You may also be interested in a detailed history of Washington State cross country.

Kings Cross Country team is now in it's 31st year of competing and is riding a wave off success that few teams in the history of the state of Washington have known. The boy's team was founded in 1972 by Mr. Mike Champoux, who still teaches at King's High School while the girls team started in 1977 with coach Keith Huntoon. Under Huntoon's guidance the boy's team placed as high as 3rd at Districts and made it to the State Championships for the first of four consecutive times in 1977, with a highest placing of 7th. This early era were led by the legends Jon Klinkman's 12th and Peter O'Driscoll's 6th place finishes at State. The Men's Team made it to State in 1980 in what looked like the start of something promising. While they were led by Travis Cotterill's 16th place finish, it would be the last time in the '80s that the men's team would grace the State championships.

The Lady Knights initially were unable to field a full team but were led by Mary Madsen's 1977 2nd place State finish over a 2 mile course at Evergreen High School in Seattle. The Ladies soon developed as a team and qualified to State for the first time in school history in 1984. Led by coach Dan McDonald, the lady's team placed 7th and were led by Stephanie Baker's 9th place finish. While the team dwindled, a new star arose. In '85, Jill Jamison burst onto the XC scene with an 8th place finish at State but could led no team to the big show.

**While during the '80s the men's team could not qualify a team to State, they did have a few legends to make an appearance or two. Paul Rossell placed 12th in 1982 and 9th the following year to become the second King's male to earn All State honors. The '90s brought not only a new young coach in Mr.Jeff Geers but an upcoming star in Jason Odem. The Knights men were back and this Odem character had some magic in his legs. After a 10th place individual finish in 1990, Odem led the men's team to a 6th place finish but went on to an undefeated season and the first State Championship in King's Athletic History. As if to ingnite the XC program, this dramatic season started a string of State appearances by the King's Men that has not ended to this day. Further, this '90 team had another young legend in the making in Will Woodward. Will became only the second King's man to run at State for three years and earned All State honors in '93 with his 4th place finish. The Woodward family would be part of nine state teams as brothers Will, Nate and Phil would shape the King's program into the future. Nate would become one of the few King's men along with Gene Hong and Erik Ryan who would run four years at State. Phil Woodward would equal this four year effort as well as have the honor of an All State 11th place finish. However Phil will be forever known as the Co-Team Captain along with Paul Mach of the first team championship in school history. In 1999, Phil and Paul would lead a young team of talented runners to a dominating State Championship title that would start a string of three State title in a row. A feat only accomplished by a few teams in Washington State history. This '99 team had few young legends in the making as Skylar Agnew became the first King's freshman to earn All State honors as well as a young John Coghlan and Brandon Thompson who both went on to All State Honors. Even more notable was Adam Roe who became the first King's runner to earn All State honors three years in a row and the second King's man to win the big show with his State title in '00. Other notable legends of the '90s were Geoff Grosenbach (3 State teams), Jon Hedin (15th in '95) and Adam Nevens (4 State teams and 17th in '96).

**In 1989 the Lady Knights again made a run at the State title finishing 7th led by a 15th place Ramah Andrews. This team marked the introduction of the King family who would shape the future of the Lady's XC program. Tammie King ran on that '89 team and would further run individually two more times at State with a high finish of 18th in '92. However it would be her younger sister Amy that not only run four years at State but would win the first lady's State Championship in King's XC history with a smashing victory in '95. While Amy never led a team to State, she kept the momentum going until the hard-working Kari Husby came along. While not a talented runner, Kari worked her way to a 10th place finish in '97 leading her team to 5th at State, the best placing in the Lady Knight's history to that point. 1998 brought a new legend to the team in Tricia Hansen who became the second King's lady to run four years at State and the first to lead two teams to State. Tricia will forever be known as the leader of the first State Championship title in the Lady Knight's history. This '01 championship team was loaded with legends as it had three All State finishers. Along with Hansen's 9th place, Rachel Strand followed with a 10th and Heidi Kieling (the niece of legend Jon Klinkman) an 11th. Other notable runners of this era were Lindsey Stewart (2 years at State and a 19th in '97) and the angelic Ashley Watkins (2nd in '00) who did more in one year to effect the XC program than perhaps anyone in King's history.

