COLUMN: From Boyce and Bell to Manthou and Vandersloot, the new year should be plenty entertaining

What a year 2009 was for the local sports scene. We had state champions, league champions, golden performances and a small handful of athletes make it to the big time. What will 2010 bring? Below is a look at the Top 10 things I am looking forward to finding out in the new year.

1. Is the NFL in Aaron Boyce’s future?

The 2005 Kentwood High graduate has spent the last several years torching secondaries en route to becoming one of the best wide receivers in Eastern Washington University history. In regards to EWU history, Boyce ranks second in pass receptions (222), pass-reception yards (3,330) and touchdown receptions (28). Those numbers would be even more inflated had Boyce not been injured at midseason. On Oct. 17 against Montana, the former KW star ruptured his left Achilles tendon and had surgery days later. Before the injury, Boyce was viewed as a good bet to be selected in the NFL Draft, which is slated for April 22-24.

“(The injury) definitely doesn’t help anything,” said Boyce, who will graduate this spring with a communications degree and a minor in business. “But it doesn’t close any doors by any means. I’m out of my boot, off my crutches and walking normal. I’m feeling really good and right on schedule.”

Boyce is a high-character guy with a strong background. I have to believe some NFL team will give him a shot. We’ll find out soon enough.

2. Can K-M gymnast Nora Keith reach the top?

Kent-Meridian hasn’t had a state champion in gymnastics since 1987, when Sue Phinney captured the vault title. Well, here we are 23 years later and K-M’s Nora Keith appears to have what it takes to challenge that mark. The senior Royal has taken 10th, 7th and third in the vault at the state level. Could this be her year? Unlike previous years, however, Keith won’t be done after the winter. For the first time this spring, she will be turning out for the track team and competing in the pole vault. Gymnasts typically make outstanding pole vaulters, Kentwood product Jamie Larson is a perfect example.

3. What will the Chicago Cubs do with pitcher David Patton this season?

Patton, a 2002 Kentridge High graduate, was selected from the Colorado Rockies by the Cincinnati Reds in the Rule 5 Draft before last season began. Hours after his selection, he was dealt to the Cubs for cash. Patton proceeded to sparkle in spring training (1.26 ERA in 14 1/3 innings pitched) and made Chicago’s opening-day roster. Now, here’s where it gets tricky for Patton. Because Patton was a Rule 5 selection, Chicago had to keep him on the 25-man roster all of last season or offer him back to his original organization (Colorado). That binding agreement lasts just one year, thus if the Cubs choose to send the righthander down this spring, they will not risk the possibility of losing him. After a strong spring last year, Patton posted numbers (3-1, 6.83 ERA in 27 2/3 IP) that likely would have gotten him demoted in other situations. The lanky redhead, however, has a live arm. And when he’s dialed in, look out.

4. Can Kentlake baseball bounce back?

Two years ago, the Falcons got on a roll and weren’t stopped until the Class 4A state title game. They finished 20-5 overall. Last year with almost the same lineup, however, Kentlake struggled to a 12-7 record and missed state. The South Puget Sound League North Division is a battleground in all sports, baseball is no different as Tahoma and Kentwood did advance to the state tournament. I’m interested to see this spring if the Falcons can find their way back. With ace righthanders Zach Wright and Doug Christie — both of whom are ranked among the state’s top 60 players by www.northwestbaseball.com — I’d be surprised if Kentlake didn’t return to form. These two kids possess well-above average high school arms and will be pitching at the next level real soon. Don’t miss up the chance to see them on a sunny spring day.

5. Can the Kentwood girls basketball team repeat as state champs?

The Conquerors graduated their top two scorers (Lindsey Moore and Jessie Genger), but already has shown they’re contenders for another league crown already. I’d be lying if I didn’t say these girls have surprised me a bit. I knew they’d be good and that Dean Montzingo, in his first year with the girls program, is a top-notch coach. But replacing two top-tier players is a tough deal. I’m not certain Kentwood can repeat as Class 4A state champs, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Conks finish among the top five, which is a pretty good place to be.

6. What college will Kentridge’s Gary Bell choose?

This time last year, we were all wondering what college Kentwood star Josh Smith would choose. Now it’s time to turn our attention to Kentridge junior Gary Bell. Bell might be the best player in the South Puget Sound League right now. The gifted guard is only getting better, which is hard to imagine considering he ripped off a league-record 55 points against Auburn Riverside a few weeks ago. Along with virtually the entire Pac-10, Gonzaga University is hot after Kentridge’s sharpshooting guard. I talked with Bell at the start of the season and he mentioned he’s pretty intent on taking all of his recruiting visits, so we won’t know his destination until late in 2010.

7. Who will be crowned at Mat Classic this winter?

Those who know me are well aware that Mat Classic is one of the highlights to my year. There just isn’t another event in the state quite like it. What makes it even better is the fact that wrestling in South County is as good as it gets. It seems a new state champion is produced every year. This winter, Kentwood star Ruben Navejas (103 pounds) will be taking aim at a second-straight state title. KW hasn’t produced a two-timer since Brandon Hunter (2002-2003). It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if Navejas met Kent-Meridian’s Jesus Valdez in the title match on Feb. 21, either. A couple miles down the road, the Tahoma High Wrestling Factory will have Nick Bayer (171) taking aim at a third-straight state title. If Bayer can accomplish the feat, he will become the fourth to do it in the school’s history and first since Andrew Johnson (2005-2007).

8. Can tennis star Max Manthou become a four-time state champ?

I’m sure that many have considered this a foregone conclusion, after all, Kentwood’s Manthou already has won three state tennis titles, what could possibly stop him from a fourth? What I think is missed a little bit along the way is just how much work Manthou has put into his sport. Winning one title is a huge accomplishment, but three? And now, possibly, four? Winning four straight state titles is one of the rarest things in high school sports. The University of Washington-bound Manthou will try and become the state’s first-ever four-time state champ at the Class 4A level this spring. I’m not betting against him. Instead, I’d just like to sit back and take this last one in.

9. Is a state track title in the cards for the K-M boys?

Last spring a group of sophomore sensations carried the K-M track team to a second-place finish at the state meet, the program’s first top-10 finish since 2002. The spring season now remains right around the corner and guess what? Those sophomore sophomores — Derrick Daigre, B.J. Arceneaux, Brandon Harris and David Jones — are all back along with standout senior Andrew Smith.

10. What’s next for Courtney Vandersloot?

She was unstoppable on the basketball court in high school. Not much has changed for Kentwood product Courtney Vandersloot, who is now a junior at Gonzaga University. Vandersloot was named the West Coast Conference’s Player of the Year last season, was selected among the nation’s top five point guards by ESPN and is among a list of 31 players on the John Wooden Award All-American Team. One of the 31 players will be chosen as the Player of the Year in early April. It could be Vandersloot, who went into the holiday break averaging 11.2 points, 9 assists and 3 rebounds per game.