Fleet feet definitely run in the family when it comes to the Rumbaugh/Nuttall clan of Auburn Mountainview High School.
Formed 11 years ago when Auburn Mountainview teacher Wayne Rumbaugh married fellow teacher Deborah Nuttall (now Rumbaugh), the family melded Wayne’s five children – Seth Rumbaugh, Tess Rumbaugh, Ethan Rumbaugh, Aarun Rumbaugh and Alyssa Rumbaugh – with Deborah’s children – Travis Nuttall, Jessica Nuttall, Amanda Nuttall and Evan Nuttall – creating a Brady Bunch-esque family.
“Minus Alice, unfortunately,” Wayne said.
Although unique in itself, the Rumbaugh/Nuttall clan is also notable for its members involvement in the Auburn Mountainview track and field and cross country programs. All nine siblings have competed at one time for the programs, with Aarun, Ethan and Alyssa currently on the team, and Wayne coaching the long and high jumpers for the Lions.
“It kind of runs in our family, I guess,” Rumbaugh said.
Growing up in Marysville, Rumbaugh said, he ran to keep in shape for the basketball season.
“Running was just a way during the off season to stay in shape,” he said.
After graduating from Marysville-Pilchuk High School, Rumbaugh attended college and played basketball at Everett Community College before transferring to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
Seth was the first to begin running, Wayne said.
“I think it was like me, he got into running and cross country and track as a way to stay in shape when he wasn’t doing basketball,” Wayne said. “And Ethan and Aarun are kind of following in his footsteps. Now basketball, cross country and track are kind of the main things.”
But not the only things.
Although both Evan and Amanda turned out for the cross country team in the fall, they both eschewed the track and field season to play other sports, Amanda competing with the Lion girls water polo squad, and Evan playing soccer.
“I think it’s good to stay busy, you only get to be young once,” Wayne said. “I’m glad they are participating in as many things as they can.”
As Wayne sees it, participation in sports, coupled with an emphasis on other activities such as the Boy Scouts – Seth, Travis and Ethan are all Eagle Scouts – has helped the kids get into good colleges.
“Seth, Travis and Jessica are all attending BYU,” Wayne said. “And Amanda is going there next year, and Ethan has a scholarship to Green River Community College.”
So far, on the track, Seth has found the most success, finishing second in the boys 800-meter at the 2009 Washington State 3A championships as a senior.
But Ethan is right behind his older brother, Wayne said.
“This last Saturday at the Kent-Meridian Invite the 4×800 team broke the school record, which was set by Seth’s team. So Ethan’s pretty happy about that.” Wayne said.
Lion notes
For the Auburn Mountainview girls track and field team, senior Erika Lombardo is leading the charge as the Lions look to move on sprinters and relay teams into the postseason this year.
Lombardo has the second fastest 3A 100-meter time this season, with a 12.54 second mark. Lombardo is also fifth in the 200 with a 26.38.
In the 100 hurdles, senior Whitney Echols is eighth with a 16.60.
The Lion 400 relay of Lombardo, Echols, Abi Alfrey and Nicole Carter is the second fastest in the state with a 50.49. The school’s 1,600 relay team of Lombardo, Carter, Viktoriya Vasina and Jasmine Moore, is also second in the state with a 4:09.89.
The 800 relay team, of Carter, Echols, Lombardo and Jasmine Moore, is sixth with a 1:49.33.
Last season the Lion boys 400 relay team finished fifth at the state finals. So far this season, the team, with Shaddye Melu, Anatolly Staragerov, Devin Bryant and Victor Korchemniy, is seventh in the state with a 44.24.
