They’re gone now. But not forgotten.
Six key South Whidbey athletes from the Class of 2009 were inducted into the Falcon sports Wall of Fame on Friday night before the homecoming football game against Granite Falls.
South Whidbey High School has traditionally honored student athletes for their outstanding performance, leadership and sportsmanship by displaying their picture in the Wall of Fame corridor near the gyms.
Each in their own way, the six — Luke Hodson (football, baseball, basketball), Constantine “Dino” Michaelides (soccer), Lindsey Newman (tennis and basketball), Trapper Rawls (football and wrestling), Nick Tenuta (football and baseball) and Karissa Thomas (soccer) — contributed mightily to their school’s prowess on the field.
Hodson was a three-sport athlete who was named first team All-Conference defensive back in his junior and senior years. He was selected for the first team All-Conference in baseball as a pitcher in his senior year.
Michaelides was a four-year letterman for the Falcon boys soccer team, the leading scorer as a forward who earned Cascade All-Conference honors during his junior and senior years.
Newman is a multiple honoree in tennis and basketball. She was a three-time state champion with an overall 84-6 record during her tennis career.
In basketball, Newman led the state in scoring. After 19 games, Newman had 536 total points for a per-game average of 28.2 points last year.
Rawls was a two-sport inductee. He gained All-Conference football honors on both offense and defense. In wrestling, he was a three-time state qualifier, placing fourth at the Mat Classic finals in 2007. Rawls also played catcher and first base on the Falcon baseball squad.
Tenuta was selected for the first team All-Conference in baseball his senior year, and gained second-team All-Conference honors as a receiver on the Falcon football team.
Thomas was a four-year starting forward on the South Whidbey girls soccer team. She earned Cascade All-Conference honors twice during her final two years as a forward and leading scorer.
This year, the high school also recognized the members of the 1968 Langley High School football team that, overcoming all odds and low expectations, went unconquered with a 9-0 record.
During the awards banquet, an old football signed by all the members of the team was presented to athletic director John Patton for inclusion in the Wall of Fame trophy case.