite some time. In fact, the team has won at least one tournament every year since 1979. Pretty impressive for a group of friends simply looking for a way to hang out and stay active.