2020 Sports Stars of Skagit County

2020

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Congratulations TO ALL OF THE 2020 SPORTS STARS

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Skagit Valley Herald

KATIE KING 2020 SKAGIT VALLEY HERALD GIRLS’ ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

MAKING A MAJOR IMPACT

By TREVOR PYLE Katie King’s high school sports career may have ended sooner than expected, but the Burlington-Edison senior got the most out of the seasons she had.

In 11 seasons over three-plus years, King qualified for state championship events 11 times — once as an alternate — won a state title with her school’s volleyball team in 2017 and reached a state title game with the girls’ basketball team in 2017.

This year, she averaged a double-double in conference play in basketball on her way to an all-conference selection and became the volleyball team’s alltime kills leader with 1,397. Both teams placed in the top five at state.

For her consistent performances and frequent postseason appearances, King is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Athlete of the Year.

King said she was disappointed the COVID-19 pandemic ended her track and field season before it began. But she said she was grateful to have the opportunities she did — not only to compete, but to connect with teammates.

“I feel like I’m going to remember the relationships I made more than the games themselves,” King said. “I’ve been thinking a lot about high school since it’s over and I’ve had time to think.

It’s weird ... sports have been my life throughout high school. Most of my friends were through sports. The girls on the volleyball team, the basketball teams became lifelong best friends. I feel

like fun things before practices, games, bus rides, celebrating wins, funny things people do ... that’s what I’m going to remember.”

King made an undeniable impact in both sports she played this season.

During the basketball season, she averaged about 11 points and seven rebounds — and bumped it to a doubledouble (12 points, 10 rebounds) in Northwest Conference play. The Tigers placed fifth in the Class 2A State Tournament, reaching the semifinals.

“She’s going to give you everything she’s got on the court,” BurlingtonEdison coach Brett McLeod said. “What I was impressed with was she rose to occasion in biggest games, the biggest moments. She loved those games where she knew there would be high-level competition.”

He said King’s character came through after she and a Snohomish County player collided in a nonconference matchup, sending the other player off the court because of an injury.

“Katie asked the officials about (the other player) so much they nominated her for a sportsmanship award,” McLeod said.

In volleyball, King capped a prep career that had started when, as a freshman, she was unexpectedly pressed into service as a setter when the starter was injured. This year, she helped boost the Tigers to a fourth-place state finish while earning her third all-state selection.

Burlington-Edison coach Tawnya Brewer said the Western Washington

University-bound King is special.

“Katie’s one of those special athletes that has a competitive drive and motivation that inspires everyone around her. She’s been that way since she was young,” Brewer said. “I started coaching her in seventh grade. She made every-

one around her better.”

While King said she was disappointed to have lost a track and field season, she hopes she left a legacy of sorts anyway.

“If I’m remembered for something I hope it’s not just being good athlete, but a good person,” she said.

2002: Sarah Hyatt, Sedro-Woolley 2001: Sarah Hyatt, Sedro-Woolley 2000: Hanni Wenzel, Stanwood 1999: Kerie Hughes, Mount Vernon 1998: Kerie Hughes, Mount Vernon 1997: Cherae Walker, Stanwood 1996: Shelley Olson, Mount Vernon 1995: Maria Manley, Stanwood 1994: Kim Brydges, Mount Vernon

1993: Kim Brydges, Mount Vernon 1992: Kim Kettel, Mount Vernon 1991: Erica Schwab, Anacortes 1990: Bethany Britton, Anacortes 1989: Tricia Lake, Oak Harbor 1988: Indira Rouw, Mount Vernon Christian 1987: Julie Banta, Mount Vernon 1986: Cathy Shanander, Sedro-Woolley 1985: Karen Church, Stanwood

GIRLS’ ATHLETES OF THE YEAR 2020: Katie King, Burlington-Edison 2019: Matty Lagerwey, La Conner 2018: Emma Carlton, Mount Vernon 2017: Brandy Smith, Burlington-Edison 2016: Edie Breckenridge, Burlington-Edison 2015: Emma Christianson, La Conner 2014: Alyssa Evans, Mount Vernon 2013: Mariah Swanson, Burlington-Edison 2012: Katlyn Mataya, Burlington-Edison

SKAGIT PUBLISHING

2011: Katlyn Mataya, Burlington-Edison 2010: Cheyenne Best, Sedro-Woolley 2009: Ally Kutz, Mount Vernon 2008: Mietra Smollack, Oak Harbor 2007: Rachele Kloke, Stanwood 2006: Megan Amundson, Stanwood 2005: Katie Warner, Burlington-Edison 2004: Brenan Kirkpatrick, Anacortes 2003: Jamie Orange, Mount Vernon Christian

1215 Anderson Road Mount Vernon, WA 98274 P: 360-424-3251 @2020 by Skagit Publishing All rights reserved

Skagit Valley Herald Publisher Heather Hernandez

Assignment Editor Dan Ruthemeyer Advertising Director Duby Petit

Contributing Writers Vince Richardson Trevor Pyle Dan Ruthemeyer

Photographers Charles Biles Oliver Hamlin Dan Ruthemeyer

Design Greg Fiscus

4 Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Skagit Valley Herald

KAI GREENOUGH 2020 SKAGIT VALLEY HERALD BOYS’ ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

A DIFFERENT KIND OF ATHLETE

By VINCE RICHARDSON Kai Greenough is an eclectic athlete.

