2016 Skagit Valley Sports Stars

Tuesda y, June 14, 2016 • Ska git Va lley H era ld

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Tuesday, June 14, 2016 3

Skagit Valley Herald

THE LINEUP FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

5 6 7

EDIE BRECKENRIDGE, Burlington-Edison

8

HEATHER HANSON, Anacortes

Girls’ Soccer

Kyle beuse, Sedro-Woolley Boys’ Tennis

DYLAN HOLLAND, Anacortes Boys’ Cross Country

Girls’ Cross Country

9 10 11 12

alana handy, Burlington-Edison

Volleyball

EMMA CARLTON, Mount Vernon

Girls’ Swimming

CARTER CROSBY, Sedro-Woolley

Football, Offense

seth schuh, La Conner

Football, Defense

winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

13 14 15

ELLIOTT HOFFERTH, Anacortes Boys’ Swimming

brenda reyna, Mount Vernon Girls’ Wrestling

16 17

EDIE BRECKENRIDGE, Burlington-Edison

22 23 24 25

CONNOR ATKINSON, Burlington-Edison

Girls’ Basketball

david rodriguez, Anacortes Boys’ Basketball

TY PETH, Burlington-Edison Boys’ Wrestling

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

18 19 20 21

KASSIDEE BEUSE, Sedro-Woolley Girls’ Tennis

sara absten, Burlington-Edison Girls’ Track and Field

billy hornbeck, Sedro-Woolley Boys’ Track and Field

kate morgan, Sedro-Woolley Girls’ Golf

26 2016 Girls’ and Boys’ Athlete of the Year finalists Past Girls’ and Boys’ Athlete of the Year winners

Boys’ Golf

milan kassa, Anacortes

Boys’ Soccer

paityn cyr, Mount Vernon Softball

MAX MILLER, La Conner

Baseball

Skagit Valley Herald Publisher Advertising Director Heather Hernandez Duby Petit Skagit Valley Herald Assignment Editor Dan Ruthemeyer Contributing Writers Vince Richardson, Trevor Pyle

Photographers Scott Terrell, Brandy Shreve Design & Layout Greg Fiscus

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Tuesday, June 14, 2016 5

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Edie Breckenridge missed the better part of two soccer matches early this season with a hand injury.

As it turned out, the injury was the only thing that could slow down the high-scoring Burlington-Edison senior.

Breckenridge notched 41 goals this season to give her 125 for her career as she helped the Tigers into the quarterfinals of the Class 2A State Tournament.

For being one of the most potent scoring threats Skagit County has ever seen, Breckenridge is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year for the third consecutive season.

“Everyone knows her going into games,” Burlington-Edison coach Ryan Kuttel said. “Every time she went onto the field, we knew the other team was geared up to stop Edie from scoring.

Very few of them were able to do that.”

Breckenridge’s season looked as if it might get off track early, when she hit the ground during a match against Sedro-Woolley.

“I got pushed and fell funny on my hand,” Breckenridge said. “I couldn’t move it, so we knew something was wrong.”

The injury proved minor, and Breckenridge was back two matches later.

From there, she and the Tigers went on a tear.

Helped by a group of talented teammates, Breckenridge reeled off 41 goals, including six in a match against Belling-

EDIE BRECKENRIDGE

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, burlington-edison HIGH SCHOOL

Potent goal scorer led B-E to state quarterfinals ham to put her over 100 for her career.

All told, she became BurlingtonEdison’s all-time leader in career goals (125), goals in a season (42), goals in a match (six), points in a career (275) and points in a season (95).

“As a freshman, I hoped to score a few goals, but I didn’t think that by the end of my senior year it would be like this,” she said.

Of all Breckenridge’s goals, the most exciting may have been her last — against Hockinson in the Class 2A State Tournament.

The Tigers fought hard against a Hawks team that featured highly-touted recruit Rylee Seekins.

Burlington-Edison goalkeeper Jenny Gustafson stopped a penalty kick, and Delaney Watson scored to tie the score heading into overtime.

Then Breckenridge provided the game-winner.

“We needed a goal. We were pushing forward the whole time,” she said of the overtime period.

Finally, she pounced on a cross from a teammate for the game-winner.

“I was in shock,” she said. “I was screaming and jumping. I was so happy.

You don’t get many chances to score a game-winner for your team at state.”

Burlington-Edison’s state tournament run ended in the quarterfinals.

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

girls’ soccer Player of the Year

6 Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

KYLE BEUSE

Sophomore, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ TENNIS PLAYER of the Year

Sophomore worked hard to make himself better

By TREVOR PYLE When Kyle Beuse wrapped up his freshman tennis season, he didn’t think about what he’d done well. He thought about what he could have done better.

Because of that attitude, Beuse had a stellar sophomore campaign.

The Sedro-Woolley singles player had the longest postseason run of any Skagit County player, finishing one win shy of a state tournament berth.

Because of his solid late-season play and overall improvement, he’s the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Tennis Player of the Year.

Beuse didn’t mince words about the difference between last season and this one.

“Last year was less than spectacular, but this year I made some improvements,” he said.

Specifically, that meant a summer devoted to tennis, including working on his backhand and his serve.

He said he worked on his serve by modeling it after that of his father, Jeff Beuse. His backhand just took plenty of repetition and drills to round it into shape.

The difference in his skill level was apparent even before the high school season began, Kyle Beuse said.

“I played in a tournament prior to the season, and I realized my serve wasn’t something opponents could pick on. I realized it was a weapon,” he said.

That improvement was also evident late, such as in a big singles win against Ferndale in the regular season and strong play at the Northwest 2A District Tournament.

In that tournament, Beuse was the only Skagit County player to reach the semifinals, beating Spencer Thulin of Squalicum 6-2, 6-0 and Colton Saben of Burlington-Edison 3-6, 6-0, 6-2.

Beuse eventually ended up with a fourth-place finish in the tournament.

The top three advanced to the state tournament in May. That hard work isn’t over for Beuse, who is already thinking of next season.

He said, “My overhead serve could use some work.

“And I want to add some versatility to my backhand.”

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Tuesday, June 14, 2016 7

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

DYLAN HOLLAND

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

boys’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER of the Year

Standout used fear to propel him to state title

By VINCE RICHARDSON Running scared. Anacortes cross country runner Dylan Holland said that’s when he’s at his best.

This past season, it was Holland who was nothing short of scary to opposing runners en route to the Class 2A state title.

And for his outstanding season, Holland is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Cross Country Runner of the Year for the second straight season.

The senior is the third cross country state champion Skagit County has produced and the first county boys’ winner.

