Sports Stars 2022

2022

W E D N E S D A Y, J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 2

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SKAGIT VALLEY HERALD

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ANACORTES AMERICAN

2 Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Skagit Valley Herald / Anacortes American

THE LINEUP FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

3 4 5

JESSICA FRYDENLUND, Anacortes

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MATTHEW RUTZ, Anacortes

Girls’ Cross Country

DEVIN VAN ZANTEN, Mount Vernon Chr. Boys’ Cross Country

LINDSAY BROWN, Anacortes Girls’ Swimming

Boys’ Tennis

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EMMA SMITH, Burlington-Edison Girls’ Soccer

ELLIE MARBLE, La Conner Volleyball

CONNOR DAVIS, Sedro-Woolley Football, Defense

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ZACH WATSON, Burlington-Edison

14 15

SARAH COOK, La Conner

20 21 22 23

OWEN HEINZE, Mount Vernon Christian

Football, Offense

WINTER ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

11 12 13

RYAN HORR, Anacortes Boys’ Swimming

DELANEY COBBS, La Conner Girls’ Wrestling

Girls’ Basketball

CHRIS LOPEZ, Burlington-Edison Boys’ Wrestling

QUINN SWANSON, Mount Vernon Boys’ Basketball

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

16 17 18 19

Skagit Valley Herald Publisher Heather Hernandez

EMMA WORGUM, La Conner Girls’ Golf

PAYSON ATKINSON, Burlington-Edison Boys’ Golf

KENDYL FLYNN & ERIN KENNEDY, Anacortes Girls’ Tennis

HEATHER VANDERBEEK, Sedro-Woolley Girls’ Track and Field

Assignment Editor Dan Ruthemeyer

Contributing Writers Vince Richardson Dan Ruthemeyer Craig Parrish

Advertising Director Duby Petit

Photographers Oliver Hamlin Dan Ruthemeyer

Design Greg Fiscus

SKAGIT PUBLISHING

Boys’ Track and Field

CHRISTOPHER SOTO, Mount Vernon Boys’ Soccer

KIAH TRAMMELL, Sedro-Woolley Softball

XAVIER NEYENS, Mount Vernon Baseball

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Wednesday, June 29, 2022 3

Skagit Valley Herald / Anacortes American

FALL / GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY: JESSICA FRYDENLUND, ANACORTES

For this Seahawk, her best meant a state title

By DAN RUTHEMEYER The day before the state high school cross country meet, Jessica Frydenlund wasn’t sure she could win a title.

She had gotten a glimpse of the runner she viewed as the favorite and felt intimidated by her size.

Frydenlund, an Anacortes High School junior, texted her mother about her doubts.

“All my mom said was, ‘Go out there and run the best race you can. And whatever happens, happens,’” Frydenlund said.

At race time, Frydenlund was at her best.

She took control of the race early and finished off her stiffest competition over the final 1,800 meters of the 5,000-meter race to win a state Class 2A title in 17 minutes, 58.70 seconds.

That included beating tall Ellensburg senior Kate Laurent, the top returning Class 2A finisher from the last time the state meet was held in 2019, and the runner Frydenlund saw as the favorite.

Frydenlund, who became the fifth Skagit County runner to win a state cross country title, is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Cross Country Runner of the Year.

“It feels pretty much amazing,” Frydenlund said of winning a state title.

“Going back a year ago, I never thought I could do this.”

As a freshman, Frydenlund finished 41st in the state meet — Laurent was fourth — then had trouble getting excited for a season last winter that was

abbreviated because of COVID-19.

“It was just the same people (as competition),” she said. “We knew what to

expect every meet so it wasn’t fun for us.”

The fun came back this season.

Frydenlund ran 11 races and won 10 of them.

All of her wins were by big margins, including the Skagit County Championships by 1 minute, 33 seconds, the Northwest Conference Championships by 53 seconds, the Northwest 2A District Championships by 1 minute, 4 seconds and the state meet by 20 seconds.

Of her 10 wins, Frydenlund’s closest race came in an Oct. 6 conference meet in which she finished 14 seconds ahead of Meridian’s Kayla Aalpoel.

“It’s a little bit challenging,” Frydenlund said of running out front. “Since you’re running by yourself, you don’t really know if you are going as fast as you can because no one is challenging you.”

At the state meet, Frydenlund led by 3 seconds at the 1-mile mark of the roughly 3-mile race and by 4 seconds at the 2-mile mark.

But she finished the final 1.1 miles in 6 minutes, 25 seconds — 16 seconds faster than the final 1.1 miles from runner-up Logan Hofstee of East Valley (Spokane).

Frydenlund’s only loss came Sept. 25 at the Nike Portland XC meet. There she ran in the heat of the Portland area in an elite field that included runners from California, Idaho, Oregon, Colorado and Washington.

Frydenlund went out too fast in the heat and placed 25th.

“At the start I was running at a fullout sprint,” she said. “I was tired at the first mile trying to keep up with them instead of staying back.”

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4 Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Skagit Valley Herald / Anacortes American

FALL / BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY: DEVIN VAN ZANTEN, MOUNT VERNON CHRISTIAN

From an uncertain summer to a stellar finish in fall

By CRAIG PARRISH Devin Van Zanten has had an impressive start to his senior year at Mount Vernon Christian School — to say the least.

Van Zanten finished fifth Nov. 6 in the Class 2B/1B State Cross Country Championships in Pasco, leading the Hurricanes to a sixth-place team finish.

For that, Van Zanten is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Cross Country Runner of the Year.

His season including finishing the 5,000-meter state meet course in 16 minutes, 58.90 seconds, and placing first in the Skagit County meet in 16:50.

Van Zanten’s strong state meet performance capped a season that started in the offseason with a degree of uncertainty and adversity, Van Zanten said.

At the beginning of the summer, Van Zanten’s father was diagnosed with a heart condition. Devin Van Zanten had to be tested to see if he had it as well.

While waiting on the results, Van Zanten had to stop training — something he’d never had to do before.

“I wasn’t allowed to train for running until about July,” Van Zanten said. “So I was starting from very little mileage.

From the middle of summer just to get fifth place at state — it was a long ways from the summer.”

The uncertainty he experienced while waiting for his test results was rough on Van Zanten.

“It was really hard,” he said. “When I got told I wasn’t allowed to run, at that point I was like I don’t even know if I’ll

get to compete, I don’t know if I’ll be allowed to run ever again.”

He was cleared to run just before July, and quickly got back to training.

“That day or the next day,” Van Zanten said with a chuckle.

His subsequent offseason work paid off.

Van Zanten said he approached the season — in addition to the state meet — with confidence and tenacity.

“During the season, I got into a good mindset. I know what I can do if I put my mind to it,” he said. “So really, state was ‘I’m going to stick with the top runners and push myself as hard as I can,’ and hopefully we could get as close to the top as we could.”

