The Lynnwood High School football team had another rough season this past fall, but this week the Royals will finally have a reason to celebrate.
One of Lynnwood’s own, senior Geoff Meinken, plans to sign an NCAA National Letter of Intent Wednesday morning and officially accept a football scholarship from Stanford University. Meinken, a 6-foot-3, 250-pounder, was a first team defensive lineman on the 2008 Associated Press Class 3A all-state team.
“It’s a big deal for us. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a football player sign a full-ride with a Division I program, especially with someone who is the caliber of Stanford,” said Lynnwood head coach Dorian Manza.
Meinken played for Lynnwood gridiron teams that were winless this past season (0-10) and 2-8 in 2007. But his combination of size, strength and speed lured many recruiters.
In December Meinken withdrew his verbal commitment to play for Washington State University and committed to Stanford. Because of its academic reputation, Stanford was too good to pass up, Meinken said.
According to Lynnwood track coach Duane Lewis, who has been with the school since it opened in 1971, Meinken will be the first Royal to accept a D-I football scholarship in 16 years. The last one, said Lewis, was Chris Campbell, a defensive end who lettered at the University of Washington from 1994-1997.
Ben Lindsey, a 1996 Lynnwood High graduate, was recruited heavily for football but accepted a track and field scholarship from the UW.
Signing day coverage
Lynnwood’s Meinken is one of many local student-athletes who are expected to sign beginning on Wednesday, the start of the regular signing period for football, soccer, cross country and track and field. For updates go to heraldnet.com and look in Thursday’s paper. To report prep signings and verbal commitments, send an e-mail to mcane@heraldnet.com.
Meadowdale’s O’Neill is vastly improved
Who is Wesco’s most improved boys basketball player? Mariner head coach Dexter Griffen picked Meadowdale guard Roger O’Neill, who scored 24 points and hit five 3-point shots Friday against Mariner. O’Neill is averaging 18.2 points and has scored at least 20 points in three consecutive games. O’Neill “is a hard guy to stop. I’ve been here 11 years,” Griffen said, “and I think he may be the most improved player from one year to the next that I’ve seen.” Last week O’Neill verbally committed to play for Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Meadowdale head coach Chad McGuire said.
Game over
The Marysville-Pilchuck boys basketball team is a tight bunch. All eight guys on the varsity team are seniors and they often get together for video-game tournaments. In the most recent competition — an NBA Live tourney on Xbox — Tyler Holm beat Ryan Lanphere in the championship. “Ryan was not excited. It was an upset,” M-P’s Spencer Elwell said. “Ryan was devastated. He almost kicked us out of his house after that.”
Postseason wrestling tournaments begin
The road to Mat Classic officially begins this week with the first round of postseason wrestling tournaments. The 4A and 3A District 1 meets are Friday and Saturday at Marysville-Pilchuck High and Sedro-Woolley High, respectively. In 4A the top seven placers in each weight division qualify for regionals; in 3A the top four placers advance. Other wrestling events on Saturday: the Cascade Conference Championships (at Granite Falls High), 2B/1B sub-district meet (at Concrete High) and girls wrestling sub-regionals at several locations.
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
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