When Newport coach Travis Whitaker was asked to assess when everything broke down for his team Friday night, he had…

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Just a year ago, Josh Lider thought his football playing days were over after Western Washington University dropped its program.
Yet one week ago, Lider, now a West Virginia Mountaineer, walked off a college football field for the last time in front of 84,192 fans at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.
Although the Mountaineers ended their 9-4 season with a 33-21 loss to Florida State, Lider says one things for sure – it was quite a difference from Civic Stadium in Bellingham.
“I never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever play Florida State or play Bobby Bowden in his last game, to be a part of history like that,” Lider said. “I loved every minute of this season.”
Lider transferred to West Virginia this year after WWU cut the football program amidst budget concerns after the 2008 season
Now, after a year of playing major college football in a BCS conference ended with the bowl game loss, he has a chance to reflect on just how far his path veered from Bellingham to Morgantown.
After WWU dropped football, Lider sent out tape, hoping to just get some interest from Division-II schools.
Then West Virginia and coach Bill Stewart came calling, giving Lider a full scholarship and a promise for open competition for the punting and kicking duties. So the senior flew to Morgantown with all of two bags – as his parents drove across the country with the rest of his belongings.
“The craziest thing was that before the season ever started, people wanted to interview me,” Lider said. “I didn’t expect people to even care that I was there.”
A harder part though, was winning over his new specialist teammates.
“It took a little while for them to warm up to me,” he said. “They weren’t sure who I was, just this new senior here to try and steal their jobs. I totally respect that. But once the season started up, we were there to help each other.”

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When Sammamish boys basketball coach Wes Newton needed any advice on how to help turn his program around, he didn’t have to look far.
That’s because Newton, in his fourth year as the Totems’ head man, could always look to his best friend, who also happened to be trying to bring a struggling program to respectability.
Newton and recently-departed Interlake football coach Sheldon Cross both grew up in the Lake Hills neighborhood of Bellevue – and both have been working to bring their respective teams back into contention.
For Cross, who recently accepted a coaching position with the Washington State University football program, that effort culminated this season when the Saints made their second straight trip to the Class 2A playoffs. And for Newton, it’s looking like the hard work is paying off – and it helps to have a friend in the same situation.

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Michael Schaeffer hasn’t had the typical high school experience.
He doesn’t worry about grabbing a parking spot in the crowded lots. He doesn’t sweat it when he walks in a minute after class has officially begun. He doesn’t even have to worry about the questionable quality of cafeteria food.
Instead of grabbing his books from a locker and sprinting to class, he comes home and flicks on a monitor.
Schaeffer, a senior, is a student at Insight School of Washington, an online high school that provides more than 10 courses taught by certified teachers in a digital classroom. For Schaeffer, a talented tennis player whose dedication to the sport takes up most of his time, enrolling at Insight School was a no-brainer.

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These Knights don’t just depend on offense, despite having one of the most dynamic scorers in KingCo 4A. Instead, the…

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Every day brings a new idea, direction or suggestion for Bill Perry.
Perry’s company, Just Putt’n Around, originally came about due to his passion for helping seniors enjoy the game of golf. Perry created a special putter, the Active Adult Putter, to allow those in wheelchairs or rolling walkers to putt. Perry began to visit adult communities in King County, giving seniors the chance to participate in putting lessons and competitions.

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After winning their seventh state title in nine seasons, the Bellevue High School football team wanted to show their respect to a former opponent down south.
So before the trophy presentation began, the Bellevue players all huddled up and one player – senior running back Sean Coley – ran towards the players, who tossed him high in the air.
The routine – a trust exercise- is something the Katy Tigers of Texas, Bellevue’s week two opponents, do before each and every game.
“It’s a respect thing; we have so much respect for that team,” said senior linebacker and tight end Nick Moyer. “We represented them because we like them.”

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