KENT — There was no shortage of players during last week’s football practice at Kentwood High School. With 175 kids out for football, the only thing the Conquerors’ were short on was possibly helmets and repetitions.

"I can’t believe how many kids we had come out," Kentwood coach Rex Norris said. "I think it’s a credit to the success and tradition of the program."

Unfortunately, not all of the kids on the practice field will be there this week. Norris and his staff needed to cut down close to 30 kids

Read more »

Dan Oppelt is back in his comfort zone.

After spending several years coaching at small schools in Eastern Washington and on this state’s coast, the 1980 Rogers High graduate and Puyallup native replaces departing coach Tom Picha as head whistle blower at Stadium High.

Oppelt will be tasked with rebuilding the Tigers football program. Listen to Oppelt talk about the rebuilding process here.

It’s a job Oppelt is familiar with. He took over as head football coach at North Beach High School, which had lost 36

Read more »

Jena Heidloff, a talented club swimmer who competed for Graham-Kapowsin High in 2005 as a sophomore, died in an automobile accident early Thursday morning. Click here to view the story. Heidloff took fourth place in the 500 freestyle and sixth in the 200 freestyle at the Class 4A state championships last year.

Heidloff’s high school coaches describe her as chatty, peppy girl who liked to compete. We just want to offer an opportunity for those who knew Jena to comment. Our condolences go to Jena’s family and friends.

Football gloves are evil things made by evil people.

Okay, maybe I exaggerate.

A little.

But it seems since receivers began regularly wearing gloves in the early 1990s the trend has rapidly grown, and now 11-year-olds are compelled to ask their parents to buy gloves because they believe they’re just as important as putting on a helmet and shoulder pads.

Twenty-five years ago receivers like Steve Largent and Kellen Winslow, Sr. made spectacular grabs without the use of gloves.

Even in cold or rainy weather these Hall of Famers trotted out on the field gloveless

Read more »

The game between traditional rivals Gig Harbor and Peninsula is not for another three weeks.

But players from the two Key Peninsula schools already have the Sept. 8 date etched in memory.

"I’m definitely looking forward to playing Gig Harbor, as always," said Rees Yaden, senior quarterback for Peninsula "We have a strong feeling that we’re definitely at that level. We’re meshing. And we feel like we can do anything."

Gig Harbor running back Mike Murphy said he will be ready.

"I can’t wait for the Fishbowl," Murphy said. ‘It’s a fun game to look

Read more »

The Port Orchard high school known for its beefy lineman and brute strength may have an asset that eludes them most years < speed.

South Kitsap returns several players with quick feet from a team that finished 6-4 a year ago and advanced to the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.

The Wolves? quickness was obvious after watching players dart through agility drills at the beginning of practice on Wednesday.

As usual, a stoic D.J. Sigurdson, head coach of South, was a bit close to the vest in stating how the Wolves would be this

Read more »

Just watching the players of the Woodrow Wilson Rams run "gassers" at the end of their first official practice on Wednesday brought back more than old memories. As the players sprinted the 50 yards across the field, touched the sideline and sprinted back my shins began to ache, my thighs started to burn and my breath became short, I couldn’t help feeling their pain. Conditioning is never enjoyable, even when you’re in shape.

Aah, there’s nothing quite like the first few fall football practices — no pads, no hitting, plenty of fundamentals and not much fun.

Read more »

Here are some words of wisdom for high school athletes turning out for fall sports from independent physical therapists urging students to take precautions to help avoid injuries.

"Ideally, student athletes have been preparing for fall sports for much of the summer," says Shannon O’Kelley, M.P.T., president of the Private Practice Group of the Physical Therapists Association of Washington. "But our kids are just like us, and sometimes sports conditioning gets put off to the last minute. That is why I urge athletes, their parents and their coaches to observe a few key training guidelines."

· Begin

Read more »