After one year covering sports for The Arlington Times Im leaving for the Philippines as part of a Rotary General Study Exchange.
The trip will be to learn about the journalism profession and promote peace in the world. Ive been preparing for the trip for the last six months as part of a lengthy interview process and group preparation with three other candidates.
I wish to thank all the coaches, players, parents and fans who made this an enjoyable job. Ive had a great time covering your young athletes on the fields and in the gym.
I sense optimism around the area for the continued improvement of Arlington, Lakewood and Darrington athletics on a local and statewide level. I am encouraged by the commitment of the youth coaches as well as those leading the high school teams. In my time here I rarely ran into a coach who I did not believe had the best interest of his players in mind.
Ive discovered a lot during my time here at the paper. I found out the drive to Darrington is one of the most beautiful passages Ive ever taken, particularly on a clear Fall day. Ive seen the Arlington community celebrate a Stilly Cup and Battle of the Bull win. Ive witnessed a team of young fastpitch girls nearly achieve the impossible dream of a Little League World Series. Ive covered everything from triathlons to fitness competitions to dodgeball. There will be plenty of memories for me, regardless of what the future holds.
I wish to thank the people I worked for and with here at The Times for supporting me and encouraging me in my first year as a journalist, it made the transition back to life in the States a lot easier. Thank you in particular to our editor Sarah Arney, without her hard work and dedication the paper would not be nearly the quality it is today. Thank you also to Scott Frank, our managing editor at The Marysville Globe, who took a chance on a tall sportswriter with a very strange resume. Sometimes all a person needs is an opportunity.