Wrestling, tennis and golf are three sports not often seen in combination.

Greenough, a SedroWoolley junior, managed to thrive both on the court and the on mat this school year, and for his efforts is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Athlete of the Year.

“I am really shocked by this,” Greenough said of the award. “It’s great.

I really didn’t think I was going to even be in the picture.”

Greenough was named the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Wrestler of the Year after placing fifth in the 106-pound weight class of the Class 2A State Tournament.

He and doubles partner Dylan Scheib were named Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Tennis Players of the Year, qualifying as alternates for the Class 2A State Tournament.

The state tennis tournament was canceled because of the COVID19 pandemic, and Greenough saw his boys’ golf season scratched as well.

“I am really happy with how both my seasons

went,” he said. “I am a little sad I couldn’t go out and golf. That was disappointing. But things happen I guess and I’ll just move on.”

Greenough said he was pleasantly surprised with how his wrestling season, especially considering he suffered an injured finger.

“I really didn’t see myself going that far,” he said. “But once I got there (to state) it went well for me. It was a really good experience and it’s motivation for next year.”

And the finger?

“It’s still hurts,” he said.

“At state, we just taped it up and wrestled through it. And after the first match, the pain just kind of went away and my confidence moved up.”

Tennis is a sport Greenough sort of just fell into, starting his freshman year.

“I wanted to play football, but my parents wanted me to try something new so I started playing tennis,” he said.

“I actually enjoyed it.

It was pretty fun and so I have just stuck with it.”

Greenough said it took a while for he and Schieb to find their rhythm, but once they did they were a force.

“We kind of destroyed

people out there,” Greenough said.

With Scheib graduating, Greenough may be

headed to singles next fall.

“We’ll just have to wait and see,” Greenough said.

“I’m not really sure yet what I will be playing, but I am looking forward to it.

“Next year is my senior year so that’s big. I am looking forward to doing all three sports again.”

BOYS’ ATHLETES OF THE YEAR 2020: Kai Greenough, Sedro-Woolley 2019: Taino Ferdinand, Burlington-Edison 2018: Jacob South, Anacortes 2017: Davis Mihelich, Sedro-Woolley 2016: Billy Hornbeck, Sedro-Woolley 2015: Ty Johnson, Anacortes 2014: Andrew Medalia, Anacortes 2013: Jeff Bajema, Burlington-Edison 2012: Aaron Stroosma, Sedro-Woolley 2011: Jackson Kirkpatrick, Anacortes

2010: Kyle McKnight, La Conner 2009: Derek Garcia, Sedro-Woolley 2008: Jake Anderson, Burlington-Edison 2007: Josh Freeman, Anacortes 2006: Kevin Arendse, Burlington-Edison 2005: Tygue Howland, Sedro-Woolley 2004: Peter Janicki, Sedro-Woolley 2003: Kyle Kendrick, Mount Vernon 2002: Kyle Kendrick, Mount Vernon 2001: Garrett Parks, Stanwood

2000: Graham Grindy, Concrete 1999: Rien Long, Anacortes 1998: Jesse Howell, Concrete 1997: Reed Bumgarner, Stanwood 1996: Andy Cook, Burlington-Edison 1995: Rick Guttormson, Anacortes 1994: Ryan Wade, Sedro-Woolley 1993: Cameron Cleeland, Sedro-Woolley, and Jesus Fuentes, Burlington-Edison 1992: Mark Hendrickson, Mount Vernon

1991: Mark Hendrickson, Mount Vernon 1990: Brendan Bisbey, Sedro-Woolley 1989: Greg Saunders, Burlington-Edison 1988: Matt Strieby, Stanwood 1987: Todd Anderson, Burlington-Edison 1986: Don Beazizo, Concrete 1985: Tim Esary, Mount Vernon

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Skagit Valley Herald

SCOTT NOVAK 2020 SKAGIT VALLEY HERALD COACH OF THE YEAR

A SEASON LIKE NO OTHER

By TREVOR PYLE The La Conner girls’ basketball team went further than ever last season.

With a bevy of talented scorers, an intense approach to defense and a deep bench, the Braves went 23-3 and advanced to the Class 2B state title game. The runner-up finish was the best-ever in program history, bettering a third-place finish in 2015.

“The whole journey is a lot of fun. There will be difficult parts. There are bumps in the road. But this year the journey was fun,” coach Scott Novak said.

For the Braves’ historic season, Novak is the Skagit Valley Herald Coach of the Year.

Novak guided the Braves to their previous top-five finishes, including the third-place finish in 2015 and a fifth-place finish in 2019. But he’s quick to hand off the credit to others, including three former La Conner players who are now assistant coaches: Jesse Edwards, Lynette Cram and Loran James.

He also had a talented crop of players, including Justine Benson, who became the program’s alltime leading scorer and the county’s fourth-leading scorer during a season where she averaged 16.6 points, and was named to the Class 2B All-State team and was Northwest 2B/1B League MVP. Three Braves (Sarah Cook, Morgan Herrera and Juna Swanson) were named to the all-league first team, while two others (Rachel Cram

and Ellie Marble) were second-team selections.

