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Skagit Valley Herald
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THE LINEUP 5 6
Welcome: Celebrating our Skagit County student-athletes Keynote speaker: University of Washington golf coach and Burlington-Edison alum Matt Thurmond
y y y y y y y FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y
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Kristen Garcia, Sedro-Woolley Girls’ Cross Country
DYLAN HOLLAND, Anacortes Boys’ Cross Country
EMMA CARLTON, Mount Vernon Girls’ Swimming
KRISTOPHER NILSEN, Burlington-Edison Boys’ Tennis
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Edie breckenridge, Burlington-Edison Girls’ Soccer
EMMA CHRISTIANSON, La Conner Volleyball
BLAKE BEACHAM, Sedro-Woolley
Football, Defense
MASON ELMS, Sedro-Woolley Football, Offense
y y y y y y y WINTER ATHLETES OF THE YEAR y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y
15 16 17
danny schleh, Anacortes Boys’ Swimming
brenda reyna, Mount Vernon Girls’ Wrestling
18 19
adiya jones, La Conner Girls’ Basketball
jackson price, Sedro-Woolley
Boys’ Basketball
aaron tisinger, Anacortes Boys’ Wrestling
y y y y y y y SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y
20 21 22 23 28 30 31
annie gilbert, Mount Vernon Girls’ Golf
CONNOR ATKINSON, Burlington-Edison Boys’ Golf
KASSIDEE BEUSE, Sedro-Woolley Girls’ Tennis
ABBY DIMOCK, Burlington-Edison Girls’ Track and Field
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DYLAN HOLLAND, Anacortes Boys’ Track and Field
TYLER HOUTSMA, Mount Vernon Christian Boys’ Soccer
BROOKE WRITER, Anacortes Softball
ELI GALLO, Anacortes Baseball
Skagit Valley Herald sports staff Girls’ Athlete of the Year finalists, past Girls’ Athlete of the Year winners Boys’ Athlete of the Year finalists, past Boys’ Athlete of the Year winners
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y y y y y y y WELCOME y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y
A celebration to mark the successes of Skagit County high school student-athletes
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here is a lot that goes into participating in high school sports: perseverance, responsibility, commitment, teamwork, time management. And if would-be high school athletes don’t have those life skills when they turn out for their first practice, they’d better learn them quickly. Those skills can make the difference between a positive sports experience and a negative one, between success and failure. At all high schools, there is the expectation that athletes not only be good on the playing fields, in the gym or in the pool, but that they also hold their own in the classroom. That’s the “student” part of “student-athlete.” Often, you’ll find the most successful athletes — and the most successful teams — are those that do well in the classroom. It’s not that good grades make good athletes. But the qualities that make good students also make good athletes. Going above and beyond. That’s what it takes to be a student-athlete today. Annually, the Skagit Valley Herald honors Skagit County’s top high school athletes, naming players of the year in all sports — girls and boys. The selection process in the newsroom is sometimes spirited. The four-person sports staff believes that being a Skagit County athlete of the year is a big deal, and we all want to make sure we pick the most deserving athlete in each sport. The selection process is based on individual success and team success, meaning that the best players on the best teams are often selected. And it doesn’t make any difference if a player is from a big school or a small school. All get judged on their merits. The athlete of the year accolades are handed out at the end of each season,
Dan Ruthemeyer with the end result being recognition of 23 student-athletes over the course of the school year. Stories on the athletes appear in the Skagit Valley Herald at the end of each sports season. But we recently thought that it would be great to bring all those athletes together in one place at the end of the school year to celebrate their many accomplishments. We’ve done just that. On June 9 at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon, with the help of presenter Shell Puget Sound Refinery and several other community sponsors who care about honoring the hard work of Skagit County’s student-athletes, the Skagit Valley Herald hosted its inaugural Sports Stars event. We not only honored our athletes of the year by sport, but we announced the names of three honorees who had not been named on the pages of the Skagit Valley Herald: an overall Boys’ Athlete of the Year, Girls’ Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year. We had University of Washington men’s golf coach Matt Thurmond there as guest speaker, along with food, music and an awards presentation. Thurmond was an easy choice as a guest speaker because we felt he could relate to those who compete in Skagit County high school sports. In the early 1990s, Thurmond was a golfer and basketball player at BurlingtonEdison. In fact, he was a state championship golfer. - Dan Ruthemeyer is the assignment editor at the Skagit Valley Herald.
