Lakes picks one of its own to coach boys basketball
DOUG PACEY
Lakes High School didn’t have to look far to fill its boys basketball coaching vacancy. The Lancers appointed Nick Jensen, a physical education teacher at Lakes, as their head coach.
“This is the perfect fit,” Jensen said.
Although he teaches at Lakes, Jensen, 34, has been an assistant boys basketball coach at Bellarmine Prep for the past 11 seasons. This is Jensen’s first head coaching position.
“Being in the school, I know the kids and all the success they’ve had the last five years under (former coach JoJo Rodriguez),” Jensen said. “I don’t know a better job out there to be able to step into such a successful program.”
Jensen hasn’t wasted time getting to know the Lancers on the court. He coached the team at offseason tournaments at Franklin and Garfield high schools the past two weekends and is coaching the team in the Tacoma Community College spring league.
Jensen said he served as an assistant football coach at Lakes for a couple seasons a few years ago, but will only coach basketball.
Rodriguez resigned after the 2011-12 season. He guided the Lancers to the state tournament in each of his first five seasons, including a trip to the finals in 2008 and a Class 3A state championship in 2011.
CHAMBERS TO RUN AT USA JUNIORS MEET
Foss track standout Marcus Chambers will compete at the USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships this week at the University of Indiana.
Chambers, who will be a senior, will compete in the 200- and 400-meter races. If he wins either, he’ll advance to compete at an international meet in Spain. If he places in the top four he’ll qualify for a relay team.
Chambers won both events at the Class 3A state track and field meet in May.
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