Tourney Day!

Time to lace 'em up, fellas! After many months of meetings and planning, the EHS Alumni Tourney will kick off at noon today. For those interested, doors will open at 11am for those that want to come and wipe the rust off of their games (I include myself in that group). Even if you're not there at 11, come early and get signed up, as we'd like to start promptly at noon. We will also have t-shirts to distribute, so if you have a size preference, be sure to arrive early to ensure you lock down the shirt of choice. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via phone at 425.314.7983.

I haven't mentioned it much on the blog, but today we will make a concerted effort to help promote the Michael Shaler Scholarship Fund. For those that don't know, Michael was an EHS freshman team member that tragically passed away during a Freshman basketball game in Decemeber 1998; he was 15 years old. As a coach of that team and someone that worked with Mike during his middle school playing days, I feel comfortable saying he embodied everything you'd want in not only a Seagull basketball player, but in a young man who was a true leader amongst his peers. He was hard nosed, tenacious, and an absolute physical presence on the court, complemented by an loving and caring nature for friends and family that was endearing to anyone that knew him. While Mike was unfairly taken from us at such an early age, I am tremendously blessed and thankful for the time I shared with him, and will carry his spirit and fight throughout my days.

In the time following his passing, a scholarship endowment was formed in his name. Since 1999, over 20 participants in the Everett basketball program have been awarded the Michael Shaler Scholarship, helping them pursue their post-high school educational goals. It can be said that these players embodied the core characteristics that Michael stood for, and in turn were rewarded for these virtuous traits (you can read more about the scholarship fund here).

I talk about this because as a part of the EHS basketball community, I feel it's our collective responsibilty to help keep this scholarship fund viable, so that Michael's memory is celebrated for years to come. Today we will all have an opportunity to give to this fund, and it's my hope that each of us could, as a minimum, contribute a $5-$10 donation. While this is obviously not a requirement, please keep this in mind as you make your way to "The Pit" this morning; we'll speak more on this before we begin play today.

I also want to thank Michelle Wiley of Everett High School for hosting the Alumni Appreciation Event last night during the Everett-Ferndale game. While it was in direct competition with the Washington-Nebraska game, there were still many alums that made it out, and it was fun to collectively sit back and watch the current crop of Seagulls get down (The Gulls fell 70-58). There was an awesome spread of food, and much fun was had by those that attended. Thanks Michelle!

Alright, 4 hours from tip-off, I look forward to seeing you all today...GO GULLS!

Alumni Tournament Code of Conduct

Finally...it's Alumni Tourney week! Again, just a quick reminder that Alumni Appreciation night is Thursday prior to the Everett-Ferndale game. It's a great chance to catch up with former Seagull players, and catch the current squad in action. Going off of last year's event, there will be a halftime ceremony, as well as gifts for alumni that are in attendance. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to EHS teacher Michelle Wiley at ehsalumnihoops@gmail.com.

In preparation for this year's tournament, one of the issues discussed was a concern that player conduct at the Tournament had worsened over the past few years. Bickering, complaining, and fighting had muddled what had been a steller event in prior years, and as a result, attendance had steadily declined.

In response, a code of conduct has been created to ensure that anyone participating in the tournament also agrees to adhere to a defined code of ethics while participating. It's no secret that we all like to compete, and that competition sometimes brings out of side that we may not be particularily proud of (Lord knows I've surely had my moments:). The simple fact is that negative behavior can no longer be tolerated at the Tourney, and if this is be a viable entity moving forward, participants need to be on board with what has been created in regards to conduct. Below is a copy of what has been created; it will be posted in the gym during the tournament. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks,
Bobby

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Everett High School Alumni Basketball Tournament

Code of Conduct

Mission Statement - To celebrate and positively promote the legacy and tradition of Everett Seagull basketball through the spirit of competition.

Welcome to the Everett High School Alumni Baketball Tournament! As former Seagull players, it was commonly relayed by our coaches that putting on the uniform and competing was a privilege, not a right. Through this lesson, we've all had experiences that collectively bring us together each New Year's Eve to commemorate the wonderful heritage of Everett High School basketball. To this end, it needs to be understood that our ability to play in this annual tournament is a privilege, not a right. Our behavior not only represents our respective graduating classes, but is on display to the current group of Seagull players who look up to the collective example we're setting. More importantly, with friends, family and children in attendance, it needs to be understood that we need to model exemplary behavior.

With this in mind, we require that each player adhere to the following code of conduct.

Each player shall:

• Display sportsmanship, and agree to compete in a manner that exhibits integrity and honesty.
• Adhere to rule decisions made by tournament organizers.
• Respect and abide by a fellow player or official's decision, and agree to refrain from verbal or physical demonstrations against a decision.
• Abstain from using profanity or other disrespectful language.
• Refrain from using unnecessary rough tactics during game play against an opposing player.
• Demonstrate respect for players, coaches, and fellow alumni.

If any player is found to be in violation of any of the aforementioned requirements, Tournament Organizers will require that the player leave the facility immediately.

