Pit Viper Sports Washington

Kamiak's Pierre producing for Knights

It is hard not to watch Kamiak's boy's basketball team and not see Josiah Pierre's fingerprints all over the success.
The 6-foot-5-inch wing has been having himself quite the season.
Recently, he poured in 28 points and ripped down 10 rebounds in a win over Mariner. That came on the heels of scoring 41 in a win over Spanaway Lake to close out the 2022 portion of the season.
He can shoot.
He can rebound.
He can defend.
And, he can dominate.
It has been that way since he moved from Florida to Washington when he was three and was introduced to basketball as a child.

"Over the summer, when I was around 7 years old, my uncle, who played basketball in college, would take me, my two brothers and my cousins to the YMCA and train us. From then on, I played in boys and girls club teams and then a feeder program for the high school I would eventually attend. I also began playing AAU from sixth grade to the summer of 12th grade," Pierre said.

A season ago, Pierre found his offensive efficiency, especially on nights when he scored a lot.

"My goals for this season are to win the Wesco 4A MVP, win 4A Wesco, shoot 30 percent or better from three and to average 20-plus points, seven-plus rebounds and three-plus assists," said Pierre, who has been averaging 18 points, five rebounds and a steal, while shooting over 50 percent from the field.

Currently, he has generated interest from the likes of Central Washington and Black Hills State University.

And, with the 2023 portion of the schedule underway, he has his his sights set solely on improving. himself and helping Kamiak secure wins.

"In terms of potential, my team has the talent to win our league and make a deep playoff run. To get there, it is important that we work on our overall defense, specifically help side. At times, our offense was stagnant last year and we simply were not making shots," Pierre said.

Chiawana's Bishop seeking gold medal

After finishing third place last year in the 170-pound category, Judah Bishop has his sights set on not only helping his Chiawana teammates claim the wrestling state title for the third consecutive year, but the senior is looking for a gold medal of his own.
It is something he has been building towards since he followed in his brother's footsteps and entered the sport at the age of 7.

"I got into wrestling because my older brother wrestled, and I grew up going to watch his matches and tournaments. I started wrestling when I was 7. What I enjoy the most about the sport is the resilience and work ethic it builds and how you get out exactly what you put in and you can't hide from the hard work," Bishop told Pit Viper Sports Washington.

The hard work has propelled him to a strong senior season, as he looks to erase the bad taste from his mouth after last year's state tournament.

"What stands out to me is I fell short in the semis last year and ended up taking third. I will not be denied this year. I am getting my title," Bishop said.

And, for those who doubt him, he has a strong message.

"I have been trying to wrestle the tough matches and get the best competition I can. It is 100 percent serving a fire under me the way last year ended. It is my senior year and I feel like I am putting in the work I need to get there. In addition to that, we are looking to get another team title and another goal is to sign to play either football or wrestle somewhere," Bishop admitted.

Bishop is also an All-State linebacker for Chiawana and holds an offer from McPherson College. He told Pit Viper Sports Washington that his play in football has prepared him for wrestling and vice versa.

"Wrestling really prepares you for football because it teaches you how to be violent with your hands and hips and helps you tackle with good form. Football helps prepare by getting me in better shape and it makes you tougher," Bishop said.

Melcher settling into role at Washougal

There is an adage in life that applies well to sports -- if it's not broke, don't fix it.
Veteran basketball coach Tim Melcher has taken that approach in his first season at the helm of the Washougal High School girl's basketball team. He replaced Brittney Ervin, who resigned after leading Washougal to a 17-7 campaign and a spot in the Class 2A state tournament last season.
For Melcher, who had guided Washougal to a 2-2 mark heading into this week, the opportunity to coach Washougal was something he just could not pass up.

"I got cut from my sophomore basketball team because I was 5-foot-2-inches at 16 and went to the YMCA and asked to coach a team. They gave me a second grade boys team. Since then, I have been hooked. I have worked my way up through the rec leagues, coached middle school as an assistant coach and then a head coach, was a varsity assistant at the high school level, head coach at the c-team level and then the JV level and then got my first head varsity coaching job in Phoenix, Arizona. When I came back from Arizona and I started working with the Clark College women's program and was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Clark for two years. Traveling all over the northwest bringing in recruits from Alaska, Nevada, Idaho and Oregon to fill two full recruiting classes. Now I have the opportunity to take over the Washougal girls program," Melcher told Pit Viper Sports Washington.