“They’re all high achievers, not just in basketball but other sports, school, whatever they’re juggling. It was a privilege to coach the group,” Novak said.

They were also tested.

Knowing the team’s potential, Novak scheduled a tough nonleague schedule that included matchups with King’s,

Wahkiakum and Class 2A opponent Anacortes.

The game against King’s — one of the Braves’ few losses — was an important lesson that helped get the team as far as it got, Novak said.

“When you’re used to winning, a loss can feel like you’ve lost more than one game. But we learned a lot from that game,” he said.

He said the tough

schedule overall helped.

“Throughout my career I’ve tried ... to play as many tough nonleague opponents as possible,” Novak said. “It depends on the level of your own team but we always try to play a challenging schedule. We were able to play top competition. A lot of times, the girls have heard me say ‘They’re not good by accident.’ They’ve put in a lot of time.”

To our readers For the past five years, the Skagit Valley Herald has announced the recipients of its top sports honors at its Sports Stars event in June. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, that event is not taking place this year.

So the Girls’ Athlete of the Year, the Boys’ Athlete of the Year and the Coach of the Year are being announced in this special section and on goskagit.com. Those two athletes and one coach will receive trophies.

And though the Sports Stars event had to be canceled, the 14 athletes who were honored for being the best in their individual fall and winter sports are included in this special section and will receive plaques.

– Dan Ruthemeyer

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Whether you were a fan of SedroWoolley football player Brent VanderVeen or one of his team’s opponents, it didn’t pay to take your eyes off him this season.

On a Cubs team that had its share of weapons, including an efficient new quarterback, VanderVeen was who opposing players and coaches had to account for most.

“We knew we could go to him for big plays. The other teams had to compensate for where he was lined up. It opened things up for other players,” Sedro-Woolley coach Dave Ward said. “We really relied on him to carry us at times. He was certainly willing to do that.”

For his importance to a playoff-qualifying Sedro-Woolley squad, VanderVeen is the Skagit Valley Herald Offensive Football Player of the Year.

VanderVeen scored 13 touchdowns, tied for second in the county with Concrete’s Peyton Sanchez. He caught 53 passes for 574 yards and was also a standout on defense.

“Someone always steps up but Brent makes it look so easy,” Ward said.

VanderVeen said he came into his senior season with high expectations for himself.

“I wanted to be a dominant player, if not the most dominant in the league,” he said.

Those expectations were shared,

BRENT VANDERVEEN

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Senior receiver delivered big plays for the Cubs he said, by a Cubs team looking to reestablish its reputation in a conference with big-name teams such as Lynden and Archbishop Murphy.

“We wanted to prove ourselves and bounce back from last year,” VanderVeen said.

The Cubs did that with a competitive season that included a victory on the road over Lynden, a game VanderVeen said was a definite season highlight.

“That was a sweet, sweet win,” he said.

“They’ve grown to be a rival. It’s big if we can beat them, especially at their place.”

VanderVeen hopes to be a part of more big wins after graduation.

He committed to the NCAA Division I program at the University of Wyoming.

In a nod toward his versatility, the Cowboys plan to play him at linebacker.

A recent visit to the school helped seal the deal, he said. He got to meet the coaching staff and players, and watch a game.

One other aspect of the school he got a taste of? The chilly weather.

VanderVeen said he watched the first half of Wyoming’s game in the stadium, but when the temperature plunged into the single digits he watched the second half indoors.

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Wednesday, June 17, 2020 7

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Western 4A Conference football teams couldn’t avoid Carlos Garcia.

The Mount Vernon senior was a headache for opponents on both sides on the ball, and his prowess roaming the secondary was such that he has been named Skagit Valley Herald Defensive Football Player of the Year.

“Carlos was pretty special on defense for us,” Mount Vernon coach Nic Vasilchek said. “Teams didn’t throw his way, so we moved him to safety this year to help him not be avoided so much.”

On defense, the unanimous first-team all-Western 4A Conference selection ended the season with five interceptions and 33 tackles, third most on the team.

“To be a part of this team this year was great,” Garcia said. “To make the playoffs, that was big. It was special. I’m glad I was a part of it.”

Garcia embraced the move from cornerback to safety, saying he was able to see more of the field. Read and react — that was his mantra.

“The switch from corner to safety was easy,” he said. “I was able to do more.

There were a lot of times where I’d help cheat on one side or the other. That frustrated wide receivers.”

For good measure, he was also a firstteam selection at wide receiver.

And as a punter he had a 42-yard average. His ability to pin opposing teams deep was yet another skill.

“He’s a pretty special player,” Vasilchek said.

For Garcia, it’s about being all in on the gridiron.

“Honestly, I prefer offense,” he said.

“But defense, making that big play, getting the crowd going, pumping up the team, that’s good.”

Being successful at wide receiver gave Garcia an insight into opposing wideouts, saying through practice and film study he was aware of who was going outside, inside and where the ball was likely to go.

“It was reading the weak-side guard, that told me what I needed to do,” he said. “If it was a run, then I was coming downhill right to the ball.”

Teams tried to throw away from the talented safety, while Garcia tried his best to jump routes and intercept the ball.

