Telling the untold stories

I keep telling myself to avoid the clichés, but ...

All good things must come to an end. ...

It was fun while it lasted. ...

Well, it has been fun. That much I can say with certainty.

I'm not going anywhere, but my Names in the Game column ends today. I'll miss it. But I still plan on writing compelling features involving high-school athletes in Southeast King County. Please make sure I don't miss something. Keep my e-mail address and cellphone number.

I know the stories are out there. I still want to write them for The Seattle Times sports section. You know, a player who does something remarkable. Or a coach who stands out and makes a difference. Make sure I know about them.

What I loved most about this column was being able to write about student athletes who might otherwise have gone unnoticed. OK, not unnoticed, but unwritten about beyond the game stories or event coverage.

I hated the thought of not getting a chance to write a piece on Le'Roi Edwards, the Kentridge High three-sport star who deserved the ink. He's a guy as colorful as his red hair, and he went on to reach the Class 4A state wrestling finals at 285.

It would have been a shame not to be able to feature Monica Nevi, the four-year stalwart of the Hazen High girls basketball team. Here's hoping she gets a scholarship somewhere.

Johnny Wilson, the Kent-Meridian High football star whose team finally saw some success last season, was a perfect fit for this column. Quality kid, great athlete, little notoriety. Tanuj Soni of Jefferson High in Auburn fit that mold, too, and I got to tell you more about him right before the East-West All-State football game, thanks to this column.

Names in the Game gave me the opportunity to share the story about Savannah Feist and Bre Boyce as they dreamed about leading Kentwood High near Covington to the 4A state volleyball title. The Conquerors fell short for the second straight year, but those two seniors had quite a send-off.

What a kick I got from writing about Auburn Riverside High goalkeeper Rachel Givens, a cutup off the field and fearless competitor on it.

I got the chance to write about the special relationship Kentwood High's Mark and Marley Prothero share as father/daughter, coach/swimmer. Pride oozed from Mark Prothero's every word, and rightfully so.

Cross-country runners rarely get their due, so I was happy I could feature Tahoma High's Jonathan "Jono" Lafler and Auburn Riverside High's Julian-Blake Cowan here.

Eric Jones of Auburn High might have won his second straight wrestling title without a proper send-off, so I'm grateful to Names in the Game for that.

I can't mention them all, but I can thank all the Southeast athletes and coaches for sharing their stories with me over the past 11 months. I'll miss this column. But, please help make sure I don't miss the great stories out there still waiting to be told.

Sandy Ringer: 206-718-1512 or sringer@seattletimes.com