When you think of the Skyview Storm, what comes to mind?
Well-coached? Annual challengers in the 4A Greater St. Helens League? Yes, and yes.
How about postseason consistency? Yes on that, too.
Over coach Steve Kizer’s 13-year tenure, the Storm have missed the playoffs just once; their 12-year playoff run is the second-best streak among teams in the 4A GSHL this year.
Yet you might as well call the Storm underdogs. That’s how they feel, and more importantly, that’s how they like it.
But it doesn’t mean there are not lofty aspirations.
“We want everything,” senior Cole Grossman said. “We want league, we want state. Our team is pretty confident we can do it.”
And accomplish it under the radar, too.
Remember the 2016 Skyview Storm, with a 3-3 record through six weeks after falling to Camas in their league opener? From there, the team won six straight to reach its first 4A state semifinal since 2011.