Kylee Sixkiller got the Pasco coaching job less than a month before the season began. What's been the toughest part of the transition process?
"The toughest part?" she said with a chuckle. "Moving to the Tri-Cities? A new teaching job? It's all been pretty tough."
Anything going smoothly? "The kids," she said. "They've been the easy part."
The Bulldogs are 3-4 at the midway point of CBBN play, in a three-way tie for eighth place. The top eight 4A teams qualify for districts.
"We're just looking to get to the postseason and see what we can do from there," said senior middle blocker Karis Gamache.
The transition to a new coach was exacerbated by the split between Pasco and Chiawana, which left the Bulldogs with only three returners -- including Gamache, an all-league hitter who is fourth in the league this season in kills (3.4 per set).
"If we could have just stayed together one more year," Gamache said. "We were doing so good at the end of last season."
Then came the offseason, in which coach Jim Steach moved to Chiawana and it took until August to hire Sixkiller. Also, Pasco's main gym is undergoing repairs, forcing the Bulldogs to play their home matches at Ochoa Middle School.
"It was really hard," Gamache said. "We all wanted to be dedicated, but there was nobody there to organize things. We pretty much winged it."
Gamache hopes not to be winging it next fall. She is making a visit to Spokane Falls CC this weekend, with an eye on playing for the Sasquatch and eventually becoming an ultrasound technician.
-- Kiona-Benton won a state championship led by senior McKenzie Burgess, a three-time All-Area MVP. Burgess -- now McKenzie Garberg -- is back as the Bears' first-year coach, looking to get the program back on the winning track. Garberg is the team's third coach since Sharon Brandon retired six years ago, and Ki-Be missed districts last year.
"You look at our kids. We're very athletic, and we have potential, but we've never played together," Garberg said. "It's a new team. Only four of them are returning varsity players. We have six seniors, but we're so young for being so old."
Similar stories:
Downing not left out in Chiawana win
Downing not left out in Chiawana win
As tough as it was for Chiawana to play without 4A all-state running back Jordan Downing, it was even more difficult for the four-year starter to watch his team from the sidelines during the Riverhawks' 28-0 win over Davis on Friday in Pasco.
"It was killing me," said Downing, who had racked up 954 yards and 12 touchdowns on 137 carries -- a seven yard average -- in six games before a spiral fracture of his right fibula ended his season. "It just tears me apart inside not to be out there. I love these guys."
The feeling is mutual. That much was evident when Downing led them onto the turf at Edgar Brown Stadium before the game. Surrounded by his teammates decked out in royal blue uniforms minutes before kickoff, he delivered a few emotional words of inspiration.
NW women's preview: Gonzaga goes on without Vandersloot
NW women's preview: Gonzaga goes on without Vandersloot
Was the offseason long enough to catch your breath or too long with the anticipation of any kind of encore?
Either way, the college basketball season tips off tonight. On the women's side, there is the promise of another NCAA Tournament opening weekend in Spokane.
But is there any way a player or team or season can match last year's magic carpet ride?
Kreider mans line as Pasco rebuilds
Kreider mans line as Pasco rebuilds
Editor's note: This is the second in a series of seven feature stories on CBBN 3A-4A Tri-City football players that will kick off the 2011 high school season. The Tri-City Herald will present one story a day until its prep football preview Friday, Sept. 2.
PASCO -- Zach Kreider definitely is not one of the oldest kids on the Pasco football team. He also isn't the biggest.
But what he took upon himself this past offseason has his coach raving and Kreider and his teammates thinking big.
Family Affair
Family Affair
The Kamiakin Braves figure to play a key role in several story lines when the state cross country races take over Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco on Saturday.
Matt and Stephanie Rexus are key players for the Braves -- Matt is the longtime coach of the boys team expected to challenge five-time defending 3A champion North Central, Stephanie a senior and top runner for the girls team looking to repeat as state trophy winners.
But for a twist of fate, the father and daughter might never have gotten into running the first place.
Athletes of the Week for October 22, 2011
Athletes of the Week for October 22, 2011
The Mid-Columbia Athletes of the Week for October 22, 2011.
Boys
Print
Email Story
