Jason Thiel

Jason began his varsity career at AHS in the spring of his freshmen year as a letter winner in the throwing events. This phenomenal thrower went on to letter all four years while setting not only school, but Cowapa League records. Young Mr. Thiel was a three time league and district champion in the shot put and the discus. At the state meets, Jason brought home two second place medals in the shot during his junior and senior seasons as well as a third place medal in the shot during his sophomore spring. And during his senior year of competition, he also brought home a fourth-place medal in the disc. While competing for the Fishermen, he established records of 58’10” in the shot put and 165’7” in the discus. Jason captained the track squad during his senior season.

During the winter Thiel played hoops for Coach Mike Goin’s cagers. He lettered three years and was an All Cowapa league performer during his junior and senior seasons. The Fishermen placed fourth in the State tournament during Jason’s junior year. As a senior Thiel was not only the team’s captain but also selected the MVP by his peers.

Football played a major role in Jason’s development as a person and athlete. Simply put, he ranks among the all-time best players on the Astoria gridiron history. He was a three year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines and All-league on both sides of the ball as a junior and again as a senior. To cap off his senior campaign he was selected to the All-League First Team as well as team captain and Most Outstanding Lineman. As if those honors weren’t enough, Jason Thiel was named First Team All-State as an offensive and defensive lineman. In the summer following his graduation, Thiel represented his school and community in the Shrine game. Ah, but the story does not end there.

Young Mr. Thiel enrolled at Pacific Lutheran University where he went on to forge his name in the annals of that school’s illustrious history. As a Lute on legendary Coach Frosty Westering’s football squads, all Jason Thiel did was letter four years, twice earn First Team All-Northwest Conference honors as a defensive lineman, twice earn Second Team All-American honors, add two more awards as the Lute Most Valuable Lineman, and served as a team Captain. Jason had the distinction of playing in three National Championship games at the NCAA Division III level. Twice the Lutes took second place honors, but during his junior season the gridders from Pacific Lutheran were National Champions, and Astoria’s Jason Thiel was named defensive MVP of that game. His football career was cut short by a broken leg suffered in practice.

Jason Thiel also had an outstanding track and field career in Parkland, Washington where he lettered four years and won the Northwest Conference shot put championship as a sophomore, junior and senior. At PLU Thiel also learned a new event, the hammer throw. He developed a skill worthy of being the champion during his senior season. Oh, by the way, Jason was also a First Team All-American in the hammer throw for two years and still holds the school and conference record in the event. Thiel also served as a team captain for the Lute tracksters during three team championship campaigns and as a senior was voted MVP by his teammates. To conclude his athletic career, Jason Thiel was selected as the Most Inspirational Athlete at Pacific Lutheran University, and this included all sports in which the Lutes fielded teams- quite a way for this AHS alum to cap his career.