The veteran coach admitted that what he enjoys most about coaching is the development of players and seeing them become better, gain confidence and become true students of the game.

"I was never the greatest player, but I worked hard and always knew the game better than most. Being a student of the game, studying and breaking down the game to be able to teach it is my favorite part," Melcher said.

For Melcher, the opportunity to take over the girl's program brings him back full circle, as he started his career in Washougal, as his first paid coaching job was at Canyon Creek Middle School, he said.

"I have a connection to this community and I wanted to go back. They have a history of winning, obviously, but the players that helped with that success are all gone. It's not a rebuild, but it is a redevelopment of younger talent and building the foundation for the future. I was intrigued by this job because I really like the small town environment, I love the culture and how passionate the students and parents are about basketball and how invested they are in the future of the program. The team is young. The talent is there to win, but we need to develop our identity and not look at the past. It is a great opportunity for a young team to really develop and build towards the future. We are led by Chloe Johnson as a senior leader and we will see who else steps up to the plate to take on a big role this year," Melcher said.

While Washougal has a history of winning, Melcher admits he is taking a different approach when it comes to goals this season.

"Expectations are high. They have a history of winning recently at Washougal, and I would like nothing more than to continue that. At the same time, winning a state title or district title is not going to be our goal. Our goal is to get better each an everyday we step on the floor and to maximize this team's ultimate potential. We have a lot of young, talented players, but they haven't been pushed like this before. We are going to analyze every game, we are going to build strength in our unity and we are going to increase our basketball skill and IQ. One of my favorite quotes is, "it's not about being the best, it's about being better than you were yesterday," and that is going to be our focus. When it's all said and done, could we be hosting another trophy in Yakima at the end of the season? Absolutely. Is that our immediate goal today? No. Our immediate goal is to unify as a program, as a team and begin our journey together working to get better everyday," Melcher said.

Arthur is turning heads this season

With some athletes, regardless of the sport, you can just tell they are built different.
They show it in the way they conduct themselves on and off the court.
They show it in their play.
Jake Arthur is one such player, as the Newport High School (Bellevue) shooting guard has been on a tear during his senior season, playing with confidence and swagger, but also doing whatever it takes to help lift his teammates to victories.
In other words, he is doing what he has always done on a basketball court.

"I got into basketball through my family. My dad got my sister and I into basketball very early and we both stuck with it growing up," Brown told Pit Viper Sports Washington.

The senior, who is averaging 12.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals, has the Knights off to a 7-4 start this season and is looking to improve on last season.

"Last year, we had a really good team, but we struggled to connect consistently. That was something that really stood out and, as one of the leaders, it has been one of my main focuses to try and get the chemistry right," Arthur said.

How good can the Knights be this season?
Arthur believes they can be good, especially down the stretch.

"I think my high school team has the potential to be really good. We had four returning starters from last year and seven to eight returning players. We are senior heavy, so one of our strengths is experience. Our team has a lot of good athletes and playing in summer ball and fall ball has helped us challenge some good teams. In order for us to get to where we want to go, we are going to need everybody on the team to buy in and commit to pushing themselves consistently," Arthur said.

His play is starting to be noticed by colleges, as he currently has offers from Northwest University and Oberlin College.

"It was a big confidence booster for me. I put in a lot of work to get to that point and to gain confirmation that my hard work was paying off felt really good. I am really appreciative of the coaches that have given me an opportunity to play in their program," Arthur said of his first two offers.

Arthur admits his recruiting is starting to take off as the result of his play, going to recruiting camps and exposure events.

"Once I started getting traction with my recruitment, a good amount of schools began reaching out. I have been in constant contact with about six to seven schools ranging in level," Arthur admitted.