Holland, who finished seventh at the 2014 state meet, was a favorite this November at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

“State was the only race I wasn’t nervous about,” Holland said. “I wasn’t nervous at all. I also didn’t think I was going to win it.”

Holland said he started his final high school race with a lot of energy — bolting out at a fast pace — and finished with something left in the tank. “Even at the end, I wasn’t tired,” he said.

It was at the end of the race, however, where Holland’s fear factor was tapped into — and he responded.

Sehome’s Colton Johnsen had been a thorn in Holland’s side the entire race.

The two tangled time and time again before Holland grew weary of Johnsen, picked up his pace and left him behind.

Or so he thought.

“I kept hearing him in back of me,” Holland said. “I was coming up on the finish line, and he shot right by me. It scared me.”

The mistake, as Holland explained it, was Johnsen decided to take the lead a step or two too soon.

“Had he waited, he would have won the title,” Holland said. “But once he ran by, I got scared. I freaked out. My body just suddenly surged ahead and I got him by 0.6 of a second. I got it done and won.”

His winning time on the 5,000-meter course was 15 minutes, 36.2 seconds.

Holland has come a long way since his first race in the seventh grade.

“I finished 27th or 28th,” he said.

“Everyone beat me. The second race, I beat everyone. It was awesome.”

Anacortes coach Chris Crane said Holland is a motivated runner who improved this season in part because of an offseason of road racing.

Crane has seen improvement out of Holland since the first day Holland turned out for cross country.

“He had matured and improved a lot,” Crane said. “His first 5K, his time was 20:30. By the end of his freshman year, he was running in the low 17s. He evolved into a runner.”

And that evolution continued throughout Holland’s high school career.

“His goal was to win the state title,” Crane said. “He knew to accomplish that he had to run smarter this season and he did.”

Congratulations Skagit Valley Sports Stars!

8 Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Heather Hanson knew she had room for improvement.

As a freshman last season, she finished 51st at the Class 2A State Cross Country Championships.

This year, the Anacortes sophomore placed fourth in 19 minutes, 9.01 seconds over the 5,000-meter course, a drop of 1:13 over the previous year.

For her strong season, Hanson is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Cross Country Runner of the Year.

“My goal was to run 19:30 at the state meet,” Hanson said. “When I saw my time, mind blown.”

Hanson said she ran a different race than she normally does. She usually tries to hold a little back, saving her energy for the end.

“That was really my issue,” she said.

“Saving too much until the end.”

At the state meet, the decision was made to run a more even pace.

“This time, I spread it out more,” Hanson said. “That really helped. Faster splits obviously helped. The strategy was to spread my effort out over the entire race.

“It was also helpful having that extra experience of running the race last year. I really knew what to expect.”

Anacortes coach Chris Crane said he and his coaching staff had glimpses of what Hanson could do.

“We saw Heather’s potential last year as a freshman,” Crane said. “We saw it back when she ran in the eighth grade. Of

course, I didn’t exactly expect a top-four finish this year. I thought maybe a top 15.

But she really ran well.”

Knowing her teammates were in the state meet made a difference. The Seahawks finished fourth overall.

“I was also more confident this year because my whole team was there,” Hanson said. “That was a goal for this season.

I wanted to improve my time and place higher, and we wanted the entire team to make it.”

Hanson said a course’s terrain doesn’t matter to her, although she admitted to not being fond of “terrible hills” in the middle of courses.

“The state course is big and wide open, and running on the grass is not too difficult as long as you wear spikes,” she said.

Hanson has an interesting strategy when running.

“I pay close attention to the other girls around me, especially their breathing,” she said. “You can tell how hard they are working.”

Hanson boasts a 4.0 grade-point average while taking classes such as precalculus. Though some classes can be difficult, Hanson said juggling sports and academics is relatively easy.

“The challenge is time management,” she said.

Hanson’s goal for next season is breaking the 19-minute mark.

“Overall, I am really pleased with this season,” she said. “It really went well and I had a lot of fun.”

HEATHER HANSON

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Sophomore, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

Improvement evident at Class 2A state meet

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER of the Year

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Tuesday, June 14, 2016 9

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Alana Handy’s volleyball career at Burlington-Edison ended just the way she wanted it to: with Handy and her teammates posing with the Class 2A state championship trophy.

That doesn’t mean every step of Handy’s journey was an expected one.

Handy went from a defensive specialist to a feared hitter, from a quiet underclassman to a leader of a closeknit team.

For that, Handy has been selected the Skagit Valley Herald Volleyball Player of the Year.

Handy joined the Tigers the season after they won the 2011 state title. Several members of that squad remained, and Handy, who started her career as a libero, said she looked up to them and learned from them.

But in the past couple of years, Handy has had to step out of their shadows.

“In my junior and senior years, I had to fill their shoes,” she said.

Handy, also a talented track and field athlete, said she had to learn to be easier on herself.

“I’m self-critical. As an athlete, I’m a perfectionist. I hate making mistakes.

But as I grew as a player, I had to let things go,” she said.

Handy also had to be more than the key player in the Tigers’ efficient offensive attack. She had to lead, too.

Tigers coach Tawnya Brewer said it’s

a role Handy has filled well.

“That was a role that was two years in the making ... it just took her a while to step into that role and embrace it,” Brewer said. “But she carried the team on her back multiple times.”

Brewer said the team responded to Handy’s leadership best when it needed to most. In the Tigers’ state quarterfinal match against Tumwater, widely believed to be one of the best teams in the state tournament, the Tigers gutted out a win despite Handy being slowed by leg cramps.

“I felt like the team would do anything for her, and they proved it against Tumwater because she was struggling.

They realized she had done so much for them and it was their turn,” Brewer said.

The Tigers won that match to stay alive for the state championship trophy, and earned it the next evening after two more wins.

It was a gratifying win for the Tigers, who had just seven players on their roster throughout the season.

Brewer said Handy was a key reason the group battled its way to a title.

“She played a huge part in forming a close-knit family both on and off the court,” Brewer said. “She valued everyone’s friendship and showed she cared about everyone, not just as players but as friends. I felt like everyone looked up to her because they trusted and believed in her.”

Congratulations

Skagit County Student Athletes

ALANA HANDY

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

Stellar career ended just the way she wanted

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

VOLLEYBALL PLAYER of the Year

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10 Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

EMMA CARLTON

Sophomore, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

girls’ swimmer of the Year

Pursuit of excellence ended in a state crown

By VINCE RICHARDSON Dedication.

Though that word gets thrown around a lot in the world of sports, in the case of Mount Vernon swimmer Emma Carlton it really tells the story.

