For the past decade, area wrestling teams have travelled out of state to compete in some of the Northwest’s biggest and toughest wrestling tournaments. This season, that is changing. On Dec. 29-30, Auburn High School will host the first All-SPSL Championships. The  32-team, 32-man bracket tournament will include everyone from the South Puget Sound League – 2A, 3A and 4A. “It’s going to be brutal,” said Kentwood coach Ken Sroka. “At some weights, it’s going to be better than the state tournament.
Wrestling will go from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Dec. 29 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 30. Placing matches begin at 2 p.m. on Dec. 30. The championship round is slated for 3:30 p.m. Dec. 30.  Plaques will be awarded to the top three finishers in each weight class and medals will be given to those who place between 4 and 8. In addition, two “Outstanding Wrestler” plaques will be awarded based on a vote by league coaches.

The ShoWare Center in Kent will be home for the inaugural ShoWare Shootout presented by Allied Waste basketball event, featuring both high school and community college teams from around the Puget Sound area. A total of six games are scheduled to be held Wednesday, Dec. 22, at the ShoWare Center, with four high school games and a pair of men’s community college games.
Kicking off the action will be a game between the Mount Rainier girls and Graham Kapowsin girls at 11 a.m. The other high school games include the Tahoma boys and White River at 12:30 p.m.; Auburn Mountainview girls and Lakeside at 2 p.m. and the Auburn Mountainview boys against the Kent-Meridian at 5:30 p.m.
The Olympic Community College men will face the Clackamas \at 3:30 p.m. and the Highline men go against Bellevue at 7 p.m.

Kent-Meridian product Briana Shannon and Kentwood’s Sanda Milovic were two of the SPSL North’s top players last year as each took home second-team All-League honors.  Shannon and Milovic, both of whom are guards, are now playing at Bellevue Community College. Entering play Wednesday, Dec. 8, Milovic was leading the team with a 9.5 points-per-game average. Shannon wasn’t too far behind, ranking third on the team in scoring with an 8.4 points-per-game average.

With the Kentwood (10-0) vs. Bothell (8-2) game just hours away, I did a little research comparing the South Puget Sound League and the KingCo 4A.
A few things to consider …

• The last time Bothell was shutout was Nov. 4, 2005 — 14-0. By who? Kentwood. Bothell actually was shut out twice that year. It’s worth noting, however, the Cougars have been held scoreless in a game just twice since 2002. Unfortunately, I was unable to find much information before the 2002 season, but I suspect the streak goes back a bit further.

• Since 2000, the KingCo has won 3 state titles and has had six second-place finishes. In comparison, the SPSL has two state titles and 1 second-place finish.
• In head-to-head matchups at state since 2000, the KingCo holds an 11-2 edge over the SPSL.  Auburn beat Woodinville 28-14 in 2008, and Tahoma knocked off Bothell 24-7 in 2000.

Expect a packed house at French Field tonight, likely in the 4,000 range. That said, get there early.

Below is a look at the upcoming postseason schedules for local football, girls soccer, volleyball and cross country.

FOOTBALL
Friday, Nov. 5: Heritage (3-6) at Kentwood (9-0), 7:30 p.m., French Field
Friday, Nov. 5: Edmonds-Woodway at Auburn, 7:30 p.m., Auburn Memorial Stadium
Saturday, Nov. 6: Newport (5-4) at Kentlake (7-2), 7 p.m., French Field
Saturday, Nov. 6: Kentridge (4-5) at Bellarmine Prep (8-1), 7:30 p.m., Mount Tahoma High

GIRLS SOCCER
Wednesday, Nov. 3: Tahoma (North No. 1) vs. Beamer (South No. 1), 8 p.m., Federal Way Memorial Stadium
Wednesday, Nov. 3: Rogers (South No. 3) vs. Kentwood (North No. 3), 6 p.m., Federal Way Memorial Stadium
Wednesday, Nov. 3: Kentlake (North No. 2) vs. Curtis (South No. 2), 8 p.m., Sparks Stadium in Puyallup
* All teams will advance to the district tournament, which will be held at Art Crate Stadium (Bethel High) and Mount Tahoma High on Saturday, Nov. 6. The top eight teams from the 16-team district tournament advance to state.

VOLLEYBALL
The Class 4A West Central District tournament will be held at Kentwood on Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6.
Friday, Nov. 5: Kent-Meridian vs. Tahoma, noon
Friday, Nov. 5: Emerald Ridge vs. Kentwood, noon
Friday, Nov. 5: Auburn Riverside vs. Bellarmine Prep, noon
Friday, Nov. 5: Kentridge vs. Graham-Kapowsin, 1:45 p.m.

CROSS COUNTRY
Saturday, Nov. 6: Class 4A state meet, Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco
Who: The Kentwood and Kentridge boys teams both advanced while individuals from all four of the Kent schools also advanced.

