Selecting an Athlete of the Year always has been a fun, yet agonizing process.
During the course of the prep calendar, I see hundreds of athletes from a wide variety of sports. When selecting the ultimate winner, however, three-sport standouts typically have a slight advantage over those who take part in just one or two sports.
That’s how the Kent and Covington Reporters came to choose Kentwood’s Darrius Coleman as the 2008-09 Male Athlete of the Year for Kent/Covington.
Coleman did it all on the football field during the fall, the basketball court during the winter, and finally, on the track during the spring.
The kid just didn’t stop.
But there’s more to the award than simply athletics. Sportsmanship is always factored into the final decision as is the “student” aspect. Coleman passed both with flying colors.
The final decision, however, always is a tough one, especially when taking into account the sheer level of talent from the four high schools that are part of the Kent School District. In addition, it also should be noted that when comprising the list, input is taken from several coaches and athletic directors from the district.
That being the case, below is the list of those who also were considered for the honor.
It’s not in any specific order, but is rather a friendly nod to a handful of others who enjoyed performances worthy of noting time and time again.
Devin St. Clair, Kentwood
There probably wasn’t a more heartbreaking story during the prep year than when it was learned St. Clair would miss the final month of the track and field season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left leg, an injury suffered while playing rugby. Injury aside, St. Clair was one of the area’s most electrifying athletes this year. In football, he essentially was Kentwood’s Swiss Army knife, a kid who could – and often did – change the game with his speed. The SPSL North’s Special Teams Player of the Year, St. Clair also was a second-team defensive back. Track, however, remains the KW senior’s ticket. His time in the 200 meters (21.40) remains the best in the state and, had he been healthy for Star Track, one gold medal – and likely more – would have followed. After rehabilitating the knee, St. Clair will compete on Eastern Washington University’s track team next year.
Zach Smith, Kentlake
South County is loaded with upper-echelon track and field athletes, but Kentlake’s Smith might be at the top of the heap. He can do everything on the oval, but is known for his trademark leaping ability. The Falcon Flyer wasn’t able to defend his state title in the long jump at the state meet, settling for second after ripping off jump of 23 feet, 8 inches, a mark that surpassed his golden performance a year ago. Showing his natural ability, Smith still went out and grabbed some state gold, this time in the triple jump, in which he uncorked an impressive mark of 48-1. The Kentlake senior will compete at the University of New Mexico next year on a full-ride scholarship.
Josh Smith, Kentwood
Kentwood’s man-child (6-9, 285 pounds) is one of the nation’s best and he put it on display every time he stepped onto the basketball court this past winter. How good was Smith? His performance against Kentridge at the ShoWare Center in early February tells you all you need to know – 43 points, 21 rebounds in a 62-20 win. Smith even hit a 3-pointer and nearly brought down the entire hoop with a dunk during the win. The biggest question currently facing the two-time SPSL North MVP is where he will be playing his college ball. A 17-year-old senior-to-be, Smith can choose from any college in the nation, as he was the highest-recruited junior in the country. For now, the young star still has another season at KW remaining — a season hoop fans won’t want to miss.
Max Manthou, Kentwood
There aren’t many athletes in the entire Valley who can go by one name and get away with it. Kentwood’s Manthou is one of them. Utter the name “Max” in any tennis circle around the state and, rest assured, people will know about whom you’re speaking. Manthou is – and has been – that good. The Kentwood junior won his third consecutive Class 4A boys singles title a little more than a week ago, fending off Kentridge standout Matt Overland in the finals at the Tri-City Court Club, 6-2, 7-6. In doing so, Manthou became just the ninth boy at all classification levels to win three in a row. The only thing remaining for the tennis star to accomplish is No. 4. If Manthou can do that next spring, he will join a select group of just five others who have accomplished the feat, though Manthou would be the first to do it at the Class 4A level. The future remains bright as well as Manthou already has verbally committed to the University of Washington.
Ruben Navejas, Kentwood
In an area known for producing a hotbed of top-notch wrestlers, Navejas is one of Washington’s best. As a freshman in 2008, he turned the state on its ear his freshman season, entering Mat Classic with an unblemished 37-0 record and eventually took fifth place. Kentwood’s super sophomore wouldn’t be denied the state’s top spot this past winter, when he outlasted Bryce Evans of Rogers (Puyallup) in overtime, 4-2, to claim the 103-pound title. Navejas had lost to Evans twice in three matches during the season, but there was no stopping the lightweight in February. He finished the year with an impressive 38-2 overall record and next winter will look to become the school’s first two-time state champ since Brandon Hunter won back-to-back in 2002 and 2003.
Steven Warner, Kentwood
One of the classiest prep athletes you’ll ever meet, Warner is just as talented on the track and field oval. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior was disqualified from the 300-meter hurdles at the district meet two weeks ago after an opponent inadvertently tipped one of Warner’s hurdles, causing the KW senior to sprawl to the ground. Warner entered the event with the best time of the meet. However, he, took the unfortunate incident in stride and focused all of his attention on the 110 hurdles at state. It showed, too, as Warner blistered the competition with a gold-medal winning, school-record time of 14.23 seconds. More impressive, however, might be how Warner reacted to the medal, the first of his prep career. Instead of talking up his own performance, he praised coach Rhamu McCoy for helping him achieve the goal. Warner will be running at Eastern Washington University in the fall.