Carlton won the first state girls’ swim title in school history Nov. 12, taking the 50-yard freestyle in 23.29 seconds at the Class 4A state championships.

While adding to the sophomore’s already impressive résumé, that effort was also an automatic all-American time — Carlton’s second of the season.

She also posted an automatic allAmerican time this season in the 100 butterfly, an event in which she finished second at the state meet in 54.44.

For her outstanding season in the pool, Carlton is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Swimmer of the Year.

She will compete next week in Austin, Texas, at the Junior Nationals in both the freestyle and butterfly.

Carlton takes it all in stride, saying that swimming at the high school level is all about having fun. And this season, she had a lot of fun.

“Honestly, I just want to have a lot of fun with the team,” she said. “They say swimming isn’t a team sport, but it is. All those individual efforts come together as a team.”

Carlton’s prowess didn’t simply appear when she hit the water as her training schedule is nothing short of grueling.

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the high school season, Carlton and teammate Emma Frey started their days at 5:30 a.m. in Bellingham. Those Bellingham Bay Swim Team practices end at 7. Then after school, Carlton and Frey joined their high school teammates 3 to 4:15 p.m.

Monday through Friday for practices at the Skagit Valley Family YMCA. And on evenings Monday through Thursday, it was back to Bellingham for dry land practice in the evening.

So, which stroke does she prefer?

“The butterfly,” she said. “Because I like dolphin kicking. My dolphin kick is very strong and it was also one of the first kicks I learned. I also love the relays because that’s a true team event.”

Carlton said she was nervous competing at her second state meet, which is odd considering she swims at big meets with her club team.

“This is the one meet I get nervous at,” she said. “I went as a freshman, so I knew what to expect. But I was still nervous.”

The 50 freestyle is an all-out sprint.

Carlton said she doesn’t even take a breath when she swims it.

At the state meet, she said she had a great start and felt very confident.

“I was happy I won. I was also happy I was able to drop my time,” Carlton said. “I was surprised because it was so fast. I knew it was going to be a good place because I was having so much fun.”

Congratulations, Emma Carlton and all the Sports Stars!

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Tuesday, June 14, 2016 11

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

CARTER CROSBY

Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

OFFENSIVE FOOTBALL PLAYER of the Year

Good things happened when Cub star had ball

By TREVOR PYLE Whether taking snaps at quarterback or eluding defenders at running back, Sedro-Woolley’s Carter Crosby was one of the Northwest 3A/2A Conference’s most electric players this season.

So it’s surprising when talking about a time most telling about his senior star, Cubs coach Dave Ward talks about a time when Crosby was on the sidelines.

In a hard-fought state playoff game against Hockinson, Crosby suffered a bloody nose.

When he was held out of the Cubs’ next play — a third-down field goal attempt — Crosby demanded to know why.

“I told him, ‘Because there’s blood all over you,’” Ward said wryly.

Crosby cleaned himself up for the next play, checked back into the game and was the holder for the game-winning field goal by Adrian Vasquez, who had his third-down attempt blocked.

For that attitude, and for being a threat anytime he was even close to the ball for one of the state’s top Class 2A teams, Crosby is the Skagit Valley Herald Offensive Football Player of the Year.

Crosby had 78 carries for 510 yards rushing, caught 13 passes for 218 yards and completed six passes for 160 yards.

His season included a 184-yard rushing effort in a Northwest 3A/2A Conference game against Lynden in which Crosby became a full-time quarterback

after Devin Willard was sidelined by injury.

But Crosby’s stats only tell a sliver of the story, Ward said.

“When he was healthy and ready to go, we wanted him on the field. He’s that kind of a dynamic player,” Ward said.

Crosby missed four games early in the season because of academic ineligibility, and two late games because of injury.

He said it was odd to have to work himself back into the flow after missing part of the early season.

“I’d been around the guys, I was at every practice. But when I came back, it was definitely different,” Crosby said.

“I had to show the guys I was part of the team. It was a little different coming back in. It was something else. It’s a weird feeling, not being able to play the first few games.”

Despite the time Crosby missed, Ward said Crosby still had a big impact for the Cubs, who a year after winning the state Class 2A title reached the semifinals.

“I think he plays with so much intensity and confidence he raises the expectations around him. His teammates respond to it,” Ward said. “He’s so determined that when he got a chance to get in there, he could do something on any play. He made a believer of all of us.”

12 Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

La Conner football coach Johnny Lee said many teams are built around their best offensive player.

The Braves, he said, did it around a defensive player.

With Seth Schuh coming off a junior year that saw him named the Northwest 2B League’s Defensive MVP, the Braves knew this season they could form a tough defense around the middle linebacker.

“Going into this season we knew his strengths from last year and how dependable he was at the middle backer spot,” Lee said. “We knew how much we trusted him.”

For the well-placed trust the Braves put in the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Schuh — and the performance that followed — Schuh is the Skagit Valley Herald Defensive Football Player of the Year.

Schuh had quite a year for the Braves, who earned the league’s lone postseason berth this season. He had 84 solo tackles (112 total), along with two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.

After the 2015 campaign was over, he was named the league’s defensive MVP for a second time.

His impact went beyond his stats and awards, Lee said.

“We moved some fronts in specifically for him,” Lee said. “A lot of times on offense you build your offense around one guy. We took this approach to Seth

on defense. We knew we could leave fewer guys in the box because we knew Seth had things taken care of between the tackles.”

Schuh said he enjoys playing on both sides of the ball.

“I like running back, because when you get the ball you just do what you can with it,” he said. “On defense, you have to know your offense, and you have to know the other team’s offense.

Running back is more physical. Linebacker is more mental ... It’s harder to stop an offense than to make an offense go.”

That’s an observation Schuh is qualified to make. He was also a standout running back for La Conner, gaining at least 100 yards in eight of his team’s 10 games, including the Braves’ last five.

Schuh led Skagit County in rushing with 1,109 yards. He was also the county leader in touchdowns (17) and tied for the lead in points (110).

His best offensive game of the season came in the Class 2B state playoffs against Morton-White Pass, when Schuh rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.

No matter what side of the ball he was playing on, Schuh said he enjoyed playing on a Braves squad where he was surrounded by talented teammates.

“It was fun ... We could run different stuff, and we could try new things,” he said.

SETH SCHUH

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, LA CONNER HIGH SCHOOL

La Conner built its team around star linebacker

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

DEFENSIVE FOOTBALL PLAYER of the Year

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Tuesday, June 14, 2016 13

Skagit Valley Herald

winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Anacortes swim coach Leslie Mix said the only way Elliott Hofferth would miss practice would be if he was “so sick he couldn’t breath.”

