Tom Tri Named Sportsman of the Year

The Lake Stevens Vikings Head Coach receives the honor tonight in Everett

Tom Tri monitors the action as then-sophomore Kolton Matson warms up before week one action against Garfield in Seattle, Washington on September 4, 2022. Photo and photo art by KTH for J425.

“Of the five applicants interviewed, Tom Tri best fit the needs of Lake Stevens High School and its students. He has experience as an assistant football coach at the school, where he was hired in 1998.” 

And with that inspiring statement, released by the Lake Stevens School District in December of 2004, the reign of Lake Stevens Vikings Head Football Coach Tom Tri began. 

Some twenty years later, that same man — Lake Stevens Vikings State Champion Head Coach Tom Tri — will be honored as Sportsman of the Year tonight in Everett at the Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Sportsman of the Year banquet at the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.

“He’s the best coach I could have had in high school. Everything he does, you would think he’s playing with us with the way he rides with us.” - Jayden Limar, Oregon Duck running back, 2022 Washington State Gatorade Player of the Year at Lake Stevens

The Herald has a great article detailing Tri’s state championship run, which forms the basis for their award.  And as someone who has covered Tri since 2006 (you ever check our archive tab??!) I totally agree that  they’ve picked a very deserving man for the honor.

While the Herald’s (very good) column focuses on the 2022 title run, the reasons for honoring Coach Tri go back quite a bit further than just 2022. 

Tom Tri as covered by J425.

So on the night that Tri is honored as the 2022-23 Herald Sportsman of the Year, it’s almost as interesting as celebrating his accomplishments…to look back two decades and note that none of this (points to surefire Hall of Fame-level career complete with a full decade of league dominance, 54 game league winning streak and, of course, Lake Stevens’ first state championship) was pre-ordained.