Whether it’s taking the team on spaghetti feeds the nights before meets or cooking up pancakes on three giant griddles after Saturday morning practices, Lindbergh’s Jeff Rettmann is doing something right.

On the strength of taking a team to the cross-country state tournament and guiding the boys track team through an undefeated dual meet season, Rettmann is the Renton Reporter’s Coach of the Year for the 2007-2008 school year.

“It feels great and it’s really a recognition of the kids in our program,” Rettmann said. “You can’t win without talent, and you need kids that buy into what you’re doing.”

Rettmann has been coaching cross country since 1998 and track since 2000, all at Lindbergh. He teaches U.S. History at the school. In order to maintain success of the teams, he’s worked to create a stable environment.

“The program has to be put in place,” Rettmann said. “There are certain expectations, and I’ve tried hard to instill values that help them not only on the track, but in life too.”

Rettmann’s year started in the fall, when the Eagles’ cross-country team repeated as league champions and eventually made it the state tournament for the second year in a row.

The team placed eighth overall at the 3A state meet in Pasco. Lindbergh is set up well for future success because all seven of the team’s runners at the state meet will be back next year and only two will be seniors.

With the spring came track season. The Lindbergh boys team won every dual meet and finished on top of the standings in the regular season. The Eagles placed second to Hazen at the league meet and then sixth at the West Central District meet.

Lindbergh then had five boys make it to the 3A state meet in Pasco.

Rettmann said the biggest things that he wants to see in his runners are the ability to have fun while still working hard and caring who care about teammates.

“You want to have fun and appreciate the season,” Rettmann said. “You need to have the attitude of ‘let’s do it and let’s do it right.’”

Info Box:

Picking the athletes of the year and coach of the year was difficult with so many deserving people around Renton. If you have any comments or questions, email them to amcfadden@reporternewspapers.com