“Pass defense, getting that interception, hearing the crowd go crazy, seeing the team amped up, that’s something,” Garcia said. “That’s what makes Friday nights so good.”

It was an interception by Garcia that sealed Burlington-Edison’s fate in the annual Battle of the Bridge game.

His pick in the game’s waning seconds ended the Tigers’ last-ditch drive.

It was a great start to his senior season.

“To get that pick my senior year in that game to beat our rival, it was a good feeling,” Garcia said.

CARLOS GARCIA

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

Bulldog was a ‘pretty special’ defensive back

2019-20 Skagit Valley Herald

DEFENSIVE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Congratulations Sports Stars!

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8 Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

LINDSAY BROWN

Freshman, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

2019-20 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

Congratulations, Lindsay!

Freshman year was an impressive one for ’Hawk

By VINCE RICHARDSON Anacortes’ Lindsay Brown loves to swim.

Opposing swimmers are going to hate to hear that because Brown is going to be around for a while.

For her outstanding swimming season, the freshman has been named Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Swimmer of the Year.

Despite being a high school newcomer, Brown swam to a pair of top-four finishes at the Class 2A State Meet as the Seahawks finished fourth as a team.

She placed second in the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 11.98 seconds, and fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:09.16.

Both finals times were improvements over her preliminary state races.

Brown said she came into this season not really expecting to make too big of a splash.

From a family of swimmers, Brown first took to the pool when she was about 7.

“I liked it,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun and I was not good at land sports.”

So she took to the water where she continues to leave a serious wake.

“I knew I could make state,” Brown said. “But I just wasn’t sure about the state times.”

As it turned out, she need not have worried as she cruised into the state championship meet following a bi-dis-

trict meet where she managed to lower her times in chunks, as in eight seconds off her 200 individual medley time and six seconds off her 100 breaststroke.

“I didn’t think I was going to make the actual cuts (in time) that I did,” Brown said. “It was pretty cool and I was surprised.”

She carried that momentum into the state meet — a meet she said was different than any other that she’d experienced.

“It was very stressful,” Brown said.

“There were a whole bunch of girls and they were all stressed. Everyone was antsy. But after the finals, I was really happy.”

And during them, Brown said she was focused on not focusing too much. In other words, she just wanted to swim her race.

“Next year, I want to finish first,” she said.

She knows what improvements need to be made to achieve that goal.

“I need to work on pushing off from the wall,” she said. “And to not stress out before the race. But you really can’t control that. But I plan on working on it.

“I’m excited to have three more years to compete and I think we are going to do very well next year as a team.”

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

RAFE HOLZ

Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

2019-20 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Extra work paid off in top-three finish at state

By TREVOR PYLE Sedro-Woolley cross-country runner Rafe Holz knows what it’s like to have his season end on a disappointing note.

This year, the senior was ready to do what it took to make sure he wouldn’t feel that way again.

Holz revised his training, increased his miles and brought more focus to bear. It paid off with a third-place finish in the Class 2A state meet in Pasco, the highlight of the season for a resurgent Sedro-Woolley program.

For that dedication and finish, Holz has been selected the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Cross-Country Runner of the Year.

Last year, Holz finished 42nd at the state meet at Sun Willows Golf Course.

Though it’s a tough course, he wasn’t satisfied with how he performed. And he wasn’t about to wait until his senior season to prepare himself to run on it again.

“I was disappointed with how I finished at state,” he said. “I was sick of losing.”

Holz turned to a coach in Bellingham, Justin Burgess, who more than doubled the miles Holz ran per week, building from 35 miles to about 80.

“It was more volume, more intensity,” Holz said. “It was a slow buildup. When he first told me how much mileage I’d do I was a little intimidated, but I got used to it.”

Cubs coach Shawn VanTassel said

Holz’s preparation was apparent.

“He’s the one kid that trained yearround. He didn’t just run, he was training for a goal. It made a difference,” VanTassel said. “A lot of guys ran through the year, but he trained for what he wanted to accomplish.”

It turned out to be an exciting year for the Cubs, with the boys qualifying for the Class 2A state meet as a team and freshman Kameryn Burton leading the way for the girls with an eventual top-20 finish at state.

“It brought a lot of excitement,” Holz said of the program’s success. “It was nothing like I expected.”

Holz rolled through the regular season and postseason, with first-place finishes in successive weeks at the Skagit County meet, the Northwest Conference meet and the Bi-District 2A meet.

Holz wanted to get another No. 1 finish in his return to Pasco. He didn’t, but snagged a memorable third-place finish on a hilly course.

“I did my best,” Holz said. “It was all I could ask for.”

Holz’s running career won’t end there.

He’ll run next year at Western Washington University.

It’s a good fit both academically and athletically, he said.

“It’s one of the best Division II programs in the country,” he said. “And it’s close to home.”

Congratulations to Rafe Holz Boys’ Cross Country!

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10 Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Effort and competitiveness carried Cubs duo far

By VINCE RICHARDSON The Sedro-Woolley doubles tennis team of senior Dylan Scheib and junior Kai Greenough had quite the season.

They didn’t get the chance to see how they would possibly fare at the Class 2A state tournament because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that didn’t stop them from being named the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Tennis Players of the Year.