Van Zanten said he was unfamiliar with most of his state meet opponents, although he had raced against sixthplace finisher Trevor Dugo of Pope John Paul II the week before in a state qualifier.

Van Zanten also qualified for the state cross country meet as a sophomore, and no meet was held his junior season because of COVID-19.

Van Zanten will run distances for Mount Vernon Christian’s track and field team in the spring, then is planning on attending Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa, where he hopes to run cross country and track.

Van Zanten has ties to the school. His parents, a sister and a brother attended Dordt University.

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Skagit Valley Herald / Anacortes American

FALL / GIRLS’ SWIMMING: LINDSAY BROWN, ANACORTES

Junior’s times dropped at most opportune time state meet, it was in how fast she swam the relays.

She had her team’s fastest splits in the 200 and 400 freestyle relay events.

“I’m not usually a spring freestyler,” Brown said. “I wasn’t expecting that because everyone else in the relay is really fast.”

Brown has a theory as to why she was so fast in the relays.

“The energy for relays is very different than the energy for individual freestyle races,” she said. “I get more excited about them and tend to go faster.”

Next year, Brown would like to finish off her high school swim career with a state title or two.

It’s not a stretch, especially considering she’s a two-time state runner-up in the individual medley.

Then there is the breaststroke. Brown would like to get into the 1:06 or 1:05 range.

That would put her in Kaestner range — as in former Anacortes breaststroke swimmer Katie Kaestner, who won five state titles in individual events, including three in the breaststroke, and who in 2011 set the still-standing Class 2A state meet record of 1:04.28.

Brown, however, doesn’t want to get ahead of herself.

“I try to focus on my own times and not look at the records,” she said. “They really don’t help me much.”

By DAN RUTHEMEYER Through much of the high school girls’ swim season, Anacortes junior Lindsay Brown waited for her times to drop.

Whether they didn’t because of time lost to training because of the COVID19 pandemic, Brown doesn’t know.

“Nothing ever felt super off,” she said.

“I felt pretty normal, but my times were definitely slower.

Then her times took a dip.

Brown swam her best races when it counted most — at the Northwest 2A District and State 2A championships.

For a state meet that included a second-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley and a third-place finish in the 100 breaststroke, Brown is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Swimmer of the Year.

She also took the honor as a freshman in 2019. Athletes of the year were not named during the 2020-21 school year because of COVID-19 shortened seasons.

Despite a relatively slow start, Brown is happy with her season.

“I am,” she said. “Actually, it went better than I expected.”

Eleven days after posting an individual medley time of 2 minutes, 20.84 seconds in a dual meet against Squalicum, Brown went 2:11.71 in the district finals.

In the nine-team meet, Brown finished first in the individual medley, second in the breaststroke, and swam legs on two winning relay teams.

The next week at the state meet was

much of the season.

Brown was second in the individual medley, third in the breaststroke and swam legs of two second-place relay

teams.

She swam 2:13.46 in the individual medley and 1:07.76 in the breaststroke.

If there was a surprise to Brown’s

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Skagit Valley Herald / Anacortes American

FALL / BOYS’ TENNIS: MATTHEW RUTZ, ANACORTES

Confidence and aggression paved the way to state

By VINCE RICHARDSON Matthew Rutz played his way back from injury a season ago to qualify this fall for the Class 2A State Tennis Tournament.

For his efforts on area courts this season, the Anacortes High School junior is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Tennis Player of the Year.

Rutz finished the season 10-3 in singles, going 7-2 in the regular season and 3-1 on his way to a runner-up finish in the Northwest 2A District Tournament.

“I felt good at districts,” he said last fall. “I was confident and it’s great to be going to state and I’m fine waiting until spring. It will give me motivation for practicing. More push to keep playing and improving. I still have things to work on in my game.”

Such as his volley.

“Coming up to the net and putting away my volley, that’s what I want to see improve,” Rutz said.

He said his confidence on the court improved this season, adding that let him play a more aggressive style of tennis.

“I was able to control games more that I did before,” he said. “My freshman year, I won most of my games by just keeping the ball in and not making mistakes.

“This year, I really felt like I could hit any shot I wanted to and that let me control the match more. That made the game way more fun for me and it made this season possible.”

While Rutz admitted to being nervous

before every match, he said the nervousness melted once he hit that first ball.

Rutz describes himself as a solid baseline player who relies heavily on ground strokes.

“Ground strokes and playing smart, that was how I defeated my opponents,” he said.

“That and adapting to different players. I learned how to do that. It took me last year and this year, but it really helped me out. After the first or second game, you really get a feel for what your opponent wants to do. Good players will try and change that up on you.”

Rutz wanted to beat opponents to that punch, and by the time the second game came along he knew what his opponents liked to hit and what caused them problems.

“It was about making them feel uncomfortable,” he said. “I wanted them to have to play where they didn’t like to.

That was what I focused on. If they were a baseline player, I was bringing them to the net, for instance.”

At the state tournament in the spring, Rutz went 1-2 and did not place.

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Skagit Valley Herald / Anacortes American

FALL / GIRLS’ SOCCER: EMMA SMITH, BURLINGTON-EDISON

Tiger filled many roles: scorer, distributor and leader

By VINCE RICHARDSON Emma Smith did whatever was needed for the Burlington-Edison High School girls’ soccer team.

She could score goals, tally assists or do just about anything else.

“Emma is certainly one of the most committed and talented players to ever play at Burlington-Edison High School,” said Tigers coach Ryan Kuttel. “Everyone on the team would agree she is our best player. We could put her anywhere we needed and it made our team better.”

For her outstanding efforts, Smith is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year.

She led a Burlington-Edison team that finished 17-3-1 with 17 goals this season, but also finished her high school career with a school-record 41 assists.

Playing an unselfish style of soccer has been Smith’s trademark. She said while she looked to take more shots this season, she also kept an eye out for open teammates.

“It is all about connections with your teammates,” she said. “You have been playing with them for a long time and you know what runs they are going to make.”

As in previous years, Smith played where her coaches thought her skills would best serve the team. That meant moving from midfielder to forward.

“Our coaches knew going into this season that filling the forward position was going to be important with a couple of forwards having graduated,” she said.

“So they moved me and honestly, that is

And the goals followed.

Smith gave credit to teammate Liz Cisneros, who passed the ball to her on a consistent basis. Smith said, “She found me in the box a lot this season.”

Being more aggressive up front played a major part in Smith’s success as well.

“I learned you can’t be afraid to take the shots because you just never know,” Smith said. “I was more focused this season and more aggressive at forward.”

Then there was the leadership aspect of her game.

Kuttel describes Smith as a leader in every sense of the word.

It’s an area where Smith said she made the most improvement this season.

