Area roundup: Tomaras passes away

Former Washington State University wrestling coach William A. Tomaras, known as the “Father of Wrestling” in the state of Washington and director of men’s athletics at Western Washington University for nine years, died last Sunday at the age of 85, the school announced on Wednesday.

Tomaras was inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1984 and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003. His name is on the award given out by the WSWCA for the promotion of wrestling in Washington.

Tomaras organized the state’s first state prep wrestling tournament in 1953 and served as the tournament director until 1959. He was saluted at the 50th state high school Mat Classic in February of 2003 at the Tacoma Dome.

Tomaras taught and coached at Washington State University from 1948 to 1959 except for a one-year stay at University of Oregon to obtain his doctorate degree in education in 1957. His Cougar squads captured five Pacific Coast Conference championships and during one stretch won 23 straight dual matches.

Tomaras, who spent his retirement years in Port Orchard, was married for 63 years to wife, Dolly (Dorothy). They had three sons, William Jr., Gus and Randy. A memorial service will be held Aug. 22 at 3 p.m. at the Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor.

College basketball

Barrett Brown, a point guard from Phoenix, will join the University of Idaho men’s basketball team for the 2007-08 season, the school announced

Brown comes to Idaho from Mountain Pointe High School where he earned MVP honors while averaging 8.8 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.0 steals per game as a senior. He ranked in the top three in the 5A Central region for assists and steals, and in the top 10 for scoring.

“Eight home games against NCAA Tournament teams and the NIT Season Tip-Off are featured in the 2007-08 University of Washington men’s basketball schedule announced by coach Lorenzo Romar.

The Huskies open with back-to-back doubleheaders in the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off at Bank of America Arena. The Huskies are hosting the West Regional that opens Nov. 13 with Utah vs. High Point at 5 p.m. followed by UW and New Jersey Tech at 8 p.m.

The winners play the next day for a trip to New York and a semifinal game on Nov. 21 at Madison Square Garden.

The non-conference home schedule includes visits from NCAA Tournament participants Long Beach State (Nov. 26) and Pittsburgh (Dec. 8). Other non-conference home games include Eastern Washington (Nov. 18), Portland (Dec. 15), Cal State Northridge (Dec. 22) and Idaho State (Dec. 31). The Huskies away games at Oklahoma State (Dec. 1) and Louisiana State (Dec. 29).

Washington opens Pac-10 play at home on Jan. 5 against Washington State.

College volleyball

The Gonzaga University women’s volleyball team has been selected to finish seventh in the West Coast Conference for the 2007 season according to a preseason vote of the league’s head coaches.

Pepperdine University was selected as the favorite to capture the 2007 WCC regular season title. University of San Diego, the defending WCC Champions, was tabbed second followed by Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount, San Francisco, Saint Mary’s, Gonzaga and Portland.

Gonzaga returns 14 letterwinners for the 2007 season, including four senior starters. Returning to the mix are seniors Heather Dunn, Becky Jones, Briawna Mueller and Alecia Douglas.

College soccer

Five-time defending Northwest Conference soccer champion Puget Sound is once again the favorite to win the title, according to the league’s coaches.

Willamette is picked to finish second followed by Whitworth, Whitman, Pacific Lutheran, George Fox, Linfield College, Pacific and Lewis & Clark.

The Pirates (12-5-2 overall last season) welcome back first team all-NWC players Jael Hagerott and Greta Thibodeau.

“Defending champion Puget Sound edged Pacific Lutheran in the men’s preseason soccer poll voted on by the coaches.

Whitworth is picked to finish third followed by Linfield, Pacific, Whitman, George Fox, and Willamette.

The Pirates, who won conference titles in 2004 and 2005, will have to overcome the graduation of five first- or second-team All-NWC honorees from last season’s squad.

Baseball

Ferris pitcher Andrew Kittredge gave his oral commitment to the University of Washington.

The right-hander has gone 21-5 in three years for the Saxons.