Lopez athletics: football team undefeated, volleyball winning, soccer building experience

By Lopez School District superintendent Bill Evans, special to the Sounder. Lopez School is bent upon dispelling the myth that a small student enrollment is less likely to yield competitive athletic teams. With a K-12 enrollment of just over 200 students and 125 students 6-12, the athletic teams of Lopez School are doing very well. The number of students turning out for sports at Lopez continues to far exceed the state average, with approximately 80 percent of Lopez High School students participating in sports. The football team has 22 athletes turning out, grades 8-12. Volleyball is suiting up 16 athletes, and soccer boasts 23 athletes on the field. The Middle School teams are also experiencing a good turnout for fall sports.

October 21, 2011 3:02 pm
Lopez player #9 works to push the ball past a Viking.
Lopez player #9 works to push the ball past a Viking.

Contributed by Lopez School District superintendent Bill Evans, special to the Sounder.

Lopez School is bent upon dispelling the myth that a small student enrollment is less likely to yield competitive athletic teams. With a K-12 enrollment of just over 200 students and 125 students 6-12, the athletic teams of Lopez School are doing very well. The number of students turning out for sports at Lopez continues to far exceed the state average, with approximately 80 percent of Lopez High School students participating in sports. The football team has 22 athletes turning out, grades 8-12. Volleyball is suiting up 16 athletes, and soccer boasts 23 athletes on the field. The Middle School teams are also experiencing a good turnout for fall sports.

The football team is undefeated, with an overall 6-0 season record. Racking up impressive numbers of total yards gained in the season, number of passes completed, number of pass interceptions, and 298 total points (at press time), the football team is very likely to be in post-season play. Coached by Larry Berg, Nate Borg and Aaron Dye, the football players have also exhibited exceptional sportsmanship, for which many of their opponents have shared their appreciation. The Lopez Lobos are proud of their WIAA/Seattle Times State Class 1-B Athlete of the Week, Tommy Kramer. The Lobos last home game is on Oct. 29 against Evergreen Lutheran.

The Lopez soccer team continues to give it their all. Fans and coaches are considering this a building year and the athletes are enthusiastically racking up valuable playing time and on-the-field experience. A young, coed team, the soccer athletes are facing teams with more experience and often all-male rosters. Opposing teams have remarked on the soccer team’s enthusiasm and fair sportsmanship. The Lobo soccer athletes are coached by Melanie Weber and Ali Nicole, and play their last home game on October 20.


The volleyball team is coached by returning David (Chico) Chicovsky, and Isabelle Tetu. They are having a winning season, with 11 wins, and 1 loss, and are undefeated in league play. The Lady Lobos are an aggressive team with statistics that are impressive. Also receiving accolades for fair-play and sportsmanship, the volleyball team has qualified for post-season play. Many of their fans are also booking motel rooms for state in Yakima.

With winter sports just around the corner it looks to be a great year for Lobo sports. High school boys basketball will be coached by M.R. Buffum. High school girls basketball will be coached by Larry Berg. The school will be running a full winter athletic program and is planning on a big turnout for winter sports. The district invites fans to check the district website for schedules of games.

“We are proud of our athletes, very appreciative of our coaches, and very pleased that we are able to continue to offer a full athletic program to our students and community”, said Lopez Principal Lisa Shelby.

For more information, contact Evans at (360)468-2202 or email bevans@lopez.k12.wa.us.