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Shelton-Mason County Journal
rters
By EMILY HANSON
em.ily@ma,~'on, eo~tn/yocorrt
One month ago, Mike Malpass
was in charge of the Shelton girls'
soccer team as its head coach. He
was running summer practices
and gearing up for the fall season.
His preparations came to a halt
when Athletic Director Jim Jud-
son contacted him three weeks ago
to inform him he would no longer
be the head girls' soccer coach.
During the school board's meet-
ing on Aug. 14, Malpass, parent
Heather Maddox and others sup-
porting the coach spoke to the
board during public comments.
"There's been a lot of discussion
and debate (about my contract),"
Malpass Said.
He told the board there were is-
sues during the girls' soccer season
last year but that he was led to be-
lieve by Judson last spring the is-
sues had been resolved and a plan
Journal photo by Emily Hanson
Mike Malpass speaks to the Shelton School Board
regarding his contract renewal as head girls' soccer
coach during the board meeting on Aug. 14 at CHOICE
Alternative School.
was in place for Malpass to contin- "I was asked to come in and
ue being the coach of the program, change the direction and to im-
prove the program," Malpass said.
"I came across some difficulties --
some I expected, others I did not."
After a few parents brought con-
cerns to Judson, Malpass said he
was found to not have broken any
rules. He said he felt some parents
just wanted him to be fired.
"I've never been accused of such
things before. I think there are
enough people who know me and
my ability to coach to know these
allegations are personal, not fac-
tual," Malpass said. "This came as
a shock to me."
Maddox told the board that it
is rare for Shelton to have a coach
with Malpass' experience and abil-
ity to relate to children.
"I would like you to rethink
your decision," Maddox said.
Maddox read parts of a let-
ter she had also submitted to the
school board. In her letter, she
said she has known Malpass both
See Coach on page C-4
Shelton senior running back Ralph Kinne moves up the field during practice on Tuesday.
Journa photos by Emil, Hanson
Red vs. Black Scrimmage 6:30 p.m. tomorrow
Shelton senior quarterback Jared Welander
steps back to pass.
By EMILY HANSON to do what we g0tta do and be positive
emily@masonc.ounl, y.com with it."
Ajamu said he committed to Oregon
State because the Beavers run a tight-
The Highclimbers are on their way end spread offense.
to being a good football team again. "That's perfect for me," he said.
That's what head coach Matt Hinkle "Plus, it's halfway between here and
told the 74 Shelton athletes gathered California."
around him at the end of practice on The remaining seniors are: Thomas
Tuesday. Gettle, DeShon Bell, Jake Lindley, Ben
"Based on the team, we bring back Anderson, Jake Frakes, Jake Sims, Kev-
a lot of experaence and kids who put in in Biswell, Nolan Hoffman, Dominique
a lot of time in during the offseason," Strasburg, Shelby Salisbury, Kaeleb
Hinkle said after practice. "Their com- Wright, Betsaid Garcia and Jearod Afo.
mitment level is impressxve." The Highclimbers will play in the 3A
In Hinkle's 18th season with Shel- Narrows League this year and Hinkle
ton, he is assisted by offensive coordi- said he's expecting success.
nator Cary Nagle, Todd McPhee, James The last time Shelton was a 3A
Sobotka, Chris Frazier, Brandon Fra- school was the 2008 season. The High-
zier. Rich Unterseher, Mike Gettle and climbers made it to the playoffs before
Eric Rehwaldt. losing to Bellevue.
This is the largest team the High- "I think we can repeat that success,"
climbers have seen in several years. Hinkle said. "The kids are prepar-
With the team's strength in numbers, ing themselves and setting their goals
there is also a depth of experience that high."
includes 17 seniors. To work toward that success. Hin-
Among the returning seniors are kle returned the team from last year's
first-string quarterback Jared We- spread offense back to a run offense
lander, tight end David Ajamu -- who with play action.
recently verbally committed to Oregon "It's a multiple offense where you
State -- and running back Ralph Kinne, run plays based on what the defense is
who broke the school's single game doing," he said. "It's our comfort zone, I
rushing record last year. guess. We'll still run a bit of the spread
"I think we're doing good," Kinne
said. "We're all like brothers. We need See Football on page C-3
Shelton-Mason County Journal
Journal photo by Emily Hanson
Shelton senior John
Pentony keeps his
eye on the ball during
boys' tennis practice
on Tuesday.
Seniors
swing
strong
Shelton boys'
tennis team
returns with
experience
By EMILY HANSON
emily@masOncounty.com
A competitive season is
expected from the Shelton
boys' tennis team with near-
ly the entire varsity lineup
returning.
"This year will be fun,"
head coach John Perry said.
"We'll be in the 3A and last
time we were, we won the
league title. We'll match up
a lot better with teams."
Perry, in his 22nd year as
head coach and assisted by
Dann Gagnon, is overseeing
17 boys this season, with the
potential to have a total of
25 by the time school starts.
On the roster are 11 return-
ing seniors: Alex Newman,
Josh Priest, Vincent Morini,
Brandon Goodell, Dalton
Jaske, Michael Johnson,
Alex Bidwell, Alex Deacon,
John Pentony, Daniel Huff
and Jordan Keranen.
"John Pentony and Alex
Deacon did really well at 4A
last year," Perry said.
Competing against 4A
teams was difficult for the
Highclimbers last season,
with most of their oppo-
nents playing multiple ath-
letes who were year-round
club tennis players.
"We played really well
but we had to play the top
4A schools in the state," Per-
ry said. "We beat the schools
we expected to beat."
With so many returning
See Tennis on page C-4
Schedule
Sept. 6 - 3:30 p.m. at Gig Norbol
Sept 11 - 3:30 p.m. vs. Bellormine
Sept 13 - 3:30 p.m. at South Kitsap
Sept. 18 - 3:30 p.m. at Lincoln
Sept. 20 -3:30 p.m. vs. Timberline
Sept. 24 - 3:30 p.m. at Yelm,
Sept. 25" 3:30 p.m. vs. Henry Foss
Sept. 27 - 3:30 p.m. at North
Thurston
Oct. 2 - 3:30 p.m. at Wilson
Oct. 4 - 3:3(3 p.m. vs. Mt Tahoma
0d. 9 - 3:30 p.m. vs. Central Kitsep
Octi 11 -- 3:30 p.m: at Olympia
Oct. 18 - 8 a.m. Narrows League
Tournament Day l, Iocalion to be
de[ermined
Oct. 20 - 8: a.m. Norrows League
[oornament Day 2, Iocalion to be
determined
- Thursday, Aug. 23,2012 - Page C-1