“Really, being able to step into that captain role and be a true leader for the underclassmen as well as the juniors was big,” she said. “I just wanted us to have a successful season.”

Smith is looking forward to continue playing soccer at Western Oregon University, taking her 3.87 GPA to Monmouth where she plans to possibly study physical education.

“I am so excited,” she said. “I visited the campus and got to play with the team this summer. I visited a couple other places, but for me Western Oregon was better than the other options. I love the area, I love the atmosphere and it’s close to home. I got a real positive vibe from the program.” the position I feel most comfortable in.”

The adjustment wasn’t too much for Smith, who also plays the center forward position on her Northwest United club

team.

“It worked really well for the team and we made it work as a team,” she said.

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Skagit Valley Herald / Anacortes American

FALL / VOLLEYBALL: ELLIE MARBLE, LA CONNER

A most dominant player for a most dominant team

By VINCE RICHARDSON Ellie Marble capped her junior volleyball season at La Conner High School with a second state title.

For her outstanding efforts on the court, Marble has been named Skagit Valley Herald Volleyball Player of the Year.

She adds the accolade to being named Northwest 2B/1B League MVP. “Honestly, I was just happy to have a real season after last year,” Marble said of a 2020-21 school year, in which no state championships were held. “This year got off to a rough start. We started, then we had a COVID outbreak and when we came back, we felt there were some missing pieces. We were still winning our games, but we just weren’t clicking. At state, we put it all together.”

And with Marble having another year of high school volleyball left, the wins will undoubtedly continue to mount.

“You can always improve your game,” she said. “You want to get better.”

Marble has a competitive fire that burns fast and hot, and ignites whenever she steps onto the court.

“To be honest, I hate to lose,” she said.

“I am just so competitive and it’s not always about the big hit. It’s just about getting the point any way you can, no matter what.”

That mentality of not wanting to lose has permeated the Braves’ program.

La Conner finished the season 22-0, garnering a third consecutive Class 2B state title. The Braves cruised through the state tournament bracket without

dropping a game.

For a bit of historical perspective, La Conner has won 72 consecutive matches.

It hasn’t lost since dropping the seventhplace match at the 2017 Class 2B State Tournament.

“It’s just really cool we’ve had this success,” Marble said. “But we weren’t thinking about it. Not until later.”

Besides the drive to win, Marble’s physical abilities on the court are impressive.

“For me, my game’s strength really changes day to day,” she said. “I feel I can always rely on my defense. Some days it’s my hitting and others it’s my jumping. But my hitting is what I would say is my strength.”

And Marble can bring it. When she elevates above the net, cocks her arm and unleashes, it’s a look-out-below moment for whoever is on the other side.

There are aspects of Marble’s game she wants to improve, such as her blocking.

“I’ve been playing volleyball for as long as I can remember,” she said. “My mom (Suzanne Marble) has been the (La Conner) coach forever.”

Ellie Marble was extremely pleased with being able to help send this year’s seniors off with a state title.

“I’m really proud of the fact our seniors got to win state,” she said.

“That they had that moment. I feel bad for last year’s seniors. They didn’t get that chance. I am so happy (this year’s seniors) got to end on a win they so deserved.”

At the same time, Ellie Marble enjoyed the success.

“This season was a lot of fun,” she said. “This team really meshed.”

w

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Skagit Valley Herald / Anacortes American

FALL / FOOTBALL, DEFENSE: CONNOR DAVIS, SEDRO-WOOLLEY

Middle linebacker had a knack for finding the ball man on offense because of his relentless style of running the ball right through a would-be tackler,” Ward said. “Rarely could one defensive player bring him down as his legs kept churning ... Connor played linebacker with that same attitude. He drove into every ballcarrier with the determination to drop the running back in his tracks.”

Davis became a defensive starter his sophomore year, and Ward said by the time he was a junior he was the Cubs’ best defensive player.

“He is the type of force that allowed us to build the defense around him,” Ward said. “ As a middle linebacker, he could run down the play in either direction.

“The opponents’ offense had a hard time blocking Connor because of his athleticism and his ability to quickly read his keys.”

Davis said, “I just wanted to be up in it. I liked the contact.”

Davis set the tone with his physical play, while at the same time providing his teammates with confidence through what Ward describes as a “calm leadership.”

“Connor’s toughness is the essence for any accomplished athlete, and the main ingredient for every successful team,” Ward said.

By VINCE RICHARDSON Connor Davis was impressive on both sides of the ball this season for the Sedro-Woolley High School football team.

But while the senior was a force as a running back — 1,003 yards rushing — it was when he lined up at middle linebacker that he really made an impact.

For those efforts, Davis is the Skagit Valley Herald Defensive Football Player of the Year.

“This season went pretty good,” Davis said. “For me, I didn’t think I would have the year I had. It surprised me.”

In nine games, Davis made 112 tackles, including 84 solo and nine for losses.

He also forced two fumbles, recovered a fumble, had one sack and one safety.

Davis was a terror from sideline to sideline and it didn’t matter whether the other team was running the ball or passing it because he had a knack for finding it.

“Flying to the hole and making the tackle,” Davis said of his strengths.

“Then having the rest of the team rally to the ball.”

That “flying to the hole and making the tackle” is where Davis said he made his most improvement.

“I was just able to get to the ball faster this year,” he said. “I was just faster.

Just practice hard, work hard and do your job.”

Davis said his team’s defensive line played a big part in his success.

“That was huge,” he said. “You couldn’t do anything back there (at line-

backer) without the defensive line. They played very well.”

Cubs coach Dave Ward said Davis first got his attention as a freshman playing on offense.

While Davis continued to be a force on offense throughout his high school career, it didn’t take long before he was starting on defense as well.

“We first noticed Connor as a fresh-

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Skagit Valley Herald / Anacortes American

FALL / FOOTBALL, OFFENSE: ZACH WATSON, BURLINGTON-EDISON

QB was equally adept at running and passing the ball

By VINCE RICHARDSON Zach Watson was a one-man wrecking crew for the Burlington-Edison High School football team.

While he excelled on both sides of the ball, it was his exploits at quarterback that have earned the senior Skagit Valley Herald Offensive Football Player of the Year honors.

“I thought we did really well this year as a team, considering everything,” Watson said. “We really improved and the program is heading in the right direction, and it was great to a part of that.”

Watson carried the ball 145 times, amassing 1,215 yards for an average of 8.4 yards per rush and 14 touchdowns.

Through the air, he was 70-for-138 for 1,085 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions.

Those numbers came in only eight games.

“I enjoy having the ball in my hands,” Watson said. “I want that pressure in those game situations, knowing you can change the game on a single play. I want that.”

He did just that both on the ground and through the air.

And Watson certainly didn’t shy away from contact.

“It was a lot of fun to run the ball,” he said. “I did it more this year than before.”