Kennedy Catholic's Cross accepts college position

For seven seasons, Sheldon Cross built Kennedy Catholic into a powerhouse in Washington high school football.
Cross amassed 55 wins on the high school level and had gone 36-6 since 2019, was named the 2022 Washington State 4A Coach of the Year and helped guide the Lancers to the the Class 4A state title game, falling to Lake Stevens. Along the way, he also paced Kennedy Catholic to four straight Class 4A NPSL crowns.

Cross took to social media to make the announcement, stating he would be reuniting with Cal Poly head football coach Paul Wulff, serving as the Mustangs' offensive coordinator.

"These past seven years have been an absolute blessing. I am honored to have been the fourth head football coach in the historic Kennedy Catholic High School football program. Words cannot express how grateful my family and I are to be welcomed into the Lancer family. Kennedy Catholic is a high school unlike any other. The soul and essence of what it means to be a Lancer is something I will never forget," Cross wrote.

He said he will be proud of the 30-plus Lancers who went on to play college football, as well as those who lived the program's core mission, creating a vision of what life will be like and living it every day.

"The scoreboards will come and go. We can, and will, forget the final scores, but we will forever have the memories that cannot be taken. This program is about so much more. This is a championship program, with championship people. Thank you for allowing me to be your coach. Go Lancers," he continued.

Cross is no stranger to the college ranks, having served as an offensive graduate assistant at Washington State, before heading to New Mexico-Highlands and Idaho State, where he served as an offensive coordinator at both stops, as well as coaching tight ends at Illinois State in 2012.

Duty, Honor, Football

It has been said that some people are natural born leaders.
Anacortes High School football coach Justin Portz would fit into that category, as has been evidenced by his military service and his ability to lead the Seahawks to new heights with an 18-3 record in just two seasons at the helm.
He knew all along he wanted to be a coach once his playing days were over, and the transition has been seamless.

"When my playing time was over, I knew I wanted to be around the sport and I started as a volunteer working with DBs and RBs and it just grew from there. I have coached at a lot of schools over the years and worked with some really smart guys and incredible leaders. I just picked things up along the way. You see some good things that you want to carry over and you also see some things that you maybe don’t agree with. You learn some good and bad from everyone you work with and I formed my own leadership style along the way. I’ve coached every position and had a few opportunities to be a coordinator on each side of the ball and all of that led me to my first head coaching opportunity at Anacortes HS. The thing I’ve enjoyed the most are the people, the players and other coaches that I’ve met and worked with along the way, and many I’m still in contact with today. I also enjoy the complexity of the sport and that you never stop learning. There’s really nothing like football when it comes to the importance of preparation, strategy and the constant need to learn from others. You have to really love the process to be a football coach and I really do love the process," Portz told Pit Viper Sports Washington.

While the success has been great, Portz never forgets what he inherited and is quick to give credit to former Seahawks coach Chris Hunter.

"I have to give credit to Coach Hunter who was the head coach before me. He laid the foundation, did the dirty work from taking an 0-9 team in 2018, then working through a season without a varsity team in 2019, then a shortened COVID season in 2020. He stepped down after leading the program through 3 pretty tough years and when I took over just before the season started in 2021, we had the pieces in place to have a young but competitive team. We went 9-1 in 2021 playing an Independent schedule. We scored a lot of points, won 9 games and started feeling some excitement around Anacortes football again. That season gave us some great momentum going into the offseason," Portz admits.

And, it was then that Portz began thinking about how he would lead the program moving forward, and he kept coming back to a bit of advice he once received from a coaching mentor -- stay true to who you are and don't try to coach how you think you're supposed to or worry about what others think. In other words, be authentic and be yourself.

"The main thing he told me was to be the coach I needed when I was in high school. I spent a few weeks really thinking hard about the type of head coach I would be. When you are an assistant coach, your number one job is to be loyal and support the head coach. Well, now I was the head coach and I needed to set the tone for the type of program I wanted to lead and what I kept coming back to was I wanted football to be the best part of each players' day. I wanted the football program to be a place for everyone, not just the best athletes but a program that helped produce the best people and in turn I believed that culture would lead to winning football games," Portz said.

In other words, he wanted the opposite of what he was once a part of.