That dedication showed throughout the season ... especially on the final day.

Hofferth won two individual state titles — in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 butterfly — and was part of the title-winning 400 freestyle relay team as the Seahawks won their second straight state Class 2A title.

For those contributions, and the work ethic behind them, Hofferth is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Swimmer of the Year.

Hofferth, a senior, said there was no magic bullet to his season, just plenty of hard work to build on his strengths.

He didn’t confine himself to the Anacortes team’s after-school practices. He worked out three times a week before school and practiced on weekends.

“I came in every day I could. If I didn’t make a practice, I’d make it up,” he said.

Mix said, “Elliott has been working hard for a very, very long time. He’s willing to work on skills long-term. He’s been working on his underwater kickout ... He worked on it every single day.

Someone willing to work on a skill that will make him faster for that long ... it’ll pay off.”

It did so at the final day of the state championships at the King County

Aquatic Center in Federal Way, where Hofferth notched a time of 1 minute, 58.08 seconds, in the individual medley to tie James Buchanan of Lynnwood for the state title. Hofferth won the 100 butterfly in 51.96.

He also teamed up with Brett Johnson, Michael Laws and Nathan Mathes to win the 400 freestyle relay in 3:16.65.

Hofferth is the first Skagit County swimmer to win two individual titles in a state meet since Burlington-Edison’s Ryley Pearson in 2009.

And having had a hand in 400 freestyle relay titles in 2014 and 2015, he finishes his high school career with five titles.

Hofferth said last year’s trip to the state championship meet taught him the right approach to take this year. “(This year was about) knowing when to have fun and when to be serious,” he said. “There can be a lot of pressure, a lot of nerves. But my attitude was, ‘Oh, I’m just going out for a swim.’ It let me relax.”

Mix said Hofferth’s approach helped the entire team.

“He’s vocal about what’s coming up, and what we need to do as a team — how everyone can contribute to the goal,” she said. “He’s vocal about how he wants us to be the best, and how everyone needs to be supportive, so no one’s out there doing it on his own.”

ELLIOTT HOFFERTH

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

Two individual state titles result of hard work

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2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

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Skagit Valley Herald

winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

BRENDA REYNA

Junior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

girls’ WRESTLER of the Year

Steady did it for the Bulldogs’ state champ

By VINCE RICHARDSON For Mount Vernon wrestler Brenda Reyna, it’s been a steady climb to the top of the podium at Mat Classic.

The junior claimed the state title at 115 pounds this year after finishing second last year and fourth as a freshman.

And for her climb to the top of state high school wrestling, Reyna is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Wrestler of the Year for the second time.

“It felt good to be standing at the top (of the podium),” Reyna said. “The last two years, I was looking up.”

So, just how long did Reyna bask in her state championship before returning to the mat?

About a day.

“I took the day after the championship off,” she said. “That was it. I am always on the go and I always want to be on the mat. I wrestle year-round. In two weeks, I’ll be heading to nationals.”

It’s that mentality that led Reyna to not only a state title, but to a season in which she lost only one match and did not allow an offensive point at the state tournament.

“I wasn’t nervous at all at the tournament,” she said. “That final was just another match. Honestly, it wasn’t that competitive. I wanted to finish first. I’d finished fourth and second.”

Her lone loss of the season, which came at the hands of Mount Baker’s Natalie Smith, taught Reyna plenty.

“I never got a chance to wrestle,” she

said. “She just came out so fast and I wasn’t expecting that. I learned from that. From now on, I will always be prepared, ready to go as soon as I step on the mat.”

Reyna said she prepared hard for this season, both mentally and physically.

“I was more mentally prepared for this season,” she said. “I was much more confident this year. The more I won, the more confident I was. I wasn’t very confident last year.”

Reyna said she wrestles better on her feet, which isn’t surprising for someone who has a black belt in karate.

“I stay pretty fit,” she said. “I did karate for six or seven years. You do a lot of sparring. I think that is why I like wrestling so much. That is now my focus.”

Reyna will continue to train in preparation for her title defense next season.

“I will work to improve my technique,” she said. “I will keep working hard. That is the way I like it. I want to train a lot. In May, I’ll go to Texas for World Team tryouts. I finished third there last year. I think I can win this year.”

Reyna gives credit to coach Andy Cook, saying he helped her improve that technique.

“He really believed in me,” she said. “And he told me to believe in my myself.”

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Tuesday, June 14, 2016 15

Skagit Valley Herald

winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

TY PETH

Junior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ WrESTLER of the Year

Peth turned his attention to himself this season

By TREVOR PYLE Burlington-Edison wrestler Ty Peth headed into a buzzsaw of a bracket at Mat Classic.

Though the junior was facing a field of wrestlers with state tournament experience, he wasn’t concerned with them. He was concerned only with himself.

“This year I took the position that I didn’t care who I wrestled. I was just going to wrestle the way I wrestled,” he said. “Coach (Kirk) Hamilton calls it my ‘happy place.’”

It turned out to be very happy indeed.

Peth rolled through the bracket on his way to a state Class 2A title at 120 pounds. For that finish, he’s the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Wrestler of the Year.

Peth’s final day of Mat Classic was a memorable one. In the semifinals, he edged Clarkston’s Spencer Clegg 4-2. In the finals, he got a 12-0 major decision against Toppenish’s Diego Nunez.

The year before, Clegg had won the state title at 113 pounds, and Nunez had placed third in the Class 4A meet while wrestling for Davis.

Asked which match was better from a technical standpoint, Peth couldn’t decide.

“The finals were good because I shut him out,” he said. “The semis were good because I wrestled smart.”

While last year was also a good one

for Peth — he finished second at Mat Classic — his mental approach was even sharper this year.

“There was a level of confidence with him that had increased,” Hamilton said.

“When he knew he was going to beat someone, no one could touch him.”

Peth said he learned a lot through hours of practice. He trains in Lake Stevens in the offseason in addition to the work he puts in at the Tigers’ mat room.

But it helped to have great teammates and coaches, too. The Tigers had a competitive team all around, including freshman Isaac Lopez, who finished second at state in the 106-pound weight class.

“I just worked hard in the mat room and listened to my coaches. I absorbed energy from everyone around,” he said.

“We had a better team this year, so it wasn’t just everyone cheering for me. I was there cheering for others, too.”

Peth’s title was the first for a Burlington-Edison boys’ wrestler since Andy Cook won in 1996.

Congratulations Ty Peth Boys Wrestler of the year!

