North high-school athletes of the year - Seattle Times June 2, 2000

Jose Miguel Romero - Seattle Times Snohomish County bureau

EVERETT - It figured to be a good year for Grady Sizemore at Cascade High School. But it was even better than even he imagined.

The 17-year old senior dominated games in three sports, earning first-team All-WesCo 4A honors in football, basketball and baseball and a football scholarship from Washington.

Those performances earned Sizemore The Seattle Times Male Athlete of the Year in Snohomish County.

A fantastic baseball season capped the high-school career of Sizemore, who some believe could be an early round selection in the baseball draft. Sizemore is considering the draft, though he is still committed to UW.

"Right now, I'm still looking at college, but I'm not ruling the draft out," he said. "I had a lot of confidence this year. I felt more comfortable, and my coaches and parents pushed me to do better."

Better is an accurate way to describe Sizemore's achievements. In football, the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder rushed for 1,199 yards and eight touchdowns while playing running back and quarterback in Cascade's Wing-T offense. He was just as good on defense, intercepting eight passes and making 79 tackles as a free safety to win the Bruins' Defensive Player of the Year award.

Though Cascade (8-1) did not win the league title for the first time in a decade, Sizemore averaged 10.8 yards a carry. He also ended his football career as the school's all-time career leading rusher (3,081 yards) and No. 3 career scorer with 248 points.

His stats often matched his jersey - No. 1.

"If it was third-and-long, we'd give it to No. 1 and get the first down," said Bruin football coach Rollie Wilson. "You can't replace him. He's one of the finest athletes ever to go through Cascade."

Sizemore used his speed and size to wear down defenses in basketball as well. As the starting point guard, he was known for slashing drives for layups or assists.

He averaged 10 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals, leading the Bruins in assists and steals. Cascade finished 18-7 this season, and former head coach Jerry Koester said Sizemore's leadership was instrumental.

"The biggest thing he brought to our team was his athleticism," Koester said. "He leads through example. As with most great athletes, the greater the challenge, the better he played. He's been the centerpiece of all three major programs."

Koester said his favorite recollection of Sizemore happened in a district tournament game against Snohomish earlier this year. The Bruins trailed by six with two minutes to play, then Sizemore took over.

"He refused to lose that game," Koester said. "He had two steals, a rebound follow of his own missed free throw for a basket and the assist for the winning basket."

His scholarship came in football, but Sizemore says baseball is his favorite sport. And his performance on the field this spring proved it.

Sizemore batted .457 with seven home runs and 20 runs batted in. Ten of his 32 hits were doubles and he stole 24 bases. His 43 runs set a school record.

On defense, he didn't commit an error in center field as Cascade qualified for the district tournament.

"He walked 29 times, and that's an automatic double because he always got to second base," said Cascade Coach Bob Smithson.

Sizemore, who worked out for the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field last month, dreams of a big-league career.

"It challenges me the most because it's the hardest," he said. "I always want to get better. Part of it is natural ability, but I didn't really expect to be where I am now."

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Grady Sizemore / at a glance

High School: Cascade of Everett.

Year: Senior. Age: 17.

Height: 6 feet 2.

Sports: Football, basketball, baseball.

Athletic honors: Led Bruins in rushing with 1,199 yards. His 3,081 career rushing yards make him Cascade's all-time rushing leader. Bruins' Defensive Player of the Year. ... Three-year varsity player in all three sports. ... First-team All-WesCo 4A in football, basketball and baseball this year. ... Will play in WesCo 4A all-star baseball game tomorrow.

Academics: 3.85 grade point.

Personal: Says baseball is his favorite sport. ... Credits the coaching and guidance of his father Grady for his success. ... Second Cascade athlete to be named Times Athlete of the Year in four years.

Future: Has scholarship to play football and baseball at Washington, but pro baseball is possible.

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