Vikings Already Eyeing Next Title Run
Even with Tyran Stokes departing, the Vikings return the talent, and defense, to chase more state titles.
J.J. Crawford climbed as high as he could to make the pronouncement.
Perched last Saturday night atop a step ladder, just underneath a partially snipped state 3A championship net, the Rainier Beach freshman refused to display his souvenir of accomplishment, saying, “I have three more to go.”
If Crawford were to make good on such a goal – helping produce a state championship in each of his remaining three years at Beach – that would mean a five-peat with coach Mike Bethea presumably riding off into the sunset with 14 state titles.
Only three schools, in any Washington state classification, have ever three-peated, and Rainier Beach (2012-14), under Bethea, is one of them.
The biggest obstacle to becoming a double three-peater might be overcoming the departure of maybe the greatest high-school player in state history, Tyran Stokes.
Might be.
Even without Stokes, Rainier Beach will return a talented eight of their top 10 players next season. The way their state-tournament run shook out, the Vikings have already shared a glimpse into their near future.