Sports Stars

2017

T u e s d a y, J u n e 1 3 , 2 0 1 7

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Skagit Valley Herald

2 Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Skagit Valley Herald

2017 girls’ athlete of the year finalists

THE LINEUP

Brandy Smith

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

3

BUDDA LUNA La Conner

4

BRYCE HORNBECK Sedro-Woolley

5

EMMA CARLTON Mount Vernon

6

KYLE BEUSE Sedro-Woolley

Football, Offensive

Football, Defensive

Girls’ Swimming

Boys’ Tennis

Sr., Burlington-Edison

7

JAMES PARKER Anacortes

8

SAVILLE FEIST Anacortes

9

ASHLEY WATKINS La Conner

10

JESSE KELTNER Anacortes Boys’ Basketball

12

BRANDY SMITH Burlington-Edison

13

TY PETH Burlington-Edison

Girls’ Basketball

14 15

Jr., Mount Vernon

Sr., La Conner

Boys’ Cross Country

Girls’ Cross Country

Volleyball

DELANEY WATSON Burlington-Edison Girls’ Soccer

winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

11

Emma Carlton Ashley Watkins

BRENDA REYNA Mount Vernon Girls’ Wrestling

w Northwest 2B/1B League volleyball MVP w Skagit Valley Herald Volleyball Player of the Year w First-team all-Northwest 2B/1B League in basketball

w First-team all-Western 4A Conference in two swimming events w Class 4A state champion in 100 butterfly w Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Swimmer of the Year

w Soccer captain w First-team all-Northwest Conference in basketball w Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year w Second-team all-Northwest Conference in softball

2017 BOYs’ athlete of the year finalists Budda Luna Sr., La Conner

James Parker Sr., Anacortes

Davis Mihelich Jr., Sedro-Woolley

NATHAN MATHES Anacortes Boys’ Swimming

Boys’ Wrestling

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

16

CADEN CORNETT Anacortes

17

AUBREY COSTANZA Anacortes

18

ADRIAN VASQUEZ Sedro-Woolley

19

THOMAS JANICKI Sedro-Woolley

Baseball

Softball

Boys’ Soccer

Boys’ Track and Field

20

HEATHER HANSON Anacortes

21

AUSTIN DARNELL Mount Vernon

22

KATE MORGAN Sedro-Woolley

23

KASSIDEE BEUSE Sedro-Woolley

Girls’ Track and Field

Boys’ Golf

Girls’ Golf

Girls’ Tennis

w Northwest 2B League offensive and defensive MVP in football w Skagit Valley Herald Offensive Football Player of the Year w Second-team all-Northwest 2B/1B League in basketball w Third place in long jump and triple jump at Class 2B state meet

w Third-place finisher at Class 2A state cross country meet w Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Cross Country Runner of the Year w Third place in 800, ninth place in 1,600 at Class 2A state meet

Skagit Valley Herald Publisher Heather Hernandez

Advertising Director Duby Petit

Assignment Editor Dan Ruthemeyer

Photographers Scott Terrell Jake Tull Brandy Shreve

Contributing Writers Vince Richardson Trevor Pyle Dan Ruthemeyer

Design & Layout Greg Fiscus

w Second-team all-Northwest Conference defensive back in football w Skagit County’s leading scorer in boys’ basketball w Class 2A state champion in 400-meter run

SKAGIT PUBLISHING

1215 Anderson Road Mount Vernon, WA 98274 P: 360-424-3251 @2015 by Skagit Publishing LLC All rights reserved

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 3

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

MOUNT VERNON — La Conner’s football opponents this season had to keep track of No. 24.

That was senior Budda Luna’s number.

Most teams were unable to corral the talented running back.

For his ability to avoid, outrun and outmaneuver defenders, Luna is the Skagit Valley Herald Offensive Football Player of the Year.

“It was a good year,” Luna said.

“There are a few other players that could have been considered for this award. I am proud to be recognized. I owe a lot to my teammates.”

Luna led Skagit County in rushing with 964 yards (12.4 yards per carry) and in scoring (172 points). He also caught nine passes for 248 yards (a 27.7yard average), passed for 109 yards and three touchdowns, and kicked a field goal.

Because of three forfeits, Luna’s offensive numbers came in nine games.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Luna was named the Northwest 2B League’s Most Valuable Player for offense and defense.

“For a lot of teams in our league No. 24 was a target,” Luna said. “I liked that. I wanted them to target me. That opened things up for my teammates.

“When I did get the ball, I made sure I didn’t make it easy for them.”

When asked which side of the line of

scrimmage he preferred, Luna said he liked offense and defense equally.

“I really don’t have a preference,” he said.

It was on offense, however, where Luna really shined as a running back.

“My offensive line, the other ball carriers, they all had a hand in this (success),” he said.

While Luna saw some snaps at wide receiver, he said it was while running the ball when he was at his best. He did it with size, strength and speed.

He methodology was simple: carry the ball where there was space, then run away from defenders.

“I’d look for my blocks coming around the edge,” Luna said. “I’d read it, look for the hole and then just go.”

Many times right to the end zone.

“You never get bored with scoring touchdowns,” he said.

Luna and many of his teammates were plenty familiar with the team’s offense, seeing as how coach Peter Voorhees simply picked up where departed coach Johnny Lee left off this season.

“This year it really all came together,” Luna said. “At the beginning, we were all a little worried about who was going to coach. Peter felt he needed to do it and we were all really relieved he did. We picked up right where we left off last year.

“It’s a fun offense. It’s all spread out, so there are a lot of different things you can do.”

BUDDA LUNA

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, LA CONNER HIGH SCHOOL

Luna was the target of many an opposing ‘D’

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

OFFensive football player of the Year

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4 Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

BRYCE HORNBECK

Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

defensive football player of the Year

Skills made Cub senior into top-notch safety

By VINCE RICHARDSON MOUNT VERNON — You have to be fast, physical and smart if you are going to play the position of safety on your football team.

Bryce Hornbeck met that criteria for his Sedro-Woolley team.

For his ability to defend tall wide receivers and make hits on big running backs, the 5-foot-8, 165-pound senior has been named the Skagit Valley Herald Defensive Football Player of the Year.