Scheib and Greenough earned state alternate status with a fourth-place finish at the Bi-District 2A Tournament. They were a dynamic duo on the courts of the Northwest Conference this past season.

Scheib was voted firstteam all-conference and Greenough was named to the second team.

“These guys always gave 100% effort,” SedroWoolley coach Joel Howard said. “They have great attitudes and are very competitive.”

The pair had 14 wins this season.

After the two played doubles last year, Scheib began this year in singles.

Still, the plan all along was for the two to get back together once conference play started.

“This year went great,” Greenough said. “Better than I thought it was going to go. It was a lot of fun and the best season for me so far.”

The two play a lot of tennis during the summer months and said the extra work has helped them improve.

Greenough said his overhead improved as did his serving.

“I kind of tweaked it,” he said of his serve. “I practiced a little different toss. I was able to hit it harder.”

Scheib said while his serve was the same, his serving accuracy improved.

“I worked on keeping it in,” he said of his serve.

“And my backhand lob got better.”

The pair sort of fell into the sport of tennis.

Neither played a sport in the fall and tennis was a viable option.

“I didn’t start playing

Kai Greenough until my freshman year,” Scheib said. “I decided not to play football so I needed something to keep me in shape for basketball.”

Greenough also started playing his freshman year. His reasoning was straightforward: “I wanted to letter in three sports.”

Dylan Scheib Eventually, the two became a doubles team, and a pretty good one at that.

“These guys communicate with each other well and can both play defensive tennis when necessary,” Howard said. “And they can play aggressive tennis as well, especially with passing shots, over-

heads and volleys. I think they had good chemistry and complement each other well.”

Chemistry is the key.

“We just worked on making the shots we were most comfortable with,” Scheib said.

“And to know what shot to make at what

time,” Greenough added.

Howard said the two complemented each other’s play and both brought something different to the court.

“Dylan’s strengths are his mental toughness and attention to strategy,” Howard said. “Kai’s strengths are his positive attitude and quickness.”

w

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

DYLAN SCHEIB

BOYS’ TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

KAI GREENOUGH

Junior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

2019-20 Skagit Valley Herald

2019-20 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

w

12 Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

KATIE KING

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

2019-20 Skagit Valley Herald

VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

As four-year starter, King left mark on Tiger program

By VINCE RICHARDSON Katie King has been a standout on the Burlington-Edison volleyball team the past four seasons.

She’s etched her name in the Tiger record books, and for her efforts on the court this season she is the Skagit Valley Herald Volleyball Player of the Year.

“I’m excited,” King said. “I’ve seen a lot of other athletes get it over the years and for me it’s an honor.”

The King-led Tigers finished the season 18-3, and with a bi-district title and a fifthplace finish at the Class 2A State Tournament.

King was the Northwest Conference Player of the Year. She will play college volleyball at Western Washington.

“I am super proud of the things we did on the court,” King said. “We didn’t make it as far (in the state tournament) as we wanted, but it still feels good. It was a fun season and I have no regrets.

“Looking back, I’m super happy. I’m so proud of what we accomplished at Burlington-Edison. It was special.”

King leaves the Burlington-Edison program as its all-time kills leader with 1,397.

Not bad considering she was the team’s setter as a freshman.

“Both offensively and defensively she took control of matches, time and time again,” Burlington-Edison coach Tawnya Brewer said. “There were times when she took the team on her back and took over.

She led by example. She has since she was

younger.”

What King is really proud of is surpassing her sister Rachel for the No. 2 spot on the all-time list for digs in a career. The younger King finished with 1,201 digs while her sister, who played libero for the Tigers and graduated in 2016, finished with 1,115 digs.

King led the Tigers in kills this season with 512 (No. 4 in school history) as well as in hitting percentage at .292. That equates to 5.62 kills per set.

She tallied 217 aces in her four seasons.

As her career went on, not only did her statistics grow but so did her leadership role and her confidence.

“Leadership, that was the biggest improvement I made,” she said. “I wanted to play selfless volleyball, to be a good teammate.

“This team was like that. We all connected and trusted each other.”

That trust bred confidence.

“Big time,” King said. “My confidence improved. We realized you can’t be afraid to make mistakes. Either you do it or you don’t. I knew I had to put the ball away.”

Brewer said King did what the program needed her to do when she was asked to make the switch from setter to hitter.

“Looking back, she’s probably one of most selfless players I’ve had,” Brewer said. “She wanted to set in her career. She would have taken that position ... (but) she knew she was one of our best hitters and we wanted her to hit. She took that position on to help us win.”

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

MOIRA MACKAY

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

2019-20 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Defenses targeted her, but couldn’t stop B-E star

By VINCE RICHARDSON The ability to adapt to constantly changing defenses is the trademark of a skilled soccer player. As is the ability to make those around you better.

Burlington-Edison forward Moira MacKay is just such a player, and because of that has been named the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.

The senior found herself this season directly in the crosshairs of opposing defenses. Despite drawing that kind of attention, she scored 22 goals.

“I’m super proud of this season,” she said. “Obviously, I would have liked to have made it farther in the playoffs. This team played well. The disappointment is that we could have gone farther.”

