Eastside Catholic / Team Capsules

(All teams play in Class 3A Metro League)

Football

Coach - Chuck Tarbox, sixth year (42-12), 36th overall.

Last year - 5-4, second in Sound Division.

This year - 3-0 overall, 2-0 Metro 3A.

Returning offensive starters (7) - QB Lane Martin, 6-0, 192, sr.; RB Evan Hecker, 5-9, 160, sr.; WR Deryck Christianson, 6-0, 170, jr.; WR Mark Branenberry, 5-7, 142, sr.; OL Joe Sabey, 5-10, 215, jr.; OL Jarrod Reed, 6-7, 294, jr.; OL Mike Behrens, 5-10, 234, sr.

Returning defensive starters (6) - LB Jason Shemchuck, 5-8, 165, sr.; DB Christianson; DB Hecker; LB Rob Norswing, 6-0, 215, jr.; DL Todd Neir, 6-0, 205, sr.; DL Mark Lidzbarski, 6-0, 195, sr.

Outlook - Crusaders, off to 3-0 start, appear better than their middle-of-the-pack preseason predictions. Tarbox helped them to the playoffs three consecutive years before last season's forgettable 5-4 mark. Hecker has had big games rushing the ball and Martin has solidified the quarterback position after a year of splitting duty with the graduated Mike Rogers. Crusaders may get Christianson and Shemchuck back from injuries soon, but they still have to beat O'Dea or Seattle Prep to make the playoffs. The pivotal game with Prep is Friday at West Seattle Stadium.

Cross country

Coach - Emmet Hogan, fifth year.

Last year - Boys placed seventh in Metro AA League, 12th in district meet. Girls finished eighth in Metro AA.

This year to date - Boys 1-3, girls 2-2 in Metro 3A.

Returning boys runners - Matt Gurrad, sr.; Bennett Smith, sr.; Brian Cawley, jr.; Craig Schaefer, jr.; Garth Downing, so.; Andy Fields, jr.; Jason Kashiwagi, jr.

Returning girls runners - Tilghman Carroll, jr.; Molly Ptacek, jr.; Christy Pekava, so.; Denise Doerschel, so.; Michelle Thiry, so.

Key newcomers - Boys - Ben Stein, so.; Jason Hilton, jr.; Geoff McDonald, fr.; Todd Butler, jr.; Miles Dowlin, fr.; Alex Hudgins, fr. Girls - Christina Carlson, so.; Maira Lopez, fr.; Gretchen Ptacek, fr.; Kim Joseph, jr.

Outlook - Both boys and girls should finish in Metro's midsection. Crusader boys have to replace their only state qualifier last year, Eric Pfiefer, and return only two seniors. Girls don't return any senior runners or state competitors.

Volleyball

Coach - Kelly Vedaa, fourth year.

Last year - 10-4 Metro AA League, 16-11 overall, fifth in Metro AA, lost in first round of district tournament.

This year to date - 4-3 in Metro 3A.

Returning players - OH Kelli Binder, sr.; MB Mary Bossi, sr.; OH Ali Despard, sr.; S Brittany Reuland, sr.; RT-OH Meghan Wagner, jr.

Key newcomers - MB-OH Missy Bird, sr.; S Heather Gillis, sr.; OH Courtney Van Guilder, so.

Outlook - Crusaders struggled against traditional Metro powers Seattle Prep, Blanchet and Holy Names in first three matches. But they since have won four straight to get back in playoff picture. The rest of their league schedule should allow them to develop plenty of confidence heading into Metro tournament at the end of this month.

Girls soccer

Coach - Jaimy McLaughlin, first year.

Last year - 5-7-6, fourth in Metro AA, lost in second round of Metro playoffs to Lakeside.

This year to date - 0-4 in Metro 3A.

Returning starters - MF Allison Reynolds, sr.; D Jamie Winckoski, sr.; GK Julia Schwab, sr.; D Megan Schwender, sr.; MF Erin Reynolds, jr.; D Jenny Abbott, jr.

Key newcomers - MF Daana Forrest, so.; MF Mackenzie Dahl, so.; MF Jamie Palermo, fr.; MF Ashley Milligan, fr.; D Bethann Gurrad, jr.; Jenny Walsh, jr.; Michelle Cleverdon, so.; Allison Paine, so.

Outlook - Crusaders stumbled out of blocks, losing four of their first five games, including a frustrating 2-1 loss to Ballard. The rest of the schedule doesn't get easier, with remaining games against Lakeside, Seattle Prep and Blanchet. Those three teams outscored EC a combined 12-0 in games earlier this fall.

Golf

Coach - Tim Reilly, ninth year.

Last year - Boys placed second in Metro AA League, second in district tournament. Girls fifth in Metro AA.

Returning boys - Dave Zajac, jr.; Travis Weza, jr.; Danny Rooney, sr.; Ryan Michael, sr.

Returning girls - Jenell Craig, sr.; Jennifer King, sr.; Alison Mitchell, so.

Key newcomers - Boys - Rusty Smith, sr.

Outlook - Crusader boys should be tough and think they can win Metro, district and state championships. Zajac placed fourth at the Class AA state tournament as a freshman and Weza is defending district champion. Rooney is another returning state-tournament veteran and Smith, who moved from Eastern Washington this summer, adds more depth to already deep team. Girls should be in middle of Metro pack.