Watson is only the third Skagit County football player in at least the past 21 seasons to rush for 1,000 yards and throw for 1,000 in a season.

He joins Concrete’s Peyton Sanchez

(2019) and La Conner’s Sean Hulbert (2012).

Watson, who said he enjoys running and passing equally, started the season with a goal of passing for more than 1,000 yards.

“I really didn’t think much about

rushing until after a few games,” Watson said. “That’s when I saw I was on track to get over 1,000 for each. And I was just like, ‘OK, that’s pretty cool. I’ll take it.’”

Watson gives credit to his linemen.

“They did a great job,” he said. “They put in a lot of work in the offseason as

well. They really stepped up.”

Watson said he improved in a number of ways this season. The biggest was in his strength, which was a point of emphasis for the Tigers program.

“I spent a lot of time in the weight room,” Watson said. “That helped a lot, including with my quickness. Arm strength, that just comes with throwing the ball around more, which I did because I really wanted to improve on my accuracy.”

It showed as he completed 51% of his passes.

He also got more familiar with his receivers and their route-running capabilities. The group stayed after practice and even got together on weekends.

And Watson understood the game better this season.

“Each and every year it (the game) slows down,” he said. “This year, my senior year, it definitely was slower, and reading defenses was much easier this year.”

Watson wants to continue to play football at the next level. He said there has been interest from a couple colleges, but nothing is set.

“I would really like to continue to play quarterback,” he said. “But I’d be open to anything. Whatever the team needs. If that means defense, I’d be happy to play safety.”

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Skagit Valley Herald / Anacortes American

WINTER / BOYS’ SWIMMING: RYAN HORR, ANACORTES

Transition to distance freestyler produced state title

By DAN RUTHEMEYER Ryan Horr says he never saw himself as a distance freestyler.

As a youth swimmer and early in his high school career, the Anacortes senior felt he was best suited to the backstroke.

But when he was able to drop 19 seconds in his 500 freestyle time from the start of his sophomore season to the end, he had arrived as a distance freestyler.

“Now my training is almost exclusively the distance freestyle,” Horr said.

“I train in the backstroke, but it’s very much a secondary thing.”

Horr proved himself an elite distance freestyler this season when he won a Class 2A state title in the 500-yard event.

For his state title-winning season, he is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Swimmer of the Year.

As a sophomore, Horr started the season swimming the 500 in 5 minutes, 11 seconds. At the state meet, he swam 4:52 and placed fifth.

There was no state meet in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this year Horr swam 4:38.65 to win a title. He won by about 3 1/2 seconds.

“When I touched the wall, I felt excitement and also relief,” he said.

“There was the expectation I was going to win, and I didn’t want to let people down.”

Horr originally stayed away from the 500 because in meets it is swam near the backstroke. He thought that if swam the 500, he would be too tired to do well in the backstroke.

relay team.

Horr’s state meet performance helped Anacortes to its fourth state title — and first since 2018 when Horr was an eighth-grader.

Horr’s freshman and sophomore seasons ended in second-place team finishes.

“Definitely for me it was a motivator,” Horr said. “It stings being second place.”

Horr wasn’t sure the Seahawks had the firepower to win a state title this season.

But he said some younger swimmers performed better than what he expected, and by the end of the season the team was a state meet favorite.

In fact, in the days leading up to the state meet Horr went through the qualifiers and determined that if every swimmer in the meet swam their qualifying time, the Seahawks would win the title.

Coach Leslie Mix knew Horr was looking at the Seahawks’ chances, and she asked him to keep what he found to himself.

“She doesn’t like to jinx it,” Horr said.

“I think she thinks that if people come to expect to do well, that they back off.”

And Horr did as Mix asked.

“Out of fear of Miss Mix I didn’t tell anyone,” he said.

But when the realization came that he was improving faster in the 500 than in the backstroke, the change was made.

“I don’t miss it a whole lot,” Horr said. “The backstroke is a hard stroke. It hurts a lot.”

At the state meet, Horr also swam 1:44.89 to finish third in the 200 freestyle — the event he picked up to fill the place of the backstroke — and swam on Anacortes’ fifth-place 200 medley relay team and fourth-place 400 freestyle

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Skagit Valley Herald / Anacortes American

WINTER / GIRLS’ WRESTLING: DELANEY COBBS, LA CONNER

Second-place finish at state capped wrestling career

By VINCE RICHARDSON Though Delaney Cobbs is a senior at La Conner High School, she stood a single step below the top of the podium at Mat Classic wearing the blue and gold of Burlington-Edison.

For her 24-4 record and second-place finish at 190 pounds at the girls’ state wrestling championships, Cobbs is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Wrestler of the Year.

Because La Conner does not offer girls’ wrestling, Cobbs has wrestled for the Tigers since she was a freshman.

She started wrestling at the age of 5 and capped her final high school season by reaching her goal — to place at state.

As the season progressed, and the wins stacked up, Cobbs’ goal went from simply placing at state to wrestling in the finals.

“The last three years had been really hard because I hadn’t placed (at state) and I had been wrestling for so long,” Cobbs said. “So after last year, I really had a lot of hope for this year. I felt confident I would make it to the finals and I was able to. It was really good to be able to accomplish that my senior year.”

In that final match, Cobbs ran headlong into her nemesis, Alivia White of Marysville-Pilchuck.

Cobbs had tangled with White — and lost to her — in three tournament finals this season. Cobbs said the two had wrestled against each other since they were about 6.

“We’ve gone back and forth,” said Cobbs who suffered all four of her losses

this season at the hands of White. “This is the first year I wrestled her in high school.

“We wrestled against each other in Texas at the nationals. I’d say we’ve wrestled each other hundreds of times.

She has this ability to completely change her style when she wrestles me. I was

ready (at state), but I made one small mistake and she capitalized on it.”

Cobbs has no regrets about how she wrestled in the state tournament.

“Taking second, it was a huge accomplishment,” she said. “I wouldn’t change anything. I am so glad my last match was against her. We will always be rivals, and

the chance to finish by wrestling her was a memorable experience.”

From her junior to senior seasons, the biggest change Cobbs said she made involved her mindset. She tried to keep herself from being so singularly focused on winning.

The COVID-shortened season of 2021, in which no invitationals or postseason meets were held, was actually beneficial to Cobbs.

“Last year actually helped me even though it was a weird, six-match thing,” Cobbs said. “It really helped me because I didn’t have to focus on making it to state and winning all these tournaments.

I just got to wrestle and that helped me going into this year.”

And this year was about having fun on the mat.

“For me, all the hard work that led into this year was used,” Cobbs said. “All the time and effort went into this.”

Wrestling in the Tigers program for four years went smoothly for her. She said the team and coaches at BurlingtonEdison welcomed her from the start.

“It was great,” Cobbs said of the experience. “It was really a fantastic opportunity.”

