A COMMONLY HEARD PHRASE at Sandpoint High School is “It’s a great day to be a Bulldog!” But the fact is it’s been a great season to be a bulldog. As fall sports come to an end, all of the participants in the fall athletic programs at SHS can take great pride in knowing they gave it their all and accomplished a great deal.
“I am extremely proud of all our fall athletic teams as we have completed one of the finest fall seasons in school history,” said Activities Director Kris Knowles.
The cross-country teams, coached by Matt and Angie Brass, finished strong. With a total of 49 students on both teams, the boys were regional champions and had a third place finish at State, the highest placement for them in 21 seasons. The girls also had a remarkable season repeating as the 4A Idaho State Champions. Matt and Angie attribute a great deal of that success to the leadership, commitment, and work ethic each athlete brought to the team.
“The team captains and veterans did an excellent job in welcoming the new runners, setting an example for the way things are done, and conveying the team goals,” said Matt. “Each and every athlete bought in and was fully committed to the team’s vision and goals, and they began work 12 months ago right after the 2013 State Championships to achieve them.”
The swim team also finished strong with freshman Payton Bokowy taking the state title in two events and the team finishing second in state overall. A fantastic accomplishment especially given the fact that the team is comprised of many young athletes; a sign that the next few years are sure to be exciting for this team.
Also making it to State was the girls’ volleyball team. This is the first year Erin Roos has served as head coach of the team and by the looks of things, there are some great years ahead for the volleyball team!
The boys’ soccer team finished as the regional runner up with many of their games extremely close matches, which made for an exciting season.
After posting a 4-5 record last year, the SHS football team made it to the state quarterfinals losing to Blackfoot, ID, the number one ranked team in the state who remained undefeated all year before losing a close match in the championship game. The Bulldogs played against some very difficult teams and proved to themselves and others that they can compete with the best. They finished the season with an impressive 6-5 record and look forward to next season when many players will be returning to the roster.
While all these accomplishments are exciting, there is more to be recognized than the accomplishment in the pool, on the track, or on the field; the students can also take pride in their accomplishments in the classroom as well.
The girls’ soccer team claimed the title of State Academic Champions with a 3.79 team GPA. The girls’ cross-country team had a team GPA of 3.94, quite remarkable given the time and dedication it takes to compete as well as to keep up on one’s studies.
“Our coaches do a tremendous job preparing their teams and supporting other programs throughout our athletic department,” said Knowles. “Our continued success is a tribute to their dedication, skill and teaching ability. SHS student-athletes benefit greatly from these talented coaches.”
Great job Bulldogs!
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