SPORTS
by Jack Kintner

Silvers from the bench

?As we roll through spring break this week, with the baseball team in Brewster and the golfers even farther away in Spokane, sports consists of an expanded “Slivers from the Bench” in taking a look at how spring sports have gone thus far, plus a few odds and ends.

Almost a new coach
Blaine athletic director Gary Clausen said last week that they’ve all but hired a head football coach to replace Dave Fakkema, who will remain on the coaching staff but not as head man in order to devote time to his growing family.
The new coach’s name will not be released until the school gets a confirmation in writing, something that’s complicated since the candidate lives in South Carolina.
Clausen said that the man’s resume “jumped out” in comparison to the other four candidates the district looked at, three of whom are from Washington State.
The coach’s wife has family in the Vancouver area, a factor is his applying for the position.
Stay tuned. Clausen said that they should hear this week or next, although with Fakkema also on the job Blaine’s not afraid to wait a little.
There’s a camp for next fall’s team shortly after school gets out for the summer, but other than that things don’t get rolling again until August.
Fakkema took the program from a very deep hole to a respectable 4-6 finish last year, 2-6 in league, and the new coach will welcome back one of the more experienced lines and backfields among AA school in the new league alignment.

Bukowski dominates
Tegan Bukowski was medalist for the fourth straight meet of the season last week, tying for honors with Nooksack’s Mary Weigand with 23 points in the nine hole tourney scored using the Stableford system.
Bukowski and Karissa Bland led a strong team of Lady B’s to a lopsided win on the long and flat North Bellingham course, putting up 81 points to Nooksack’s 40. Meridian and Baker trailed with 29 and 22, respectively.