MacKay did not miss a start in her high school career, taking to the field in all 78 varsity games over her four seasons. Her 81 career goals is second in school history behind Edie Breckenridge’s 125.

“Every year she always found ways to get the job done,” Burlington-Edison coach Ryan Kuttel said. “No one is more committed to the game of soccer than Moira. Not everyone has the opportunity to have a goal set up in their backyard, but she took advantage of it to improve on her finishing. She knew scoring was her job and it was what her team needed.”

Goals, however, didn’t come as easy this year as they had in the past.

Kuttel said while MacKay was a bit of an unknown her junior season, teams game-planned for her this season, often double- and triple-teaming her.

“I was man-marked a lot,” MacKay said of having a defender solely responsible for her. “My coaches told me that was a definite possibility, that I would see that this season. I was prepared for it, but it was weird.”

What MacKay understood was that the man-marking strategy meant there was one less defender taking heed of her teammates.

“When I was man-marked, that meant Miranda (Maskell) and Liz (Cisneros) were going to be open,” MacKay said.

“It was good to trust them to get open.”

Taking advantage of those opportunities showed the evolution of MacKay’s game.

“Miranda and Liz were great teammates, and Moira was happy to set them up,” Kuttel said.

MacKay finished with the third most assists in school history.”

Her game will switch to the college level in 2022 when MacKay suits up for Seattle Pacific University following her Mormon mission. With a 3.69 GPA, she plans on studying business.

“I’m really looking forward to playing in college,” she said. “There will be some adjustments for sure. I have to keep improving.”

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

For someone who wasn’t sure she wanted to run cross country, Kameryn Burton sure took to it in a hurry.

There may have been an early learning curve, but the Sedro-Woolley freshman zoomed past it like she did much of her competition in her first year in the sport.

In the second half of the season, she won the Skagit County Championships, was the highest-finishing Skagit County runner at the district meet and nabbed a top-20 finish at the Class 2A State Championships.

For being a quick study — and her late accomplishments — Burton has been selected as the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Cross Country Runner of the Year.

“It was a little bit of a surprise. She definitely had a good work ethic. After the first race, we knew she had a competitive edge,” Cubs head coach Shawn VanTassel said. “Coming in as a freshman and doing so well was a little unexpected, but it was about the work she put in.”

Burton had competed in track and field in middle school, but the longest distance she had run was the 800. A coach had to talk the reluctant incoming freshman into joining the Cubs’ cross country team.

“I thought about it for days,” she said.

“I was very nervous. It would be my first high school sport and I didn’t know anything about distance running.”

As soon as she joined the Cubs, though,

she fit in like a veteran.

While Burton was more than willing to listen to the team’s more seasoned runners, she also liked the freedom the sport allowed.

“It’s team-based, but individual, too,” she said. “I liked the freedom of doing my own thing.”

That freedom paid off late in the season. At the county championships in Sedro-Woolley, Burton finished first in 19 minutes, 26 seconds; at the conference championships, she placed fourth with a personal-best of 18:57; at the district championships, she was third in 19:37.

Then came Burton’s first trip to state.

The race is run on a challenging course at Pasco’s Sun Willows Golf Course.

The Cubs’ freshman said she enjoyed the challenge.

“You deserve the spot you get at state, because it’s hard,” she said.

Her spot? Nineteenth in 19:21.

While Burton was pleased with the competition, she said she was also pleased to spend more time with a Sedro-Woolley squad she’d been unsure about joining.

“I got to bond with the team,” she said.

VanTassel said Burton’s bond with the team was no surprise.

“She came in and was able to mesh with everyone,” he said. “She ran with the guys a lot, because her times were faster than a lot of our girls. And even though she was successful, she wanted to see others succeed. She was always (staying after) practice, helping people out.”

KAMERYN BURTON

By TREVOR PYLE

Freshman, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Cub freshman competed like a seasoned veteran

2019-20 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR

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Skagit Valley Herald

WINTER ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Justine Benson remembers how warmly her older teammates accepted her in her freshman year.

In her own senior season, the La Conner standout wanted to set an equally positive example for her teammates. She did so — and they all claimed a piece of the program’s history as their own in a historic season.

Benson became La Conner’s all-time leading scorer and Skagit County’s fourth-leading scorer among girls, and helped boost a talented Braves team to a second-place finish at the state Class 2B tournament, the highest-ever finish for the program.

For that, Benson has been selected as the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year.

The guard was a dangerous scorer for the Braves, both throughout her career and in her senior season as the Braves rolled to the state title game. Benson averaged 16.6 points per game, the highest average in the county among girls.

That total included a team-high 18 points against Liberty (Spangle) in the state title game and a team-high 19 points in a hardfought game against Columbia (Burbank) earlier in the postseason.

Benson scored 1,580 points in her career, which jolted her into fifth place among scorers in county history. She became La Conner’s all-time leading scorer this season, making her way past

Alethia Edwards, who scored 1,497 points from 1992-96.

La Conner coach Scott Novak said that along with fellow senior Morgan Herrera, Benson was a quiet leader for the Braves, who had a number of young players make contributions this season. She’s also been remarkably consistent, he added, even as the Braves lost talented players to graduation and added other young players through the years.

“Each year, she got better but the team got better also. It’s amazing she was able to sustain that,” he said.

