Sports roundup: Blaine competitive cheer goes to state

B y I an H aupt

Boys basketball Blaine took their second conference defeat of the season on the road at Mount Vernon High School January 23. The Borderites lost 82-79 to the Bulldogs.

The boys had picked up two wins since their first conference loss to the Lynden Lions January 12. They had beaten Mount Baker 90-49 on the road January 16 and narrowly beat Burlington-Edison 74-72 at home January 20.

The Borderites will host 1A defending state champions Lynden Christian Thursday, January 26 and Anacortes Saturday, January 28. Both games are at 7:15 p.m. The boys are 12-3 overall this season and 9-2 in conference.

Girls basketball

The Lady Borderites lost 8235 to Burlington-Edison on the road January 20. The girls lost to Mount Vernon 63-40 at home January 23.

Juniors Jordyn Vezzetti and Deja Dube led Blaine Monday night. Vezzetti finished with 14 points and Dube finished with 13 points.

The team will host Lynden Christian at 5:40 p.m. Thursday, January 26 in a girls and boys basketball doubleheader. Then the girls travel to Anacortes Saturday, January 28. They will play at 4 p.m. Blaine is 3-13 so far this season and 1-11 in conference.

Boys wrestling

The boys wrestling team took 14th place at the multi-school Quincy Mat Animal Boys Wrestling Tournament January 21 at Quincy High School. The Borderites scored 65 points.

The 1A boys sub regional wrestling will take place at Meridian High School Saturday, February 4, starting at 11 a.m. Blaine will host the 1A region 1 regionals Saturday, February 11, with competition starting at 11 a.m.

Girls wrestling

The girls wrestling team will compete next at the Lady Knights Invitational Saturday, January 28 at Mariner High School. Wrestling starts at 9 a.m. From there, the girls will compete next at sub regionals at Squalicum High School Saturday, February 4. Wrestling starts at 9:30 a.m.

Competitive Cheer Blaine’s competitive cheer team qualified for the state tournament in its inaugural season. The team will travel to Battle Ground High School February 3-4.

adjustment getting to know the team while not being a teacher at the school.

Phelps said she’s proud of how hard her team works.

“They want to learn and they want to be better,” she said. “That’s all I can really ask for as their coach. That makes it fun to coach.”

Phelps said her assistant coach John Pope, who she’s known since she was in fifth grade and has been coaching with for a year now, has offered her support. Last spring, Phelps coached Whatcom Middle School’s girls basketball team with Pope. She has also worked boys and girls basketball youth camps through WWU.

Phelps double majored in multidisciplinary studies and elementary education at WWU and received a minor in multilingual education.

The NCAA Inspiration Award honors an athlete or coach who used perseverance, dedication and determination to overcome a life-altering situation and become role models, giving hope and inspiration to others.

More of Phelps’ story can be found on the NCAA’s website at bit.ly/3HqAyyD.