A two-sport athlete, Cobbs also played soccer for La Conner.

Looming on the horizon is a freshman year at Washington State University where Cobbs — and her perfect 4.0 GPA — plans on studying to become a sports nutritionist.

“Wrestling, I’m done with it,” she said.

“I ended where I wanted it to end.”

Congratulations, Delaney, for being selected Girls Wrestler of the Year!

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Wednesday, June 29, 2022 13

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WINTER / BOYS’ BASKETBALL: QUINN SWANSON, MOUNT VERNON

Sophomore found his role as Dogs’ leading scorer

By VINCE RICHARDSON Quinn Swanson wasn’t sure what his role was going to be this season on the Mount Vernon High School boys’ basketball team.

As it turned out, the sophomore’s role was to lead as he finished the season as the top scorer in Skagit County, while also being instrumental in Mount Vernon’s push into the Class 3A district playoffs.

For his efforts on the hardwood, Swanson is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year.

“This is a great honor,” he said. “Honestly, I was just hoping to make varsity this year and maybe help the team.

“I was a little surprised on how well we did, but I knew we were a good team.

We really gelled.”

This season, Mount Vernon went 12-2 in the Northwest Conference and 14-7 overall. Its only two conference losses came to eventual Class 2A champion Lynden and eventual Class 1A champion Lynden Christian.

Swanson averaged 16.9 points per game and was named to the all-conference second team.

Not bad for a player who said he hoped to be able to score a few points this year, probably while coming off the bench.

“I am really happy I did so well,” Swanson said.

Mount Vernon coach Roger Valentine said Swanson did more for the Bulldogs than fill up the scorebook.

“We asked him many times to take on

son focuses.

“My defense really improved over last summer,” he said. “I was quicker this year and stronger.

“And I worked on my shot a lot. That has been a focus my entire career, to be a good shooter. The beginning of the season, I just kind of stayed outside and shot 3s because I was a little timid.

Later in the season, I found it was easier to drive in and score because I was just more comfortable.”

In Mount Vernon’s final game of its season in the Northwest 3A District Tournament, Swanson poured in 33 points.

“He did everything he could,” Valentine said. “He just would not give up or give in.”

After a COVID-19 riddled freshman year, Swanson said it was fun to be around other high school students and not at home in front of his computer.

“It was so good to be back (in the classroom and on the court),” he said.

“I really enjoy school and being around other people.”

Swanson also plays football and baseball for the Bulldogs.

There’s a lot of basketball yet to be played in Swanson’s high school career.

He’s hoping to lead the Bulldogs farther into the postseason next year.

“This season, it was a lot of fun,” he said. “I wouldn’t change anything except maybe playing better in the playoffs.” a big defensive role by assigning him to the other team’s best player,” Valentine said. “... He is a player who knows how

to win and is driven to help his team win.”

Defense was one of Swanson’s offsea-

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WINTER / GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: SARAH COOK, LA CONNER

Braves senior relished the challenge of playing ‘D’

By VINCE RICHARDSON Sarah Cook is stacking up the accolades following an outstanding senior season for the La Conner High School girls’ basketball team.

The latest is being named Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year. That recognition comes on the heels of Cook being named Northwest 2B/1B League MVP. “Overall, I am really happy with how I played, and how well we played as a team,” Cook said.

A four-year starter for La Conner, Cook averaged 17.3 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists this season, leading the Braves to a 23-2 record and a fourth-place finish in the Class 2B State Tournament.

For her career, she finished with 1,008 points and played in every game her sophomore, junior and senior seasons.

“Sarah has been a pleasure to coach,” Braves coach Scott Novak said. “In four years of coaching Sarah, she never had a bad day of practice. It was always 100% focus and effort.

“She is one of the most versatile players I have ever coached. She is excellent both in the post and out on the perimeter, and she runs the floor as well as anybody I’ve seen at the high school level.”

Playing with confidence, particularly on defense, is what Cook said she really improved on from last year. She said it allowed her to play her hardest on both ends of the court.

“Rebounding was big for me this season, and attacking the rim so I could get

to the foul line more,” she said.

“Defensive rebounds and defensive stops are really the best feeling for me. I always felt if I stopped them from scoring now we can go score and then work to get it back.”

Basketball is Cook’s top sport, despite accolades on the volleyball court as well

as in track and field.

“I grew up around basketball,” she said. “My brother and sister both played and so I have been around the sport my whole life.”

Next school year, Cook plans to attend Skagit Valley College. She hopes to play basketball and volleyball there.

“I’m all about sports,” she said.

From there, she hopes to transfer to a four-year college and continue to play basketball while studying environmental science or education.

Cook will have a fan looking on.

“I’m looking forward to following her college career,” Novak said.

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Skagit Valley Herald / Anacortes American

WINTER / BOYS’ WRESTLING: CHRIS LOPEZ, BURLINGTON-EDISON

Tiger sophomore turned in a near-perfect season state tournament.

He beat teammate Junior Sandoval on a pin in the championship match of the sub-regional, then defeated Anacortes’ Talin Kerr by pin in the finals of the regional. Kerr finished eighth in the state tournament.

Lopez said his daily matchups against Sandoval in practice helped him develop his skills.

“It’s been really good,” he said. “We push each other real hard during practice. We help each other get better.”

Lopez has also been motivated to do well by his older brother Isaac, a two-time state champion for BurlingtonEdison in 2018 and 2019.

Chris Lopez had hoped to get a state title this season so he would have a chance of getting three in his high school career and one-upping his brother.

“That was the goal,” he said. “But now I can’t beat (Isaac’s two titles.)”

The brothers recently got to spend some quality time together.

After the state tournament, Chris Lopez went to Oregon City, Oregon, to visit Isaac, who wrestles at Clackamas Community College.

Chris Lopez may even have picked up a few wrestling tips that will help him out the next time he faces a wrestler the caliber of Salguero. “(Isaac) got a few of his teammates to show me some moves,” Chris Lopez said.

By DAN RUTHEMEYER Chris Lopez hasn’t had much experience going up against wrestlers who are as good as he is.

So when the Burlington-Edison High School sophomore faced Alan Salguero Jr. of Orting in the 106-pound championship match of the Class 2A State Tournament, it had him a little unsettled.

“It was my first time wrestling him and I was very nervous,” Lopez said.

Salguero Jr., who went into the tournament as the top-ranked 106-pounder in Class 2A by Washington Wrestling Report, handed the nearly-as-dominant Lopez the first loss of his high school career.

“He is very good,” Lopez said. “He grabbed my elbow and moved me around.”

Lopez, who went unbeaten through a freshman season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic before winning his first 22 matches this season, is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Wrestler of the Year.

He wrestled much of the season at 113 pounds before dropping the weight needed to get into the 106-pound class.