Benson said the team was aware this particular year could be special. Last year’s team reached the state semis before running into a Tri-Cities Prep team that had as one of its main weapons one of the most highly recruited players in the country.

This year’s La Conner team got off to an impressive start, winning 20 of its first 22 games and losing only to Wahkiakum — known to be one of the top teams in the state — and a 1A power in King’s that went on to qualify for state in its classification. “We knew we could go farther. The seniors knew what we wanted to do. We knew how to get there,” she said.

Benson said the credit for the Braves’ success is the unity everyone strove for.

“We had that emotional piece right. We really bonded,” she said. “There was more off-the-court interaction. That had never really happened before. (When the games started) we’d already visualized what we had to do and just had to execute.”

JUSTINE BENSON

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, LA CONNER HIGH SCHOOL

High-scoring senior led Braves to historic season

2019-20 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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Skagit Valley Herald

WINTER ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

KAI GREENOUGH

Junior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

2019-20 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

Cub standout overcame injury to take fifth at state

By TREVOR PYLE An injury slowed Kai Greenough down this year. There wasn’t much else that could.

A year after not placing at Mat Classic, Greenough overcame a midseason finger injury to place fifth in the 106pound weight class of the Class 2A State Tournament.

For his persistence and finish, he’s been selected the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Wrestler of the Year.

Sedro-Woolley coach Brady Mast, a former high school state champion, coached Greenough when the high school junior was a youth wrestler.

In his first year at the helm of the Cubs, Mast wasn’t surprised to find Greenough’s work ethic was still solid.

“I’ve known Kai since he was first starting in Steelclaw (youth wrestling),” Mast said. “When I was in high school he was starting in Steelclaw and I got to work with him and his brother. It’s funny it’s worked its way back around and I’m coaching him again. We had that mutual respect.”

Mast said Greenough isn’t just a talented wrestler. Even when injured Greenough set an example for the high school program’s large group of young and inexperienced wrestlers.

Greenough suffered a broken index finger during the season and wasn’t able to compete for about a month. But he made sure to stay a part of the team.

“He could just do running. But he’d keep his wrestling shoes on and do whatever he could. ... He pushed himself extra. It was important to have him do that,” Mast said. “The other kids said, ‘He’s injured, but trying to do anything possible to make himself better at the sport.’ ... It shows in itself how hard a worker he is.”

Greenough said, “I felt really great even though I was hurt. I was just coming in and doing some running, exercising. ... It was really good. The whole team had a good, positive feedback with it. Everyone was thoughtful about it.”

The work paid off at the end of the year as Greenough battled back after a second-round loss in the Tacoma Dome for his fifth-place finish.

After a first-round victory, Greenough lost to Toppenish wrestler Joel Godina, who went on to win the title.

Greenough then reeled off wins in three of his next four matches: pins over Justin Wilkins of Ridgefield and Matthew Gore of Orting and then — after a loss — a win in the fifth-place match. He beat East Valley’s Jaiden Leon 10-4. “(The previous year) I was scared to go out and wrestle in front of all the people. It’s loud, so loud you can’t hear your coach. I learned to look up, look at the coach. ... The small things really helped,” Greenough said.

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Skagit Valley Herald

WINTER ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

LUKE PUSATERI

Senior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

2019-20 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

A triumphant return to the prep ranks for the Bulldog

By VINCE RICHARDSON After swimming for Mount Vernon his freshman year, Luke Pusateri decided to swim only for club and country the next two.

He swam with the Philippine Junior National Team and the Skagit Valley Family YMCA Chinook Swim Team before returning to swim this year for the Bulldogs.

And the program is happy he did as Pusateri earned a second-place finish at the Class 4A championships in the 200 individual medley and a fifth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke.

For his outstanding efforts this season, Pusateri has been named Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Swimmer of the Year.

“This season has been amazing for me,” Pusateri said. “I competed and finaled at Winter Junior Nationals. I have swam lifetime bests in all my events. I was quite surprised with how I competed.

“I did not expect to swim this fast at all my meets and drop lots of time. At the same time, the rest of my season is up in the air because of the coronavirus.”

This season, Pusateri won Northwest 4A District titles in both of his individual events, and broke a 2-year-old meet record by swimming the 200 individual medley in 1 minute, 50.79 seconds.

He also had a National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association auto-

matic all-American time in the breaststroke and an all-American consideration time in the individual medley.

His state meet swims — 1:51.39 in the individual medley and 56.03 in the breaststroke — went as well as he could have expected.

“I think I swam pretty well at state considering all the swimming I had done the last month,” he said. “Of course, I wanted to get first, but I was happy for the first-place finisher and a really good friend of mine, Justin Limberg. The week before I had beat him for first place in districts so we just switched places and were happy to push each other.”

Being Filipino, he has dual citizenship.

That allows him to swim for the Philippine Junior National Team at the Southeast Asian Age Group National Games.

“I am planning to continue to swim for the Philippines, hopefully competing in the bigger international meets,” Pusateri said.

He made the decision to put his international swimming on hold his senior year to swim for Mount Vernon.

The decision was easy and the reason straightforward.

“I wanted to swim with my friends,” he said. “I had a lot of fun and it was definitely worth my time.”

