A decade was more than long enough.
The 10-year-old AstroTurf playing surface at Goddard Stadium in Everett is gone, and John Ondriezek couldn’t be happier.
“It was just time. It had reached its limit,” said Ondriezek, head coach of the Mariner High School football team.
Mariner practiced and played home games on the old deteriorated turf, which Ondriezek said offered poor traction and caused painful abrasions. It also caused a jump in sprained ankles and knees over the past few seasons, he said.
Workers removed the old stuff and have been installing a new synthetic FieldTurf surface that is scheduled to be ready by March 1, Mukilteo School District athletic director Jim Peters said.
“We’re excited. The kids are excited,” Mariner’s Ondriezek said. “It’s a top-of-the-line playing surface.”
Kamiak’s varsity football team also plays home games at Goddard Stadium and it’s the home field for Mariner’s boys and girls soccer programs.
Goddard Stadium isn’t the only major Mukilteo School District field getting an upgrade. The six-year-old AstroPlay surface at Kamiak will be replaced with the same DuraSpine FieldTurf material going in at Goddard.
Together the projects will cost $1.1 million, said Debra Fulton, the district’s executive director of support services. Money came from the district’s reserve fund and was used mainly because of safety concerns, she said. Funding for the fields was originally included in a bond proposal that failed in February of last year.
Shooting star
Meadowdale girls basketball player Marelle Moehrle helped the Mavericks complete a rare undefeated regular season last week. Along the way, the senior forward/guard joined a special club: Moehrle eclipsed the 1,000-point career scoring barrier Thursday in a victory over Shorewood, Meadowdale coach Dan Taylor said. The four-year varsity player scored 28 points versus Shorewood and has 1,013 in her career. Moehrle averages 17.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.8 assists.
Soccer players sign
Shorewood’s Theresa Bartlett signed a NCAA National Letter of Intent with the University of Washington on Wednesday. The forward led Shorewood in scoring for three seasons. Other local girls soccer players who signed letters last week include: Jillian Lindsey (Lamar University) and Jessica Smith (Wyoming) of Edmonds-Woodway, and Bothell’s Kalley Mahaffey (Regis University).
WIAA announces Hall of Fame inductees
Former University of Washington football star Steve Emtman and current Major League Baseball pitcher Mark Hendrickson are members of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s 2007 Hall of Fame class. The induction ceremony is April 18 at the Yakima Convention Center. The inductees are: Emtman, Hendrickson and Chuck Richards (athlete category); Wayne Lackman (fine arts); Wilson boys swimming (team/program); Steve Escame and William “Jake” Maberry (coaches); Jack Reynolds (official); and Buddy Lee Gibson and Barbara Twardus (administrators).
Issaquah junior snares girls soccer honor
Kate Deines, an Issaquah junior, was named the Gatorade 2006-07 Washington Girls Soccer Player of the Year. The midfielder scored 18 goals and led Issaquah to the 3A state title. Deines, who has verbally committed to play for the University of Washington, is a United States Soccer Federation Women’s Under-17 National Team pool player.
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
