Othello High's Unified Soccer team crowned State Champion
Courtesy photo - The 2017 Unified Division 1 Championship Team: Pictured in the front row from left are Colton Schmidt, Nick McDonald, Emilee Jensen, Josh Lembcke, Natasha Montejano, Jennifer Medina and Atalee Mendoza. Back row from left are assistant coach vanessa McDonald,Hugo Arvizu, Mica Giles, Victor Maria, Jesse Wilson, Enrique Vasquez, Dusty Carlson, Vincent Montejano, Chris Vasquez and head coach kevin McDonald.
PULALLUP — Hugo Arvizu and Nick McDonald recorded hat tricks, Mica Giles and Josh Lembcke scored a goal each, and the Dream Team held off Highline 8-5 to claim the 2017 WIAA Unified Division 1 Championship.
The opening rounds of the tournament kicked off over the weekend at the Washington Premier Soccer field in Puyallup.
Othello got two goals each from Nick McDonald, Arvizu and Giles and a lone goal from Lembcke and the Dream Team got past Heritage, 7-5.
Round 2 saw Othello blank Edmonds 4-0 on goals from Victor Maria, Dusty Carlson, Arvizu and Lembcke. Keeper Colton Schmidt was outstanding in defense, turning back all shots on goal from the Edmonds squad.
The two wins catapulted Othello into the championship match May 27 with Highline, which took place at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup.
The Dream Team, coached by Kevin and Vanessa McDonald had made it to the big stage in prior seasons, but did not win a single contest. This year the squad earned the bragging rights, outscoring the competition 19-10. Each player on the team received a championship T-shirt and medal and a Special Olympic Gold Medal. The Unified Soccer League is part of the Special Olympics program.