Skagit Valley Herald Publisher Advertising Director Heather Hernandez Duby Petit Skagit Valley Herald Assignment Editor Dan Ruthemeyer
Photographers Scott Terrell, Brandy Shreve, Frank Varga
Contributing Writers Dan Ruthemeyer, Vince Richardson, Trevor Pyle, Aaron Weinberg
Design & Layout Greg Fiscus
1215 Anderson Road Mount Vernon, WA 98274 P: 360-424-3251 @2015 by Skagit Publishing LLC All rights reserved
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y y y y MATT THURMOND KEYNOTE SPEAKER y y y y y y y y y y
B-E grad has made UW men’s golf program a national power By Dan Ruthemeyer
Matt Thurmond knows all about high school sports in Skagit County. After all, he was a Skagit County athlete. Thurmond played golf and basketball at Burlington-Edison High School in the early 1990s, then later made sports his profession. He is the men’s golf coach at the University of Washington. That deep sports background and his Skagit County ties were the main reasons the Skagit Valley Herald asked Thurmond to speak at its Sports Stars event June 9 at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon. As a high school golfer, Thurmond enjoyed great success. He helped Burlington-Edison to four consecutive state team titles (1990-93) and won the Class 3A individual state title as a senior in 1993. Thurmond then took his game to BYU, where he was a four-year letterman, the Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in 1994 and a conference scholarathlete and Academic All-American in 1998. The Huskies’ coach the past 14 seasons, Thurmond is a two-time conference coach of the year who led Washington to a best finish of third at the NCAA Division I Championships in 2005. Seven times his teams have finished among the top 10 nationally. His teams have won three conference championships and have had two players earn the Ben Hogan Award as the nation’s top college player. Before Thurmond took over the Washington program in 2001, the Huskies
Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
University of Washington men’s golf coach Matt Thurmond (right) has guided the Huskies to seven top-10 finishes nationally in 14 seasons. hadn’t won a conference title since 1988. His players — and not only Hogan winners Nick Taylor and Chris Williams — have been good. Former Huskies Alex Prugh, Troy Kelly and Richard Lee have had success on the PGA Tour, while Brock Mackenzie finished second on the 2010 Canadian Tour’s money list. Thurmond started as Washington’s head coach in 2001 — at age 26 — after one season as an assistant at the school. He is known as a coach who wants his players to compete hard, then be able to relax away from the course. When the Huskies travel to Hawaii every February, they hit the golf course in the morning, then bolt to the beach each afternoon. Thurmond is also known as a good communicator. He has his own blog, coachthurmond. tumblr.com, where he answers questions from recruits, families and fans while discussing topics that may or may not be related to golf, and he has his own Twitter page. In 2009, he coached the U.S. team in the Palmer Cup, a Ryder Cup-style competition that matches the top men’s college players in the United States against their counterparts from Europe. Thurmond, who was raised in Burlington by Joe and Kathy Thurmond, is married with three daughters. His wife Kathryn was a standout high school athlete in San Diego, and later a triple jumper at BYU.
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Kristen Garcia ran her first race at age
She enjoyed the experience. “I remember liking it, probably because I got the big trophy,” she said. Garcia has run quite a few more races since. She gave up playing soccer to be a full-time runner at 13, and as a high school freshman last fall became the most successful girls’ cross country runner in Sedro-Woolley history, topped by a second-place finish at the Class 2A state meet. Her freshman high school season was an abbreviated one. Garcia ran in five of Sedro-Woolley’s 10 races, joining the program only after competing with the Tesseract Running Club. But she made quite an impact in those five races. After placing ninth in her race at the Hole in the Wall Invitational — the eight runners ahead of her were top-15 competitors in the Class 3A and 4A meets — Garcia settled into a groove. She won the girls’ title at the Skagit County Championships, then finished second in her final three races — all to eventual Class 2A state champion Emily Pittis of Sehome. For the most part, the season went the way Garcia hoped it would. “In some ways it did and other ways it didn’t,” she said. “I really wanted to win
KRISTEN GARCIA
By Dan Ruthemeyer
Freshman, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Freshman made a major impact in a short time THE GARCIA FILE w Class 2A State Championships runner-up w Northwest 2A District runner-up w All-Northwest Conference first team w Skagit County Meet champion
the state meet. But it was fun to meet new people and make friendships.” Despite her state runner-up finish, there is plenty of room for Garcia to improve. Twenty-five runners in the state’s six classifications had better times in the state meet races, and Garcia’s 5,000-meter state meet time of 18 minutes, 35.38 seconds is well off of where Burlington-Edison’s RaynJoy Norton set the bar when she won the Class 2A state title in 2013 in 17:58.16. The improvements should come. “I just need to keep running, try my best and keep doing what I’m doing,” she said. Garcia said she hasn’t decided if she’ll return for another high school cross country season. There is one thing that may draw her into returning next fall. “I really want to be state champion,” she said. One thing is certain: Garcia isn’t about to stop running. She enjoys it more than she ever did soccer. “With soccer, I was never really proud of myself in games,” she said. “By the end of the season, I was hoping we wouldn’t win matches. I wanted to be done. “With running, I’m always happy. Running leaves me in a good mood. It just makes me happy.”
