Michael Evans, a new assistant coach for the Wenatchee High School cross country team, is both a veteran coach and a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Evans joined the Navy immediately after high school, and served for three years, two years of which were active duty in Vietnam. Evans raced before becoming a coach, although he did not race on foot; he raced on a motorcycle. Evans raced motocross after serving in the Navy. To stay in shape for the demands of motocross, Evans ran and lifted weights. He continued to run even after he stopped doing motocross.

This will be Evans’ 27th year coaching cross country.

“I like the work ethic, I like the fact everybody pays, I love the family philosophy, and I love the racing,” Evans said. He explained what he meant by “everybody pays,” saying kids pay by working hard both in training and at races.

Evans’ coaching career started when he was asked if he would like to coach cross country at Lakewood North High School in Lakewood Washington, where he taught math. Evans agreed, and started the Lakewood North cross country program. The first year of the program there were only four boys and six girls on the team.

Evans retired from his teaching and coaching job at Lakewood in 2004 and moved to Arizona for family reasons. He continued to coach cross country in Arizona where he was the head cross country coach at Mesquite High School for three years.

He moved back to Wenatchee and has been coaching javelin and high jump for the WHS track and field team for three years. Evans was recruited to coach cross country by head cross country Coach Susan Valdez.

—Moses Lurbur, Staff Reporter

When you attend a freshman volleyball game at Wenatchee High School, you will notice that the biggest cheerleader isn’t waving pom poms around, but is standing on the sidelines guiding the team through the match. The team’s coach, Rachel Lippert, prides herself in that.

The Cashmere High School graduate played volleyball her freshman and senior years in high school, and scored a spot on the varsity team both years. She continued going to school at Wenatchee Valley College and earned her AA degree.

Volleyball has always been something she thoroughly enjoyed, and continued on to play in open gyms after her high school years. Lippert, who has a history at Wenatchee High School, coached freshman basketball and has even worked as a lunch lady. Lippert credits coaches Robin Kansky and Mike Franza for introducing her to coaching volleyball, dubbing them the “main guys” to get her started.

“She’s a good volleyball coach,” freshman Kayla Frank said. “She knows how to push you and when to stop.”

When discussing her toughness on her team, Lippert laughed and decided that she is “pretty tough” and “has high expectations.”

Lippert tries to work out with the team as much as possible, and insists the team gets the most out of it when she is involved. She wants to be the person who gives individuals confidence and success through her coaching. She knows she wants to coach and would like to coach for the rest of her life. The former lunch lady also has a message, which would be to let everyone know that, “The lunch ladies rock, the food is great and to tell them ‘thank you’ every day.”

—Jordan Gonzalez, Staff Reporter

The game of football can teach a person many life lessons, and for the new Wenatchee High School freshman offensive and defensive line coach Tony Sandoval, it has.

He played football for two years at Pioneer Middle School and played for Wenatchee High School for four years. Sandoval graduated in 1999, and following his graduation, he assisted the junior varsity team for two years and coached track during the same time.

He attended Yakima Valley Community College and wrestled for one season. He has also completed the AAS transfer degree and the Associates of Fine Arts music degree at Wenatchee Valley College. Currently, he is looking to go to Central Washington University and earn an Interdisciplinary Studies degree. More importantly, Sandoval is a veteran on and off the field. He had enlisted in the Army and served in Iraq.

“After returning home from Iraq, I played football to fill the void of missing the Army, the camaraderie, the combat,” Sandoval said. “Football saved my life.”

Upon returning home, he began coaching middle school sports. He coached wrestling for 11 years and coached football for six years.

Sandoval’s football career didn’t end with high school football. He joined the Wenatchee Valley Rams in 2004 and has since played all 10 seasons. For the last five seasons, he has coached the Wenatchee Valley Rams and played on the offensive line.

The Seattle Seahawks fan doesn’t consider himself too tough as a coach, and thinks that the offensive line is “a special place where guys realize they need to work more and harder than everyone else in order to win.”

Sandoval credits his own coaches, saying that he wishes to “preserve their legacy” and he will continue to “pass on their words,” for a lifetime.

—Jordan Gonzalez, Staff Reporter