Friday, Jan. 23, 2009

Notebook: Hanford DB commits to CWU

COMPILED BY REN FERRN

Hanford senior defensive back Kyle Wagar announced this week that he has verbally committed to sign with Central Washington next month.

National letter-of-intent day for football is Feb. 4.

Wagar was a first-team All-Area and honorable mention 3A all-state selection at defensive back this season. He had 85 tackles and three interceptions.

He also was a first-team All-CBBN Cascade Division wide receiver.

Wagar, who will play safety for the Wildcats, chose CWU over Puget Sound, Pacific Lutheran and Montana Tech.

"It just seemed like the right fit for me," he said.

Touchet coach Wayne Dickey is retiring after 30 seasons, four eight-man state titles and three runner-up finishes.

Dickey went 188-112 with the Indians, including 16 playoff appearances (14 in the state playoffs) and eight league titles. He won the state title in his first season in 1979, then again in 1994, 1998 and 1999.

"Physically, it's time," Dickey told the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. "I've always been a pretty emotional, high-intensity coach. The ability to motivate is one of the keys to the success I've had. But that high intensity has become low intensity.

"Five years ago I was all right, but each year it has been getting harder on me physically. I am just more drained. That's why I think this is the right time for someone with a little more energy to take it on."

Dickey plans to coach the baseball team this spring and has told school officials that he plans to teach again in 2009-10.

Former Eisenhower and Davis coach Greg Gavin will go into the Washington State Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Saturday in Bellevue.