Hornbeck was the Northwest 2A Conference Most Valuable Player this season, earning first-team honors on both offense and defense.

He said he is honored to be recognized for his play, and gives credit to his teammates and first-year defensive backs coach Johnny Lee. “He’s a great coach,” Hornbeck said.

“I was very happy to be coached by him.

He’s good. And the younger guys are really lucky to have him.”

Hornbeck finished the season with six interceptions and a ton of tackles.

Because of his relatively small size, teams often were lulled into a false sense of security when deciding to have plays go his way.

But what he lacked in stature, he more than made up for in determination, grit and field presence.

“Footwork and technique,” he said about the keys to his defensive success.

“Those are the foundations. You backpedal, open your hips, turn and go.”

Hornbeck also credited his older brother Billy with helping him learn the finer aspects of the safety position.

Billy Hornbeck was a standout at Sedro-Woolley and now runs track at Central Washington University.

“He helped me a lot,” Bryce Hornbeck said. “He went to a lot of college camps and whatever he learned he brought back and taught me. That really helped me improve my game.”

Bryce Hornbeck made the move from cornerback to safety early this season.

Playing safety proved to be a better fit.

“The strategy is still the same — you don’t get beat over the top,” he said.

“There is more action at safety. I was always there for run support. I love flying to the ball. Our whole defense did. We played defense with a lot of energy.

“That is the way coach (Dave) Ward wanted it done. We were a hard-hitting team. But almost more importantly, we were a good tackling team. That’s what he coached.”

Hornbeck had distinct strategies when lining up against faster or bigger receivers. “You give them space,” he said of defending speedsters. “If the guy was bigger, then I tried to get him off his route.

Bump and run. I want to make them do what I want them to do, not the other way around.”

Bryce Hornbeck didn’t shy away from contact, saying he likes to hit people.

“I loved flying up on blast, dive and trap plays,” he said. “That was the coolest part.”

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Tuesday, June 13, 2017 5

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

EMMA CARLTON

Junior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

girls’ swimmer of the Year

Bulldog followed up Oly Trials with state crown

By VINCE RICHARDSON MOUNT VERNON — Emma Carlton accomplished plenty this past swim season.

And for her numerous accomplishments, the Mount Vernon junior is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Swimmer of the Year for the third consecutive year.

“It’s such an honor,” Carlton said of the award. “I am so grateful.”

Carlton won the 100-yard butterfly at the Class 4A State Championships with a scorching time of 54.01 seconds. She was the lone swimmer under 55 seconds.

That would be the highlight of a season for most.

Carlton, however, swam this past summer at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

“Competitively speaking, the Olympic Trials were the highlight for me,” she said. “It was an awesome experience.

It showed me that I can reach those dreams. I set a goal and it was great to reach it.”

Next season’s goals include breaking state records in the 100 butterfly and the 50 freestyle.

“We’ll see how that goes,” Carlton said. “I feel really good about it ... I still have things to work and improve on.

Every swimmer does.”

The state championship in the 100 butterfly may have been a bit of foregone conclusion for Carlton, as her best time was well ahead of those of her fellow competitors.

“I’d swam against most of them

before,” she said. “So I expected to win the event. But winning at state, I am still very proud of what our team did (a seventh-place finish) and what I did. Our team did really well and I am so happy with my teammates.”

Her state title came on the heels of what could have been a major setback.

Carlton was disqualified in the event in which she won a state title a season ago, the 50 freestyle.

Carlton said she deserved to be disqualified.

“It was a fair decision to disqualify me,” she said. “I twitched. It was fair.

I swam the race, got out of the pool, cooled down, ate something and then I was disqualified.

“Sure, it was a big disappointment. It was definitely a learning experience. I grew from it.”

She shook off the disqualification and proceeded to win the butterfly title a short time later.

Carlton credited her teammates with helping her put the disqualification behind her.

“There was certainly pressure,” Carlton said of preparing to enter the water for the 100 butterfly. “More than probably usual.

“I definitely hesitated at the start. I didn’t want another twitch. My turns were really bad because I wanted to make sure both hands hit the wall. I looked at every official after every touch, just to make sure.”

6 Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

MOUNT VERNON — Sedro-Woolley junior Kyle Beuse had a solid season on the tennis courts of the Northwest Conference.

He finished his season by placing third at the Bi-District 2A Tournament and winning one match at the state tournament.

For his efforts this season, Beuse has been named the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Tennis Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.

As a sophomore, Beuse found himself playing the waiting game concerning the state tournament. He placed third, but later discovered he was only an alternate to state because only the top two players from the Bi-District 2A Tournament advanced to state.

He faced the same dilemma again this season.

“It is what it is,” Beuse said last fall. “I did everything I could to get there. Now I will just wait and see.”

This time, the wait ended with good news, as the top three Bi-District finishers earned berths to state.

While he improved physically on the court this season — his backhand and serve were better — it was the mental portion of Beuse’s game that really got better.

“This season, my insight into the game and my opponents improved,” he said.

“I was able to figure out what the other player wasn’t good at. That takes some

time, but I could usually figure it out during warm-ups. All I usually needed was that 10 minutes.”

Beuse said he has seen steady improvement in his game from his freshman year to his sophomore year, and from his sophomore year to this year.

He wants to see that steady progression continue as he works toward next season. A big step in his growth has been taking a set off his father, Jeff, for the first time.

“I am constantly thinking and playing tennis,” Beuse said. “It was more spread out my freshman year. My sophomore year, I dropped a sport to concentrate more on tennis. I was more focused. This year, I was out there every single day practicing.

“You don’t slow down as you reach the finish line. You have to keep practicing and improving. My best set of the season was my last set (at the bi-district tournament). I lost that set, but my opponent was very good. I felt good about how I played and it was a great match.”

At the state tournament last month, Kyle Beuse dropped 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2) decision to Fife’s Cyrus Shaviri in the first round. He rebounded to defeat Jake Pru of Pullman 7-5, 6-2 before being eliminated 7-5, 6-0 by Washougal’s Soren Serve and denied placing at state. “... overall I am happy with the way the season went,” he said last fall “I played well and am really pleased.”