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER of the Year
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DYLAN HOLLAND
Junior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
boys’ cross country RUNNER of the Year
Anacortes junior’s year was one to ‘dye’ for By Aaron Weinberg
THE HOLLAND FILE
Runners on the Anacortes boys’ cross country team dyed their hair purple to celebrate becoming the school’s first boys’ team in 13 years to qualify for the state meet. Dylan Holland, however, was the only one to use permanent dye. “I thought it looked cool,” Holland said. “So I was like, ‘Why not?’” So it’s probably fair to say Holland, a junior, stood out just as much last November as he did during the 2014 season, when he won the boys’ title at the Skagit County Championships and took seventh at the Class 2A State Championships. Holland showed major improvement from his sophomore season. He dropped about a minute off his times this year, running in the low 16-minute range on 5,000-meter courses. He even dipped into the high 15s on a few occasions. That improvement came because of a renewed focus on training, Anacortes coach Chris Crane said. “It seems like he really took his performance a lot more seriously this year,” Crane said. “And it shows in his time. He’s way up.” One of the turning points for Holland came at a half-marathon in August in Anacortes. He took first place despite two factors: It was his first half-marathon and he didn’t train for it. Did he think he’d win it? “No. Not at all,” Holland said. But the race gave him confidence heading into his junior year.
w Class 2A State Championships, seventh w Northwest 2A District runner-up w Northwest Conference MVP w Skagit County Meet champion
“He was pretty excited and realized he could compete well,” Crane said. “It helped him recognize his potential.” That half-marathon also gave him some pretty bad aches and pains. “I was in bed for about a week after that,” Holland said with a grin. Holland took that momentum into the high school season, winning three races. One of the high points was winning the county meet at Skagit Valley College, where he held off Burlington-Edison’s Wyatt Mullen for an 11-second margin of victory. Holland then took second at the Northwest 2A District Championships to earn his second state berth. At the state meet in Pasco, he clocked in at 15 minutes, 48 seconds, for a seventhplace finish. He was the highest-placing nonsenior and set a personal-best at Sun Willows Golf Course after having ran 16:18 at the 2013 state meet. His goal for next season is to dip below the 15-minute mark. “It’s going to take a lot of work,” Crane said. “He recognizes that and I’m kind of looking forward to seeing how he’s going to get to the next level.”
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EMMA CARLTON
Freshman, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
girls’ swimmer of the Year
Second-place finishes motivation for next year By Trevor Pyle
THE CARLTON FILE
Most swimmers would be pleased with the times Emma Carlton turned in at the Class 4A state swimming and diving championships. Carlton wishes they had been just a little bit lower. Carlton finished second in two events at the meet at the King County Aquatic Center. While that’s a great showing for a freshman, the Mount Vernon swimmer came away a little disappointed. “I was disappointed to get out-touched in two events, but was proud of my times,” she said. Carlton finished second in the 50 freestyle (23.84 seconds) and in the 100 butterfly (56.38). She was part of a successful Mount Vernon season, one that included two top-six state meet finishes by fellow freshman Emma Frey (second in the 100 backstroke, sixth in the 200 individual medley) and a good day at the state finals for two relay teams. Mount Vernon finished 11th overall. Carlton grew up in Arizona, where she started swimming at about the age of 9. Her family moved to Washington a few years later to be closer to family, and she kept it up, swimming primarily with the Bellingham Bay Swim team. “My parents say if I’m out of the water too long, I get grumpy,” she said. “I just like the feel of the water. I like the competition.” As a member of the Bellingham team,
w Class 4A state runner-up, 50 freestyle w Class 4A state runner-up, 100 butterfly w All-Western 4A Conference first team, 50 freestyle w All-Western 4A Conference first team, 100 butterfly
Carlton has competed at several highlevel events. She said because of that the state high school meet wasn’t a huge culture shock. “It was equal to some of the events I’ve swam at,” she said. Carlton said she was pleased to have the support of her teammates and her family, including brother Wyatt. “If he can’t make it (to swimming meets), he always tells mom to have Emma win,” she said. Next year, Carlton hopes to stick to the same events — and not be beaten at the wall. “They’re my two favorites,” she said.
