McKie helps Bears to Super Bowl
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

McKie

One of Gulf Breeze's own will be playing on one of the world's biggest sports stages in less than two weeks.

Jason McKie, a 1998 Gulf Breeze High graduate, played an integral part in the Chicago Bears' 39-14 win over the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game.

M c K i e , the team's s t a r t i n g f u l l b a c k , caught three passes for six yards in the win.

The first catch, a fouryarder from f o r m e r F l o r i d a Gator Rex Grossman, the first completion for Grossman after an 0-for-4 start.

McKie almost had a touchdown catch a few plays later had it not been for Saints defensive back Danny Clark tipping the ball in flight.

McKie caught a three-yard pass early in the fourth quarter that led to a 12-yard Cedric Benson touchdown run the very next play. That made the game 31-14 Chicago.

Later in the fourth quarter, McKie was stopped for a 1-yard loss, but three plays later, Thomas Jones put the game away with a 15-yard touchdown run.

McKie's blocking helped the Bears to outgain the Saints 196-56 on the ground. During his time at GBHS, McKie was a state weightlifting champion and also was inducted into GBHS' Hall of Fame.

The Bears will play in its first Super Bowl in 21 years when they face the Indianapolis Colts at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 4 in Miami.

In other GBHS grad news:

Katie Dollinger competed in her first collegiate track meet as a freshman at Rice University.

The 2006 GBHS grad finished 13th in the shot put and the weight throw at the 2007 Leonard Hilton Memorial Jan. 19 at the University of Houston.

Dollinger threw the shot 38 feet, 3.5 inches and the weight throw 37 feet, 6.75 inches.

The top nine in each event advanced to the finals. The Lady Owls finished second in the 15 team meet.

Fellow 2006 GBHS grad Kim Tryon competed in three events for Rhodes College at the meet at Southern Illinois University last week.

Tryon jumped 32 feet, 8.5 inches in the triple jump and ran a 10.75 in the 60 meter hurdles and 29.99 in the 200 meter dash.

A quartet of former GBHS swimmers helped Florida State notch a victory over North Florida and North Carolina- Wilmington on Jan. 6.

Stevi Steinhauer, a 2006 GBHS grad, was part of FSU's winning 400 yard medley relay (3:49.78). She was also third in the 50 yard freestyle (24.27).

Fellow 2006 GBHS grad Jessie Carr was fifth in the 50 (24.71) and 100 yard freestyles (54.75).

Jimmy Holway, a 2004 GBHS grad, won the 100 yard freestyle (46.89). He was also a part of FSU's second place 400 yard medley relay team (3:30.91), while 2006 GBHS grad Matt Skinner was part of FSU's fourth place team (3:36.08).

Two former Dolphin swimmers helped the University of South Carolina post a 148-95 win over NC State Jan. 13 in Raleigh, N.C.

Kyle Cormier, a 2004 GBHS grad, was a part of USC's winning 400 yard medley relay team (3:23.19). He also won the 100 yard freestyle (46.38) and was fourth in the 500 yard freestyle (4:42.48).

Andy Atzhorn, a 2006 GBHS grad, was a part of the Gamecocks' third place finish in the 400 yard medley relay (3:32.99). He was also fourth in the 200 yard backstroke (1:55.56) and sixth in the 200 IM (1:56.22).