KYLE BEUSE

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Junior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Cub took big steps forward his junior year

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ TENNIS player of the Year

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Tuesday, June 13, 2017 7

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

MOUNT VERNON — A different approach led to a better finish this season for Anacortes cross country runner James Parker.

Parker, a senior who faltered in postseason meets in previous years, turned in a stellar finish to place third at the Class 2A State Championships.

For his competitive finish, Parker has been selected the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Parker finished the 5,000-meter course at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco in 15 minutes, 59.70 seconds.

It was a sizable improvement over last year, when Parker finished 47th.

But it wasn’t a shock for Parker, who entered the season with more training miles and more confidence under his belt.

“In the summer, I put in more miles,” he said. “I worked more on the specifics of each run. I wasn’t (running) as intensely, but I put in more base miles.”

Anacortes coach Chris Crane said, “He was putting in 50 to 60 miles a week by the end of the summer. He came in confident and strong.”

Confident is right. Parker said more belief in himself allowed him to run well, even against the grueling competition he saw in postseason runs such as the Northwest Conference meet and the bi-district meet.

JAMES PARKER

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

New approach paid off for Seahawk senior “I found the confidence,” he said.

“In previous years, I tailed off at the end of the season. This year, I treated each race as its own thing.”

In the conference meet, Parker finished second at Bellingham’s Civic Stadium, wrapping up the race in 15:58. At bi-districts, he finished third at South Whidbey High School in 16:41.99.

“Both those races helped fuel me at state,” said Parker, who said he’d like to continue running in college if he has the opportunity.

Crane said he is proud of how Parker finished his prep career.

“He matured as a runner. He became more strong mentally,” Crane said. “Last year he struggled with postseason events, but this year he was mentally and physically strong and peaked at the right time.”

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER of the Year

8 Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

SAVILLE FEIST

Sophomore, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER of the Year

Injury-free translated into a sterling season

By TREVOR PYLE Saville Feist’s freshman cross country season ended in injury and disappointment.

With plenty of hard work, the Anacortes sophomore made sure this year had a more enjoyable conclusion.

Feist bounced back from last year’s injury to become Skagit County’s highest-placing runner at the state championships.

For her 13th-place finish in the Class 2A state meet, Feist has been selected the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Feist’s freshman season was hampered by injury.

She’d torn the anterior cruciate ligament and miniscus in her right knee, an injury that required surgery. Although she was cleared to run cross country, after logging some miles she wasn’t comfortable with her return.

“I started running, and it didn’t feel right,” she said.

So Feist had to cut her season short.

She came back to run track last spring, then entered this cross country season healthier and more experienced.

Anacortes coach Chris Crane said Feist also improved thanks to the presence of Seahawks standout Heather Hanson. The two were able to push each other in practices and meets as the season chugged along.

“Saville benefited from pacing off

with Heather. It built up her confidence,” he said. “(Saville) finally passed her at the conference meet, and it gave her a ton of confidence going into state.”

Feist finished her season strong, placing fourth at the Northwest Conference Championships at Civic Stadium in Bellingham and seventh at the Bi-District 2A Championships in Langley.

Then came her first trip to the state meet, where runners from all the classifications gather at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

“It was fun, but it was stressful,” Feist said. “I was anxious but I was excited, too.”

Feist performed well despite her nerves. She finished the 5,000-meter course in 19 minutes, 20.30 seconds.

“I wasn’t expecting to be as successful as I was,” she said.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 9

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

ASHLEY WATKINS

Senior, LA CONNER HIGH SCHOOL

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

VOLLEYBALL player of the Year

Watkins led the way in many ways for Braves

By TREVOR PYLE MOUNT VERNON — La Conner volleyball player Ashley Watkins was pleased with the way the Braves’ 2016 season ended — even though it was exhausting getting there.

In a season in which the Braves blended some younger players into the mix, Watkins helped lead them to a third-place finish at the Class 2B State Tournament, which included several grueling, five-set matches.

“I know second place is better than third ... but I’d rather end on a win,” Watkins said of winning the third-place match.

For the Braves’ finish, and her perseverance in getting them there, Watkins has been selected as the Skagit Valley Herald Volleyball Player of the Year.

Watkins knew heading into this season she’d be asked to take on a larger role, both on and off the court.

After losing several talented contributors off the 2015 team to graduation, the Braves made their way this season with some younger players in the lineup, including a freshman at setter.

Coach Suzanne Marble said Watkins deliberately spent more time with her younger teammates to help them fit in and perform to their potential.

Watkins was voted the team’s most inspirational player.

“She was the one who made people come together, who made people feel good. She led in so many ways,” Marble

said. “And she made that choice. She made the effort.”

Watkins also received honors for what she did on the court, including earning the Northwest 2B/1B League Player of the Year award and all-state honors. She had 209 kills, a 93 percent serve receive total and 391 digs for the Braves.

The skill she flashed playing on the Braves’ right side came in handy during a long run at the state tournament.

Of the four matches the Braves played, three went to five sets — and La Conner won each one.

“We were a fifth-set team,” Watkins said. “By the end, we’d played 18 sets in two days. That’s tiring.”

She said Marble prepares her players for such ordeals with drills such as one that challenges three hitters to hold their own against six players on the other side of the net.

“No matter what, we have to put the ball away,” Watkins said. “It’s so hard.

But it gets you ready.”

10 Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

MOUNT VERNON — The 2016 girls’ soccer season was a challenging one for Burlington-Edison.

Delaney Watson embraced it.

With the Tigers graduating most of their starting lineup from 2015, including one of Skagit County’s all-time best scorers, Watson stepped up to lead the new-look squad.

For her steadiness and success in doing so, Watson has been selected the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year.

This year’s Tigers team lost almost its entire starting lineup from a year ago, including Skagit Valley Herald Athlete of the Year Edie Breckenridge. The team had a lot of new faces as well as a handful of returners, including Watson.

“I was excited, although at first I was nervous,” Watson said. “It was my senior season, and I wanted to make it a good one.”

Despite the rebuilding, BurlingtonEdison went 10-6-2 this season.

Watson set individual goals for herself, such as improving her dribbling and using her left foot more. She also took on a larger role, finding herself more often ranging out of her defensive midfielder role.

