Many Kent coaches stand out in 2007-08 season

BOB ARMSTRONG, KR BOYS TENNIS

After sharing the regular-season title with Kentwood in 2006, Armstrong’s Chargers had it all to themselves in 2007, going 12-0 in SPSL North Division matches. But that was just the start. Kentridge went on to win the team title in the league tournament, placed second in the team standings at West Central District, then brought home the second-place trophy from the Class 4A state tournament.

KYLE JONES, KENTLAKE SOCCER

For 10 years, the last game of the regular season was always the last game of the season period for the Falcons’ boys soccer team. But this year was different. With Jones in his first year at the coaching helm, the Falcons started quickly, survived some bumps along the way, and nailed down the program’s first-ever postseason berth. Kentlake wound up with a 7-4-3 record and 24 points in SPSL North Division play, enough to claim the fourth and final playoff spot.

JENNIFER McINTOSH, KR GIRLS TENNIS

The Chargers have had lots of high finishes and lots of winning seasons over the years, but never a first-place finish. And never an undefeated season. That all changed this spring when McIntosh’s crew went 14-0 to capture the South Puget Sound League North Division crown. The Chargers followed that by rolling to the team championship in the league tournament, racking up 37 points.

AARON RADFORD, KENTWOOD SOCCER

Last fall, perennial power Tahoma was the choice to win the SPSL North Division title. But after an early-season loss to the Bears, Radford’s Conquerors went on an 8-0-1 streak to close out the league schedule, finishing at 10-1-3 and edging Tahoma by one point for the division title. They went all the way to the Class 4A state quarterfinals. This spring, all of the boys preseason talk was about Jefferson. But Kentwood beat the Raiders twice to win the division title with a 9-3-2 record and 29 points, two better than TJ. The Conquerors then scored a 3-1 victory against Tahoma in the district playoffs, their first win against the Bears in 10 games. In so doing, they punched their first ticket to state since 2002.

TREVOR ROBERTS, K-M FOOTBALL

In his first year at the helm, Roberts gave the Royals a firm push in the right direction. After several years of losing seasons, Kent-Meridian finished with an overall .500 record, went 3-4 in SPSL North Division play and stayed in the playoff hunt right up to the final two weeks. The Royals went out on a winning note, beating Emerald Ridge in a season-ending crossover game, 28-7. K-M beat Jefferson, Tahoma and Decatur in division play, and added a season-opening nonleague victory against Lindbergh.

SCOTT SIMMONS, KL GIRLS BASKETBALL

Kentlake entered the season with heavy hearts as teammate and friend Carly Stowell passed away in the previous April from an acute cardiac arrhythmia while playing for her AAU team in North Carolina. Simmons, who proved coaches do considerably more than teach X’s and O’s, organized the Carly Stowell Winter Classic tournament at Kentlake in late December. Before the Falcons were to play Foss in the second of two opening-night games, Simmons delivered an emotionally-stirring speech to a mostly-filled gymnasium. As the season progressed, he was as much a counselor and friend to his pupils as he was a coach. Kentlake lost leading scorer Maggie Henley in early January to a season-ending injury, but Simmons still managed to guide this group to a 12-13 overall record along with berths in the league and district tournaments.