‘On the side’ is a glance at the week’s top ticket, streaks, numbers and miscellaneous sports rumblings involving Covington and Maple Valley.
KW TO PLAY AT QWEST
The Kentwood Conquerors will be on center stage Sept. 6, when they open the 2008 football season against Class 3A powerhouse Kennedy in the Emerald City Kickoff at Qwest Field in Seattle.
The 4 p.m. showdown is one of the marquee games of this year’s event. Other contests include: Class 1A Cascade Christian vs. Class 2A Fife at 9:30 a.m.; Class 3A Eastside Catholic vs. Class 4A Eisenhower at noon; Class 4A Puyallup vs. Class 4A Bellarmine Prep at 3 p.m.; and Hawaii’s Punahou vs. Class 4A Central Kitsap at 8 p.m.
The Kentwood-Kennedy game pits two of the state’s most tradition-rich programs. Until last year, when it lost to Nathan Hale in a state-qualifying game, 21-14, Kennedy had earned state berths in 15 straight seasons. The Lancers took second in 2006.
Kentwood, which won state titles in 2000 and 2001, hasn’t advanced to state since 2005, when its run of seven straight state berths came to an end.
“I think it’s a pretty neat opportunity for the kids,” Kentwood coach Rex Norris said. “They’re pretty excited about it. We’re notoriously slow starters … but it could be something that ends that trend.”
SOCCER MERGER
The FC Marauders and MVFC Rapids, both of which are part of the Washington State Youth Soccer Association, recently merged to become MV Premier. The girls U-11 to U-18 programs will now be known as the MVP Marauders. The boys U-11 to U-18 programs will be known as the MVP Rapids.
Maple Valley Premier will be holding tryouts for the Marauders girls U-16 and U-17 teams on the following dates: For the girls U-16 program — Saturday May 10 at 8:30 a.m. (Starfire Sports Center), Sunday May 11 at 1 p.m. (Tahoma High) and Sunday May 12 at 6:30 p.m. (Starfire Sports Center). For the girls U-17 program — Sunday May 11 at 3:30 p.m. (Tahoma High), Monday May 12 at 6:30 p.m. (Starfire Sports Center) and Friday May 16 at 6:30 p.m. (Starfire Sports Center).
For more information on the merger between the Marauders and Rapids or for more on tryouts, e-mail mvp.soccer@comcast.net.