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Kristopher Nilsen was the No. 1 singles player for the Burlington-Edison boys’ tennis team last year. This year, he was even better, Tigers coach Ryan Wallace said. “He came into this season ahead of the game a bit. He basically just picked up where he left off in his junior year, but was a few steps ahead,” Wallace said. That preparation made Nilsen one of Skagit County’s most consistent players, and helped him make it deep into the Northwest 2A District Tournament as he contended for, but fell just short of, a state berth. No Skagit County boys’ tennis player reached state tournaments this year, but Nilsen came the closest. Playing in the highly competitive Northwest 2A District Tournament, he went 3-2. He came up one match short of placing among the top four. Nilsen grew up playing tennis with his family on Samish Island. “We were surrounded by it growing up. That’s how I got into it,” he said. Nilsen said he enjoys the challenging nature of the sport. “You’re the one who has to pick yourself up. That’s the most challenging part,” he said. Wallace said Nilsen came into the year ready to play. The No. 1 position can be tough, Wallace said, because the Northwest Conference boasts one of the deepest groups of talent in the state.
KRISTOPHER NILSEN
By Trevor Pyle
Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL
Preparation, steadiness marked Tiger’s game THE NILSEN FILE w All-Northwest Conference second team w Northwest 2A District Tournament singles quarterfinalist
“Being No. 1 in our league, he faces tough players,” Wallace said. “He put together great matches and learned along the way. He learned what worked, what didn’t work. He gained strength as the year went on and that helped him in the district tournament.” Wallace said Nilsen developed a reputation for playing long matches, mostly because opponents had trouble with his consistent, mistake-minimizing style. Wallace said, “He’s consistent. He’s a consistent server. He can also change his game on the fly and put his opponent on his toes. But consistency is key for any tennis player. That’s something we talk about. If you keep the ball between the lines, the percentage will go up that you’ll win the point.” Nilsen said he was more ready for the district tournament this year. “Every shot counts. You can’t let any points slip by,” he said.
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
BOYS’ TENNIS PLAYER of the Year
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THE BRECKENRIDGE FILE
Edie Breckenridge is not much of a postgame interview. The Burlington-Edison girls’ soccer standout often sticks to one-word responses when talking about her exploits. As coach Ryan Kuttel put it, “She is a very quiet player when you speak to her in person.” But the junior has an entirely different way about her on the soccer field. “When you play against her on the field, she is definitely intimidating,” Kuttel said. Breckenridge tore through Northwest Conference defenses last fall, scoring a conference-high 42 goals and earning conference offensive MVP honors, as well as the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year for the second time. This season, she was a big reason why the Tigers advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 2A State Tournament. Her 42 goals put her at 84 in her threeyear career, a Burlington-Edison record as far as Kuttel can tell (statistics are spotty further back than 20 years ago). Among the many highlights of Breckenridge’s season, the one that stands out the most to Breckenridge and Kuttel is the forward’s six-goal match against Meridian. Six goals are rare at any level. Most people don’t even know what to call the feat. “We just started calling it the double hat trick,” Breckenridge said.
w Washington State Soccer Coaches Association Class 2A second-team forward w Northwest Conference Offensive MVP w Scored 42 goals in 22 matches
The 6-3 win over Meridian clinched a Northwest 2A District playoff spot for the Tigers. It was also a perfect example of Breckenridge’s goal-scoring versatility. “She scored in five or six different ways that game,” Kuttel said. “Set plays, dribbling, shooting from the outside. There are a lot of ways she can beat you.” Of Breckenridge’s strong games this season, one of Kuttel’s favorites came against Ferndale. Breckenridge was marked by 2013 Northwest Conference Defensive MVP Carly Bannerman, but still managed a hat trick in the 4-3 loss. “She just kept going after them,” Kuttel said. Breckenridge’s success isn’t entirely a one-girl show. She gave credit to the players who helped set up so many of her goals. The group includes Abby Dimock, Megan Wilburg and Alyssa Slotemaker. Kuttel used a football reference in describing the Tigers’ goal-scoring machine. “She is kind of like a running back,” he said. “She has to give a lot of credit to the offensive line. Edie has to give credit to her other players on the team.”