**The '02 Cross Country season arrived with much promise and went out with even more fanfare. The boy's and girl's teams were ranked number 1 for the entire season and proved their reputation with runaway victories at the League and TriDistrict Championships. The Knights were led throughout the season by Brandon Thompson who was undefeated among 1A competition and went on to a resounding victory at State. Brandon not only became the 3rd King's man to win the State Title but became the first male cross country runner in the state of Washington to be on 4 State Championships teams. Quit an honor, and well deserved. Team depth was provided by a vastly improving junior Steven Miller (12th at State) and senior captain Aaron Woodham. Meanwhile the Lady Knights were led by the trio of Melody Miles, Heidi Kieling and Rachel Strand. Actually Melody won both League and TriDistricts but it was Rachel, who had never won a XC race in her carreer, who pulled out a dramatic victory to become the 2nd Lady Knight to win State. Melody (5th at state) and Heidi (10th) provided the depth for a dominating team performance. With these leaders both teams cruised to big victories in Pasco continueing their victorious State Title streaks and became the first team in state history to win both team and individual titles in the same year. The guy's team has now made it to the State Championships 12 years in a row and with 4 titles have become one of the legendary XC programs in the state.

**The King's 2003 Cross Country season started with much anticipation after a glorious 2002 season which brought both Boys and Girls team titles as well as both Boys and Girls individual titles as well as the Girls team academic title. Living up to that kind of legacy would not be easy but this year's squad was up to the challenge.

The Boys team, who lost some big senior leadership, would return a core group of veterans but would need some youth to round out the team. With seniors Steven Miller and Jacob Burningham running with juniors Brent Woodham and Alex Croutworst the Boys team looked strong up front. Quickly improving Bryan Kotjan, Brian Pflugrath and Nathan Sjoquist looked to push the leaders. The surprise of the year came in the twins, freshmen Evan and Jeff Dull. Not only did they step into this steep learning curve, they quickly worked their way onto a tough varsity squad showing great potential for following years. The team was set but the 4-time defending King's Knights would be facing their toughest competition in the last 5 years. Charles Wright Academy would boast one of the best runners in the nation and he would lead a solid young squad with him. After winning the Chinook League title for the 4th year in a row, the Boys team would fall to Charles Wright at the Tri-District meet while placing a solid 2nd place to qualify to state for the 13th year in a row. Undaunted the Knights were racing for pride at the State meet in Pasco with a "if you are going to beat us, then you are going to have to earn it" attitude. A beautiful day in Pasco brought out 7 great performances by each of the King's racers but the challengers prevailed with a great race of their own. Individually the Knights were led by Steven Miller who came out of nowhere to place 3rd overall and qualify to the Oregon-Washington All-Star cross country meet on the Nike Campus in Beaverton. Running a truely inspired race Steven placed higher at State than he did at District to shock the opposition. Overall the Knights stood tall on the podium with a proud 2nd place and a hunger for next year.

The Lady Knights had a streak of their own to protect with a 2 year run of State titles. After losing only one runner from last year's squad the future looked bright for the "Battle Maidens". Returning State medalists Melody Miles and Heidi Kieling looked to lead a strong group of Rachel Wagner, Heidi Peterson, Anneliese Fruhling and Chelsea Sndyer all returning from last years championship team. They would be joined by the quickly improving Laura Coghlan, Angela Gamino, Bethanie Westbrook and the freshman prodigy Sarah Strand. The two questions for the season would be who would make the varsity 7 and could our junior varsity be the 2nd best team in the state. After much adversity and a final runnoff the veterans prevailed and the freshman Strand would wait another year to show the State what she can do. At the "Big Show" in Pasco the Lady Knights ran away with the title for a 3rd straight year easily outdistancing the 2nd place team from Warden. Could our JV have placed 2nd, it would have been fun to find out but only the varsity can run at State. Individually the Knights were led again by Melody Miles and Heidi Kieling which was a surprise after each had endured many illnesses and injuries all season long. Meanwhile the season long improvement by Laura Coghlan was the surprise of the year. Placing in the top 20 her first year at State was an inspiration to all. With the longest current streak of titles, the Lady Knights will look to break the all-time state record next year as they return most of the varsity runners. A quick look at the junior high talent that is coming up might make next year's team the best in school history.

Together King's Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams have become one of the most successfull programs in State History with 7 team titles and 5 individual titles not to mention 10 top 3 Team finishes at State and 2 Academic State Titles. As long the the kids have a dream and are having fun doing the work, they should continue to make memories that will last a lifetime.

This brings us to the present and future of King's Cross Country. While the ladies are working towards their 4th State title and possibly more in the years to come, the men are looking to get back the top of the podium. Will the Knights become the only school in state history to win both titles in 3 seperate years? Will either team match the legendary Mead XC team that won 9 titles in a row?? I don't know but it will be fun finding out.

GODSPEED

Rod Wilcox