“Last year, she played central midfielder,” Tigers coach Ryan Kuttel said. “(This year) she was a much bigger part of the action, both offensively and defensively to clean up messes and solve

problems. I joke that she’s been like a security blanket. Whenever something went wrong, we were like, ‘Delaney will do it.’”

Watson wasn’t content to be a oneplayer show, Kuttel added. As she did in previous seasons, she was sure to encourage her teammates.

“We needed strong leadership and motivation. She provided that this year.

She’s provided that every year she’s been on the team,” he said. “She came in as a freshman and set a tone that was exceptional for a ninth-grader. Other people picked up on that. Because she’s so nice and so driven, other people wanted to copy and emulate that.”

Watson is a four-time all-Northwest Conference player, taking second-team honors as a freshman and sophomore, and first-team honors as a junior and senior.

She became more a scorer later in the high school career.

After scoring one goal through her first two seasons, Watson had 13 over her final two seasons.

Watson will next head to Boise State, the NCAA Division I school to which she’s committed.

She said the coaching staff saw her at a California club team showcase. A later recruiting trip sold her on the school and its women’s soccer program.

“I wanted a medium-size school. One that wasn’t too small but wasn’t too big,” she said. “It’s a tight community.”

DELANEY WATSON

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

Rebuilt Tigers followed senior’s example

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ SOCCER player of the Year

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Tuesday, June 13, 2017 11

Skagit Valley Herald

winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Jesse Keltner was impossible to ignore on the basketball court this season.

Opposing teams had to game plan for the agile, quick-handed, spring-legged 6-foot-6 Anacortes senior who was just as dangerous on offense as he was on defense.

For his contributions to an Anacortes boys’ basketball team that finished fourth at the Class 2A State Tournament and posted a 22-3 record, Keltner is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year.

“As a team, we had goals this season,” Keltner said. “We wanted to win the conference, district and state. We got two of the three and I feel good about that.

“Personally, I wanted to work harder on my game this season and show them that I could do it. I wanted to average a double-double this season. I came very close.”

Keltner did indeed come close, averaging a team-high 12.3 points per game and 8.6 rebounds. In the Seahawks’ fourthplace game at state, he had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

“He was huge around the rim this season,” Anacortes coach Brett Senff said.

“We as coaches had a hard time taking him out of any game.”

The first-year varsity starter was named to the all-Northwest Conference first team this season and played in the all-state senior games.

“It all started my freshman year when

I started playing basketball,” Keltner said. “Coach (Todd) Hinderman, he was the best coach I could have had starting that year. He put me on the path that got me to this point.”

Keltner said his game improved because he played a lot of basketball in the offseason. He joined up with a select team and played in a men’s league. The experiences helped him build confidence.

“It was year-round basketball,” Keltner said. “I became physically stronger and I began to look more to score. I like to score. I mean, who doesn’t? Improving that part of my game made me feel like a more all-around player.”

He also watched a lot of video of his games.

“First, I would fast forward to any dunks or blocks,” Keltner said with a big smile. “Then I’d go back and break it down. That made a difference in my game this season.”

Keltner was a force this season, whether he was slamming the ball through the basket or blocking a shot by an opponent.

“His intangibles were off the chart,” Senff said. “He wasn’t some outrageous scorer who was scoring 20 points a game.

But it’s what he did beside scoring that really made him so important to this team.

“He changed so many shots for us.

When players came inside, he was there.

He was very disruptive around the rim.

He’s a freak. That 6-foot, 6-inch frame was imposing.”

JESSE KELTNER

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

Foes made sure they accounted for Keltner

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYER of the Year

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12 Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Skagit Valley Herald

winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

BRANDY SMITH

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYER of the Year

Smith helped B-E mesh into a title contender

By TREVOR PYLE Brandy Smith admits she didn’t know what to expect on the first day of practice for this season’s BurlingtonEdison girls’ basketball team.

The Tigers lost two potent scorers from the previous season to graduation, and had a new head coach on the sidelines.

“We had new players. I knew they’d be strong, but I didn’t know how we’d all mesh,” Smith said.

Pretty well, as it turned out.

Led by a new scoring duo in Smith and Allyson Ray, the Tigers rolled through their regular-season schedule, qualified for the Class 2A State Tournament and hardly slowed down from there.

Powered by a win over highly regarded Black Hills, the Tigers made it to the championship game before falling to familiar foe Lynden.

For her sizable role in a memorable run that equaled the Burlington-Edison program’s best state finish, Smith is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year.

Smith took on a larger scoring role this year, leading Burlington-Edison with 13.4 points per game, good for fourth-highest among Skagit County players.

But that wasn’t the only area in which she contributed, said Brett McLeod, the former Oak Harbor coach who took the Tigers’ reins this season.

“She got us going in the right direction. She got the team going the way they needed to go,” he said. “She was always going hard, no matter what the score was, no matter what was going on in the game. She’d play great defense, play with confidence on offense.”

Smith said her performance this season wasn’t a solitary effort.

Those who helped her along included the staff at Skagit Valley College, who let her shoot in their gym, and her father Roosevelt Smith Jr., who spent hours working with her to further hone her game.

“It took me three years (in the Tigers’ program) to play the full game, to be a player the coach can depend on,” she said. “This year, when the coach took me out, he’d say right away, ‘You’re going back in.’”

That trust paid off.

Smith was one of the Tigers’ most dangerous scorers, with nights that included 22 points in a key regular-season win over Lynden, 21 points in the state quarterfinals against Washougal and 18 points — the same as Ray — in the state semifinals against Black Hills.

“We were hungry to make it to the finals. We didn’t want to lose,” Smith said.

McLeod said, “If there was a big moment, she wanted the ball in her hands.”

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 13

Skagit Valley Herald

winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

TY PETH

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ WRESTLER of the Year

Peth challenged himself in his senior season

By TREVOR PYLE Ty Peth could have coasted.

Heading into his senior season for the Burlington-Edison boys’ wrestling team, the defending state champion could have fallen back on the skills he had built up over time.

Instead, Peth doubled his efforts — sharpening his technique, tweaking his approach and learning new skills.

The result was a memorable season by any standard. Peth won the Hammerhead Tournament during the regular season; ended his prep career with 100 total pins; and finished second place at the state tournament to follow up his state title his junior year.