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16 Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Skagit Valley Herald

winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

In a season that saw the BurlingtonEdison girls’ basketball team beguiled by injuries, Edie Breckenridge was a constant for the Tigers, on and off the court.

While three of the team’s players suffered season-ending injuries, Breckenridge stayed steady, holding down a role as a scoring threat during games and a quiet example for teammates during practices.

For her efforts, Breckenridge is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year.

The 5-foot-3 senior guard led Skagit County in scoring at 19.7 points per game, giving the Tigers a solid one-two punch as backcourt partner Tyra Lopez averaged 13.9 points a game.

Breckenridge was also a reliable presence for a team that suffered ups and downs throughout the season, including being ranked No. 1 among Class 2A teams in the state and an early exit from the Northwest 2A District Tournament.

The Northwest Conference selected her as its most valuable player.

“I knew it would be my last year, and I wanted to make the most of it,” Breckenridge said.

One of the most difficult developments for the Tigers was the loss of Carly Watson, a steady and energetic forward who suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Watson and Breckenridge first played basketball together on a second-grade

YMCA team. With Watson sidelined, Breckenridge had to step up to fill the void.

“I knew I’d have to take over some of the scoring she’d be doing,” Breckenridge said.

She found herself both shooting from the outside and plunging ahead into the paint.

“Coaches always told me not to go into the trees, not to go among the tall players,” Breckenridge said. “When I did go into the trees, I made sure it was worth it.”

Breckenridge scored 1,035 points over her varsity career, putting her No. 19 on Skagit County’s all-time scoring list.

This season, she scored in double digits in 22 of the Tigers’ 23 games, including twice breaking the 30-point mark.

Burlington-Edison coach Bruce Shearer said Breckenridge’s contributions weren’t confined to just scoring.

Her work ethic served as an example to others, especially the younger players.

“Allyson (Ray) was the up-andcoming point guard, and Edie was able to help her. (Edie) respects other people who work hard. She’d get the ball to girls if they worked for it,” he said.

Breckenridge worked hard as well, he said, and that showed throughout the year. “If we had open gym, she was always there. If we had spring ball, we could count on her. If we had practice in fall or spring, she was always there,” Shearer said. “She deserves everything she got this year.”

EDIE BRECKENRIDGE

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

Senior was much more than just a scorer for B-E

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYER of the Year

Congratulations to all Skagit County

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Tuesday, June 14, 2016 17

Skagit Valley Herald

winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

David Rodriguez was given a larger role this season on the Anacortes boys’ basketball team.

And he made the most of the opportunity.

“It was exciting,” Rodriguez said.

“Last year, I didn’t play as big a part on the team as I did this year. Last season, we had four really good guards who could drive and shoot, so I played mostly inside.

“This year, I had a bigger role. I was able to step outside and expand my game.”

The efforts of the 6-foot-4, 185pound senior did not go unnoticed as he averaged 11.8 points and about eight rebounds a game.

Today, he is named the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year.

“When we were playing our best, David was always playing at his best,” Anacortes coach Brett Senff said. “Our team went where he went. He was a big factor in our success.”

Senff said Rodriguez’s work ethic was impressive.

“In the nine years I’ve been coaching here, he is the hardest working rebounder I’ve had,” Senff said.

Rodriguez’s role changed in another way this season.

As one of only three seniors on the team, Rodriguez was asked by Senff to lead.

“I asked him to be that leader, and he went out on the floor and did that,” Senff said. “He did a great job for us in that respect. He did everything I asked him to do this season. He’s an awesome kid from a good family who is always respectful.”

Rodriguez said he simply tried to lead by example.

“I wasn’t much of a vocal leader,” he said. “I wanted to lead by working hard on defense and rebounding while improving my skills on offense.”

Skills such as finishing around the basket and stepping out for jump shots.

In some instances, that meant shooting from beyond the 3-point arc.

“I worked a lot on my shooting and on high-post stuff,” Rodriguez said.

“That part of my game really improved.

My post game really developed. That and my rebounding.

“I made some 3s. It was important for me to expand my basketball inventory.”

He said the season was fun, with the team coming together to play well.

“It was a great year,” he said. “This team worked hard.”

Rodriguez plans on taking his 3.98 grade-point average to Gonzaga University or Santa Clara University in California. He plans to study engineering.

“I plan on playing basketball,” he said. “Not for the school’s (men’s team), but in a competitive league of some sort.”

DAVID RODRIGUEZ

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

Seahawk proved he was ready for bigger role

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

boys’ BASKETBALL PLAYER of the Year

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Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

KASSIDEE BEUSE

Junior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ TENNIS PLAYER of the Year

State finale validated S-W junior’s improvement

By TREVOR PYLE Kassidee Beuse’s experience at the Class 2A state girls’ tennis tournament was similar to last year’s.

But it wasn’t exactly the same, and that left the Sedro-Woolley junior pleased after her final match ended.

Just like last year, Beuse finished fifth in the singles tournament. But this year she clinched that finish with a 6-0, 6-1 win against Bremerton’s Sarah Casias, an opponent who had handed Beuse a loss in the first round of last year’s state tournament.

To Beuse, it was a sign that the hard work she’d put in to improve after her sophomore season had paid off.

“Playing her and beating her shows how much better I’ve gotten,” Beuse said. “Beating her was a big thing for me.”

For Beuse’s fifth-place finish — and for her improvement — she’s the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Tennis Player of the Year. It’s the third year she’s been selected.

Beuse said she worked on her net game, including volleys and overheads, as part of her strategy to get better.

After a solid regular season, she won her first two matches at the Northwest 2A District Tournament, winning her first-round match 6-4, 6-2, and her second-round match 6-0, 6-0.

She lost to Squalicum’s Catherine Michelutti — who would go on to take second place at state — 6-0, 6-1 in the

district championship match to claim second place and a berth to the state tournament. She was the only Skagit County girls’ tennis player to advance to a state tournament.

Beuse lost her first-round state tournament match to Luciano Sobrino of Liberty (Issaquah) 7-6, 6-4 at the Nordstrom Tennis Center at the University of Washington.

After that, she responded with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Teighan Moore of Ephrata. Things got only a little tighter with her next match, a 6-3, 6-1 win over Cheney’s Bridget Calvary.

Finally, Beuse downed Casias in the match with fifth place on the line, 6-0, 6-1.

“I’ve grown as a player and learned different things, like styles of how to attack other people,” she said. “I went out there with the right mindset ... Instead of just trying to get the ball back, I was aggressive. The other matches, I was holding back. But in this match I went for it.”

