■ The Olympic League cross country championships return to Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course in Sequim this Thursday. It’s hard on kids when they have a different coach every year or two. “I actually got to see Forks play a few times, and after seeing that and talking to the kids and stuff, I think defensively we can get better really, really quick,” Willmarth said. He said he plans to emphasize fundamentals and defense, while also creating a system and terminology that is taught from the grade school level up. The Forks program has had its share of turnover as well in recent years, with Willmarth the sixth different coach to lead the Forks girls since 2004. Willmarth guided Rainier and Naches Valley to two state appearances each before going through a 1-18 season at Eisenhower - a program stunted by coaching instability for decades. “I think the parents and the school want to build a program.” “When I came up here and interviewed and went around town, I got kind of the same feeling that I got from Rainier back in the day. There was a lot of town pride in the school system,” Willmarth said. “I actually grew up in Rainier, back when it was a small town and it felt like a small town. ![]() The Forks girls basketball program will get yet another new leader when Cris Willmarth takes over this winter.Īfter coaching stints at Rainier, Naches Valley and Eisenhower of Yakima, the 41-year-old decided to go back to his small town roots. “It kind of gets in your system and you just don’t ever leave it.” “I will always stick my nose in there,” Johnson said. Johnson said he’ll probably help Grimm out from time to time and may even serve as an assistant. Grimm has been a volunteer coach and an assistant coach with Port Townsend since 2002 in the wrestling and football programs, and serves the community as a firefighter. He later walked on to wrestle at Highline Community College and eventually reached nationals. Grimm was one of Johnson’s former wrestlers, having placed fourth at 145 pounds in 2A his senior year in 2000. “We were always competitive, so I felt good about that and I felt good that we always had kids who could compete with the best,” Johnson said. That included a 13-year run from 1998 to 2010 when the Redskins had 19 state placers. Port Townsend had at least one wrestler reach state 17 out of the 20 years Johnson was head coach.
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