For that work and accomplishment, Peth has been selected the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Wrestler of the Year.

Peth’s senior season had its share of ups and downs; he calls his loss in the title match at Mat Classic “a bummer,” and was disappointed not to win the Pacific Coast Tournament for the third year in a row. (He lost 2-1 in the title match there.)

Still, there’s plenty for Peth to be proud of.

Burlington-Edison coach Kirk Hamilton said Peth’s year was a memorable one. He and the rest of the coaching staff, he said, always let Peth loose in the most challenging weight class for which he was eligible.

Peth was up to the challenge, Hamilton said.

“For him to go week in and week out and face some of the best kids in the state on a regular basis and being dominant ... that was a good feeling,” he said.

“Sometimes you get to a point where you settle; he didn’t. He was always trying to work better.”

Hamilton said Peth’s wins included a former Washington state champion, a two-time state champion from Alaska, and numerous state participants, some of whom wrestled in larger classifications.

“He never backed down,” Hamilton said.

Peth said he worked to become a more versatile wrestler after relying on a few moves last season.

“I wanted to diversify,” he said.

Takedowns, pins — he walked on practically every aspect of his game, Peth said.

He worked even harder after the loss at Pacific Coast.

“That woke me up,” he said.

Peth had a lengthy run at Mat Classic. Competing at 126 pounds, he started his tournament off with a pin, then followed it with two wins where his opponents — including a former state champion — failed to score a single point against him.

Peth’s run ended with a second-place finish.

Congratulations Ty Peth Boys Wrestler of the year!

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Skagit Valley Herald

winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Brenda Reyna is the second girls’ wrestler in Skagit County history to claim back-to-back state titles.

For standing atop the podium for the second consecutive year inside the Tacoma Dome at Mat Classic, Reyna has been named the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Wrestler of the Year, also for the second consecutive year.

“This year, it wasn’t for me,” Reyna said. “It was for my family. It was for them and all they have done.”

While the end results of the past two seasons were identical, there were differences along the way.

“There was certainly an amount of pressure as a returning state champion,” Mount Vernon coach Darin Schwarze said. “Of course you want to repeat, and that was what Brenda’s aspirations were, to be the champion again.”

Reyna captured the title at 125 pounds this year. She won a year ago at 115.

She also spent much of the season battling injuries.

“Overall, I didn’t wrestle a lot this year,” Reyna said. “I was injured. It was hard. And I kept getting hurt. It was hard to be consistent on the mat.”

Schwarze said it was a weird year for his defending state champion.

“It was the first time in her career she has been injured,” he said. “She hurt her hamstring in France while wrestling at (the world junior championships), so she had to take some time off. That proved

to be a struggle in and of itself. She’s just not used to a situation like that. Having to just take it easy is not something she does well.”

Once Reyna returned from the hamstring injury, she hurt her ankle.

“It was just one thing after another this season,” Schwarze said.

Reyna said it was difficult not being able to practice. When she was able to wrestle her first match midway through the season, it was a familiar feeling, but also a different one.

“It just didn’t feel right,” Reyna said.

“Since worlds, it had been like four months. That’s a long layoff.”

Schwarze said Reyna was rusty.

“She returns following the ankle injury and it’s not only physical, it’s mental,” he said. “She came back and it was, yep, Brenda hasn’t wrestled in a couple of weeks.”

Reyna said it took her about three weeks to get back into wrestling form.

She didn’t wrestle many matches but managed to increase her training.

She estimated she wrestled — and won — about 16 matches this season, compared to about 30 the year before.

“My confidence came back,” she said about regaining her form. “I was ready.

I went undefeated this year. I didn’t last year.”

Moving up a weight class, Reyna said she felt stronger. Not having to keep her weight down at 115 pounds made a difference. “She got it going,” Schwarze said. “She is just at another level.”

BRENDA REYNA

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

Injuries didn’t deter run to second state crown

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

girls’ WRESTLER of the Year

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Tuesday, June 13, 2017 15

Skagit Valley Herald

winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Like most competitive swimmers, Anacortes’ Nathan Mathes has broad shoulders.

It’s a good thing, too, because this year he was ask to shoulder a lot of responsibility as a team captain.

Because he stood out as a leader and swimmer, Mathes has been named the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Swimmer of the Year.

The junior’s exploits included a thirdplace finish in the 50-yard freestyle and fourth place in the 100 freestyle at the Class 2A State Championships, leading the Seahawks to a third-place finish.

“It was a good high school season. I was pleased,” Mathes said. “I swam my favorite event, the 100 freestyle, and I really loved swimming the relays. Relays are different. Instead of really being into the race as an individual, it’s more about the team.”

Mathes also assumed a leadership role, being one of only a handful of upperclassmen on the team.

“There wasn’t a lot of us,” he said.

“There were a lot of young swimmers. So we were the leaders of this team. We had to set the example for the younger kids, in and out of the pool. I think we did a good job of doing that.”

Mathes said the leadership role came easy for him and that he enjoyed it. It didn’t slow him down and he was able to reach most of his goals.

“Of course, it would have been nice to

have continued the streak of finishing first as a team,” he said about a program that won state titles in 2015 and 2016. “But for a young team, I think we did really well.

As a team, we lowered our times.”

Mathes’ times dropped along with the rest of the squad’s. He said he became a stronger swimmer overall.

“My technique improved,” he said.

“That comes with getting older. As you grow, you get better. I have improved every year.”

Mathes began swimming at the age of 8, after giving up time on the soccer fields for time in the pool. He has swam for the local Thunderbird Aquatic Club for years and continues to do so.

“I swim year-round,” he said. “If you are going be competitive, you have to do. It’s not always easy. It wears on me sometimes.”

Mathes balances practices — up to nine a week during the club season — with his schoolwork. He looks forward to the high school season as a bit of a respite from his club schedule.

“I really enjoy the high school season,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun and it’s definitely more of a team atmosphere and more of a team dynamic.”

And the schoolwork? Well, Mathes boasts a 3.88 GPA and is interested in engineering as well as robotics.

“Swim and schoolwork,” he said.

“Days when I don’t swim, I find myself with this massive amount of downtime.