Congratulations Kassidee and Skagit County Athletes. Go CUBS! Brock D. Stiles

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Tuesday, June 14, 2016 19

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

SARA ABSTEN

Sophomore, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE of the Year

Finely tuned balancing act keyed Tiger’s season

By TREVOR PYLE Injuries could have hampered Sara Absten’s track and field season.

Instead, the Burlington-Edison sophomore’s season proved to be historic.

Absten juggled training and injury management on her way to broken records, top performances and, in the end, a state title in the Class 2A girls’ high jump.

For those accomplishments, Absten is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

Burlington-Edison coach Kevin Gudgel said the Tigers were careful not to overwork Absten, who fought nagging injuries throughout the season.

“It was a fine line between keeping her fit, keeping her healthy and keeping her finely tuned,” Gudgel said. “She did a great job of going where she needed to be. When she needed to ice she did, and when she needed to practice she did. She’s a gamer, a competitor. We knew she had it in her. (After that) it was a matter of staying healthy enough to the end of the season, to perform at the right time. And she did.”

Gudgel wasn’t exaggerating.

Absten set a Skagit County meet, Kirkby Field and school record in the high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 7 inches. She was the Northwest Conference champion in that event, setting a record at 5-6. And she had the No. 3 long jump in school history and No. 4 hurdle time in school history.

And all that was before the Class 2A track and field championships at Mount Tahoma High School.

Once there, Absten won the high jump title with a height of 5-4.

She said she got a boost when competitor Wurrie Njadoe was unable to clear an early height and exited early.

“As a competitor, I got excited,” Absten said.

Absten also proved tough in the finals of the 100-meter hurdles, finishing second in 15.48 seconds. She had the fifth-fastest time in prelims.

“I was shocked to get second,” Absten said. “But it hadn’t been my best time in the prelims. I almost fell over the fourth hurdle.”

Absten said she was pleased to be part of an exciting year for the Tigers, with teammate Jaden Shadle winning the state girls’ discus throw and the Tigers narrowly getting beat by Shorecrest in the 2A team competition.

The Tigers scored more team points than in any previous year.

“We all had stellar performances,” Absten said.

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20 Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

A year ago, Sedro-Woolley’s Billy Hornbeck qualified for the Class 2A state track and field meet as a member of two relay teams.

He had hoped to make it through in the 300-meter hurdles, but came up short when he fell in the district finals.

Hornbeck was determined not to let that happen again.

This season, the senior qualified in a pair of individual events — the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles — and wound up second in the 300 and eighth in the 110.

For his efforts, Hornbeck is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

“This was all about focus and finish,” Hornbeck said. “And it paid off. My season went really well.”

Sedro-Woolley track and field coach Bill Cornelius said the key to Hornbeck’s season was consistency.

“His times were consistent all season,” Cornelius said. “He has a good combination of speed and strength.

That’s what makes him a good hurdler.”

To help him reach the state meet, Hornbeck enlisted the help of hurdles coach Tami Straub, former Sedro-Woolley track and field coach Dave Salkeld and sprints coach Brenna Zavala.

“Tami was a hurdler, and she was like a personal instructor,” Hornbeck said. “I called Dave my hurdle dad. He has really helped me out. Then there’s

Zavala, our sprint coach. She’s a workhorse, particularly with our Monday workouts.”

While he did well in the 110 hurdles, Hornbeck said he was psyched going into the 300 hurdles.

“I really enjoy that race,” Hornbeck said. “Everyone always says it’s the worst race in high school track. It’s my favorite.”

In the 300 hurdles, a balance between speed and endurance must be reached.

It’s a fine line, one that Hornbeck has managed to find.

“I hear the gun and I just take off on a sprint,” Hornbeck said. “Eleven steps to that first hurdle and then eight for the rest. It’s a full sprint for the first 100, then I stride it out, running at about 95 percent. Once I hit the corner, I pick up my knees, turn it on and finish strong.”

Hornbeck broke a 9-year-old school record in the 300 hurdles.

The record had been 39.7 seconds, but he broke it at 39.62 then broke it again at 39.25.

Breaking the school record was a goal Hornbeck set as a sophomore.

That season came after a freshman year cut short when he tore a ligament in his knee.

“It felt good,” he said of breaking the record.

Next year, Hornbeck will run the 400 hurdles and 110 hurdles at Central Washington University while studying for a degree in criminal justice.

BILLY HORNBECK

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Year after falling short, senior strong at state

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE of the Year

CONGRATULATIONS! HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES

“We Get You Ready to Play”

Tuesday, June 14, 2016 21

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

After a half-decade away from golf, it wasn’t surprising that Sedro-Woolley’s Kate Morgan started slow when she took up the game again this season.

What was surprising? How fast her game sped up from there.

Morgan, who hadn’t played since her early teens, went from a round of 114 in her first Northwest Conference tournament to an 86 in her final one — and later had a solid two days at the Class 2A state tournament.

For that improvement, Morgan has been selected the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Golfer of the Year.

Morgan’s grandfather, Jim Whitworth, introduced her to the sport, and they played together at Avalon Golf Links. When Whitworth died, Morgan took up other sports, including softball.

This year, she decided to try golf again.

“I remembered that I loved it,” Morgan said. “It’s super fun to play but it pushes you, challenges you.”

Taking up a sport after a layoff is hard enough. Doing it in the competitive Northwest Conference makes it that much tougher.

“The beginning was rough,” Morgan said.

Cubs coach Doug Preston said, “She started off slow because she hadn’t been through these game-experience types of challenges. But you saw the potential she had.”

KATE MORGAN

By TREVOR PYLE

Junior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Return to golf resulted in a trip to state tourney Once Morgan realized the level of talent she’d be playing with and against, she knew she’d have to work harder.

“I knew I had to step up and focus more,” she said.

She did.

Morgan’s scores in conference matches are telling. In her first, she shot a 114. In her second and third, she shot 106. After a couple of matches in the 90s, she shot an 86 in the final conference match, just one stroke behind medalist Jade Ming of Lynden.

“She just got better and better and better,” Preston said.

Morgan qualified for the state tournament at Columbia Point Golf Course in Richland, and was consistent there, shooting 96 in the first round and 94 in the second. She tied for 29th place.

“I liked the whole atmosphere,” Morgan said. “It’s kind of intimidating at first, but then you realize you’re good enough. I could have played better, but I played decent for my first time at the course.”

It was her first time at state, but may not be her last. Morgan said she will definitely golf next year, too.

As Preston said of what Morgan is capable: “She just needs to work on her short game, and she’ll be great. ... Next year, who knows?”

