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April 16, 2014
community
SAMMAMISH REVIEW
Couple pours lots of love into their tasty brews By Neil Pierson
rest of the space. The Julums have 11 beers on tap, and distribJohn Julum has been producute them solely to invited guests ing beer at home for about 20 in growlers and kegs. They’re not years, but the past 18 months licensed to sell by the pint. have been an entirely new expeThe Julums, in fact, keep the rience for tapping his creativity. interest level in check by not Julum and his wife, Michele, advertising their address. They operate Big Block Brewery, the accept reservations by phone only licensed and email, and brewery in they open for the city of public tastings Get in touch Sammamish. once or twice a It’s considered month, events Big Block Brewery a nanobrewthat are only in Sammamish generery because of publicized to ally accepts visitors on an its 15-keg-pertheir Facebook, appointment-only basis. To week capacTwitter and make a reservation, contact ity, but the Instagram folthem through Facebook or Julums have lowers. Twitter, @BigBlock Brewery, achieved an The brewery email info@bigblockbrewery. undeniable opened last com, or call 425-457-0515. small-circle July and prosuccess. duced 34 barTheir rels in its first neighbors helped them purchase six months, John said. However, a larger conditioning tank, John word of mouth has spread quicksaid, “because we couldn’t make ly, and Big Block is on pace to enough beer to make them make 250 barrels in 2014. happy.” The Julums are scouting The brewery takes up most out potential retail locations in of the Julums’ two-car garage, Sammamish and hope to have although the business’s nametheir own space in the next six sake, a 1967 Ford Galaxie with See BEER, Page 13 a big-block engine, occupies the
Photo by Neil Pierson
John and Michele Julum own Big Block Brewery, the only licensed brewery in Sammamish, and have grown their operation to produce up to 15 kegs per week.
Desire, precision lead Eastlake dancers to the top once again By Neil Pierson
It’s nothing new for the Eastlake High School dance team to impress the judges at the state championships, but this year, the dancers were a bit stunned with the quality of their own performance. Eastlake entered the March 28-29 state championships at the Yakima Valley SunDome expecting to perform well because of its detailed preparation. With so many quality Class 4A teams to compete against, though, coaches Corrine Cope and Catherine Dubois-Boutet said they weren’t necessarily looking to take first place in any category. But Eastlake did exactly that, making some team history in the process. The squad repeated as dance division champions – the fourth straight year the program has won a state title in at least one category – and finished second in both pom and the highlycompetitive kick division. The 32-member squad not only outshone most of its opponents, it recorded some remarkably high scores. Eastlake’s point totals in dance (275.5), kick (275.4) and pom (274.6) earned superior ratings, meaning they eclipsed 90 on a 100-point judging
Contributed photo by Leslie Keck
The Eastlake High School dance team had some historic achievements to end the 2013-14 season at the SunDome in Yakima, winning a fourth straight state championship and receiving three superior ratings. scale. Only one other 4A team, Moses Lake, earned three superior scores, and it was the first time the Eastlake program had done it at state. “That awards ceremony was a huge shock, for sure,” said Dubois-Boutet, a former Eastlake dancer who’s in her fourth year
of coaching. “It was a fun bus ride home.” Throughout the season, the team received exceptional leadership from its two senior captains, Amanda Ulkekul and Nicole Russo. “They were awesome; they were just two very mature kids,”
Dubois-Boutet said. “They know what they want and they know how to get it.” In addition to having strong leaders, the dancers establish four core covenants before the start of the season. That way, Dubois-Boutet said, consequences for falling short of standards felt
less like punishments. Megan Porter, a junior, said this year’s covenants – discipline, appreciation, fearlessness and unity – helped the team be satisfied regardless of the outcome. When they finished their dance routine at state, she said, they almost didn’t care where they placed. “The trophy was nice,” Porter said, “but coming off knowing we did our best, that was the victory, I think.” Dancing at the high-school level is practically a year-round commitment. The team conducts tryouts in early May and begins practices at the end of the month. Work continues throughout the summer with twice-a-week sessions and travel camps, then picks up in the fall when the dancers have daily practices and perform at football games. The competitive season, however, doesn’t begin until December, and that’s when things truly heat up, the coaches said. Typically, Eastlake competes in a handful of meets prior to the district and state competitions in March. This year, Cope said, they got a boost in January by performSee DANCE, Page 13
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April 16, 2014
SPORTS
SAMMAMISH REVIEW
Eastlake’s attack overpowers Ballard in KingCo baseball By Neil Pierson
Photo by Neil Pierson
Eastlake’s Kirk Boe slides safely into home plate, scoring a second-inning run for the Wolves as they beat the Ballard Beavers 10-0 on April 9.
