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closein the redzone: Fall prep sports season is right around the corner
Shaun Scott
Even though the calendar says we’re right smack in the middle of the heat of summer, there’s something wavering on the horizon that has me thinking about my favorite time of the year.
The high school fall sports season is nearly upon us. In just six days, high school football programs across the state will conduct their first practices of the year under the sweltering heat of the summer sun. The seven high schools in The Herald coverage area—Bonney Lake, Sumner, Chief Leschi, Cascade Christian, Puyallup, Emerald Ridge and Rogers will strap up their chin straps with hopes and dreams dancing in their craniums of playing in their respective classifications’ championship game in December in the Tacoma Dome.
Football isn’t the only sport revving up for the new season. Girls soccer, volleyball, cross country, golf and swimming will open their season with their first practices on Aug. 25.
In my estimation, the summer has flown by. It seems like just yesterday I was watching the Puyallup Vikings boys soccer team play in the Class 4A State Championship game at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood. But when I took a glance at the calendar, it’s hard to believe that was 81 days ago.
This fall, I’m looking forward to covering a multitude of athletic contests at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup and at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner. Currently, renovations taking place at Sparks Stadium will transform one of Washington’s most revered high school venues into one of the most coveted destinations for high school sports in the state when the 2008 fall sports season kicks off.
The artificial surface that was installed in 1997 is being replaced with new FieldTurf and the track is being refurbished as well. Rogers High School Athletic Director Peter Collins voiced his excitement about the improvements taking place over the summer to Sparks Stadium this past June.
“I think it’s been long overdue,” Collins said of the renovations. “I’m pretty excited about the new playing surface. It’s definitely needed and I think all of the schools in the area are looking forward to it.”
Puyallup School District Athletic Director Rick Wells is excited to see the changes finally come to fruition.
“The work that’s being done at Sparks is already starting a ripple effect. It’s going to help Sparks return to its glory days,” he said. “This year Sparks is going to be hosting the SPSL 4A girls league soccer tournament and will be one of three host sites for the West Central District III girls soccer contests. There’s a good possibility Sparks will have an opportunity to host football playoff games for teams in the area as well. I know Pacific Lutheran University is elated about it. Their football team plays its home games here.”
The fall is the best time of year and I can’t wait to watch all of the high school sports teams take their talents into their respective venues for the 2008 fall sports season. It’s simply the best time of year to be a sports writer.