“That was the plan all along,” Lopez said.

At that weight class, he rolled through his opponents at his sub-regional and regional tournaments before arriving at the Tacoma Dome for Mat Classic.

For his first three state matches, he was as dominant as he had been all season — one that included pin-clinching titles at the Spud Walley Invitational,

Everett Classic and Ray Westberg Invitational.

Then came the match against Salguero.

The Orting freshman beat Lopez on a

Congratulations, Chris, for being selected Boys Wrestler of the Year!

12-3 major decision.

“I panicked in the finals. I just froze,” Lopez said.

Lopez faced some pretty good competition in the weeks leading up to the

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SPRING / GIRLS’ GOLF: EMMA WORGUM, LA CONNER

She left nothing to chance with state title on the line

By DAN RUTHEMEYER Emma Worgum wasn’t happy about the way she putted on the first day of her state high school golf tournament.

So after her first-round 3-over-par 75, she went to the practice green for about three hours to work on her putting.

“That first day, I was so happy with what I shot, but I left a lot putts out there,” said Worgum, a La Conner High School senior. “My putting was kind of rocky.”

The extra work paid off.

Worgum shot a second-round 3-under-par 69 to win the Class 2B/1B state title by 17 strokes.

For a season that also included a fifthplace finish at the Burlington-Edison Girls’ Invitational and a first-place BiDistrict 2B/1B Tournament finish, Worgum is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Golfer of the Year.

She was also honored in 2019 as a freshman.

There was no golf season in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and no honorees were named in 2021 because of pandemic-shortened seasons.

Worgum is only the fifth Skagit County girl to win a state golf title since state tournament play began in 1989. Only one, four-time champion Kelli Kamimura of Sedro-Woolley, has won more than one title.

Worgum said she had a good reason for going to the practice green for the extra work.

Last summer, she led a tournament on the first day and said she thought she

had it in the bag. But a competitor had a better second round and got past her.

“I said (at the state tournament), ‘I can’t let that happen again,’” said Worgum.

She said when she went to the practice green, there was no specific mechan-

ical issue she felt she needed to fix.

She instead focused on the repetition of the extra work.

“I couldn’t necessarily figure out mechanically how to putt better,” Worgum said. “I went there thinking if I putt enough it will go in and it will feel more

natural.”

Worgum’s season included six ninehole league matches in which she twice shot even-par.

At the Burlington-Edison Girls’ Invitational, she shot 78 at Skagit Golf & Country Club to finish two strokes off the lead. And at her bi-district meet at Gallery Golf Course in Oak Harbor, she shot an 80.

Worgum has long since proven she can play at a high level.

As a freshman, she had rounds of 83 and 86 to place 12th at a state tournament that included 1A, 2B and 1B schools.

This year, during a league season in which she paired up against the best golfers available — whether they were boys or girls — Worgum focused more on the courses than the competition.

“I just like to compete with the golf course,” she said of how she approaches the game. “I try to make par or better on every hole. I think of it that way.”

Worgum, whose best round has been a 66 in a practice round at Wildhorse Golf Course in Pendleton, Oregon, is now headed to Western Washington University.

She will play on the women’s golf team and plans to study environmental science.

“I’m super excited,” Worgum said. “(Playing in college) has been by goal since I first started golfing.”

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Wednesday, June 29, 2022 17

SPRING / BOYS’ GOLF: PAYSON ATKINSON, BURLINGTON-EDISON

B-E junior headlined a stellar squad that won state

By VINCE RICHARDSON Payson Atkinson had a fantastic boys’ golf season that was capped by the Class 2A state title won by his BurlingtonEdison High School team.

Atkinson, a junior who played a major role on the Tigers’ title-winning squad, is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Golfer of the Year.

“I wouldn’t change anything this season,” Atkinson said. “Everything went according to plan. This team, we’ve been playing golf together since we were in the third grade, so we are all really close and we have played a lot of golf together. This year was a lot of fun.”

A member of his school’s tennis team as well, Atkinson was quick to say golf is his first love.

Taking all online classes this year in Skagit Valley College’s Running Start program allowed Atkinson to “be pretty free and do what I want.”

This season, Atkinson placed 11th in the state tournament, fifth at the Northwest 2A District Tournament, fourth in the Northwest Conference, won the Skagit County Tournament in a playoff and tied for 22nd at the Bill Egbers Memorial Tournament.

“Winning county really boosted my confidence heading into districts and state,” Atkinson said. “It was really cool for a number of reasons. One, my older brother (Conner) won it a few times, and then to play my teammate Rex Wilson in the playoff for the win, it was pretty cool and a good feeling.”

Longtime Burlington-Edison coach

Charlie Herzberg didn’t mince words in describing Atkinson’s exploits on the links, while adding he’s the consummate teammate.

“He’s a good player,” Herzberg said.

“He just has a dependable, repeating golf swing in terms of his physical play, and his maturity on the course and his approach to the game has grown. He’s shown a real grasp of course management.

“And his mental game has shown improvement, and that continues. He’s seen the results of that in his scoring and consistency.”

Atkinson gives credit where it is due.

“I have a phenomenal coach who always knew what to say and when to say it,” he said. “He always kept us positive even when things weren’t going our way.”

Atkinson said he revamped his golf swing since last year with the hope of improving consistency as well as ball striking. He said he really focused on his long game this past winter.

“Last year, there were some issues with my swing,” he said. “That was causing inconsistent play.”

Atkinson’s short game is a work in progress and will continue to be a focus.

“I really want to take my short game to another level,” he said. “My game from 100 yards and in specifically because that’s where you win. That’s the plan for the offseason. Lots of chipping and putting.”

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SPRING / GIRLS’ TENNIS: KENDYL FLYNN & ERIN KENNEDY, ANACORTES

New partnership flourished between two Seahawks

By DAN RUTHEMEYER At the start of the high school tennis season, Erin Kennedy and Kendyl Flynn were looking for new doubles partners.

Each had lost their partners from the previous season — Kennedy’s to graduation and Flynn’s to singles — and neither was interested in moving to singles.

So they paired up with each other.

The Anacortes High School players went on to post a 17-2 overall record from their team’s No. 1 doubles spot and a fourth-place finish in the Northwest 2A District Tournament.

“It was a surprise, yeah,” said Flynn.

The surprise was that the tall, somewhat quiet Flynn and the smaller, talkative Kennedy could make their way among the Northwest Conference elite so quickly.

Kennedy, a junior, and Flynn, a sophomore, knew each other a little bit from a 2021 COVID-shortened tennis season and from having once played basketball together.

But how they would play together was anybody’s guess.

“I guess we didn’t really know,” Kennedy said.

Coach Elaina Meyers said Kennedy and Flynn had a couple things going for them. They are both athletic — Kennedy plays soccer and Flynn volleyball — and both have “a huge desire to win.”