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22 Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

CONNOR ATKINSON

Junior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ GOLFER of the Year

Congratulations Connor Atkinson Boys Golfer of the year!

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By VINCE RICHARDSON Burlington-Edison golfer Conner Atkinson has made a steady climb up the leaderboard at the Class 2A state boys’ tournament.

This year, the junior finished third at the tournament at Horn Rapids Golf & Country Club in Richland. He was sixth as a sophomore and ninth as a freshman.

For his outstanding efforts, Atkinson is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Golfer of the Year for the third consecutive year.

“I am happy with the way the season ended,” he said. “I was playing better golf at the end. State was a lot of fun and I am pleased with finishing third. It was nice having our whole team there.”

Besides two practice rounds, Atkinson had never played Horn River going into the state tournament. Still, he said he was confident and comfortable.

“I really liked the way the out-ofbounds areas were like sand,” he said.

“It you happened to hit one out, it gave you an opportunity to recover.”

What Atkinson didn’t necessarily enjoy was the wind that kept the pin flags flapping.

“The wind made it tougher,” he said.

“Wind makes everything tougher when you are playing golf. You can’t be afraid to hit the ball. If it’s 100 yards to the hole, and the wind is blowing, you have to play it like it’s 130 yards.”

Burlington-Edison coach Charlie

Herzberg said it was difficult to tell exactly how Atkinson was playing at the state tournament because his demeanor never changed.

So, what does Atkinson think of his run of state tournament finishes? If he continues to move up the leaderboard as he has the past two seasons, he could be a state champion.

“It’s kind of a running joke,” he said.

“It shows that I am improving each year, but whatever happens will happen.”

That “whatever happens will happen” shows a change in approach for Atkinson, who said golf wasn’t as much a priority this season as it had been in the past.

“There just wasn’t as much pressure,” he said. “I was focused more on studying and hanging out with my friends.

I really was able to relax more when I was on the course. Golf is hard because a lot of my friends don’t golf, so it’s not as fun.”

Herzberg said time away from the course may have helped Atkinson.

“It was good for him,” Herzberg said. “His first score of the season, it was probably the worst round he’d shot since the fourth grade. But the cool part of the story is Conner didn’t let it bother him.

“He has one of the best swings around and has the foundations in place to be a great golfer.”

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Tuesday, June 14, 2016 23

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

MILAN KASSA

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

boys’ SOCCER PLAYER of the Year

Senior had a knack for scoring the big goals

By TREVOR PYLE Milan Kassa scored so many goahead and game-winning goals for the Anacortes boys’ soccer team this season that coach Darren Bell took to joking, “Guess who had the (gamewinning) goal tonight?”

The answer was usually “Milan Kassa,” whose combination of explosiveness and consistency helped the Seahawks go farther in the postseason than any Anacortes boys’ soccer team before them.

For that, Kassa has been selected the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year.

Kassa was the most potent scorer in Skagit County this spring, notching 18 goals.

He was named to the all-Northwest Conference first team, and helped the Seahawks to the Class 2A state quarterfinals, the longest postseason run in the program’s history.

“It definitely was a special year,” Kassa said. “Going to state three years in a row and getting past the first round — those were special.”

Kassa was quick to deflect credit from himself.

“Our defense came together to be the best back line in the league,” he said. “Every player on the bench was competing in every practice. They made everyone play better. And Zack Bowman blossomed into an outstanding keeper. He had a lot of clean sheets.”

Bell said Kassa, too, was a big part of

the success of this year’s squad.

“He had that certain something about him. You could tell before the game when he was going to turn it on,” Bell said. “When we played Ferndale and he scored in the last minute ... I knew it. I knew he had something special for that game. Before the game he was incredibly focused. You could just see it in his eyes.”

Kassa’s season started relatively slow as he had only four goals through the Seahawks’ first nine matches.

But then he got hot.

He scored three times against Meridian, sparking a streak in which he scored 14 times over the team’s final 13 matches.

Kassa was the undisputed offensive leader of a defense-oriented Seahawks squad.

While he had 18 goals, the rest of the team scored a combined 16.

Kassa said a change in his role challenged him this season.

“This year, we played more of a oneman forward. There was a lot of pressure, but I think I do better under pressure,” he said. “If the right opportunity is sent my way, I’ll finish it.”

Kassa has been good at finishing scoring opportunities for the Seahawks.

He scored 60 goals in four varsity seasons, and led the team or shared the lead in goals each year.

Next up, Kassa will attend the University of Washington. He hopes to walk on to the men’s soccer team.

Congratulations to all the athletes!

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24 Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Paityn Cyr had an excellent 2016 softball season. So did her Mount Vernon team.

That was no coincidence.

Cyr was spectacular pitching and at the plate to help the Bulldogs to an appearance in the Northwest 4A District Tournament.

For her season of fueling her team’s offense and dampening her opponents’, Cyr is the Skagit Valley Herald Softball Player of the Year.

At the plate, Cyr hit .361 with 23 RBI and 15 runs scored. She tied Concrete’s Chloe Stidman for the Skagit County lead in home runs with seven.

As a pitcher, she won 13 games (tied for the county lead) and struck out 169 (No. 1 in the county). She also had the lowest earned-run average in the county (2.31).

Cyr landed on the All-Western 4A Conference first team.

“She was extremely important,” Bulldogs coach Jay Silver said. “She pitched every game and was a big hitter for us.

She scored a lot of runs and was excellent pitching. She gave us a chance in all the games we were in.”

While Cyr was a big part of the Bulldogs’ success, she was quick to spread the credit around.

“We all bonded this year,” she said.

“There were no cliques or drama. We played for each other, not ourselves.”

She said the Bulldogs weren’t sur-

PAITYN CYR

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

Bulldog starred at the plate and as pitcher prised to be competitive this year.

“Coming off last season, we knew who was coming back and who was coming in,” she said. “Some of the (new) girls coming in helped build us up.”

She said much of her success pitching came from her team’s strong defense.

“Having a good defense behind me kept me calm and made me realize I didn’t have to strike everyone out,” she said.

The Bulldogs made it to the district tournament, where they went 1-2. Cyr helped them in their lone win, a 2-1 thriller over Lake Stevens.

Cyr’s career with the Bulldogs may be over, but she’ll continue playing softball. She is headed to Western Washington University to pitch for the Vikings.

She said playing in Bellingham was the perfect fit.

“I didn’t want to go too far,” she said.

“I traveled with my summer team, and it didn’t feel right. I want my family to be able to come watch me play.”

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

SOFTBALL PLAYER of the Year

CONGRATULATIONS PAITYN CYR! You are on the road to success!

