Submitted by Oly Archibald
Lopez Lobos 5’6” freshman guard Siri Dye just had her typical game against the Clallam Bay Bruins in a Tri-District Tournament basketball game in Port Angeles. The 1-B All NW League point guard hit for 16 points and tried to will her very young Lobo team to a win but the Bruins who would win two more games to advance to state were just a more mature team. The loss ended Dye’s season or did it?
Even though the young Lobos lost, Forks Radio Sports Director Oly Archibald was so impressed with the way Siri played, he asked Lobos Head Coach Brad Smith if he could interview her on the World Wide Web Radio broadcast. Smiling ear to ear, the birthday girl talked about the season to a large group of Lobo fans listening back on the island.
The following Sunday night, Alison Smith the wife of Lobos coach Brad Smith, sent a picture to Archibald she had taken of Siri being interviewed by Archibald after the Clallam Bay game. A conversation then took place between the Smiths and Archibald about what an outstanding student-athlete Siri was. Archibald was so impressed by what he heard he invited the entire Lobos team to be his guest at the June 3rd Seattle Storm – Minnesota Lynx WNBA game but that was not all.
Archibald who does the TV and Radio play by play for the Lower Columbia College Woman’s basketball team on ESPN Radio KLOG 1490 AM, sent an invite to Siri to attend the NWAC JC Woman’s basketball Tournament in Everett as his guest. Siri was introduced to the top JC coaches on the West Coast like Spokane CC Coach Gus Johnson, Peninsula’s Allison Crumb and Chad Meador’s the Head Coach of LCC. LCC assistant Coach Darren Schwegler told Siri “To be named All-League before you get your driver’s license that’s pretty good.”
Siri also sat courtside by Archibald as he announced the LCC – Everett Elite 8 game. The following weekend Siri again the guest of Archibald attended her first ever Washington Husky basketball game as she watched the 1st round of the NCAA Woman’s Tournament at Alaska Airlines Arena. Siri watched Oklahoma knock off Gonzaga and Washington beat Montana St. Siri is more than just a talented basketball player.
Siri is also on the Lopez Golf team, soccer team and is talented in the arts as well as a tap dancer. Siri has a goal of one day playing college basketball and even though Lopez Island athletes will not be confused with Mercer Island athletes, Siri as just a freshman has amazingly had her name mentioned around the water coolers of JC schools and sports media offices Give Siri three years of getting some work done in the weight room and Siri could tap dance her way to becoming one of the most respected student-athletes to ever wear the maroon and gold.