And the pair says that some of their physical differences play a role in their success.

Kennedy is fast and when playing along the baseline is good at keeping the

The pair said they realized they might be pretty good after a midseason win over Lynden’s Kalanie Newcomb and Adia Newcomb.

They had faced several of the conference’s better doubles teams by that point, giving them a good measuring stick of where they stood.

Being undefeated, they opened the district tournament as the top seed.

That was a little unnerving.

“There was a target on our backs,” Kennedy said. “And everyone who played us had nothing to lose, because they were playing the No. 1 seed.”

After a bye and two wins to open the tournament, Kennedy and Flynn lost in the semifinals to make their road to a state tournament berth all the more difficult.

They split their final two district matches.

The pair, who really didn’t have much tennis experience going into this season, said they have learned a lot about the game.

“I think this year we learned a lot of strategy,” Flynn said.

For next year, they want to build on this season, and as Flynn said, “Maybe not be as predictable.”

And the goal for next season is about playing as well in the district tournament as during the regular season.

“I think we just want to go to state,” said Kennedy. “I think that’s our motivation.” ball deep. And Flynn has the height and reach to be good at the net.

“She’s fast and that makes up for me being slow,” said Flynn.

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SPRING / GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD: HEATHER VANDERBEEK, SEDRO-WOOLLEY

Cub senior excelled in multiple events this season

By VINCE RICHARDSON Heather Vanderbeek scored 314 points this season for her Sedro-Woolley High School track and field team.

To put that in perspective, an athlete must score 20 points to earn a varsity letter in track and field at Sedro-Woolley.

At the Class 2A state meet, Vanderbeek scored 21 of her team’s 22 points by finishing second in the high jump, second in the 100 hurdles and third in the triple jump.

Her team finished ninth.

“She had an unbelievable state meet,” Sedro-Woolley coach Johnny Lee said.

“It was crazy she scored that many points.”

For her standout season, Vanderbeek is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

The senior set a goal at the start of the season to go to the state meet in multiple events.

“That’s what I wanted to do,” Vanderbeek said.

She said the biggest surprise of the state meet was that she finished third in the triple jump — and with a personalbest mark. She had been expecting to finish fifth or sixth.

Lee described Vanderbeek as your prototypical heptathlete.

“She’s strong, she’s fast and in the events she needs finesse, she has that as well,” he said. “A lot of her success is just very natural. If you were going to design an athlete to do multi-events, you would design a female like Heather.”

Vanderbeek recently competed in a state heptathlon event in a field comprised of competitors from the 2A, 3A and 4A classifications.

“I ended up taking third overall,” she said. “It was so much fun. I mean I really loved it. I mean I got to compete against the best athlete in Washington state. She was amazing and I have no doubt she will be in the Olympics some day.”

Vanderbeek also qualified for the state meet as a freshman in 2019. State meets were not held in 2020 or 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the regular season, Vanderbeek competed in five events. She said she expected to face more competition as the season progressed, but that never really happened.

“That was a bit surprising,” she said.

Vanderbeek also competed in volleyball, basketball and cross country during her high school years.

She is a fanatic about training.

“I love the gym,” Vanderbeek said. “I love working out.”

Vanderbeek will compete for Central Washington University next year on a track scholarship.

“I am really looking forward to competing at that next level,” she said.

“Central has a lot to offer. I wanted that Division II competition.

“I am assigned to hurdles (at Central), but I hope to talk to the coach so I can do the heptathlon.”

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SPRING / BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD: OWEN HEINZE, MOUNT VERNON CHRISTIAN

Sophomore scored big points for state champions

By DAN RUTHEMEYER Owen Heinze had a hectic final day of the Class 1B State Track and Field Championships.

The Mount Vernon Christian sophomore competed in four event finals in the span of about five hours.

Add in feeling the effects of a cold, and Heinze had his hands full.

“I wasn’t feeling that great,” he said.

“But I wanted to score points for the team. That’s what kept me motivated.”

Heinze had runner-up finishes in four events — the 100, 200, 400 and long jump — to help the Hurricanes to their fourth consecutive 1B state title.

For a solid season that ended in a strong state championship meet, Heinze is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

Heinze ran his first state meet event final — the 100 — at 11:45 a.m. on May 28.

After his final track final — the 200 at 3:30 p.m. — he sprinted to the jump pits to compete in the long jump.

“I had no time to spare,” he said.

Throughout the season, Heinze posted personal-best marks of 11.28 seconds in the 100, 23.27 in the 200, 52.65 in the 400 and 20 feet, 9 inches in the long jump.

Because this season followed a pandemic-shortened 2021 season in which no postseason meets were held, Heinze said he really didn’t know what to expect.

“I just kind of went into it with an open mind and tried to do my best,” he said.

That they did.

Heinze took a half-second off his top 100 time from 2021, about 1.4 seconds off his best 200 time and 2.5 seconds off his best 400 time.

And he added 5 feet, 7 inches to his best in the long jump.

Not only did Heinze fare well in his small schools meets this season, but he held his own against runners and jumpers from larger schools.

He posted top-three finishes at the Twilight in the ‘Ham, the Birger Solberg Invitational, the Skagit Showdown, the King’s Invitational, the Skagit County Championships and the Stanwood Twilight Invitational.

At the first of the big meets — the Twilight in the ‘Ham — Heinze went up against Sehome sprinter Carter Birade, who had the top 100 time in the state this season among all classifications.

“It was pretty nerve-wracking,” Heinze said. “But it makes me a lot better going against people like that.”

Heinze moved with his family to Alabama at the end of the school year. He said it’s still undecided whether he will return to Skagit County for his junior year at Mount Vernon Christian.

Wherever he is next spring, he will likely be running faster.

Heinze has joined a running club in Alabama to train with this summer.

Still, he did what he could in the offseason to make sure he was prepared.

He worked out on his own last summer to give himself every chance to be

successful.

“I trained a lot over the summer to get faster, so I knew my times would improve,” Heinze said.

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SPRING / BOYS’ SOCCER: CHRISTOPHER SOTO, MOUNT VERNON

Dedication helped make midfielder a scoring threat

By VINCE RICHARDSON Northwest Conference boys’ high school soccer teams did not want to see the ball at the feet of Mount Vernon’s Christopher Soto when he was anywhere near their goal.

Because if they did, there was a good chance Soto was going to put the ball in the back of the net.

The senior did exactly that 18 times this season.

For his scoring and for helping the Bulldogs to a 17-2 season, Soto is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year.

“I am surprised about this whole thing and also very grateful,” Soto said. “It was a good year for me and for my team.”

Soto, the conference’s offensive MVP, is moving on to play soccer at Seattle Pacific University. He currently plays club soccer for Snohomish United.