GIRLS SWIMMING
The Class 4A state meet for girls swimming will be held Nov. 11-13 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way

Kentlake product Frederike Dubeau, a 2010 graduate, has continued her success on the soccer field at Cleveland State University.
On Oct. 29, Dubeau, along with three other Cleveland State players, were named to the All-Horizon League team.
Dubeau, a freshman, was named to the league’s All-Newcomer team.
Dubeau played in all 18 matches at central defender for the Vikings. She started in 17 games and scored one goal.
Coach Derrek Falor
Dubeau, a freshman from Kent, Wash., has played in all 18 matches as a central defender, starting 17 times. She has scored one goal.
“Our central defense has been outstanding this season,” said coach Derrek Falor said. “(Goalkeeper) Valerie (Zinkiewich) and Frederike play very well together and the differences in their styles have helped the defense come together. They do a great job of keeping the ball in front of them to limit the scoring chances of our opponents and they are almost never beaten on a ball in the air. I look forward to this duo playing together for two more years.”
The Vikings finished the regular season with a 9-7-2 overall record.

1: The number of SPSL North titles the Tahoma High volleyball team now has after knocking off Mount Rainier Oct. 21. The Bears entered the SPSL in 1997.

4: The number of SPSL North titles in a row by the Kentridge High boys tennis team.

6: The number of consecutive state berths for the Kentwood High volleyball team. The Conquerors also have advanced to state in 8 of the last 9 years. They will begin the push for seven in a row on Saturday at Beamer High during the SPSL tournament.

6: The number of touchdown Kent-Meridian quarterback Davis Jones has passed for this year.

7: A number that is apparently pretty lucky — and common — for members of the Kentlake High girls soccer team. Three players (Laura Rayfield, Alyssa Simonson and Kayla Maletich) all have scored seven goals this year. Meanwhile, Katherine Miccile isn’t far behind with 5.

9: The number of SPSL North wins in a row for Kentwood heading into Thursday night’s showdown against Kentridge.

19: The number of touchdowns Kent-Meridian quarterback David Jones has run for this year.

47: The length of the field goal in yards by Tahoma’s David Stoecker last week in a 36-34 win over Kentridge. Stoecker connected with 8 seconds left on the clock. One of the finest finishes I have ever seen.

48-47: The edge given to the Auburn High football team against rival Kent-Meridian in the annual Taylor Trophy game. The Trojans got the best of the Royals last week, 28-14, to take the one-game advantage. The second-oldest rivalry in the state, it was the 109th meeting between the two teams. Yes, I am aware that 48-47 doesn’t add up to 109. There have been 13 ties in the series, some scores were not recorded while in some years, the two programs played twice.
Kent-Meridian hasn’t beaten Auburn since 1998.
52: The number of consecutive SPSL North wins in a row by the Kentridge High boys tennis team.

289: The number of yards Kentridge High running back Cameron McKernan ran for last week against Tahoma. It was a career high, but not enough to overcome Stoecker’s big boot.

2002: The last time a football player in the SPSL North was named the Offensive Player of the Year when his team did not finish among the top two in the standings. That player was Enumclaw running back Tyson Gamblin, who was an absolute tornado for defenses to bring down. The Hornets finished 3-5 that year.

2003: The last time the Kentlake High football team advanced to the postseason. The Falcons enter the final week of the regular season this year already having earned a playoff berth. And something tells me that their no-huddle, up-tempo offense is going to give those outside of the SPSL some fits during the next few weeks.

2,160: The number of yards (rushing and passing) for Kent-Meridian quarterback David Jones this season. That number puts Jones just behind Bethel’s Chuck Hogue (2,181 yards in 2004) and in 11th place on the SPSL’s all-time list. However, Jefferson quarterback T.J. Esekielu also is making a push and should finish among the top six this season as well. Those ahead of Jones on the list include (along with Hogue in 10th):

9. Ryan Eklund, Decatur in 1999, 2,185 yards
8. Luke Huard, Puyallup in 1996 with 2,230 yards
7. Justin Rusler, Emerald Ridge in 2001, 2,288 yards
6. Damon Huard, Puyallup, 1989, 2,363 yards
5. Oliver Henry, Bethel, 2007, 2,462 yards
4. Drew Miller, Lakes, 1996, 2,576 yards
3. Flynn Cochran, Kent-Meridian, 1997, 2,594 yards
2. Jason Johnson, Rogers, 1996, 2,611 yards
1. Drew Miller, Lakes, 1995, 3,309 yards

Beamer High will host the South Puget Sound League volleyball tournament on Saturday, Oct. 30. The tournament begins at 11 a.m. and should wrap up around 8 p.m. The schedule is as follows:

GAME 1: Kentridge (5-7) vs. Rogers (7-5), 11 a.m.
GAME 2: Puyallup (11-3) vs. Kent-Meridian (8-4), 1 p.m.
GAME 3: (Championship): Tahoma (10-3) vs. Graham-Kapowsin (10-1) 3 p.m.
GAME 4: Curtis (11-2) vs. Kentwood (11-3) 5 p.m.
GAME 5: Auburn Riverside (8-5) vs. Emerald Ridge (5-4) 7 p.m.