Mike Vlahovich

It would be tough enough for Pullman to duplicate last year's dream season in which the State 2A champion Greyhounds were 14-0, beating State 3A finalist Prosser along the way. But now they play in a Great Northern League bolstered by the addition of three former 3A schools and in a stronger 2A classification statewide.

Last season Max Manix was one of three potential Gonzaga Prep quarterback starters and the Bullpups, a year removed from playing in the State 4A semifinals, were considered a Greater Spokane League football afterthought. Manix, by circumstance, wound up Gonzaga's sole QB and his gaudy varsity debut spurred the Bullpups to a second-place finish and into the state playoffs for the sixth straight year.

Youth was being served from Spokane Valley to the South Hill and North Side on the first day of football practice for current and former Greater Spokane League high schools. And that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Several teams will be bolstered by inordinately gifted juniors, joined in turn by some talented sophomores. About 160 dotted rosters in last year's GSL program and at least 25 played regularly – not counting those from Cheney, Clarkston and West Valley who have left for the 2A Great Northern League.

Pat Tyson is on the move again. This time he's going to Kentucky. A year removed from coaching his alma mater, NCAA champion Oregon's distance runners, then returning to coach Mead cross country to second in state last fall, Tyson will coach Wildcats men and women cross country and distance runners.

Scott Sutherland did not play baseball, but he has been coaching the sport and awaiting his opportunity to head a high school program for some time. So when 28-year University coach Don Ressa and his longtime assistant announced they would swap hats, making Sutherland the head coach, it came as no surprise.

A stress fracture suffered by University basketball star Angie Bjorklund has been a bad break for the Spokane Stars. As a result the Stars Elite Blue traveling team must play its ambitious summer schedule without Bjorklund – its most high-profile player.

Twenty years have gone by since Sean Carty, at the time just graduated from small Vashon High School, was a player in the East-West All-Star football game. Carty, Mead's football coach, is the defensive coordinator and running backs/linebackers coach for the East team at Saturday's 4A/3A game in Everett.

Size matters, apparently. Winston Brooks, whose Hoop Hearted team won Hoopfest's Men's Elite 6-feet and under division for an unprecedented fourth straight year, noticed. Their title game against Arizona and One was supposed to follow the Women's Elite title game at Center Court.