“Christopher’s dedication to preparation is something that really makes him stick out,” Mount Vernon coach Behr Ibarra said. “The amount of hours he has put in off the field is what contributed to his outstanding performance on the field. He’s not only hard working, but extremely focused.”

Soto said his final high school season was one of the funnest of his career.

“It was such a good group of guys,” he said. “I really enjoyed being a leader on the team.”

While Mount Vernon fell short of its goal of winning a state title, Soto was still pleased with the effort he and his fellow Bulldogs put forth.

“We didn’t make it as far as we wanted, but my goal was to make the season count and enjoy my final year. I did that,” he said.

The talented midfielder’s ability to

turn defenders inside out and speedily dribble past was notable this season.

Once that was accomplished, he had the ability to unleash accurate shots from distance.

“In terms of talent, his is unbelievable,” Ibarra said. “His footwork, his speed, his soccer IQ is way above many.

The ball just seems to naturally gravitate to him.”

It’s the ability to accelerate while maintaining control of the ball that Soto said is a true strength of his game.

“To just be able to go at defenders, beat them and create chances,” he said.

“That was my game, and playing midfield I had plenty of opportunities to do that.

“I was goal hungry and tried to always get in the right position and do everything to make the most of those goal scoring opportunities.”

Midfield is the position Soto has played for years, and he said he is extremely comfortable there. It has allowed him plenty of freedom on offense as well as the flexibility when it came to providing his talents on defense.

Soto racked up assists as well this season. He said making the extra pass was easy seeing as how he had played with many of his teammates for years.

Soto is excited about the next chapter in his life — on the field as well as in the classroom. He’ll graduate with a 3.7 GPA and plans on studying business or engineering.

“SPU was the best opportunity I had,” he said. “It’s a good, private school with great soccer team and an excellent education program. I wanted to go where I could thrive on the field and also in academics. It was the perfect place and I am really excited about it.”

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SPRING / SOFTBALL: KIAH TRAMMELL, SEDRO-WOOLLEY

Practice translated into fearful presence at plate

By VINCE RICHARDSON Sedro-Woolley High School softball player Kiah Trammell admits to enjoying practices more than games.

“I love working hard and then seeing it all pay off,” she said. “Even the small successes, those are great.”

The senior shortstop had successes great and small this season.

She hit .476 — the sixth-best average in school history — tied the school single-season home run record with 11, had 13 doubles, 37 RBI and 34 runs scored.

For a season in which she helped her team go 18-4, Trammell is the Skagit Valley Herald Softball Player of the Year.

“This year, honestly, I surprised myself,” she said. “This was one of the best seasons of my career.”

This season, Trammell was named first team all-Northwest Conference for the second time. She was a first-team all-conference pick as a freshman, and because of COVID-19 all-conference picks were not made in 2020 and 2021.

“I really came into this year with the mindset to just play for myself,” Trammell said. “That mindset really helped me this season because it had held me back in the past.

“But I had so many girls who had my back, it allowed me to play my game.

That I could go all out and trust the outcome. This was such a great team to be a part of.”

Trammell desire to put in the work is not lost on her coach.

“She’s the kind of athlete who sets the bar higher each practice, and her

presence and leadership raises her teammates’ intensity at practice on a daily basis,” Sedro-Woolley coach Maddie Jones said. “She always left the field covered in dirt. She went all out every day without even being asked.”

Defensively, Trammell had a .854 fielding percentage. She made the switch from catcher to shortstop her freshman year and has thrived.

“It’s great to be in the field because I get to talk to all my teammates,” she said. “It was so much fun to play the infield this year.”

And she takes pride in her fielding.

“I have really been grinding the last year and a half,” Trammell said. “Lots of ground balls and practice. I really had to work on flowing to the ball and my reaction to the ball at shortstop. All that really paid off this year.”

Trammell, who plays club softball for the Northwest Sidewinders, is now getting set to play in college.

She will take her 3.90 GPA and an associate’s degree she has earned from Skagit Valley College to Surprise, Arizona, where she will play for Ottawa University Arizona.

“Playing in college has been a goal since I started,” Trammell said. “For awhile, I lost that passion, but I found it. One day after practice, I totally realized I couldn’t live without softball. The opportunity is super exciting.”

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SPRING / BASEBALL: XAVIER NEYENS, MOUNT VERNON

Freshman was quick to show what he could do

By VINCE RICHARDSON Xavier Neyens wasted no time making his presence felt on the Mount Vernon High School baseball team.

The freshman’s impact was immediate, and for his efforts this season he has been named the Skagit Valley Herald’s Baseball Player of the Year.

He was also named the Northwest Conference Most Valuable Player. He was a first-team position player and a second-team pitcher.

Neyens, who has already verbally committed to play baseball at Oregon State University, was dominant in his first high school season on the mound, in the batter’s box and at shortstop.

“Xavier is one of the most competitive kids I have ever met,” Mount Vernon coach Tony Wolden said. “He works at the craft every day whether it’s arm care, in the batting cages, long toss, weight room. He is always doing something to get better. “... He’s obviously a very talented young man. But he works like no other.”

Neyens hit .476 this season. His 32 hits included three home runs, 18 singles and 11 doubles, and he finished with 22 RBI. “I was really proud of my hitting,” Neyens said. “That is something I really take pride in and the thing I work the most on.”

The opposition took notice. As the season progressed, he saw fewer quality pitches.

He walked 20 times, with 12 of the walks being intentional.

Neyens said that was frustrating, par-

ticularly in close games with runners on base.

“Not getting a chance to put the barrel on the ball, I want to be that guy to get that walk-off,” he said. “But at the

end of the day, we usually got the job done.”

He scored 16 runs and was a threat on the bases with 11 steals.

“He really produced for us from the

plate over the course of the entire season,” Wolden said. “He sees the ball well and he’s on time a lot.”

Wolden said Neyens has the ability to sit back on slower pitches, and when fastballs come his way he can drive them to all parts of the field.

On the mound, he pitched 47 innings, amassed 71 strikeouts, walked 28 and ended the season with a 1.34 ERA. Neyens went into the season knowing he was the Bulldogs ace, and said he welcomed that.

“It was a really great year for me pitching,” he said. “There was definite jumps in my velo (velocity). It was a lot of fun pitching and I wanted to take advantage of every time I got to step on the mound.”

As the season progressed, Neyens’ pitching become more dominant.

“I just became more effective,” he said. “My fastball really improved. Not many people could touch my fastball.

Near the end of the season, I could get someone on my slider just as often as my fastball.”

When not on the mound, Neyens found himself playing shortstop. It’s a position he wasn’t exactly familiar with, having played third base in the past.

Neyens wants to increase his strength before taking to the diamond next season.

“Obviously being stronger correlates to everything from hitting the ball harder to throwing the ball longer to getting faster,” he said. “I’m not slow on the bases, but I want to get faster.”

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