"I played for and coached with some pretty tough coaches over the years. I was an assistant coach in a program that was extremely disciplined, practice was very hard, probably not much fun for the players, expectations were high and the coaches were tough. We won a lot of games but the program wasn’t for everyone. We had a very high attrition rate there, kids quitting, or being kicked off the team if they couldn’t meet the standards. There’s definitely some great programs out there that lead that way but that wasn’t me. I felt like a lot of those kids would’ve been better off being part of our program than away from it, even if they weren’t very good football players, so that’s how I lead our program now. We don’t turn kids away and it would take an extremely egregious act for me to kick somebody out of our program. I hope I never have to do that because that’s a failure of leadership. Now that doesn’t mean there’s not consequences in our program, there are but I’d rather have those young men in our program, being surrounded with love and the positive influence of the great men on our coaching staff than to kick them off the team and watch them spiral down a bad path. They are better off with us than without us," Portz said.

And, as a result, he leads with love and a clear understanding that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Portz admits he believes in that adage and it has become a foundational piece of the culture surrounding the Anacortes football program.

"Step one as a staff is to build relationships with the athletes. That doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time and it takes effort just like any relationship in life. Get to know the players, earn their trust, show them that we care about them as a person, as a student and not just an X or O on the field. Once a relationship is built and there’s mutual respect those athletes are ready to be coached and they can be coached hard, they can be coached tough and with discipline but only if that all comes from a place of love and respect," Portz said.

And, he sprinkles in and falls back on his time in the military to help guide a football team.

"My time in the military put me in leadership positions at a young age and I worked with people from all backgrounds. Ethnicity, politics, social status, religious beliefs, etc… none of that matters when you’re serving in combat operations. All that matters is can you trust the people you’re with to do their jobs? So I’ve carried that over to coaching. I don’t care about anything other than helping form a relationship built on trust and love. Mutual respect between players and coaches and a locker room that doesn’t just say ‘family’ and put it on a t-shirt because it sounds cool. We say I love you to each other and when we say family we mean it," he said.

Now, with that said, Portz doesn't subscribe to the myth that many do of football is war and games are a matter of life and death.
After all, he understands war and being in true situations that are a matter of life and death.

"I also don’t lose sight of the fact that football is a game played by young men using an odd shaped ball. It’s not combat and it’s really not as important as some people make it out to be. It’s a game and games should be fun. So along with the theme that we will be a program for all, we will focus on relationships and lead with love but we will also have fun. Our practices are pretty loose, we get the job done but we have fun doing it. Never take the playground out of the game! If you put a group of kids on the field with a football and just left them alone for a bit what would they do? They’d throw the ball around, they’d run trick plays and just have fun. So we leave room for that in how we play the game and we let the players have some input on the things that we do," Portz said.

That leadership mentality that has been on display the last two years has translated into success and as a result, the Northwest Conference named Portz its Coach-of-the-Year

"Being named Coach of the Year is a huge honor. It’s humbling but I also know that it represents our entire program and specifically the entire coaching staff so I am extremely proud of it. I have a saying that “none of us are as smart as all of us” and I’m truly blessed to be surrounded by the best coaches in the state. I know it’s probably cliche to say that but I truly believe it. We have guys on staff that could easily be coordinators or head coaches for any other program. Men who not only take pride in being experts in their position groups but also being amazing role models for the athletes in our program. None of our staff, including myself, are on-campus teachers. We all have full-time jobs in the community and families at home and probably the most impressive thing is how close we all are with each other and our athletes," Portz said.

So, what is his secret?
According to the winning coach, there are no secrets.

"When you win a lot of football games people want to know your secrets. I don’t have any secrets. There are a lot of guys out there way smarter than I am but what I know is if you lead with love, focus on relationships, make football practice the best part of the day and something kids look forward to, you’ll have a healthy program. Then if you surround yourself with a staff of amazing men who are all in on your culture and take pride in their role on the team you’ll have success. The pieces are all in place and I’m very excited about the upcoming season and the future of Anacortes football," Portz admitted.

