Shadle’s Brett Rypien named Washington 3A player of the year

SEATTLE – Shadle Park quarterback Brett Rypien has been voted The Associated Press Washington Class 3A player of the year for 2014.

Rypien, who finished as the state’s all-time leader in yards passing with 13,044 yards and 134 touchdowns, topped the voting that was announced on Tuesday. He threw for 4,223 yards and 48 touchdowns this season.

Chiawana running back Austin Urlacher was voted the AP’s state player of the year for all classificationa after setting a single-season, 11-man state record for yards rushing.

Urlacher also was voted the the Class 4A player of the year.

Urlacher rushed for 2,877 yards and scored 32 touchdowns in helping lead the Riverhawks to the 4A title game for the second straight year.

Ellensburg’s Gabe Caskey was voted the Class 2A player of the year after rushing for 2,190 yards and scoring 28 total touchdowns. Caskey broke a 21-year-old school record for yards rushing and was the CWAC offensive and defensive MVP. Caskey was a first-team all-state selection as a linebacker as a junior.

Cascade Christian quarterback Jaelin Goldsmith was the 1A player of the year. Goldsmith was the Nisqually League offensive MVP throwing for 1,840 yards, rushing for 553 yards and finished with 26 total touchdowns.

T.J. Morris was voted the 2B player of the year after helping Okanogan to the state title. Morris rushed for 2,318 yards and 32 touchdowns and was the Central Washington 2B League offensive MVP.

Neah Bay sophomore Cole Svec was voted the 1B player of the year. Svec rushed for 1,578 yards and 25 touchdowns and threw two touchdown passes. Svec also have five interceptions on defense, returning two for touchdowns.

Voting was conducted by sports writers and editors from around the state and done in collaboration with the Yakima Herald-Republic.