Community Health & Wellness Sports

PenMet to name sports field in honor of Joe Jarzynka

The turf field at PenMet Parks’ new recreation center will be named Jarzynka Memorial Fieldhouse in honor of local sports hero Joe Jarzynka.

The former Gig Harbor High School and University of Washington football star died while fishing on the Sol Duc River near Forks on March 5, 2023. He was 45.

The PenMet board of commissioners approved the naming during its regular meeting Tuesday evening. Jarzynka’s parents, Dave and Sue Jarzynka, attended. PenMet expects the $31.6 million facility to open in the spring.

Joe Jarzynka making a return against San Diego State University.

Jarzynka was a 5-foot-7 dynamo for the Tides as a wide receiver, defensive back, kicker and kick returner. He was named the Pierce County League’s most valuable player as a senior and a second-team all-state receiver.

No fair catches

The gregarious Jarzynka walked on at the University of Washington in 1995, played his way into a scholarship by 1997 and became one of the most popular Huskies. He won renown as a fearless punt returner who refused to make fair catches, and for the flowing locks of blond hair that tailed out the back of his helmet.

Joe Jarzynka

Jarzynka’s greatest season came as a junior in 1998, when he was a first team All-Pac-10 selection as an all-purpose player for his return and placekicking abilities. He piled up team-record 166 punt return yards against California, including a game-winning 91-yard touchdown. The former Tides soccer standout also made 19 of 21 PATs and six of eight field goals, including a clutch 44-yarder to help defeat the Cougars in the Apple Cup.

After that season, teammates and coaches voted him the team MVP and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper nominated him as a Seattle Male Sports Star of the Year.

Parents honored, excited at naming

Jarzynka got heavily involved in soccer after college, including becoming a player/coach for the reserve team of the professional Tacoma Stars. One of his Stars colleagues, John Crouch, proposed the field naming to the PenMet commissioners, who knew or knew of Jarzynka and enthusiastically supported the idea, said his parents.

“We were very excited, honored that they are doing something like this for Joe,” said Dave Jarzynka.

“We’re kind of overwhelmed,” said Sue Jarzynka. “We were pretty shocked when they told us. We’ve lived here since 1990 and he just touched a lot of lives. We know that from what people have said to us. We’re just honored.”

The parents toured the rec center on Tuesday before the meeting.

“We’re looking forward to the ribbon cutting,” said Dave Jarzynka. “I think Joe would be really happy, smiling now, shaking his head, saying, ‘I can’t believe it.’

“That facility is really cool, especially in terms of youth activities. One of the things Joe was really big on was competition. He was the ultimate competitor. It didn’t matter how small he was. His big thing was don’t let anyone say you can’t do it. Always believe in yourself.”