Alumni Tourney T-Shirts!!!

First off, gotta give some quick love to the Gulls on their 56-48 dub over Oak Harbor. After a midweek setback against Mountlake Terrace, the fellas pulled it together against the Wildcats and got a nice home victory heading into the Holiday break. If you're curious where the Gulls stack up with the rest of the league, the current WesCo 3A standings can be found here.

On the Alumni Tourney front, a lot of positive news is flowing. On top of EHS Blue and Gold coordinating this year's event by booking the facility and providing the liability insurance, the Everett School District has agreed to waive any union custodial fees that are usually required for hosting an event on school district property. No big deal, right? Well, the fees are usually $40 p/hour during the event time, so I for one am grateful that we won't need a financial source for this expense. On the school district front, much thanks to ESD AD Robert Polk for facilitating this concession. The efforts of EHS Blue and Gold also need to be recognized, especially Ross Rettenmier, Ross Johnson, and Allan White. Without their backing, we would not have a tournament...it's as simple as that.

Now to the information that's relevant to the title of this post:) At our first Alumni Tourney Committee meeting back in October, it was bantered about that providing t-shirts for alums at the Tourney would be a pretty solid way to show support for the event. But again, how would we fund this? Well, thanks to the efforts of Dave Rucker ('88), H&L Sports, and Screen Printing NW, the t-shirt idea has been made a reality! Below is the art work Dave & Co. came up with that will appear on the tee; I personally think it's pretty fresh (click on the image to enlarge):

I can't stress enough that without Dave stepping up and putting in his time and resources, this would not have happened. It's a prime example of what has continued to floor me throughout this process: the absolute passion and dedication people have for this program. Collectively, we all care GREATLY about not only the December 31st festivities, but the current and long-term viability and success of Everett Basketball. Whether it's been phone conversations, emails, planning meetings, Facebook...it's been unreal. Let's keep this moving, and between Alumni Appreciation Night and the Alumni Tournament, have one awesome celebration of Seagull hoop to end 2010.

EHS Alumni Appreciation Night

Just wanted to get the word out that Michelle Wiley - who is a teacher at Everett High - is organizing the 2nd annual Alumni Appreciation Night for the December 30th game vs. Ferndale. She put a great deal of effort in this last year, and it made for a nice evening of catching up with former players while being able to watch the current team in action. With the event coming on the eve of the Alumni Tournament, it's a great opportunity for out-of-towners to catch a game and be celebrated for your past contributions to the program. We'll be posting more on this, but just thought it would be good to put out the initial blurb. If you have any questions or would like to RSVP, contact Michelle at ehsalumnihoops@gmail.com or at 425.385.4473. Thanks for your efforts, Michelle!

BruGull Fest goes to the Gulls

Late on this update, but Saturday night was quite the evening for the Seagulls. After the Everett Girls squad (4-1) put a 72-46 beatdown on Cascade, the fellas came back from a seven point 4th quarter deficit to knock off the Bruins 57-53. The Herald has the game summary with some quotes from Aaron Nations on his team's ability to battle back and how, in his words, this may help "...to define our season." Surely a positive outcome any time you can knock off your neighbors to the south, but more-so it serves as a solid foundation to build from. Everett improves to 2-3 overall with the non-conference dub. Way to go Gulls!

Seagulls Knocked Off By Meadowdale

After Friday night, odds are that Torin Dooley might need to update his personal rankings of the favorite opposing WesCo gyms to compete in. No need for the BCS computer rankings here: put "The Pit" at #1. Meadowdale's junior PG went off for 27 points - 18 of which came in the first quarter - helping the Mavericks cruise to a 75-54 victory over the Seagulls. A 35-16 run during the 2nd and 3rd quarters put this one out of reach, helping Meadowdale (1-0, 1-3) secure their first victory. 6'5" senior post Lucas Sontra led Everett (0-1, 1-3) with 15 points, and was complemented by Matt Gebert's 10 points.

Next up for the Gulls is Saturday night crosstown clash with Cascade, who posted an impressive 63-48 dub over previously undefeated Mariner Friday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 8pm at "The Pit".

Below are the updated WesCo 3A standings through December 10th:

Mountlake Terrace	2-0	3-1
Glacier Peak	1-0	2-1
Meadowdale	1-0	1-3
Lynnwood	1-1	2-3
Shorecrest	0-1	2-3
Everett	0-1	1-3
Oak Harbor	0-1	1-3
Shorewood	0-1	1-2

Quick Tuesday Blurbs

- After a Saturday night's non-conference loss to Ingraham, the Gulls hit it hard this weekend with two huge home games, hosting Meadowdale on Friday (7:30pm) and crosstown rivals Cascade on Saturday (8pm). Check out Everett's schedule at their team page on the Seattle Times website.

