A Decade of Champions: Four titles in one day
SANDPOINT — Nov. 2, 2002, is a day that will never be equaled in the annals of Sandpoint sports history, as the Bulldogs claimed an unbelievable four state titles that Saturday. They say records are made to be broken, but with the state tournaments on different weekends now, this one might just last forever.
n 2002 Sandpoint girls cross country team
ROSTER: Danya Rumore, Ashli Ludden, Allie Brosh, Allison Hein, Sarah Clark, Kalie Pennick, Katrina Stemmene, Alissa Spade, Emily Taylor and coach Cheryl Klein.
Led by junior Allie Brosh, who captured the first ever state individual championship for Sandpoint, third place finisher Danya Rumore and seventh place finisher Ashli Ludden, the Bulldog girls captured the lone cross country team state title in Bulldogs history.
Coached by Cheryl Klein, who went on to become athletic director, the Bulldogs peaked at the perfect time, claiming the 4A team title at Farragut State Park.
Both Brosh and Rumore broke Angie Ross’s school record of 19:11 during the Sandpoint Invitational, after which Klein was quoted in the Bee as saying “the potential for the girls team is just wonderful.”
Brosh, who went on to run at the University of Montana, would break her own record twice more, at districts and finally with a smoking 18:32 at state. Prior to the state meet, the junior told the Bee she’d been waiting her whole high school career for a chance at a team state title.
Quote of the Year: “I woke up this morning and felt great,” said Brosh after winning the 4A race. “I said ‘I am going to do this.’ It hasn’t hit me yet, but it will.”
n 2002 Sandpoint volleyball team
ROSTER: Devon Natoni, Amy Dyck, Allison Sletager, Kelsey James, Beth Lane, Kelsey Kinzer, Annie Ruen, Katie Brown, Katie Lippi, Sarah Ringhand, Katie Rogers, Kara Verby and coach Jamie Poncho.
One week before the start of the season, the team was without a head coach, before Jamie Poncho stepped in and calmly guided the Bulldogs to the first of two consecutive state titles.
After failing to win a title in 2001, this Bulldogs team was hungry and focused on tighter team unity.
The team finished 35-1, with the lone loss coming in the finals of the Crossover Tournament in Spokane against Kentlake, the two-time 4A Washington champions riding an 81 match win streak.
The Bulldogs beat Hillcrest 21-13, 21-12 and 21-16 (the games were two out of three to 21 that year) in the 4A championship game. Amy Dyck tallied 10 kills, 13 assists and four blocks in the final, Kelsey James and Sarah Ringhand each had eight blocks, and Allison Sletager added six kills.
Quote of the Year: “We forgot all the negatives that happened last year,” said Dyck after the championship. “We’re so much closer this year than in the past; so much better chemistry.”
See next Tuesday’s Daily Bee for the other two state champions crowned on Nov. 2, 2002 — the boys and girls soccer teams.