I’ve had some questions about what happens to games and contests when the weather gets bad and sports start getting cancelled. The basic rule of thumb is that if there is no school, there are no sports. Practices may be held, but depends on the coach. Unlike college games (like the University of Washington men’s basketball game tonight, which is still scheduled to be played), high schools usually don’t play if there is no school.

Games are typically rescheduled once schools are back in session and schedules can be sorted out as to who can play where and when. Currently there have been 12 sports games that have been cancelled for Mercer Island (through Thursday, but Friday’s could very well be cancelled as well).

It gets a little trickier for teams when the cancellations affect multiple schools and multiple teams. Since there has been no school for most of the KingCo schools, meaning no games for winter sports since Tuesday, that means a lot of make up games to schedule and figure out in the next several weeks, along with trying to play the regularly scheduled games.

Once those games begin to be rescheduled I will update with locations and times.

Mercer Island resident and former Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller will be inducted in the U.S. Youth Soccer Hall of Fame in Boston next month.

Keller, who recently finished his final season with the Sounders, started playing the Under-7 Woodlawn Cemetery Diggers Booster soccer club, a member of the Washington State Youth Soccer. He played for several clubs in Washington, as well as the U.S. Youth Soccer regional team and national team.

He played internationally with teams in Germany and Spain and in the English Premier League, before returning back to Washington to play with the Sounders.

Keller was named to the U.S. World Cup teams in 1990, 1998, 2002 and 2006, and in 2006 was one of only two players to be named to four World Cup rosters. He’s earned three Gold Cups, three U.S. Open Cups and three U.S. Soccer athlete of the year awards.

It was recently announced he’ll be returning to the Sounders next season, this time in the broadcasting booth with Ross Fletcher.

The Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at the U.S. Soccer Awards gala on Feb. 17 in Boston.

Mercer Island’s Jeff Linquist played for the West team in the first ever Semper Fi Bowl, featuring the top 100 high school players from around the country. The game, played in Phoenix on Jan. 3 finished with the West team winning 17-14.

Lindquist was also selected as the MVP of the game by Scout.com. Lindquist will play for the University of Washington next fall.

Here’s a release about the game:

Inaugural All-American Bowl Proves Why It Belongs
Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl displayed talent, pageantry rivaling established bowls

The inaugural Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl had as much enthusiasm and intensity on the sidelines as the players and coaches did on the field. The Marine Corps pageantry was on exhibit inside and outside of Chase Field in Phoenix from the time the players took the field to the time the West squad hoisted the championship trophy at midfield. From Master Sargent’s giving locker room speeches and an F-16 flyover during the national anthem, there was no question which branch of the armed forces was behind the game.

•  The East squad took the early lead when Phillip Nelson connected with JaQuay Williams for a 47 yard touchdown pass after Williams got behind prolific Notre Dame bound wide receiver Deontay Greenberry, who was playing both ways for the West.

• With 8:40 remaining in the second quarter, Washington Husky commit Jeff Lindquist hooked up with Jaydon Mickens on a 14 yard TD pass to tie things up at 7.

• The West was able take the lead when Jeff Lindquist once again was able to find an open receiver down the field. This time Lindquist connected on a 26 yard TD pass to Corey Batey which put the West up 14-7.

• Nick Patti, a versatile QB from Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando hooked up with Maxx Williams for a nine yard TD leaving the score tied 14-14 heading into the half.

•  Set up by a 53 yard kickoff return by Virginia Tech commit Donaldven Manning

•  The score remained tied until Marshall Morgan trotted onto the field with five minutes remaining in the fourth. Morgan hit a 46 yard field goal which in the end gave the West a 17-14 victory over the East.

The Islanders girls’ and boys’ basketball teams plan to use their home court advantage to secure a win against the Mt. Si Wildcats with fans filling the stands wearing white to show support. 

So, put on a white T-Shirt or purchase an Islanders “White Out” Graphic T-Shirt (while supplies last) and see you at the game(s)! “White Out” Graphic T-Shirts ($5) will be available for purchase Thursday, Jan. 12 and Friday, Jan. 13 in the MIHS Commons during lunch and Jan. 13 at game time.

Game times are as follows:

        • 3:30 pm JV Girls @ MIHS

        • 5:00 pm JV Boys @ MIHS

        • 6:30 pm Varsity Girls @ MIHS

        • 8:00 pm Varstiy Boys @ MIHS

It’s our last basketball poll of the year as we’ll be taking a break over the holidays.

Its hard, especially in the early season before everyone consistently plays league games, to really pin things down across the board, but here’s where we stand for week three. The Lake Washington boys dropped out of the 3A rankings after losing to Sammamish last week. The Juanita girls also slipped out of the rankings, despite their win over Mount Si last week.

We’ll be back in the new year when we should start to get a better idea of where teams will spend the season. Happy Holidays!

Boys 4A

1. Davis
2. Snohomish
3. Bellarmine Prep
4. Skyline
5. Curtis
6. Lewis & Clark
7. Mount Rainier
8. Union
9. Garfield
10. Evergreen

Boys 3A

1. University
2. Rainier Beach
3. Lincoln
4. O’Dea
5. Foss
6. Kamiakin
7. Franklin
8. Sammamish
9. Seattle Prep
10. Lakes

 Girls 4A

1. Mount Rainier
2. Emerald Ridge
3. Central Valley
4. Skyview
5. Lake Stevens
6. Woodinville
7. Stanwood
8. Bellarmine Prep
9. Central Kitsap
10. Jackson

Girls 3A

1. Prairie
2. Auburn Mountainview
3. Kamiakin
4. Holy Names
5. Lakes
6. Liberty
7. Wilson
8. Shorecrest
9. University
10. Seattle Prep

Most high schoolers will be sleeping in late this week enjoying their time off for the winter break. Some though, are preparing for winter break tournaments and games. The MIHS boys basketball team is in Atlanta for the Jared Cook Classic and the girls are traveling Monday, Dec. 19 to play Prairie.

You can follow along with the boys action on the radio here.

Monday, Dec. 19

C/JV/Varsity Girls Basketball @ Prairie:  Prarie HS Gym; C 3:30 PM, JV 5:00 PM, Varsity 7:00 PM

Tuesday, Dec. 20

Varsity Boys Basketball @ Jared Cook Classic in Atlanta GA

Soph Boys Basketball @ Garfield:  Garfield HS Gym; 1:45 PM

Wednesday, Dec. 21

Varsity Boys Basketball @ Jared Cook Classic in Atlanta GA

JV/Varsity Wrestling @ O’Dea Double Dual with Marysville-Pilchuck & Stanwood O’Dea HS Gym; 11:00 AM

Thursday, Dec. 22

Varsity Boys Basketball @ Jared Cook Classic in Atlanta GA

 Thursday, Dec. 29

JV/Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Australian Team:  MIHS Main Gym; JV 3:30 PM, Varsity 7:30 PM

also, here at MIHS, Calvin College vs. Whitworth College:  MIHS Main Gym, 5:30 PM

In the latest Washington wrestling rankings, Mercer Island as a team was ranked No. 7 in 3A.

Washington Wrestling Report list of team and individual rankings for high schools in the state. The current No. 1 3A team is Yelm, followed closely by Enumclaw.

Individually, at 106 freshman Luke Wilson was ranked No. 5, while Jake Pruncho was ranked in the 120 class at No. 8.

Blake Johnson is currently No. 5 in the 160 class, while teammate Phil Frazier ranks No. 1 in the 182 weight class.

The rankings are updated each week.