That’s fun. I like to play the drums and jam with my friends.”

NATHAN MATHES

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Junior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

Mathes led the way for powerhouse program

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ SWIMMER of the Year

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16 Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

CADEN CORNETT

Junior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

BASEBALL PLAYER of the Year

Cornett’s ability to win was a key for Seahawks

By TREVOR PYLE The Anacortes baseball team enjoyed a historic season, and having Caden Cornett on the mound was one of the biggest reasons why.

Cornett won 12 games — an impressive number for a high school pitcher — as the Seahawks took third place in the Class 2A State Tournament.

For his performance, Cornett has been selected the Skagit Valley Herald Baseball Player of the Year.

The Seahawks were far from a one-man team, with great performers including Cornett’s fellow starting pitcher, Lincoln Gilden, and speedy leadoff man, Ryan Campbell.

But Cornett, a junior, was an especially steady presence as his team battled in a tough Northwest Conference and beyond.

“He’s a tremendously hard worker all year-round,” Anacortes coach Pat Swapp said. “That goes along with the style of pitcher he is. He can go deep into games without throwing a ton of pitches. That allowed us to throw him a lot of innings because he could go deeper into games.”

Swapp added: “I’ve never had a pitcher win that many games.”

Cornett said his recipe for the season was simple: hard work in the offseason.

“As a pitcher, you always want to throw harder,” he said. “I did a lot of weight training, bullpen, long tossing.

And a lot of swings. It paid off, it defi-

nitely paid off. All my pitches were better. And I hit better.”

Swapp said the movement Cornett has on his pitches makes him an especially hard pitcher to square up on. That means ground balls, and with Anacortes’ solid defense that means a lot of outs.

“Sometimes you’d look up (after an inning) and he’d have thrown five pitches,” Swapp said.

Mechanics wasn’t the only key to Cornett’s success. He said he drew inspiration from Anacortes assistant coach Andrew LeFave, a former Seahawk standout now battling cancer.

“Through his challenges, what he’s going through, he’s been a huge inspiration,” Cornett said.

Cornett said he and LeFave clicked from the start. “I immediately liked the guy. I liked the way he talked. I liked the way he coached.”

Cornett’s 12 wins doubled the most by any other pitcher in Skagit County.

He sported a 1.48 earned-run average (fifth in the county) and struck out 76 batters (second) in 80 1/3 innings pitched.

At the plate, he hit .360, scored 11 runs and had 19 RBI. With the third-place state tournament finish in the past, big things still may be ahead for Cornett and his teammates. Anacortes has only one varsity player graduating.

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Tuesday, June 13, 2017 17

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

AUBREY COSTANZA

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

SOFTBALL PLAYER of the Year

Costanza powered the ’Hawk attack as catcher

By VINCE RICHARDSON Longtime Anacortes softball coach Tom Swapp described catcher Aubrey Costanza as the “heart and soul” of his team.

The senior’s statistics — and her demeanor on the field — certainly back up Swapp’s claim.

For her efforts in helping Anacortes go 15-9 and advance to the Bi-District 2A Tournament, Costanza is the Skagit Valley Herald Softball Player of the Year.

“It’s exciting,” Costanza said of earning the honor. “It’s a good accomplishment and it really goes to show all the hard work was noticed.”

Costanza was named to the all-Northwest Conference first team after hitting .510 with three home runs, 28 RBI and 19 runs scored.

“She had a great season even though she missed some games with an injury,” Swapp said. “She was responsible for calling (pitches) even when she was hurt.

Her leadership out there was exceptional.”

Costanza has been playing softball for about as long as she can remember. And while she has also played in the outfield, she said catcher was where she wanted to be.

She took over the catching duties for the high school team midway through her freshman year and except for missing four games because of a wrist injury, never relinquished them.

“That’s my spot,” Costanza said. “My

mom was a catcher. I love it. You are a part of every play.”

Even in the games she missed, Costanza still had an impact.

“I sat on a bucket in the dugout and gave the signs (for the pitcher and catcher),” she said. “I wasn’t going to miss a game. This was my senior year. There was no next year.”

Costanza said she has a definite strategy when flashing signs to her pitcher.

“I always tried to pitch to Rebecca’s (Bateman) strengths rather than batters’ weaknesses,” she said.

Costanza used what she knew about Bateman and what she could discern about opposing hitters to get those hitters out.

“You can tell certain things about batters by how they stand and if they are right- or left-handed,” she said. “And you recognize situations. If there’s a runner on, then maybe you are thinking bunt so you want to throw a pitch they can’t hit.

“Softball is a game of adjustments is what my dad always told me.”

Costanza will play softball next season at Wenatchee Valley College, which is coming off a Northwest Athletic Conference championship season.

“I’m very excited,” she said. “It’s a very competitive program and it’s going to be a challenge and a lot of fun.”

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18 Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

be good and there were games where I pulled him out when he had three or four goals,” Cubs coach Gary Warman said. “The way he can break down players is incredible. And no one strikes a ball like he can.”

Vasquez said he had his grandfather in mind during his two six-goal matches.

“It was a cool feeling, to do that for grandpa,” Vasquez said. “He came to every game, he was my rock.”

Vasquez helped the Cubs to a 7-7-3 record and a berth in the Bi-District 2A Tournament.

One of the Cubs’ best matches, Vasquez said, was a 3-3 tie late in the season against highly ranked Squalicum.

Vasquez had a goal in that match.

“There were times when we played amazing soccer,” he said.

“We could have gone all the way if we’d played like that (against Squalicum) all season.”

Now that his senior season has ended, Vasquez hopes to continue his playing career for Whatcom Community College.

Congratulations Adrian Vasquez Sedro-Woolley Boys Soccer player of the year!

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To say Sedro-Woolley soccer player Adrian Vasquez’s grandfather was a soccer fan would be a considerable understatement.

A former player in El Salvador, Julio Castillo was such a big fan of the professional team Real Madrid that he’d buy his grandson team merchandise — even though Vasquez was a Barcelona fan.

“He’d bring me stuff and I’d be like, ‘I don’t want this,’” Adrian said of his good-natured response.

