Year of firsts for east-metro schools

Washington County athletes and teams made headlines in 2014. Here are eight memorable moments from the past year.

East Ridge star quarterback Seth Green ended the speculation this year.

Green, a junior, picked the University of Oregon over offers from Michigan State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Louisville and others.

"It's a great feeling," Green said of his verbal commitment in October. "When I visited Oregon I felt something special. I could see myself there."

Green, listed as a four-star recruit and the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback in the country by Rivals, helped lead East Ridge to a 9-2 record and its first state tournament. The Raptors fell 35-14 to eventual state champion Eden Prairie.

On the year, the 6-4, 210-pounder threw for 1,850 yards, ran for 551 yards and combined for 25 touchdowns.

Liz Click followed in the footsteps of Stillwater great Maggie Keefer this year, winning the 2014 Class 2A diving championship.

Click also set Stillwater's six-dive record this season.

East Ridge sprinting sensation James Tidd was close to becoming a four-event state champion at the Class 2Astate swimming meet, helping the Raptors finish in second place as a team. Tidd, then a junior, won the 50-yard freestyle, swam on the winning 200 individual medley and 400 freestyle relays and finished third in the 100 freestyle. Tidd committed to swim for the University of Minnesota next year.

The Forest Lake boys' Nordic ski team won state championships between 2005 and 2009. However, the Rangers had been shut out since, until this past year.

Led by then-junior Leo Hipp's third-place finish, Forest Lake won the team championship with 380 points.

"We talked about this all year," Hipp said in February. "This has been our goal. The team tournament is what it's all about."

Since starting the program at Park in 1982, Juba compiled a record of 429-172-49 over 33 seasons. Juba's teams reached five state tournaments, including two title game appearances. Juba, 57, has been coaching three sports every year since 1980.

He also coached girls' golf, was an assistant boys' basketball coach and has coached track and field.

Stillwater's Eli Krahn burst onto the distance running scene two years ago, winning the state's 1,600-meter race in a national freshman record time of 4 minutes, 9.38 seconds. This past year, Krahn followed up the feat by sweeping the distance state titles, winning the 1,600 and 3,200 runs.

In his sophomore season, Krahn won the 3,200 in a time of 9:00.08 and the 1,600 in 4:13.54. Stillwater earned fifth place as a team in 2014.

The South Washington County Thunderbolts hung a pair of banners in their gym in 2014.

The 'Bolts downed Dakota United 12-2 in the softball championship in May and again topped Dakota United 3-2 in the soccer title game this past November.

Led by brothers John and Sam Horner, New Life Academy won the school's first baseball state championship in 2014.

The Horner brothers combined to pitch every inning of the state tournament and split the duties on the mound in the Eagles' 5-4 win over New York Mills for the Class 1A title.

"I wanted to end the year on a win," said Sam Horner, who's a senior this year. "Only one team does it and that was us. It's unlike anything I've ever experienced in athletics. It was magical."