On Wednesday, September 18, the 2019 Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame class was inducted in a ceremony at the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center at Angel of the Winds Arena. The event was packed with local sports heroes, including keynote speaker Jon Brockman. Brockman graduated from Snohomish High School, where he was a basketball star. He then played at the University of Washington and went on to play professionally in the NBA and in Europe.
This event also honored the Snohomish County High School Male and Female Athletes of the Year, Collegiate Male and Female Athletes of the Year, and the Herald Man and Woman of the Year in Sports Award.
Russell & Hill, PLLC is a sponsor of the ongoing “Student-Athlete of the Month” in conjunction with local Everett radio station KRKO. At the event, Matt Russell and Jim Hill were proud to help present the following awards:
- Male High School Athlete of the Year – Arlington High School football and basketball player Anthony Whitis
- Female High School Athlete of the Year – Jackson High School softball player Iyanla de Jesus
Both players had excellent seasons for the 2018/2019 school year. One of the recipients, de Jesus, was already at college but was able to join the ceremony through facetime when the award was presented. The entire room shouted her nickname, “Ice.” She was happy and tearful to have received the award.
Jarred Rome, a discus thrower, graduated from Marysville Pilchuck High School and represented the US at the Olympics in 2004 and 2012. He was inducted into the Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame September 18. We are sad to learn that he passed away on Saturday, September 21. While his cause of death is not known at this time, we want to share his words from the ceremony because they are so true and poignant for young athletes everywhere.
“I had lots of failures,” Rome said during his acceptance speech. “I was never the top thrower in high school, I was never the top thrower in college. I considered myself to be the hardest worker. I never had the talent, I frankly never believed I could make the national team, that was never a goal of mine. The support I had shows tonight from the family and friends who are here, without your support, I would never be here.”
Rome said that he wanted to quit in 2003 after coming in 14th at nationals. His mother convinced him to stick with it. With the support of his loved ones, Jarred Rome continued to work hard and ended up winning the Olympic Trials the following year and representing the United States in the 2004 Olympics.
Rome was the director of Ironwood Thrower Development Camp in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and was a track and field assistant coach for throws at Boston University in Massachusetts. Rome will be dearly missed by his family and community. He was 42 years old.
Jarred Rome was one of nine inductees at the ceremony, including six athletes, one coach, one contributor, and one team.
The entire team at Russell & Hill, PLLC looks forward to their continued partnerships in the area and with the Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet. Excellence in academics and athletics should always be honored by businesses in the community.