Lake Stevens sophomore Howard reflects on championship season

Keagan Howard has always dreamt about winning a state championship in football.
Now, the Lake Stevens linebacker and wide receiver no longer has to dream about it, as the Class of '25 standout helped Lake Stevens capture the WIAA Class 4A state title recently.

"I got into football around the age of 10. Me and my dad would always watch the NFL and college ball. One thing I really love about football is how important leadership on and off the field is. Being a good leader, to me, is how you celebrate with your teammates when you have success even if you weren't the one that made the big play. Being selfless is one of the most important attributes in football," Howard told Pit Viper Sports Washington.

After coming up short a season ago, Howard and Lake Stevens earned the 2022 title, knocking off Kennedy Catholic 24-22.

"I am proud of how far our team came and how much I have improved this season. It was one of the best days of my life. I feel very accomplished, but the main goal is incomplete. I am ready for next season and to become a college athlete," Howard admitted.

Was he surprised with Lake Stevens winning it all?

"We were at the state championship last year and came up short. It lit a fire in all of us and it was a personal goal to accomplish it this year. I want to stay humble and fully believe in my team's ability to push through adversity and with all the work we put in all off-season long, we were so focused. So, I am not surprised, just proud to see our hard work pay off," Howard said.

Howard finished this season with 40-plus tackles, five tackles-for-a-loss, an interception and a sack. A season ago, Howard notched 80-plus stops, four interceptions and seven touchdowns.
In the state title game this season, Howard recorded three pancake blocks and three tackles.

"No, I am not at all surprised with what I contribute to the team. All my offseason work paid off. I am going to take a couple of days off and then get back to work in the gym, nutrition and the offseason. I am ready to continue putting in the work," Howard said.

Knapik is one to keep an eye out for

At 6-foot-7-inches and 260-pounds, Nathan Knapik stands out in a crowd.
The Kennewick lineman stands out when it comes down to the top linemen in the state of Washington, as he a three-star prospect in the Class of 2024 and holds offers from Idaho and Portland State.

"I got into football as a kid and started playing when I was six. I was actually not going to play football in high school and only play basketball, but Coach Aff (Randy Affholter)talked me into playing before the freshman season," Knapik told Pit Viper Sports Washington.

The decision has proven to be beneficial for both Knapik and Kennewick, who lost to Yelm last week to see their season come to a close.
Knapik said one thing that stands out to him from his career is when Kennewick knocked off O'dea and Eastside Catholic last season as underdogs.

In addition to the two offers he has received, Knapik said he has also drawn attention from Washington State and Eastern Washington lately.

Yelm's Carter making a name for himself

He may only be a class of '24 prospect, but make no mistake, Onyx Carter is one to keep an eye out for.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 220-pound defensive end at Yelm got into football at a young age and has settled into his role with Yelm the last two years.

"Last season what stood out to me was starting varsity for the first time and getting out there and balling out," Carter told Pit Viper Sports Washington.

With Yelm advancing to the WIAA semi-state for the first time in school history, Carter is optimistic his team can bring a title back to Yelm.

"My team can make it to the state championship and win. It will take commitment and determination to make it," Carter said.

Carter admits he improved in several facets of the game coming into this season, including skill and sp*ed.

"I have improved a lot and have the ability to get off the ball and do what I can to make a play," Carter said.

As for whether or not he is surprised with his efforts, Carter said no.

"I am not surprised it takes a lot of hard work and effort to get to where I wanted, but the grind never stops," Carter said.

Emerald Ridge ready for first playoff game

It has been 22 years in the making and for the Emerald Ridge football team and coach Andy Schakel the wait is officially over.
Following last week's 41-14 win over Bothell, Emerald Ridge has advanced to the WIAA playoffs for the first time in program history.
And, according to Shackel, tomorrow's contest against #9 Eastlake at 7 p.m. at Sparks Stadium, is a "great feeling."

"It's a great feeling for sure, particularly because I have seen how hard our coaches and players have worked to accomplish this. From day one this year, way back in the spring, there was clear determination and confidence in this group. With that said, the work previous players and coaches did in helping to build on each year and the lessons learned has been a huge part of this and reference points throughout the season for this year's team," Shackel told Pit Viper Sports Washington.