Pusateri take his 3.9 GPA to UC San Diego, where he will compete for the Tritons while studying human biology in order to pursue a career in medicine/ health care.

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Skagit Valley Herald

WINTER ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Jackson Reisner was a cog in the Burlington-Edison boys’ basketball machine that churned out a 20-win season.

But he was a big cog, considering he led Skagit County in scoring at 15.7 points per game, and was named all-state and allNorthwest Conference.

For his efforts on the court this season, Reisner has been named the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year. The senior was quick to add, however, that things didn’t quite go as planned for his Burlington-Edison team.

“Obviously, the season didn’t end the way we expected it to,” Reisner said of the Tigers’ abrupt, season-ending departure in the Bi-District 2A Tournament. “We grinded it out in the offseason and had high expectations.”

The season, however, was by no means a wash.

“We were league champs,” he said. “I’m pretty happy with the year.”

Reisner’s scoring average could likely have been higher, but the BurlingtonEdison system used by coach Chas Kok doesn’t rely on a single shooter. Rather, it’s predicated on everyone sharing the scoring load.

The Tigers had two other players who averaged double-digit scoring and another pair who finished just outside that mark.

“We had a lot of guys that could score,” Reisner said. “Going into this season, I knew everyone (on other teams) knew I

could shoot. I worked on my (ball skills) to be ready for full-court pressure.

“I also took more of a leadership role. I wanted to always motivate my teammates.

If we were up, we needed to keep working hard. And if we were down, we needed to just get back to playing our game.”

The Tigers all-for-one, one-for-all scoring strategy worked.

“Coach’s offense is very good,” Reisner said. “We have guys that can score. All five starters were able to score. Props to all my teammates. If I was having an off game, someone else stepped up, whether it was Wyatt (Walker) or DJ (Clark) or someone else.”

Reisner added he’d played with a lot of his teammates for a decade. That chemistry was obvious this season.

“It was just so natural,” he said. “We have been playing together for 10 years. It was awesome.”

While Reisner said he relies on his outside shot to keep defenses honest, he didn’t shy away from driving to the basket.

A solid ball handler as well as a stealthy passer, breaking down defenses was nothing new.

Driving to the basket also paid off in free throws as on many occasions he forced defenses to foul.

The next phase of Reisner’s career will take him to Pacific Lutheran University.

“I’m really excited about that,” he said of playing at PLU. “I need to get quicker and a lot stronger because I’m going to be playing against much bigger guys.”

JACKSON REISNER

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

Senior was one of many high-scoring B-E threats

2019-20 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Wednesday, June 17, 2020 19

Skagit Valley Herald

WINTER ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Burlington-Edison wrestler Cora Orton overcame obstacles this season.

The senior battles severe anxiety that can become overwhelming and paralyzing.

She’s learning to control it, but admits to it being a continuing battle.

And being at Mat Classic XXXII at the Tacoma Dome was about as challenging a situation as Orton could find herself in.

“Big crowds, big city, loud noise,” Orton said. “I had to try and zone all that out. I was so anxious before my first match. But (assistant coach) Dean (Myers) settled me down. But I wasn’t doing great. But he has a gift. Somehow he calmed me down and I was able to wrestle.”

Orton earned a third-place state finish in the 120-pound classification.

For her efforts, Orton is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Wrestler of the Year for the second consecutive year.

“I was certainly disappointed,” Orton said. “I was going for first. But I am happy the way it happened.

“I had a goal to start. And when that didn’t work, I switched it from finishing first to third since that was the highest I could. I achieved my goal and I am all right with that.”

Orton finished the season with a 27-3 record. More impressive is that until Mat Classic she hadn’t allowed a point to be scored on her in the postseason.

This season she made her first appearance in a state semifinal, and although

she lost she was pleased with how she bounced back.

“It was (my) first time (in the semifinals),” she said. “I was so focused on making it to the finals. But I had to pick myself up after that and prepare to wrestle again.

It was hard.”

But the coaching staff, including Windy Lovejoy and Myers, were there for Orton.

“My coaches helped me so much,” she said. “They told me the hardest spot to wrestle was for third place. Then they told me to go get that place and that I could do it.”

Orton wrestled for Burlington-Edison this season after moving from SedroWoolley. She was happy with the reception she received at her new school.

“It was inviting,” she said. “I felt very wanted. It was open and loving. It was a family and they made me feel like I belonged. And I made a lot of friendships I didn’t think I was going to make.”

Orton admitted to being nervous about entering the Tigers wrestling room. So much so she had considered not competing this season.

“That first day, I was terrified,” she said.

“But everyone came up and was super welcoming.”

And Orton said it was all due to Lovejoy and Myers.

“I found myself in a lot better place because of them,” Orton said. “I didn’t love the sport anymore. They showed me why and how I could love the sport again.”

CORA ORTON

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

Tiger overcame anxiety to take third place at state

2019-20 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

Girls Wrestling 2020 Sports Star

Caliber Precision would like to congratulate Cora for never quitting and always striving to be her best. It shows!

Caliber Precision, 1824 Railroad Avenue, Mount Vernon, WA, 98273, United States 360-899-5197 • contact@caliberprecision.com • www.caliberprecision.com

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