Castillo also was a constant presence when Vasquez took the field for the Sedro-Woolley boys’ soccer team, so when Castillo died before this season got into full swing, Vasquez knew he’d dedicate his season to him.

“He’s the reason I play soccer. He’s the reason I love soccer,” Vasquez said.

With that, he set out to make his grandfather proud with a potent scoring season.

Vasquez’s 26 goals led all spring boys’ soccer scorers and is a SedroWoolley school record. He had five multi-goal games in the Cubs’ 17-match season, including two matches with six apiece — against Lakewood in March and Nooksack Valley in April.

For his solid scoring, Vasquez has been named the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year.

“He is extremely talented. To score 26 goals, a school record, you have to

ADRIAN VASQUEZ

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Cub dedicated season to his late grandfather

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 19

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

The beginning of the track and field season was a bit difficult for pole vaulter Thomas Janicki.

The Sedro-Woolley junior got off to a slow start after having his tonsils removed.

“The very beginning of the season was rough,” Janicki said. “I missed a lot of practice and four meets.”

He said he suffered through some subpar performances before finally getting going.

But when he got going he was very good. He cleared 15 feet to win the Class 2A state title in his second year of pole vaulting.

For his title — and an eighth-place state meet finish in the 110-meter hurdles — Janicki is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

Janicki cleared 14 feet for the first time on May 3, then two weeks later cleared 15-1 at the district meet.

“I thought maybe it was a fluke because it was such a big PR (personal record),” he said. “Then at state, I expected to go 14 feet, 6 inches and (the 15-1) turned out not to be a fluke after all because I got 15 feet again.”

Janicki was also a regular in the hurdles and on the Cubs’ 1,600-meter relay team.

In the 110 hurdles, he finished eighth at the state meet in a personal-best 15.43 seconds. And the relay team placed ninth

in state.

“I was way more nervous for the 110 hurdles and the relay,” Janicki said of his state meet. “My goal was to make the finals (in the hurdles). I got eighth.

But I didn’t start hurdling until halfway through this season.”

Janicki decided to give pole vaulting a shot last season because he thought it would be fun.

He said a background in gymnastics helped him along.

“It’s something I wanted to do,” he said. “I enjoy those sorts of things. Last year, early on, I no-heighted for the first couple meets. But I got it figured out.”

He certainly did. He went from noheights to being the best Class 2A boys’ pole vaulter in the state.

Pole vaulting is a two-stage process consisting of the bottom and top ends.

The bottom end is the run, plant and jump, while the top end is the swing, extension and turn. If any of those are off, the entire vault is affected.

“They all have to be perfect from start to finish,” Janicki said. “Then the better you get, the bigger the pole. Then it gets to the point where if things go wrong, you can hurt yourself.”

Last year, Janicki finished ninth at state in the pole vault.

While his goal this season was a topthree state meet finish, he exceeded that with the state title and a Sedro-Woolley school record along the way.

“I certainly didn’t expect to do either,” Janicki said.

THOMAS JANICKI

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Junior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Slow start, title finish at state for Cubs’ Janicki

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE of the Year

Congratulations g Thomas Janicki!

2 0 17 P O L E VAU LT S TAT E T I T L E - 1 5 - F E E T

20 Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

HEATHER HANSON

Junior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

girls’ track and field athlete of the Year

No pain, a lot of gain for Seahawk standout

By TREVOR PYLE Heather Hanson proved this year what she could do while healthy.

As it turned out, it was a lot.

The Anacortes junior was part of the Seahawks’ Class 2A state championship girls’ 1,600-meter relay team. She also placed second in the 800-meter run with a school-record time and took fourth in the 1,600 run at state.

Hanson is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

Her stellar season follows a disappointing sophomore one in which Achilles’ tendinitis slowed her down.

For the driven Hanson, who won the Class 2A state 800-meter title as a freshman, it was frustrating to have to spend time on the sidelines rather than on the track.

“I had to take a few weeks off. That was probably the worst part,” she said.

“It was bittersweet. I still got to go to the meets, which is nice, but I missed competing.”

She didn’t need to feel that way this season.

“Knowing she was healthy was a huge confidence builder,” Seahawks coach Brad Templeton said.

Free from pain, Hanson took part in a historic season for Anacortes. She set school records in the 800 and 1,600.

“She likes the (1,600). Her sister was the school record-holder,” Templeton said. “The 800 is probably her best

event. She has such a mix of speed and strength.”

In the state championship 800-meter race, Hanson took part in a thrilling duel with Liberty’s Brigette Takeuchi.

Ahead for some of the race, Hanson was beaten late, with Takeuchi notching a personal-best 2 minutes, 13.50 seconds and Hanson a personal-best 2:13.83.

“It’s an exciting race, and I was excited to run it again,” Hanson said. “I caught Brigette, but she passed me at the end.

But we both PR’d and it was nice to celebrate with her at the end.”

In addition to her finish in the 1,600, Hanson was part of the Seahawks’ 1,600 relay team.

The lineup at state included Taleah Phillips, Skye Hopper, Halley Geist and Hanson, who admits she was nervous, having never before competed in a relay final at the state meet.

Templeton said, “Knowing Heather, she’s such a teammate, that was hugely important. She knew the three other girls were counting on her.”

There was one stumble as Hanson stepped on a teammate’s shoe during a handoff. Still, the team broke the 4-minute mark (3:59.97) on its way to the victory.

Even before its win at state, the Seahawks’ 1,600 relay team hit another memorable mark. The runners set a school record, the third this season that Hanson had a hand in.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 21

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

AUSTIN DARNELL

Senior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ GOLFER of the Year

Improved mental game, improved golf game

By DAN RUTHEMEYER Austin Darnell needed to regain his focus after struggling to start the second round of the Class 4A state boys’ golf tournament.

That hasn’t always been an easy thing for the Mount Vernon senior to do.

“I used to get upset,” Darnell said.

“Now I push through.”

Darnell bounced back from a first six holes in which he played 8-over-par to finish with a 7-over 77 and tie for 17th in the tournament. For a standout season, he is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Golfer of the Year.

Darnell said he owes his success this year to improvements in his short game and his mental game. Those improvements helped him go from a golfer who shot in the mid to high 70s as a junior to one who averaged 1-under par during his conference season as a senior.

