Jordan Green has always been a little ahead.

The recent Klahowya grad wrapped up his senior classes as a junior. So why not get a jump on college?

“I was kind of ahead of the curve at Klahowya,” Green said. “I took all the senior classes as a junior.”

As a result, Green headed to Olympic College’s Running Start program, where he posted a 3.8 grade point average (GPA) versus his 3.30 cumulative high school GPA.

“It was tough,” Green said. “Early in my high school life I could just kind of glide through and still get pretty good grades. At OC I had to study a lot.”

But that’s something Green’s grown accustomed to, balancing his academics with a stellar career on the baseball diamond for the Eagles.

“A lot of studying,” Green said of maintaining a high level in both aspects of his high school life. “I’d be at practice, then come home and study. I didn’t have much of a social life.”

These are just a few of the reasons Green was selected as the Central Kitsap Reporter’s Male Co-Student Athlete of the Year.

A player who Klahowya coach Dave Neet called “the main engineer (who) enabled Klahowya to win back-to-back 2A Olympic League Championships,” Green hit .447 for the Eagles, scoring a team-best 22 runs and 14 RBI. He also stole 13 bases and was the team’s captain, a role Neet said he filled to perfection.

“Our team’s goal was to not only advance to the state tournament, but to achieve academic excellence,” Neet said. “With Jordan’s encouragement and hands-on help, this goal was achieved and zero varsity baseball players missed a game due to academic reasons. These are the statistics and goals that go unnoticed by the general public.”

But far more important than any of his individual successes was the success of the Eagles, which Green helped get to state’s first round for the first time in his high school career. KSS last advanced in 2003.

“These are basically the first years Klahowya has really been successful,” Green said. “It feels good to be a part of that and a big part of that.”

But beyond himself, he credits the new coaching staff of Neet and his dad, Rob.

“I’ve always felt that way,” Green said. “Sophomore season we definitely had the potential to be a lot better than that. Now, having good coaches like my dad and Dave Neet, that helps a lot. The program is going to be good for years to come.”

Baseball at Klahowya was a family affair for the Greens this year. In addition to Rob coaching and Jordan manning center field, brother Seth took up the catcher position for the Eagles.

“It was fun,” Green said. “I really enjoyed playing with my brother. He’s a great ballplayer. And my dad’s been an excellent coach. It was good to end the year like that.”

Now he’s excited for college, as he’ll continue his baseball career for Saint Martin’s University in Lacey.

“The coach (former Kitsap BlueJackets coach Joe Dominiak) there is really cool,” Green said. “It’s gonna be exciting. I’ve been playing at a high level since the ninth grade. I’ve hit against some of the best pitchers in the area. I’m excited to see what I can do at the college level.”

Academically, he said having the chance to start college at OC will prove to be pivotal for a smooth transition.

“It helps a lot,” he said. “Before this year I was nervous for college. Doing Running Start this year built my confidence a lot.”

In addition to his work in the classroom and on the field, Green has done much to give back to the community by volunteering for the Kitsap Humane Society, participating in the Super Saturday car washes, acting as a hitting and fielding instructor for Silverdale Pee Wees athletes and teams and helping pack food for families in Africa with the Silverdale United Methodist Church.

Academically, Green said he plans on majoring in chemistry in order to pursue a career in forensic sciences.

“I’m a very meticulous person,” he said. “I like to do everything to perfection. So it’s something I think I’ll be able to have success at.”

But he’ll miss the high school game, too.

“I’ll miss my teammates, the camaraderie built with my fellow baseball players at Klahowya,” he said.

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