Prep Girls Athletes of the Decade

Over the past 10 years, some truly extraordinary student-athletes emerged at local high schools. We decided to try to answer an intriguing question: Who are the absolute best male and female prep competitors from the last decade?

Before we get to that, here are some notes about the criteria for this project and the selection process, which included a poll of high school coaches and athletic directors.

Athletes were ranked based on what they achieved during high school (including receiving a college scholarship and/or getting drafted) and their contributions to team achievements.

To be eligible for this list, athletes had to complete at least parts of two high school academic years from Jan. 1, 2000 to Dec. 31, 2009. That disqualified Class of 2000 graduates (most notably, Cascade High’s Grady Sizemore).

Athletes had to play WIAA-sanctioned sports and compete for Snohomish County or Island County high schools that are in The Herald’s primary sports coverage area.

This is a ranking of the best prep careers, not the best single-season or single-year performances.

1. Kristi Kingma, Jackson H.S., Class of 2008

Sports: basketball, soccer, track and field

Then: A state qualifier in three sports, Kingma was mainly known for her excellence on the basketball court. The two-time Herald All-Area Girls Basketball Player of the Year was a four-year varsity starter who in 2008 broke the 28-year-old state tournament single-game scoring record with 43 points. In her final season (2007-2008), the University of Washington recruit averaged 23.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 3.5 steals, leading Jackson to its third straight state appearance.

Now: Kingma is a sophomore guard/forward on Washington women’s basketball team.

2. Whitney Hooks, Cascade H.S., Class of 2006

Sports: volleyball, basketball, track and field

Then: The powerful thrower was a six-time individual state track and field champion with an unprecedented four straight shot put titles and two discus titles. A two-time prep All-American, Hooks had a career-best shot put of 51 feet, 1.25 inches, which ranked No. 1 all-time in Snohomish County and was 3 inches short of the state record.

Now: After signing with the University of Washington, Hooks transferred to California State University Northridge, where she competes in the shot put, discus and hammer.

3. Kayla Burt, Arlington H.S., Class of 2001

Sports: basketball, soccer, softball, track and field

Then: The guard set numerous school career records, including points (2,241) and 3-pointers (226) in 107 games (20.9 ppg) for Arlington, which she guided to four straight state tournament appearances. In 2001 the University of Washington recruit received All-American honorable mention from Street and Smith’s and USA Today after averaging 27.4 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.

Now: Burt was an assistant coach with the University of Portland women’s basketball team for a season but switched gears. She currently works as an emergency medical technician in south Seattle — an admirable career path for a woman who survived a near-fatal cardiac arrest on New Year’s Eve 2002.

4. Missy McIntyre, Oak Harbor H.S., Class of 2005

Sport: swimming

Then: A three-time nominee for The Herald’s Woman of the Year in Sports award, McIntyre won seven state individual championships (four 100-yard breaststroke titles, three 50 freestyle titles). In 2003 she broke a 22-year old state record in the breaststroke and then bettered her own mark the next year with a time of 1 minute, 2.02 seconds. McIntyre was undefeated in 88 prep races from 2002-2004 and swam at the ‘04 Olympic Trials.

Now: McIntyre swam for the University of Southern California. According to the team media guide, in the 2007-2008 season she was USC’s third-fastest swimmer in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and was a member of the Trojans’ fastest 200 freestyle relay.

5. Kylin Munoz, Monroe H.S., Class of 2009

Sport: volleyball

Then: A high-flying hitter, the 6-foot-1 Munoz was a two-time Herald Player of the Year and two-time first-team all-state selection who guided Monroe to four consecutive state tournament appearances. In 2008 she was named a first-team All-American, Washington’s Gatorade Player of the Year and the nation’s No. 6 senior by PrepVolleyball.com.

Now: Originally a Brigham Young University signee, Munoz decided to attend the University of Washington instead. As required by NCAA rules, she sat out the Huskies’ most recent season but expects to play for Washington next fall.

Honorable mentions

Kristen O’Neill, Meadowdale H.S., Class of 2001 (University of Washington basketball recruit)

Kirsten Thompson, Monroe H.S., Class of 2005 (Arizona State University basketball recruit)

Heather Hetzer, Kamiak H.S., Class of 2003 (volleyball, track and field; Long Beach State volleyball recruit)

Lindsey Newman, South Whidbey H.S., Class of 2009 (tennis, basketball, volleyball)

Dani Oster, Jackson H.S., Class of 2006 (University of Oregon soccer recruit)

Rachele Kloke, Stanwood H.S., Class of 2007 (basketball, track and field, cross country, golf; University of Idaho basketball recruit)

Eryn Jones, Meadowdale H.S., Class of 2008 (basketball, cross country, track and field; Portland State University basketball recruit)

Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.