No. 9Sept. 9, 2008This is how important Eastmont’s girls’ swimming victory over Wenatchee was: Wildcat sophomore Logan Howard was so nervous that she vomited on two separate occasions during the meet.Thankfully, not in the pool.Eastmont ended Wenatchee’s streak of 22 consecutive dual meet victories, a string that lasted four seasons.And the Wildcats got their historic victory in epic fashion. Kelsey Bruggman, Danielle Boatright, Howard and Carmen Robb swam Eastmont to a win in the 400-yard freestyle relay (the final event of the meet) in a 95-91 victory. 

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My two-year anniversary as a sportswriter at the Wenatchee World came and went on Sept. 18, and the passage of time always leads to some hardcore reflection. I can’t believe it’s been that long. It seems like just yesterday I was packing up the car and leaving my home in New Jersey to seek my fortune in the Wild West. Truth be told, when I took this job, I hadn’t planned on being here for two years. It was my first full-time job out of college, and I wanted to experience life in a different part of the country.It’s funny how life throws you curveballs. Barely two months after arriving in the Apple Capital, I met the love of my life at this very newspaper. We just moved into a townhouse together, and we’re planning a wedding next summer, and I have no plans to leave.Anyway, I thought I’d compile some of the greatest moments I’ve been fortunate enough to see in my two years covering sports in Wenatchee. Keep in mind, these are only things that I have seen in person. I’ll do these in reverse order, starting with No. 10 and going back until No. 1, hopefully building up some suspense along the way. I’m sure there’s moments I’ve forgotten, but this list has some pretty unforgettable snapshots of the joys of victory and the agony of defeat in the Wenatchee Valley. My new home.10. Eastmont Cat Classic Wrestling Tournament, Dec. 30, 2007.Sometimes familiar opponents battle each other the hardest. Wenatchee’s Krayson Gates and Stuart Hunt, proved that in the finals of Eastmont’s invitational tournament that featured teams from around the state. Stuck in the same 125-pound bracket, the teammates wrestled their way to the finals, and gave the fans a show to remember. Recreating a scene that undoubtedly played out countless times in practice, the two sophomores went after each other like rabid dogs.And the Wenatchee coaching staff let the do it.”They told us they just wanted to wrestle,” Wenatchee head coach Ed Valdez said that day.Gates led 5-4 at the end of the second period before Hunt, his face bloodied and numb from his semifinal match, took his teammate down twice in the final period for the 8-5 decision.   

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I’ve always been impressed by high school kids in Washington in terms of how they support their fellow student-athletes. At high schools all over the country, everyone goes to football games. It’s a place to see and be seen. Wenatchee is no different. But not all high schools support the smaller sports the way Wenatchee does. Soccer, volleyball and the like. It’s nice to see that football and basketball aren’t the only sports that bring the rowdy student body out.

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I’m wearing my Mets hat today, and here’s why.A team needs the support of its fans during the worst of times. Anybody can be a fan when times are good. Not everyone can stay on the wagon when times are bad.And times are bad for the Amazins. After leading 5-1 after six innings last night against the Cubs, the Mets failed in numerous chances to get runs across and the bullpen had its obligatory meltdown. In a season of late-inning meltdowns, this was the worst. I’m not sure how much more my dad can take.He just keeps repeating, “You can’t make this stuff up,” over and over again.But I wear my hat today proudly. I’m a fan every day, not just the good days. 

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I think I’ve seen the future, and is name is Killion McGinnis. The 12-year-old son of Panther basketball coach Brett McGinnis was goofing around with his friends after WHS’ 14-7 OT loss on Friday (it wasn’t that close by the way), and shot a flawless 15-yard spiral to his buddy. Even had some zip on it. Wenatchee football 2014’s gonna be good. You heard it here first.In other news, physical game Friday night. It’ll be interesting to see how Wenatchee responds. The entire Apple Bowl gasped when Jacob Sealby went down late in the third quarter. Turned out to be just a cramp. I’m a little worried that he’s going to get worn out two weeks from now. 

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Soccer’s a funny game. There aren’t too many other sports where a team can get out-played for 85 percent of the game, wake up for the last 15 percent and still win. Wenatchee managed to do just that Tuesday night at Eastmont.”We got outplayed tonight and the girls know that,” said Wenatchee head coach Nigel Hunter after the Panthers’ shootout victory. “Eastmont just got unlucky.”Wyatt Piro scored two goals in the last 15 minutes of regulation to tie the match at 2 for Wenatchee, and the loss left the Wildcats shaking their heads.”That’s soccer,” said Eastmont coach Cristian Barboza.I guess. Cheesy I know, but I wish both teams could have won. 

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I know it’s only two games, but Jacob Sealby has been incredible for Wenatchee this season. It wasn’t just running the ball this week. He blocked a punt and had the presence of mind to fall on it for a TD. He intercepts a pass from his middle linebacker spot. He’s all over the field. And it’s the way he runs the ball that stands out. He punishes defenders. He hurts them. He cannot be tackled above the waist. Even is coach is speechless.”I don’t know what to say,” Scott Devereaux said after Sealby’s 127-yard performance Friday night. “He’s just so strong and runs so hard. He gets hit by five different guys and just doesn’t go down.” 

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A post on Tom Wyrwich’s Seattle Times prep sports blog from Wednesday night got me thinking. What is preventing us from having a rib-eating contest at Country Boys’ Barbeque for high school football players. Wenatchee, Eastmont and Cashmere each send their biggest eater to Country Boys, and whoever can pile up the most bones wins bragging rights in the Valley. Foolproof, right? Maybe I just want to see how many ribs Brandon Lynch and Mike Marboe can eat. Sue me.The more I think about it, the Apple Bowl is probably the best high school athletic facility I’ve ever been to, and I’ve covered prep sports in three time zones. The grass is like a putting green, whether it’s for soccer or football. Panther girls soccer players Kathleen King, Hanna Gustafsson and I were discussing WHS’ home opener Thursday night against LC, and how excited the team is to be playing on its home turf.”Other fields we play on aren’t nearly as nice,” said Gustafsson.”Who wouldn’t want to play on this every day?” King chimed in.Agreed. 

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While covering the scintillating Wenatchee-Eastmont swim meet on Tuesday night, I struggled with identifying which swimmer was which, as everyone looks alike with a swim cap on. I asked Eastmont head coach April Cheadle if she’d ever considered putting numbers or names on the caps to identify people. I know it would help me, and more than one parent I spoke to said they had a hard time picking out their own kids. As always, it comes down to money. April said that especially for the girls, who tend to have more hair, the swim caps get worn out in a hurry.”We go through a lot of caps, and it would cost too much to specially make each one with a name or number on it. If a local business wanted to sponsor it, we’d love to do it, but I don’t think it’ll happen,” she said.Alas. 

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It’s official. NFL teams don’t care who you are or what you’ve done. As long as you can help us win, we’ll give you a second chance. Or a third. Or even a fourth.Over the strenuous objections of head coach Marvin Lewis, the Cincinnati Bengals have re-signed wide receiver Chris Henry, something they’d said they’d  never do again. Since being drafted by the Bengals in 2005, Henry has been arrested five times and suspended three times by the NFL. Now, he’s back.Bengals’ star receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh have been beset by injuries during training camp, and their backups have struggled. After a mistrial was declared in Henry’s latest court saga, dismissing charges that he assaulted a college student, team owner Mike Brown signed Henry against his coach’s wishes.Not only does this grossly undermine the authority of the head coach, the Bengals have furthered the trend of having need for talent beat out a desire to employ up-standing citizens. What happens the next time he gets in trouble?This is a disgusting development. 

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