Last week, the Jaguars wasted little time setting the tone, as Elvis Kariuki blocked a punt and Jacob Lane secured the football and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown, putting Emerald Ridge ahead 7-0.
Emerald Ridge would go on to dominate and win, thrusting the Jaguars into unchartered waters, something Schakel said has already been addressed with his team.

"In terms of unchartered waters, we addressed that while we are proud of our accomplishments this year, we understand that talking about that will be at the banquet. We are playing football right now; we know we can do that successfully and we need to continue that process of playing this game successfully both menally and physically and have a "what's important now" mindset," he admitted.

As to what has made this team special this year, Schakel said it has been something that doesn't always show up in the box score -- a commitment to each other.

"The brotherhood is strong and when you have a group that is happy to see each other make plays, whether it is as a scout team player or in the game, it creates a positive energy that is contagious. Additionally, and probably most importantly, during times of adversity, you could see them come closer together instead of distancing from each other. Strong, confident kids that understand the picture of things. All in," Schakel said.

Junior quarterback Jake Schakel has thrown for over 2,100 yards this season, while senior running back Logan Lisherness leads the running attack and is among one of the top defensive plays for the Jaguars.
Jacob Lane and Gio Kafentzis have also played big roles in Emerald Ridge's offense and defense thus far.
And, while there are big name players, Schakel says his scout players have also played a huge role in the success the Jaguars have experienced.

"We have kids that don't play as much on Friday nights that absolutely make tremendous plays on Monday-Thursday creating our success on Friday nights for our team. We have tremendous players on this team that make great plays on Friday night and a big part of that is because of the dedication and impressive performances by our scout team. Sometimes our practice sessions between scout and the starters get so intense our kids feel like they are in a game, and we've got to pull them back a little bit, and that is a good thing," Shackel said.

He will not look to pull things back tomorrow against an Eastlake team that enters with an 8-2 record and has won four straight games.
The Wolves are a tough opponent, according to Shackel.

"The message to our fans is thank you for all your support this year. You have been a huge part of creating energy for our team. Keep it up. Eastlake is a great program with great coaches and players. They are physical, athletic and run great schemes with ex*****on. We have to certainly be at our best this week and that is our approach. Saturday night playoffs at Sparks Stadium will be electric," Shackel said.

Pullman's Barbour breaks down Montana Tech commitment

As hard as it may be to believe, there was a time when Tanner Barbour was unsure if he would be successful on the football field.
After not playing for four years, Barbour showed up his sophomore season at Pullman High School unsure and nervous about what may happen.

"I was a little hesitant at first with doubt about how good I would be after not playing for four years, but my dad really helped me get over that and really helped motivate me," Barbour told Pit Viper Sports Washington.

The motivating words paid off nicely for Barbour, who recently announced his commitment to Montana Tech.
During his career at Pullman, the 6-foot-2-inch athlete had quite a bit of success and experiences, but one stood out above the others.

"What stands out to me the most in my career was my sophomore year during the Covid era, we were practicing in up to six inches of snow some days and it was pretty miserable, especially because it was my first year playing football outside of p*e wee, but watching those seniors go out and have an amazing time through the snow, wind and rain really showed me what football is all about and really made me love the sport so much more," Barbour admitted.

In addition, Barbour saw himself return to a position he played when he was younger, as he stepped into the quarterback position last season.

"When I was younger, all I did was play quarterback, so it was really cool to end up back there trying to do anything I could to help my team," Barbour said.

Barbour told Pit Viper Sports Washington the atmosphere and culture at Montana Tech was what set them apart.

"I loved the environment of game days at Montana Tech. When I went on a game day visit there, even though it was like 40 degrees and raining, they still had people out tailgating and supporting the team. I also love the coaching staff. Coach Samson and Coach Thatcher have always been nothing but respectful and supportive of me and my family," Barbour said.

He continued by saying there was some "shock" when the offer from Montana Tech came through.

"There was some shock when I got an offer from Montana Tech, but, mainly, it was a lot of relief. It made it seem like I wasn't doing all this hard work in the offseason and hard work during the season for nothing," Barbour said.