A solid start to Class 4A KingCo Conference play is setting up the Eastlake High School baseball team for a deep playoff run. Eastlake overwhelmed visiting Ballard on April 9, posting 14 hits and getting a solid outing from starting pitcher Mick Vorhof to win 10-0 in five innings. With eight games remaining in conference play, the Wolves sit at 4-2, good for second place in the Crest Division, and may have a chance to catch division-leading Bothell when the teams play April 28. Vorhof, a senior, allowed four hits – all singles – and no walks while striking out six in a
complete-game effort. He indicated the Wolves are looking forward to rematches with Bothell and Redmond, who each beat Eastlake by one run. Eastlake had several additions to the varsity lineup this spring, and Vorhof thinks they’ve found a rhythm in all areas of the game. Numbers don’t lie – the team is batting .296, has a 1.98 staff ERA and is fielding at a .963 clip. “I’d say we’re pretty comfortable,” Vorhof said. “We’ve been about the same lineup the last couple games or so, so everyone is kind of settling in and we’re starting to look good.” The Wolves stretched their winning streak to three games See BASEBALL, Page 15
Appel saves the day as Skyline soccer tops Roosevelt By Neil Pierson
Skyline (7-0-3 overall, 4-0-1 conference), but saw little action in Don Braman has a conundrum the first 40 minutes. most soccer coaches would love It was a different story for to have – three quality goalkeepAppel in the second half, as ers and only one starting spot. he was forced to keep the Senior Jack O’Keefe and Roughriders at bay following junior Brice Escobar are the most Armeen Badri’s penalty-kick goal experienced players fighting for in the 54th minute. time, but sophomore Alex Appel Braman said he was pleased has been just as good during with Appel, who has helped the the Skyline Spartans’ 10-game Spartans record seven shutouts unbeaten streak to start the seain their first 10 matches. Part of son. Appel’s success may stem from Appel came in for the seca competitive practice environond half and ment with made three “I really felt like we were O’Keefe and crucial saves Escobar. the better team tonight.” in the last 15 “Alex is just minutes, helpreally happy – Don Braman, ing Skyline to show off Coach – beat the visitwhat he can ing Roosevelt do, and that’s Roughriders the kind of 1-0 in Class 4A KingCo quality we see out of him in Conference boys soccer action on training,” Braman said. “We know April 7. he’s capable of it. His team really His final save might have been needed him to come up with his best as he climbed the ladder some big saves tonight, and he to get his fingertips on a drive delivered when it was imporfrom Roosevelt’s Jack Kussick, tant.” deflecting it over the goal just Skyline stayed within two seconds before the final whistle. points of first-place Issaquah in “It was a good save, I guess,” the KingCo standings through Appel said. “I don’t want to make four matches. The district rivals those saves – I never want to. will meet May 1 at Skyline. … I’m not the tallest kid, but I Against Roosevelt, the like jumping. I jump rope all the Spartans dominated possession time, and I do all these jumping for most of the night, and had exercises, and it helps.” several quality scoring chances. O’Keefe started the game for Badri hit the crossbar 10 min-
utes in, while Sean Curtis, Jake Therrien, Matthew Richardson and Nick Morgan all saw their shots sail high. In the 52nd minute, Roosevelt goalie Alex Van Zuylen made a diving stop on Fed Rubiolo’s chance, and Curtis nailed the crossbar seconds later. Skyline’s perseverance finally paid off two minutes later. Richardson was pushed from behind for a penalty kick, and Badri easily converted into the top of the net past a flailing Van Zuylen. Roosevelt’s players and fans complained about the call, but Braman said it may have been the result of creating so many chances. “Sometimes it’s not given, sometimes it’s given,” he said. “Two or three other things could’ve happened, too. I really felt like we were the better team tonight, and I think we worked hard to earn opportunities and we deserved to win.” The Spartans nearly clinched the win with a second goal, but Van Zuylen stopped Nihar Baxi on a breakaway in the 64th minute. Instead, Appel had to keep the Roughriders off the scoreboard, something that proved difficult. “They were playing very direct See SOCCER, Page 16
Photo by Neil Pierson
Skyline’s Nate Hardwick boots the ball out of danger during the first half of the Spartans’ 1-0 win over the visiting Roosevelt Roughriders on April 7.