A decade of champions: Sandpoint Bulldogs style
SANDPOINT — As aught-nine comes to a close, journalists the world over are busy compiling lists from the decade. Best movies of the decade. Biggest stories. Best teams. Best songs. Best of . . . ad nauseum.
In that spirit, the Daily Bee sports page decided to take a closer look at each of the 24 state championship sports teams from Sandpoint High School in the past 10 years, along with five more that were named academic state champions.
Who coached the 2000 Sandpoint girls soccer team to its first state title? (see answer below).
Who were the coaches and standouts on the 2002 girls cross country team, the 2003 boys track team and the 2006 baseball team, all sports in which the Bulldogs own only one state championship?
Which wrestling team set the 4A state record with 317.5 points in one state tournament, and who were the two three-time individual state champions leading that team?
Which team had three different coaches lead it to state titles this decade?
Who won the most state titles in the decade, and what was the only year in which Sandpoint claimed no team state titles?
Which year did Sandpoint win the most state championships?
Those answers and more can be found by tuning into the Daily Bee sports page every day leading up to Jan. 1, 2010, for a chronological profile of each state championship team since Jan. 1, 2000.
A Decade of Champions kicks off today with the 2000 Sandpoint girls soccer team.
n 2000 Bulldog girls soccer
Roster: Morgan McKittrick, Suzie Jensen, Breeze Clark, Jesy Rosholt, Jenna Gann, Megan Yates, Kami Crnich, Micah Thoreson, Jillian Sturm, Rebecca Sturm Kelly Carlson, Lacey Kritzeck, Callie Weiden, Amanda Jensen, Kristen Sheffler, Heather Reifsnyder, Kayla Ireland and Sarah Snedden. Head coach: Charlie Bell, assisted by Ed Bock.
Under the stewardship of Bell, the Bulldog girls claimed the first of their five state titles. Craven was the primary scoring machine on the team, registering numerous hat tricks on the season. McKittrick and Reifsnyder shared goal keeping duties throughout the year.
Cravens and Rebecca Sturm each scored in the playoff opener, and in a 2-0 win over Century in the state championship, Sheffler and Jillian Sturm each scored a goal.
Quote of the year: “It’s amazing how four different age groups can work together and click like we have,” senior Jillian Sturm told the Bee after winning districts. “Our team chemistry is what’s going to get us through next week.”
See tomorrow’s Daily Bee for a look back at the 2000 Sandpoint boys soccer team.
Editor’s note: At the expense of a few sneezes, all of the information from above was culled from the dusty old morgue books. Apologies in advance for any omissions, and any feedback, positive or otherwise, can be sent to “eplummer@bonnercountydailybee.com.”