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Tuesday, June 14, 2016 25

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

La Conner’s Max Miller was a force whether he was on the mound, in the batter’s box or in the field for his baseball team.

Miller had a pitching record of 8-1.

He allowed 31 hits, 32 walks and had 100 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings. His earned-run average was 1.05 Batting in the cleanup spot, Miller had a .441 average and .571 on-base percentage. In 59 plate appearances, he struck out five times and had 30 RBI. For his efforts, Miller is the Skagit Valley Herald Baseball Player of the Year.

“I am really happy with the season we had as a team,” Miller said. “Of course, we wanted to make the final four (in the state tournament), but we still had a good season.”

The Braves’ season ended in the regional round of the Class 2B state tournament. They went 14-7.

La Conner coach Jeremiah LeSourd said Miller was a huge reason for the Braves’ success.

“I really can’t say enough about the season Max had,” LeSourd said. “He was the heart and soul of this team. We really leaned on Max.” Miller skipped his senior basketball season to concentrate on baseball.

He said he missed playing basketball, but that baseball is his favorite sport.

“I worked out a lot,” Miller said.

“And I was able to throw. By the time

the season arrived, I really felt much more prepared.”

He worked on his pitching with former La Conner baseball standout Tyler Howlett, who went on to pitch at Skagit Valley College.

“He (Howlett) really helped me to stay focused,” Miller said. “We worked on minor details that really helped with my command.”

Miller improved command of his two-seam fastball, curveball and change-up. He said he could throw his fastball and curveball for strikes at will, while the change-up was mixed in to keep batters off balance.

Miller also had a good catcher.

“And having James (Hulbert) behind the plate, he was a fantastic catcher and was great at framing pitches. Then with the players we had in the infield, any ground balls were going to be an out.

So it was easy to get in a groove and go.”

Miller spent hours in his backyard honing his hitting skills.

“I just worked off a tee,” he said.

“Nothing fancy. It was about working on the fundamentals of a good, clean swing.”

When he wasn’t pitching, Miller played shortstop and first base. He said his play at shortstop got better as the season went on.

Miller isn’t sure where he’s going to wind up next year. He said there’s a good chance he could end up playing at Skagit Valley College.

Congratulations Sports Stars athletes, parents and coaches!

MAX MILLER

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, LA CONNER HIGH SCHOOL

He was ‘heart and soul’ of state-qualifying team

2015-16 Skagit Valley Herald

BASEBALL PLAYER of the Year

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26 Tuesday, June 14, 2016

PAST GIRLS’ ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Skagit Valley Herald

2016 girls’ athlete of the year finalists

PAST BOYS’ ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

2015

1999

2015

1999

LA CONNER

Mount Vernon

ANACORTES

Anacortes

Emma Christianson 2014

Alyssa Evans MOUNT VERNON

2013

Mariah Swanson Burlington-Edison

2012

Katlyn Mataya

Burlington-Edison

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

2002

Sarah Hyatt

Sedro-Woolley

2001

Sarah Hyatt

Sedro-Woolley

2000

Hanni Wenzel Stanwood

Ty Johnson

Kerie Hughes 1998

2014

Kerie Hughes

Andrew Medalia

Mount Vernon

ANACORTES

1997

2013

Rien Long 1998

Jesse Howell Concrete

1997

Reed Bumgarner

Cherae Walker

Jeff Bajema

Stanwood

Burlington-Edison

Stanwood

1996

2012

1996

Shelley Olson

Aaron Stroosma

Mount Vernon

Sedro-Woolley

1995

2011

Maria Manley

Jackson Kirkpatrick

Stanwood

Anacortes

1994

Kim Brydges Mount Vernon

1993

Kim Brydges Mount Vernon

2010

ALANA HANDY

Burlington-Edison

EMMA CARLTON

Mount Vernon

EDIE BRECKENRIDGE

VOLLEYBALL track and field

Swimming

SOCCER BASKETBALL

Mount Vernon

1991

Erica Schwab

La Conner

Burlington-Edison

1992

Kim Kettel

Kyle McKnight

2016 BOYs’ athlete of the year finalists

Anacortes

2009

Derek Garcia

1994

Ryan Wade

Sedro-Woolley

1993

Cameron Cleeland Burlington-Edison

Jake Anderson

Burlington-Edison

2007

Josh Freeman

Burlington-Edison

1989

Anacortes

2008

Kevin Arendse

Anacortes

1995

Rick Guttormson

Sedro-Woolley

2006

Bethany Britton

Burlington-Edison

Sedro-Woolley

Anacortes

1990

Andy Cook

2005

Jesus Fuentes 1992

Mark Hendrickson Mount Vernon

1991

Mark Hendrickson Mount Vernon

1990

Brendan Bisbey

Tricia Lake

Tygue Howland

Sedro-Woolley

Oak Harbor

Sedro-Woolley

1988

2004

Greg Saunders

1989

Indira Rouw

Peter Janicki

Burlington-Edison

Mount Vernon Christian

Sedro-Woolley

1987

2003

Matt Strieby

Julie Banta

Kyle Kendrick

1986

2002

Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon

Cathy Shanander

Kyle Kendrick

1985

Garrett Parks

Mount Vernon

Sedro-Woolley

Karen Church Stanwood

2001

BILLY HORNBECK

DAVID RODRIGUEZ

DYLAN HOLLAND

FOOTBALL WRESTLING track AND FIELD

BASKETBALL SOCCER

CROSS COUNTRY TRACK AND FIELD

Sedro-Woolley

Anacortes

Anacortes

Stanwood

2000

Graham Grindy Concrete

1988

Stanwood

1987

Todd Anderson

Burlington-Edison

1986

Don Beazizo Concrete

1985

Tim Esary

Mount Vernon

Puget Sound Refinery

O

ur employees do more than just make gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. They coach and umpire youth sports, they support community art and dance, they volunteer in our schools and much more.

Proudly fueling life in the Pacific Northwest

T

he Shell Puget Sound Refinery proudly fuels life in the Pacific Northwest. Roughly 470 Shell employees work at our refinery, producing fuel products that support a high quality of life for our employees, customers, and community.

W O

n behalf of Shell Puget Sound Refinery, we would like to congratulate all Sports Stars of Skagit County!

hether through creating the critical fuel products that people depend on, the hundreds of family-wage jobs that help drive our local economy, the respectful stewardship of the environment we all enjoy, or by supporting and engaging with the community we love, we are honored to be your neighbor, and to call Skagit County our home. www.shell.us/pugetsoundrefinery twitter.com/Shell_Anacortes facebook.com/pugetsoundrefinery