Chargers sweep league, Wilson Cup and state titles for the second straight year<\/b><\/p>\n
Most coaches in any sport would be delighted to go out with any kind of a championship.<\/p>\n
Kentridge High judo coach Philip Davis is going out with a triple crown \u2013 two of them, to be precise.<\/p>\n
The Chargers wrapped up an impressive parting gift for their coach last weekend when they captured the state title in their own gym. And for the second consecutive year, that gave them a sweep of judo\u2019s three crown jewels: the Puget Sound Judo League championship, the George Wilson Challenge Cup, and the state championship.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt real good to go out like that \u2013 they only remember the last best thing you did,\u201d Davis said with a laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t surprised (at the results). We had a very strong cohort of kids coming in,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are always the unknowns, the variables that may change. But I was pretty sure we could take state again because we had a strong lineup.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taking state has become a pleasant habit at Kentridge. This title was the seventh in a row and eighth in the last 11 years for the powerful program. The Wilson Cup, which symbolizes supremacy among the four Kent District high schools, was KR\u2019s second straight.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad we got it again. There have only been two (triple crowns) in the history of Kent judo, and we have them both,\u201d said senior Matthew Campos, one of Kentridge\u2019s four state gold medalists. \u201cWe made history by getting it last year, and made history again by getting it twice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Added senior captain Quinton Beedle, \u201cThat was something we wanted to do again. We were planning for it the entire season.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Chargers not only extended their string of state titles, they claimed this one in record-setting fashion. Kentridge racked up 101 points, eclipsing by one the old record of 100 set by Kentwood in 1997.<\/p>\n
The power of 10<\/b><\/p>\n
Kentridge competitors garnered 10 medals: four gold (Amy Say, Edward Kuo, Beedle and Campos), three silver (Samantha Dang, Alazim Lao and Matthew Degrate) and three bronze (Angie Hong, Kathleen Shuster and Vincent Lee).<\/p>\n
The Chargers went 8-1 in Puget Sound Judo League matches, then scored victories against all three of their Kent rivals in the Wilson Cup, including 85-37 against Kentwood in the final after both teams won their first two matches.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a nail-biter,\u201d Davis said. \u201cKentwood came over with all guns blazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Added Beedle, \u201cWe were expecting that. But I had full confidence in our team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kentwood had the edge in the girls portion of the match, winning five of the seven bouts. But Kentridge dominated on the boys side, winning seven out of eight.<\/p>\n
Davis cited Beedle, Campos and Degrate for their season-long steady performances. But he spoke just as enthusiastically about three first-year competitors: junior Joseph Cordell, sophomore state silver medalist Dang and freshman state champion Kuo.<\/p>\n
Beedle, who is on the verge of earning his black belt, said some of the new girls in particular were key.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a lot of people who were veterans quit the team, so we had a lot of positions to fill,\u201d Beedle said. \u201cThey grew quickly, and they were very important.\u201d<\/p>\n
Golden glow for K-M, KW<\/b><\/p>\n
Kentwood and Kent-Meridian also crowned individual state champions last weekend.<\/p>\n
Raqia of Kent-Meridian won the women\u2019s 44-kilogram division, and Royals teammate Vivian Vu took the 57 kg crown.<\/p>\n
Kentwood had five winners, all on the girls side: Mikaela Cekalski at 48 kg, Asha Louie at 52 kg, Katie Burton at 63 kg, Tess Pinkney at 78 kg and Katie Stillings at 78-plus kg.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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