Past Independent Male Athlete of the Year recipients

2015: Marshaud Dewalt

2014: Logan Knowles

2013: Bryce Broome

2012: Eddie Meisner

2011: Conner Hartmann

2010: Gordy Anderson

2009: Leon La Deaux

2008: Matt Foxworthy

2007: Renard Williams

2006: Brent Chriswell &Josiah Kipperberg

2005: Brent Chriswell

Here are a few statistical achievements for Albert MacArthur:

He finished second in state for both the long jump and the triple jump in 2016, breaking two school records in the process. And, he scored the first receiving touchdown on Kitsap Bank Stadium’s new turf.

For those reasons, MacArthur is the Port Orchard Independent Male Athlete of the Year.

Although this football season was a challenging one for the Wolves, MacArthur still thinks highly of his final year in the maroon and black.

Having not played since his freshman year, MacArthur decided to put in the effort and work hard at this fall sport.

It paid off, and he was able to put his name in the history books after the first home game of the season.

He made seven catches for 111 yards and scored a touchdown. The first receiving touchdown on the brand new field.

“That was pretty cool,” he said.

Although football season provided the multi-talented athlete with many positive memories, MacArthur’s real passion resides on the red ring around the gridiron.

MacArthur was a member of the 2015 state champion track team and finished second in both his events in the 2016 season, helping his team earn fourth place.

“I’m sad it’s over, but it’s great to be recognized for putting in the hard work and it paid off,” he said.

MacArthur recently received his official acceptance to Utah Valley University after signing his letter of intent in April to compete for the track team.

“It’s cool to know I’m moving on to the next level,” he said, and “that my track career isn’t over.”

MacArthur plans to study physical education at Utah Valley and, once he graduates, go to the fire academy to become a firefighter.

MacArthur said it can be challenging to balance school work with athletics and a social life, but in the end, it’s worth it.

“I don’t know if people understand how hard it is,” he said.

“Whether it’s sports or FFA or Honor Society, your schedule gets stacked up. But you make it work.”

He credits his coaches for his success because “they are a second family, definitely.”

“They keep us in line, check in and help in the classroom,” MacArthur said. Paul Zimmer, the head men’s track coach, is also MacArthur’s chemistry teacher.

“They put their hearts into us, and we owe them a lot,” MacArthur said. “The future I have now is because of them.”

MacArthur said his scholarship to continue running and competing in track is the best thing he has to show for how much work, blood, sweat and tears (“Definitely tears,” he said) he’s put into the last four years.

“All my hard work, and to know how hard I worked, is better than any medal, any ribbon,” he said. “It’s proof I have to show I did what it took to get the next level.”

And now that his high school career is coming to a close, he said he will miss having the opportunity to play for South Kitsap High.

Well, that and “also breaking school records,” he said.