The amplifier., October 01, 2010, Page 9, Image 9

2010
Features
Long-time statistician recognized for 33 years of
service to football and boys’ basketball teams
J ennifer S itton _______________
Most of us are so wrapped
up in our day-to-day lives,
we don't take the time to
learn about and gain respect
for those who came before
us and paved the way. West
Linn sports have a legacy that
goes back nearly 100 years.
This year, the West Linn Hall
of Fame will be recognizing a
collection of athletes and other
sports-affiliated members of
the community who have
impacted our school. One of
those inductees, Doug Fiala,
is possibly the most unique of
them all.
Fiala graduated from
WLHS in 1965. He was a
member of the golf team
for four years and wrestled
for one, but Fiala was not
the nationally-ranked
athlete that you would
expect to find at a Hall of
Fame induction ceremony.
Fiala is being recognized
?
for his contribution to the
football and boys' basketball
programs, for which he has
served as statistician for over
30 years. Fiala is unique from
the other inductees in that his
service has lasted over three
decades.
Fiala, who has been a
WLHS fan since elementary
school, officially gained
his first taste as basketball
statistician in the summer of
1973.
"In 1971,1 went to watch
them play Lake Oswego,
whom they had not fared
well against in past years,"
Fiala said. However, West
Linn ended up winning the
game, so Fiala went down to
the floor to congratulate the
coach, Ernie McKie. After this
first introduction, the two
kept in touch. Fiala attended
summer league games to
learn more about the team. "I
went to see how they played
and I became interested in
their style of play/' Fiala said.
McKie asked Fiala if
Photo by Alex Houston
Doug Fiala, football and boys' basketball statistician, talks with one of
the football coaches on the sideline of the team's homecoming game
against Oregon City. The game marked the 56th consecutive West Linn
vs Oregon City football game he has attended.
ideas for students and staff
School '90
Work history: "After
working in West Linn, I went
to Tigard for three years, then
owned my
own real
estate business
for seven
years, and
now I'm back
in West Linn."
Something
unexpected:
"I almost
failed out of
West Linn my
senior year.
There is hope!"
Biggest
it Resource Officer challenge:
"Gaining the
maturity to learn that you can't
help everyone."
Biggest reward: "I love
the small rewards, the small
victories that show you helped
someone."
Doug
Sommer,
Social
Studies
he would be interested in
taking stats for the team
that summer. Fiala agreed,
taught at Tigard, Tualatin,
Barlow, Milwaukie, and
Wilsonville."
Something unexpected: "I
went to high
school with
Mr. (Kevin)
Egan and
Mrs. (Megan)
Favorite
High school
Karmakar was
Class:
one of my ex­
"Accounting'
students."
Hobbies:
Biggest
"Doing
challenge:
things with
"The biggest
my family,
challenge is
coaching
meeting the
football, and
needs of all of
track."
my students."
College:
Biggest
Doug Sommer, Social Studies
"I graduated from
reward: "Making
Willamette University Class of
sure that the students have
1988."
a good experience in the
Teaching history: "I've
classroom."
but was confronted by an
amazingly complex stat sheet
for that first game. "It took
a little over a half before I
understood what he wanted
me to do," Fiala said. Fiala
finished the summer taking
stats for the team.
In December of 1976, Fiala
attended another basketball
game, this time at Grant's
Pass High School. The
regular-season score book
operator was a pastor for the
Episcopalian Church who
couldn't miss the sermon
the next morning, so Fiala
was asked to fill in for the
game. Little did he know, this
opportunity would be long
term.
"I asked (McKie) if he
would consider me to be the
scorekeeper the next year
when Frank Cothrell retired
from the post," Fiala said. "He
said that would be fine, but
I had to follow two rules. At
away games, I would have to
wear a green dress coat with
a green tie, because that was
what all the coaches wore,
and at home games I had to
wear a striped shirt." Fiala
accepted the terms and began
his tenure as scorekeeper
in December 1977. Today,
Fiala is one of only two high
school statisticians in the state
of Oregon who still wears
a striped shirt to sit at the
scorekeeping table.
Fiala is also one of very few
people who can say that they
have been an official score
book operator for at least 15
OSAA State Championship
basketball games. "I'd like
to make it 15," Fiala said.
According to Fiala, the best
part of being involved at the
OSAA State Championships is
that he is able to meet coaches
and officials from all over the
state.
Fiala first became involved
in the football program in the
fall of 1978, when the coach,
Tom Boyle, was looking
for someone to take stats
for the team. "Ernie McKie
volunteered me for the job,"
Fiala said. Since that season,
Fiala has missed only two WL
football games.
When asked whether he
prefers basketball or football ,
Fiala says he always replies
with one answer: "I've never
been rained on at a basketball
game." Inclement weather
has driven him to the football
press box only three times in
the last 32 years.
According to Fiala, his
favorite part about being
involved with the basketball
program is getting to know
the coaches, referees and
players.
fiala series community_______
continued on page 12
l
• At the beginning of
the school year, ask
teachers (usually two) for
recommendations
• Decide on list of colleges
(five to 10) and review
the list with your
• counselor
iT to qualify for National Merit
lips
or SAT class if you want
n or ACT
possible colleges to decide if you need to
SAT subject tests
llenging classes
G
al M erit *
• Summer between Junior
and Senior Year:
• Attend tours and
information sessions at
colleges to determine if you
prefer a big or small college
• Fill out the Common
Application
<D
cn
...-NAVIANCE
• Talk about financial aid with your parents
• Decide if you want to apply early decision or early action;
the deadline is November
• Send schools your SAT scores through collegeboard.com
• Start looking for scholarship opportunities
• Make sure you send in your applications for regular
deadline, usually January
• Meet with your counselor and send your transcript
• Fill out the FAFSA form if you need to