Wishing our best to North End athletes

North End sports fans will be tearing up the roadways from here to Tacoma and Federal Way this weekend to cheer on some hometown heroes.

North Kitsap and Kingston high schools will send their best wrestlers, gymnasts and swimmers to compete against the state elite. Every second of practice, every ounce of perspiration and every taste of victory has led up to this.

North Kitsap is sending more wrestlers to state than it has since Bill Clinton was president. Five wrestlers — Jake Velarde, AJ Milyard, Josh Tucker, Donny Stamaris and Allan Dunlap — all will compete for the purple and gold.

Representing Kingston are Travis Schriner, Freddy Rodolf and Ivy Rodolf, with Devin Jacob, Alex Lambert, Michael Johnson and Sam English.

North Kitsap also will be sending its entire gymnastics team, with Melissa Kunold Lauren Wageman and McKenna Elves competing in individual events.

North swimmer Josh Despard qualified for two events: the individual 50-yard freestyle and the four-man, 200-yard medley relay with teammates Glenn Runnels, Kyle Eggers and Tyler Rencher. Kingston swimmer Jake Murdock will represent the Bucs in the 500-yard freestyle.

We support these athletes, their parents, families and friends as they give their best efforts to make our community proud.

Good luck, all.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.