2010 falls sports season in the books

Since quarter-sized snowflakes are currently falling outside the window of the Daily Bee, it seemed appropriate to get a fall sports wrap up column out before the winter sports season hits full gear.

While there will be no new state banners to hoist onto the walls of Les Rogers Court, it was a memorable season nonetheless. Plus, years like this reaffirm that while the Bulldogs can make winning volleyball and soccer state titles look easy some years, the hard truth is that it isn’t.

Here is a smattering of highlights from the 2010 falls sports season.

No joy in titletown

The boys soccer team also knows how it feels to lose by way of shootout, falling to Moscow in the district championship and losing out on the chance to defend its 4A state title and add yet another banner to the burgeoning collection.

For area soccer fans, or at least this one, the season will be remembered for the scintillating play of senior Tanner Williams. I’ve covered prep sports in Sandpoint for more than five years, and Williams is the most talented athlete I’ve had the pleasure to watch, bar none.

Possessing speed, power and the flair that the great ones seem to have, Williams is the rare athlete that comes through Idaho who has the potential to play his sport at the highest level, should he so choose.

Prine on the brain

Every time I would type in the name of Sandpoint soccer player Sophia Meulenberg, I would have the John Prine song “Paradise” rolling through my head for the rest of the day.

Despite the different spellings, the name in the song sounds the same, and truth be told, there are far worse songs to have stuck in your head. In fact, the lyrics and melody are running through my head as I type: “And daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenburg County, down by the Green River, where paradise lay . . .”

Cardiac kids

It was a treat to watch the Sandpoint girls soccer team’s state tournament run, regardless of the final outcome.

All three games went into overtime, with two going all the way to shootouts. While it may not be fun for the parents — especially the goalie’s parents — it sure makes for high drama.

Sure, it’s not the most ideal way to determine a state champion, but if the referees had let the scoreless state final between Sandpoint and Bishop Kelly keep going, they might have played all night.

Mann-sized mistake

Leading up to the state tournament I ran a picture of junior swimmer Chris Mann, and for reasons I can’t explain, my fingers typed the words Eric Mann when my mind clearly knows the difference between the two swimming brothers. I’ve been reprimanded by angry parents for far less, so it was a nice surprise when I heard the following voice mail from proud mom Jayne Davis on my answering machine at work.

“I have to tell you, the pic of Chris in the paper with Eric’s name under it couldn’t have been more perfect,” said Davis, whose son Chris placed second in the 400 meters at state. “Isn’t it great that we live in a small town, and you know all these kids and their brothers. Chris thought it was the funniest thing in the world, and I think it made him swim faster. It couldn’t have been any better. I wanted to thank you for that.”

RIP Jenks

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the passing of David Jenkins, a loyal Bulldog fan and an inspiration to all who knew him. Jenks cheered on his teams to the very end, even planning to head down to the girls state soccer tournament not two days before his death. His presence and positive nature will be missed at future sporting events, but certainly not forgotten.

Eric Plummer is the sports editor of the Daily Bee. For comments, suggestions or story ideas, he can be reached at 263-9534, ext. 226, or via e-mail at “eplummer@bonnercountydailybee.com.”