Athlete of the Year breaks a record

The Pierce-Tacoma Athletic Commission has been around for 83 years, but it broke a record on March 13 with the biggest turnout ever for its 2025 Winter Athlete of the Year luncheon. Students came literally by the busload with their families, friends, coaches and school athletic directors right behind them such that more tables and chairs had to be brought in and set up to accommodate everyone.

It was a proud moment for the TAC membership that puts so much attention and care into the event months before it happens.

“It was outstanding. It was the largest crowd we’ve ever had, and we had the greatest number of individual champions in the history of our organization,” said TAC’s Athlete of the Year Committee Chair Willie Stewart, a highly respected educator and education advocate, past principal at Lincoln High School, and namesake of the Willie Stewart Academy. 

“It is a delight for me to serve as chair of the Athlete of the Year committee. I do not do this job alone. I have a tremendous committee and they’re all around the room. We do this three times a year: in December for fall sports, in March for winter sports, and in June for spring sports and to present TAL scholarships.”

Estimates stand at more than 560 people that filled the McGavick Conference Center at Clover Park Technical College. They came from throughout Pierce County representing 31 high schools. According to the event program, there were 132 Athlete of the Year nominees, 31 individual state champions and six team state champions. Student athletes showed up in force to celebrate their own, and each other’s, achievements in 10 sports categories: competitive cheer, competitive dance/drill, gymnastics, girls wrestling, boys wrestling, boys swim and dive, girls bowling, girls flag football, girls basketball, and boys basketball. 

The atmosphere was like that of a pep rally at times, as everyone was having a great time rooting for their home teams and the individual athletes that bring so much pride to their family, school and community. The positive energy was irresistible as it swept through the conference center reflecting why everyone was there and how important it is to recognize the achievements of these young men and women.

Longtime TAC member, now at 45 years, and two-time past president Sandy Snider co-emceed the luncheon with Jay Stricherz. He is also a past president and an official TAC member ever since he retired from teaching in the public school system in 2002. 

This was Snider’s first time to emcee a TAC Athlete of the Year event, bringing spark and ad-libbed humor that everyone enjoyed. 

“I just love hearing about these kids and what they’ve done. It blows my mind. Not only do they do things on the court, gridiron or wherever they’re doing their sport, academically they’re just amazing,” she said. “You hear a lot about the non-profit work they’re doing in communities and giving back and it’s a wonderful thing we’ve got in our backyard.”

This was indeed a highlight of the day – hearing the students speak from the stage. They were humble and gracious. They expressed deep gratitude to their parents. They said how proud they were to be part of their team, that they were not alone in their accomplishments, and how they couldn’t have done it without the support of their teammates and coaches. While kids today can get a bad rap to the point of leaving grown-ups worried about the future, these young people had a way of dispelling any trepidation one might have that the world is going downhill.

“It makes you think there is hope for our future,” Snider said. “My grandkids are going to have these people in their lives and have people to look up to and aspire to be like.” 

Strichertz wholeheartedly agreed.

“We look at these student athletes as being solid, school-based citizens doing the right things. When we look up to kids like that, it is for the betterment of their school community, our cities and our communities as they grow up and grow older.”

This year included students that are in unified and adaptive athletics, those who either have a physical disability or are somewhere along the autism spectrum.

TAC’s Athlete of the Year Committee Chair Willie Stewart praised his fellow committee members. 

After every student in each sport was led to the stage to give their name, school and grade level, and their biggest thrill or most memorable sports moment this winter, the champions were announced as follows: Competitive Cheer: Zoey Martinson, Sumner, and Hannah Graves, Stadium; Competitive Dance/Drill: Sienna Berrett, Bonney Lake; Girls Flag Football: Hokulani Mose, Curtis; Bowling: Tamia Yeager, Spanaway Lake, and Molly Malone, Stadium; Gymnastics: Rylee Evans, Puyallup; Boys Swimming: Seth Balderson, Silas (Adaptive), and Aiden Hammer, Gig Harbor; Girls Wrestling: Lilyana Lamothe, White River, and Mira Sonnen, Peninsula; Boys Wrestling: Alan Salguero, Jr., Orting, and Matthew King, Sumner; Girls Basketball: Kyla Frazier, Bellarmine, Bailey Andersen, Eatonville, Maggee Schmitz, White River, and Olivia Collins, Jr., Sumner; Boys Basketball: Jeremiah Harshman, Annie Wright, Javon Barbeem, Franklin Pierce, Drew Jones, Puyallup, and Tim Waffle, Lincoln (Unified). 

Team State Champions: Emerald Ridge High School 4A Competitive Cheer; Orting High School 2A Boys Wrestling; White River High School 3A Boys Wrestling; and Annie Wright 1A Boys Basketball. In addition, 35 individual state champions were named as well. 

At the opening of the luncheon, Curtis High School Athletic Director Suzanne Vick took the podium to speak about issues facing high school sports locally and nationally – the need for sportsmanship and the lack of officials willing to participate in some high school sports.

“What we’re finding is that it just keeps getting tougher and tougher. If you watch the news, officials are getting attacked and the officials crisis is real,” she said. “I want you to know that you are the best of the best athletes and best of the best parents. You can make a difference. You can make the change from what we’re seeing globally to our community.” 

She said the goal is to get to the place where nobody gets ejected – not fans, not coaches, not players.

“But we do need your help because you have seen crazy. I know you have. You see it in the stands, you see it in some athletes, but if you can do anything to help us, we would really appreciate it because at some point, if we don’t get hold of it, we’re not going to have officials or coaches which means we’re just going to be in recess. It’s going to be gone. We have to change this.” 

Next up for the TAC is the 2025 Spring Athlete of the Year Dinner on July 12, 5-8 p.m. at the McGavick Conference Center. This “Salute to Sports” event honors outstanding athletes from across Pierce County and recognizes the winners of eight different TAC scholarships. 

The Stan Naccarato Sports & Civic Betterment Scholarship and the Clay Huntington Sports Broadcasting Scholarship are now accepting applications. Each scholarship awards $2,500 to deserving students. Learn more and apply at tacomaathletic.com.

Coming up on Saturday, March 29, the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum is bringing a film screening event to The Grand Cinema. Two films will make their debut in Tacoma. “Last Lap” is about Seattle’s legendary runner and coach Doris Brown Heritage, and “The Dawgfather: The Legacy of Don James” tells the story of James’ impact as a coach and mentor. Q&A sessions will follow each film. 

Learn more at facebook.com/tacomasportsmuseum.