1997 Has Been A Banner Year For Valley Athletes West Valley’s Cindy Simpson In The Thick Of It

During a school year that produced three state championships, a second-place state finish, many league titles and untold individual honors for Valley high school athletes, Cindy Simpson experienced it all.

“The goal I set at the beginning of the year was I wanted to to go to state in every sport,” said Simpson.

It was a goal met. The West Valley High School senior was one of two Eagles who participated in three state tournaments - soccer, basketball and track.

West Valley’s soccer team lost in the opening round of the state tournament last fall. But the WV basketball team won the State AA title in March. And last weekend Simpson anchored two state-placing relay teams at Star Track XV.

During her track career, Simpson won five medals at three relay distances over the course of four successive AA state meets. She also helped lighten her coach’s wallet.

“Last year the Strandberg Invitational cost me $50,” coach Dori Robertson recalled.

The sprinters ran seven races, WV won the meet and they made her ante up for burgers at Red Robin.

Simpson, Robinson continued, was two different people.

As her teaching assistant, Simpson was quiet and serious. In track she was a practical joker who enjoyed nettling her coach.

But she was also an athlete who stayed late to practice and who would have run in seven events were it allowed.

“Cindy wants to run four events and the relays,” said Robertson. “It makes sense to her.”

That kind of versatility translated into state appearances on three different 400 relay teams, two 800 relay teams and two 1,600 relay teams. She qualified for state in two open 200 meter sprints, one 400 and this year was in the 100 meter hurdles.

It was an event she took up after Spring break, ran in two league meets and ultimately bettered 17 seconds during the state prelims.

Perhaps there’s a heptathlon in her future.

She was the Frontier League’s MVP defender for WV’s state qualifying soccer team.

Simpson is still amazed by the Eagles’ state basketball championship.

“It still doesn’t seem real,” said Simpson. who came off the bench for the WV basketball team. “We had so many good players, I did anything I could to be helpful.”

On that team were senior four-year letter winner, Dawn Salfer, and three-year letter winners Simpson, Stacey Roberts (the other three-sport state participant), Kiesha Sowers and Sherry Shollenberger.

For all seniors, athletic careers have come to an end, but memories will long remain.

Eagle Vinnie Pecht this year threw the discus farther than any prep athlete in Washington history, 207-2, and last weekend won the state championship by 31 feet.

University’s Andy Roberts became Spokane’s first three-time state champion wrestler.

East Valley’s girls cross country won its third straight state championship last fall. Three team members graduate, including Angie Simmers who placed among the state’s top six three times. She was second as a freshman.

During the winter, the Knight wrestling team won its first state title and had two individual finalists. Six athletes placed, including seniors Christopher Duncan, Kevin Woolf, Quinton Chapman and Joe Adamson.

The Knights had a banner year with two team state championships, seven Frontier League titles, two second places and appearances in nine state meets, including football, volleyball, boys and girls cross country, wrestling, softball, tennis, golf and track. EV’s boys harriers were sixth.

The Knight volleyball team went undefeated in league and district.

Central Valley’s girls basketball team reached the state final, culminating the career of all-time scoring leader Crystal Lee and fellow three-year starters Andrea Kallas and Ginger Clark.

This spring, University High’s 400 relay team, featuring seniors Mike Turner, Tim Buchanan and Jason Berger, and sophomore javelin thrower Casey Lektorich also won state titles.

Valley Christian School’s Carmen Evans capped her four-year career with a State B title in the 100 meter hurdles.

CV’s Whitney Schmaljohn had a remarkable meet, earning four medals. On Saturday night she placed in the 200 meter dash and in two relays practically back-to-back-to-back.

EV’s Jerry Claridge earned medals in the 400 relay and two horizontal jumps. Ken Skogen placed fourth and Christy Blindauer was eighth in the discus.

West Valley’s softball team qualified for state for the 11th time in 13 years, winning one of the Eagles three Frontier League titles. And a young EV softball team joined them in Tacoma.

University won three Greater Spokane League titles, placing at state in wrestling and gymnastics and qualifying for state in softball.

CV wrestlers shared a GSL crown.

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