While he used to get frazzled when things didn’t go his way, he now has found a way to get back on track.

“I tell myself that I’ve been there before,” Darnell said. “I tell myself I can hit the shots I need to hit.”

His short game was such that he had six birdies in each of three conference matches.

Darnell’s season included runner-up finishes in two big tournaments — the Bill Egbers Memorial and the Tom Dolan — and the lowest scoring average throughout the WesCo 4A season.

When he got to the postseason, he fin-

ished third in his conference tournament with a round of 74, third at his district tournament with a two-round 148 and in a tie for 17th at state with a two-round 150.

The highlight of his season, though, was at the Egbers tournament.

Darnell shared the lead after a firstround 70 at Skagit Golf & Country Club in Burlington, then delivered a secondround 71. Over the 36 holes, he had no double-bogeys.

Darnell’s goal going into the tournament was to place higher than Cory Valentine, the head PGA professional at Eaglemont Golf Course in Mount Vernon, did at Egbers in his senior season at Mount Vernon. Valentine placed 17th.

But after that first-round 70 on that rainy Friday, that goal was adjusted.

Valentine, who serves at Darnell’s swing coach and each year has been his Egbers caddy, told Darnell he could win the tournament. “It was nice to have him say that,” Darnell said. “It put positive thoughts in my mind.”

Darnell became a member of the country club only a month before Egbers.

He wanted a third course to regularly play in the area — he already played often at Eaglemont and Avalon Golf Links in Burlington — and the country club was a good fit.

“I want to become more precise going into college,” Darnell said.

Darnell will attend Pacific Lutheran University next fall and hopes to make the traveling team.

Reach for the stars and dream big!

Congratulations Sports Stars, coaches and their families.

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22 Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ GOLFER of the Year

CONGRATULATIONS 2017 SPORTS STARS!

1628566

Kate Morgan’s high school golf career may have started late, but it finished strong.

Morgan, a Sedro-Woolley senior who started playing high school golf as a junior, capped her final season with an 11th-place finish at the Class 2A State Tournament. Her score of 171 marked a 19-stroke improvement from a year ago.

She also won the Skagit County title.

And for her efforts on the links, Morgan has been named the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Golfer of the Year for the second consecutive time.

“I have no regrets but one,” Morgan said. “I wish I would have started playing golf my freshman year. That would have been really helpful.”

The highlight for Morgan was winning that county title.

“And I won by 11 strokes,” she said.

“That was very cool.”

After playing softball for years, Morgan decided to give golf a try.

“I really needed a more individual sport,” she said. “I’d played soccer and softball and just needed a change. In golf, I have no one to blame when things go wrong but me.”

Morgan said playing at the state tournament this year was fun because there was less pressure. As she put it, “way less.”

“The people I played with were a big reason why,” she said. “We had a lot of fun.”

The season didn’t start off the way Morgan had envisioned. Her coach, however, helped her get her game — both physically and mentally — back in form.

She said Doug Pierce gave her the necessary pep talk.

“He told me three things,” Morgan said. “First, that he would never be disappointed in me, but disappointed for me.

Second, he told me to close the door. To let the shot go if it was poor and move on. And third, when I got up to the ball, to be confident in the club and confident in my swing.”

And speaking of clubs, Pierce told Morgan to use the ones in her bag. All of them.

“That was a big difference this year,” she said. “I used every club. I was comfortable with every club.”

She said her biggest improvement came on her second and third shots.

“Last year, I shied away from every club but my wedge and my 9-iron,” she said of the clubs she used on second and third shots. “I just didn’t trust any other clubs.”

Morgan said she continued to learn and improve as the season progressed.

She said she took to heart the fact she couldn’t fix her swing out on the course, but rather just had to adapt to the situation.

“I learned if you try and fix things midround, something else is going to go wrong,” she said.

KATE MORGAN

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Cub accomplished a lot in short prep career

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 23

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Kassidee Beuse won plenty of matches this season for the SedroWoolley girls’ tennis team.

Her coach’s favorite match of Beuse’s? One she lost.

Though the senior finished seventh at the Class 2A State Tournament — a tournament in which she went 2-2 — coach Joel Howard said he was more impressed by a sub-district tournament loss.

Beuse battled Sehome’s Tessa Tapmongkol in the sub-district tournament title match, only to fall 7-6, 6-3 to the eventual state runner-up.

Howard said the loss didn’t tell the whole story. He said Beuse suffered from leg cramps during the tough title match, only to battle back to make it a relatively close contest.

“She could have easily given up, but what I saw was how adversity reveals character,” he said. “She was courageous and persevered. She battled to the last point. She lost the match, but it sticks out in my mind.”

That kind of perseverance helped earn Beuse the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Tennis Player of the Year award.

It’s the fourth consecutive year she has earned the honor.

Beuse was also named this season to the all-Northwest Conference first team.

Beuse’s path to the state tournament was littered with tough opponents,

from Tapmongkol to Liberty’s Luciana Sobrino.

Sobrino defeated Beuse in a firstround state tournament match last season before Beuse won three straight to snag a fifth-place finish. This year, Beuse beat Sobrino in the bi-district tournament to earn a small measure of revenge.

At the state tournament at the Nordstrom Tennis Center at the University of Washington, Beuse beat Rachel Wilkerson of Centralia 6-1, 6-0 before losing to Danya Wallis of North Kitsap 6-1, 6-0.

After the loss to Wallis, who won her third consecutive Class 2A state title, Beuse bounced back with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Sydney Cameron of W.F. West.

Beuse lost to Faith Grisham of Columbia River in the fourth-place match.

Beuse said she’s proud of her tournament performance.

“I didn’t go in with any expectations.

I just went for it,” she said. “I didn’t want to put pressure on myself. I just wanted to stay calm and not expect a win or a loss.”

Though her prep career has ended, Beuse likely will have more chances to hone that attitude.

She said she will likely attend Skagit Valley College, and wants to play tennis there.

KASSIDEE BEUSE

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Beuse leaves school as four-time player of year

2016-17 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ TENNIS PLAYER of the Year

Congratulations to Kassidee Beuse of the Sedro-Woolley High School girls’ tennis team and all the Sports Stars!

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