- Former Seagull David Safstrom (right) will make his second career start as his Lehigh Mountain Hawks take on Quinnipiac in NCAA non-conference tussle tonight. Lehigh is 4-4 thus far, and the 7'1" senior post has played a solid supporting role in stabilizing the frontcourt the past few games. Read the preview for tonight's tilt here.

- I've also posted a letter from EHS coach Aaron Nations on the links menu (you can also find it here), asking for sponsorship support for the team poster. If you own a business and would like to get a little pub while supporting the Gulls, be sure to check it out.

Seagull Spotlight - Zlatko Savovic

In our first installment of Seagull Spotlight, we are profiling one of the more prolific guards to ever put on the Everett uniform: Zlatko Savovic ('99). In three years of varsity competiton, "Zo" helped lead the Gulls to two state tournament appearances, including a 21 point, 12 assist performance in his final prep game, a 90-78 defeat to Rainier Beach. Let it be noted that Zo thoroughly outplayed his PG counterpart that day: future NBA great Jamal Crawford (13 points, 8 assists) was quoted in the Everett Herald as stating point-blank that "...#10 can really play". Savovic was a two-time All-Wesco and All-Area performer, and competed in both the Washington 3A All-State Game and the Washington-Oregon "Northwest Shootout".

Savovic continued his academic and athletic endeavors at Lehigh University, an NCAA Division-I institution in Bethleham, PA. A four-year varsity player for the Mountain Hawks, he capped his career with an All-Patriot league senior season, averaging 14 ppg, 4 rpg, and 4 apg, leading his team to a 16-12 mark. After a stint playing professionally in Europe for Latvian Champions Ventspils, Savovic relocated back to the Northwest.

A native of Bosnia-Herzegovia, Zo's fascinating tale was featured in John Feinstein's book "The Last Amateurs", an in-depth look at Patriot League basketball. A cliff-noted version of his life journey was also documented in this 2003 article by Dick Jarardi of the Philadelphia Daily News. Surely one of the most unique individuals to ever throw on the Blue & Gold!

EHS Basketball Alumni Blog - The Purpose

Welcome to the EHS Basketball Alumni blog!

As a proud former participant in the Everett basketball program, I've come to appreciate and treasure the friendships I've built over the years with fellow players that have donned the "Blue & Gold". These relationships are annually celebrated every December 31st at noon, when we all converge on "The Pit" for the annual EHS Alumni Tournament. Whatever paths our collective lives have taken, we all have this common bond that brings us together to lace 'em up and compete for a few hours in the name of Seagull basketball. I, like many of us, came to expect that the tournament would just happen when I showed up on New Year's Eve. But through the last couple of years, it became apparent that the participation and organization of the tournament was struggling, so much so that last year's edition was nearly cancelled. There was a real chance that the Alumni Tourney would cease to exist.

To this end, a collective effort was put forth by various EHS alums to dissect what was going on, and what could be done to not only solidify the long-term foundation of the Alumni Tourney, but to also forge a bond between former players and the current Seagull program. Over the course of many months, this committee of individuals met with members of the Everett School District, Everett High School Athletic Department, and EHS Blue & Gold to troubleshoot the issues of facility insurance liability, alumni player conduct, and the lack of connection of former players to the current program. Because of the amicable nature and problem solving efforts of all parties involved, I'm happy to relay that the Alumni Tournament will continue in 2010 and beyond.

So what is this purpose of this blog, you may ask? I see it serving many purposes. First, it's a clear means of communicating what is going on in regards to the alumni events and activities. There will be some really cool things happening this year surrounding the Alumni Tournament, including an "Basketball Alumni Night" celebration during the December 30th game between Everett and Ferndale. There will also be opportunities to promote the Michael Shaler Memorial Scholarship Fund, an endowment that annually awards scholarships to student-athletes in the basketball program in the memory of the former Seagull who tragically passed away in December of 1998. Since 2000, the Scholarship has been awarded to nearly two dozen former Seagulls. It's my hope that through our annual tournament, we will be able to commemorate the spirit of Michael's memory by celebrating those that have been impacted by this award, and further help strengthen the Fund by potentially putting together our collective means.

Second, this will serve as vessel to relay how the current batch of Seagulls are performing. Competing in a revamped WesCo 3A division, the 2010-11 squad is 1-2 thus far this season. For those that don't get an Everett Herald dropped off on their porch on a daily basis, I hope to provide some helpful links and sources that will provide feedback on how this year's team is doing.

Third, this will be a spot to celebrate the history of the Everett program. There have been many amazing teams and players that have filtered through the program over the years. While we remember our own experiences vividly, we may not know much about those that came before or after us. I would like to make this an interactive place where we're able to share our stories, and connect on our collective experiences. To do this, I'll be reaching out to you guys to tell your tales and post those crazy pictures. If you have old pictures or articles that I can post, please don't hesitate to contact me.

To get that train rolling, I'll end this post with a flashback picture of the 1994-95 Seagulls celebrating their 5th place finish at the 3A State Tournament. Stay tuned for more updates...Go Seagulls!

Bobby Thompson, Class of 1996