SPORTS
By Neil Macdonald

Niel's Notes
Ironman Grad
Blaine 1981 and University of Washington 1985 graduate Brad Vaux, 39, finished 100th in the 35-39 age-group at Ironman Canada in Penticton, B.C. on August 25. Vaux, competing in his first Ironman competition, had a time of 11:06.33.
The Ironman, the gruel master of distance events, includes a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run.

Coston Wins
Semiahmoo golf pro and defending champion Jeff Coston won the pro-am part of the Northwest Open, shooting an 8-under 64 and 10-under 62 on September 7-8 to win both day’s team play and take the overall title.

Goin’ To The Wolverines
The Borderite boys tennis team hosts the Blaine Invitational on September 14 and travels to Friday Harbor on September 18 for a set-to with the Wolverines.
Coach John Freal’s squad is young (three seniors and 11 sophomores). Senior Scott Bianchi went to State in spring ’01 and was fourth at Tri-D in spring ’02. Sophomores C. J. Stauffer, Jack Freal and Lucas Werdal all have playoff experience in doubles.
Unlike previous years when Blaine faced an avalanche of 3A schools, the opposition this season is a bit more copasetic. Blaine’s schedule has 1A Friday Harbor and Coupeville, 2A South Whidbey and 3A Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden and Squalicum.

Cross Country
The Blaine Borderites open the 2002 cross country season on September 12 with a jamboree run at Skagit Community College.
The boys team is composed of one senior, two juniors, two sophomores and four freshmen and is paced by returning juniors Kenneth Cunningham and Garrett Highley. Senior Laura Pears is Blaine’s lone female competitor.

Volleyball
New head coach Muriel Ridnour’s Lady B’s play an away Volleyball match at Friday Harbor on September 12 and compete in an Invitational at Mariner on September 14..

Blaine and S. Whidbey featured on Friday the 13th
Blaine begins the 2002 North Cascades Conference football season against South Whidbey at Blaine on September 13.
Despite rumors to the contrary, The Northern Light was not able to get Stephen King to cover this Friday the 13th thriller.
The Borderites, who flayed the Falcons 41-13 in ’01, face a SW team that, in several ways, mirrors the local lads.
“They use the I and run the option out of it,” Dave Fakkema, Blaine’s freshman head coach, noted, “They’re much improved, got size up front, have some tall receivers and their quarterback throws fairly well.”
The Falcons balanced offense means Blaine can’t load up against the run or the pass, but will have to defend against both, which makes it a good test for the Borderites.
Blaine traded TDs with 3A Arlington and let up a lone TD to Nooksack Valley at the jamboree September 6 in Ferndale.
Fakkema was pleased with the Borderites in their first 11 against 11 encounter. Short-bench Blaine haven’t the numbers to indulge in such luxuries during preseason practice.
QB’s Shawn Brady, a senior, and Bryan Galbraith, a sophomore, both looked capable of handling Blaine’s air traffic control. Fakkema noted, “Galbraith completed a TD pass to Rhyan Lopez and Brady made good decisions on screens.” Fakkema added, “both ran the option well.”
The business of overland transport involves Blaine’s O&D line, anchored by Kevin Farmer. The D line sorts out the opposition’s offense, sorts through the blockers and running backs and keeps the fellow with the ball. The O line provides pathways for Borderite tailback Danny Le and fullbacks Sean Hicks and Brian McCall. . .
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Blaine to face Meridian in girls soccer opening
Talk about starting at the top – Blaine opens the 2002 North Cascades Conference girls’ soccer season against Meridian at 4:30 p.m. on September 12 at the Pipe.
The Trojans finished second at State in 2001, have a roster full of returnees and, being the best team on paper, are favored to go through the NCC with flair and finesse.
Blaine placed third in the NCC in ’01 with a 12-4 record and went 13-5 overall, splitting a pair of games in District playoffs to finish fourth. Although Blaine is returning 11 players, only two – Linsey Taylor and Ashlee Oldaker – are seniors.
Taylor, first team All-NCC defender in ’01, junior goalkeeper Shela Robertson, NCC defensive player of the year in ’01, and sophomore Lori Robertson, second team All-NCC defender in ’01, help mold a formidable Lady B defense that should keep Blaine’s goals against totals to a minimum.
It also suggests another season of low-scoring games. The Lady B’s were involved in six one-goal NCC games in 2001, winning four.
Blaine split their pair of 20-minute exhibitions at the annual jamboree on September 7 at the Pipe, defeating NCC rival Lynden Christian 1-0 and losing 2-0 to 3A Bellingham, who were third in the Northwest League last year.
Sophomore midfielder Andrea Harmening choreographed the Borderite goal against LC, out-running a Lync to the ball and cutting the ball back to forward Krista Jones who deposited it in the LC net. The Lady B’s threatened to score several times against B’ham, but were unable to finish.
Bellingham’s first goal was of the difficult to stop variety, coming on a long high effort that went in the far left corner over keeper Robertson’s head.
The visitors’ second marker, a sudden streak of whiteness that went into the lower right corner, was of the impossible to prevent kind...

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