​PURPLE & GOLD CLUB

RICHIE CHAMBERS

After we saw Richie Chambers, class of 1990, play football – he rushed for over a thousand yards in 1989, earned All-WESCO honors as both linebacker and running back, and played in the All-State game in 1990 – after what Richie accomplished on the gridiron, we might have guessed.  After we watched his performance as a track athlete – he took third at the State Meet in the 100m and 300m hurdles in 1989 and then returned to win State Championships in both the 100m and 300m hurdles in 1990 – when we saw him run, we could have known.  After we cheered Richie as a wrestler – he took second at state at 190 lbs. as a junior in 1989, won the State Championship at 190 lbs. as a senior, and helped the Viking Wrestling Team win its first State Championship in 1990 – after his stellar career on the mat, we should have known.  But after he was selected prep athlete of the year TWICE (’89, the first junior, and ’90) we must have known we were looking at the rarest of Vikings: an all-stars all-star.

When he left Lake Stevens High School for the University of Washington Richie Chambers didn’t leave our halls or our hearts.  We followed his Husky career for five years, watched him earn fours letters, play on three Rose Bowl teams and one National Championship squad (1992), and, in a career highlight, intercept a pass in the 1994 Miami game to help break the Hurricanes’ 58 home-game winning streak.  Not surprisingly, well-deserved accolades came: Richie earned honorable mention as a PAC-10 linebacker in 1994 and was honored as an Everett Herald finalist for Sportsman of the Year in 1995.  Richie Chambers epitomizes what we all hope being a Lake Stevens High School Viking means.