Prep Notes: Invitational to start volleyball season

Volleyball teams will be showcased in a season-opening invitational this fall in conjunction with the Emerald City Kickoff Classic football event. Both are sponsored by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

Some details of the volleyball invitational are still being finalized, according to Mike Colbrese, WIAA executive director. The Friday, Sept. 1 event at Eastlake High School of Sammamish will involve eight teams — Punahou (Honolulu), Eastlake, Bishop Blanchet, Seattle Prep, Emerald Ridge (Puyallup), Curtis (University Place), White River (Buckley) and Columbia River (Vancouver).

Punahou, Eastlake, Curtis and Columbia River also have teams in the fourth annual Kickoff Classic the following day at Qwest Field.

Colbrese said the name of the volleyball event probably will include "Emerald City," but has yet to be decided.

When the inaugural Kickoff Classic was announced in 2003, WIAA officials said they hoped to eventually add other fall sports. Punahou apparently pushed up the timeline by electing to bring both its volleyball and football teams to Seattle this fall.

Punahou administrators began contacting schools such as Blanchet (Class 3A state volleyball champion in 2004) and Seattle Prep (3A champion in 2001, '02 and '03), and the WIAA got involved and helped round out the list of teams.

The WIAA looked for a more high-profile volleyball venue, such as Edmundson Pavilion or the Qwest Exhibition Center, but neither was available, Colbrese said.

Fife coach Jan Kirk, president of the Washington State Volleyball Coaches Association, said she likes the concept of the volleyball invitational, but questions the talent level of some of the invited teams. Punahou has a nationally recognized program after winning state titles in 2003 and '04.

"I think it's a great idea," said Kirk, who has guided Fife to four state titles, "but I think the WIAA should have asked the Volleyball Association for input on who to invite, because we know who's going to be good.

"If you're going to showcase volleyball, I want it to be good volleyball, and a couple of those teams aren't going to be very good."

Colbrese said "too many cooks in the kitchen" can create organizational difficulties. "Hopefully coaches can be supportive and let this work," he said. "It's a great place to start and hopefully we can improve on it in the future."

Bishop Blanchet coach Joanne Gilligan agrees.

"We all have to start somewhere," she said. "We're excited to be a part of it."

Hawes named to USA Today team

Already a McDonald's All-American and a Parade first-team All-American, Spencer Hawes received more recognition this week, being named to USA Today's All-USA first-team.

The Seattle Prep 7-footer was one of five first-team selections. Greg Oden from Lawrence North, Ind., was named the player of the year.

The University of Washington-bound Hawes led the Panthers to a Class 3A state title in March, earning tournament MVP honors. For the season, Hawes averaged 19.9 points and 11.3 rebounds, 3.1 blocks and 3.0 assists.

Auburn wrestling coach resigns

Brian Peterson is ready to pass the torch.

Peterson has resigned as head wrestling coach at Auburn, one of the top programs in the state. He said he can no longer put in the time it takes throughout the year to keep the Trojans highly competitive, primarily because of his family. Peterson and his wife, Justine, have three young children: Marcus (age 5), Karli (3), and Luke (1).

"It requires so much time, I just can't continue to do it at this point in my life," he said. "It was a very difficult decision."

In his seven seasons, Peterson guided Auburn to six top-10 finishes at state, including second place this year. Two wrestlers won state titles this season, senior Kurt Swartz (171 pounds) and junior Shane Onufer (160).

Peterson, 33, was an Auburn state champion as a senior in 1990 and became an NAIA All-America scholar-athlete at Pacific Lutheran University, where he recently was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

He said he plans to continue coaching at some level in the future.

"I have a passion for the sport and I love coaching and I love kids," he said. "This won't be the last time I'm around wrestling, I'm sure."

Peterson said he will continue to teach biology at Auburn and believes the wrestling program will continue to thrive.

"Whoever steps in is going to have a quality team," he said. "I feel good about where I've left the program. I know the administration will bring someone good in and keep up the tradition. That's all I tried to do. It was a great program and I just tried to uphold the tradition."

Notes

• Eastlake, which will host the season-opening invitational, is looking for a volleyball coach. Athletic director Brent Kawaguchi said Joelle Ediger has resigned after two seasons, citing time conflicts. Applications are being accepted until May 1. Information is available on the Lake Washington School District web site, www.lwsd.org www.lwsd.org/> .

• Girls could have their own WIAA-sanctioned state wrestling tournament as early as next season. The WIAA Executive Board recently passed the first reading of a proposal to have an all-classification championship as part of Mat Classic in 2007 and 2008. Two more readings are required.

The past three seasons, a girls invitational tournament has run in conjunction with Mat Classic and the number of participants more than doubled from 2004 (68 girls from 47 schools) to 2006 (156 girls from 77 schools).

The proposal involves an eight-entry (per weight class) tournament with regional qualifying tournaments.

• Garfield senior captain Emily Gallichotte has been awarded a USTA Pacific Northwest college scholarship worth $1,500. She has a 4.0 grade-point average and is school valedictorian.