EDIE BRECKENRIDGE
By Aaron Weinberg
Junior, burlington-edison HIGH SCHOOL
Quiet off the pitch, a scoring force on it
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
girls’ soccer Player of the Year
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EMMA CHRISTIANSON
Senior, LA CONNER HIGH SCHOOL
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
VOLLEYBALL PLAYER of the Year
Finally healthy – and dominant on the court By Trevor Pyle
THE CHRISTIANSON FILE
Emma Christianson was finally healthy this year. And because she was, she was able to put all the things she learned on the sidelines the past three seasons to use on the court. Christianson, a standout volleyball player for La Conner, had a stellar senior season after a career slowed by injuries. She led the Braves to a third-place finish at the Class 2B State Tournament and was named Northwest 2B/1B League Most Valuable Player. Ankle injuries cut into Christianson’s freshman and sophomore seasons. Surgery in her sophomore season forced her to miss six weeks at the beginning of the year and undergo lots of physical therapy to recover. Then a broken bone in a wrist cost her a trip to the state tournament her junior year. While Christianson spent more time than she would have liked on the sidelines cheering on her teammates, she made sure the time wouldn’t go to waste. “Being on the sidelines, you can focus on details you don’t see when you’re playing — the little things that change the flow of the game,” she said. Braves coach Suzanne Marble said Christianson was so insightful about the game she grew into a role similar to that of an assistant coach. “She’s incredibly smart with this game. She plays at a different level because she’s so intuitive and bright,” Marble said.
w Northwest 2B/1B League MVP
“When there was a (timeout) she’d be telling everyone what was going on. She learned to see the game in a very different light. She had to learn it the hard way. The hard way was watching everyone else play.” This season, the work by Christianson and her teammates paid off with a strong run in the Class 2B State Tournament in Yakima. The Braves won their first two matches 3-0 before falling to Wahkiakum 3-0 in a hard-fought match 27-25, 25-23, 25-21. The Braves bounced back to beat Mossyrock 25-21, 24-26, 25-20, 25-22. It was a hard-fought tournament all around: Six of the Braves’ 14 games were decided by three points or less. “We were right there for the final spot, we just missed out,” Christianson said. “But we got the experience we were hoping for, the challenge.” Christianson said she was glad to have had the support of coaches, family and fans to get through her own challenges. She said there were a few times during her string of injuries she wasn’t sure she wanted to keep playing. Now she’s glad she did. “I’ve gained a lot out of sports I’ll be able to use in my life,” she said.
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BLAKE BEACHAM
Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
DEFENSIVE FOOTBALL PLAYER of the Year
Cubs senior proved to be a thorn in foes’ side By Vince Richardson
THE BEACHAM FILE
Sedro-Woolley defensive tackle Blake Beacham was a nuisance this season for opposing football players. Quarterbacks and running backs were constantly hounded, tackled and sacked by the 5-foot-11, 200-pound senior. His persistent pursuit of opposing ball carriers helped lead Sedro-Woolley to the first state football title in school history. “That’s exciting,” Beacham said of the honor. “It’s been quite the year. To win the first state title, it’s awesome. I really can’t say enough about this team and the support we got from the community.” Beacham credits grandparents Cheryl and Derek, with whom he lives in Big Lake, for getting him involved in sports. He began playing football later than most, not picking it up until the seventh grade. “I have always played mostly offensive line,” said Beacham, who this season also played center and some nose guard. “This year, because we lost a couple seniors, it was my turn to step up on defense. It was definitely a breakout year for me as a defensive guy. “I am really pleasantly surprised. But having a great defense behind me helps. We all believed in each other. And the defense was simplified this season. We could kind of do our own thing.” Beacham was part of what became known around Sedro-Woolley as the “Defensive Line Squad.” The group, which included Beacham, defensive end Quinn Carpenter and tackle Gabe Torgerson,
w AP Class 2A State first-team defensive lineman w All-Northwest Conference first-team defensive lineman w All-Northwest Conference second-team offensive lineman
had its own handshake and, more importantly, its own sack dance. “It wasn’t anything big,” Beacham said of the dance. “In fact, it was probably hard to even notice if you weren’t looking for it.” Beacham was a factor in the Class 2A state championship game, sacking Lynden quarterback Sterling Somers twice while making a handful of tackles. Sedro-Woolley coach Dave Ward said Beacham is smart and quick off the snap. He uses his know-how and speed to beat offensive linemen. “Then he keeps going,” said Ward, who noted Beacham’s play improved as the competition got better. “He can run well, but also hit. Blake has a lot of tenacity. He doesn’t give up, he perseveres through blocks, his motor keeps going. He’ll pursue a play and run it down, and when he gets there he makes sure the guy goes down. He makes hard hits when he gets to the ball.” Beacham said the draw in playing on the defensive line is the opportunity to hit people. “There is no better feeling than a sack,” he said. Beacham had five sacks in playoff games and about a dozen this season.
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THE ELMS FILE
With the state championship football game just minutes old, Sedro-Woolley receiver Mason Elms cut for the back of the end zone and hauled in a pass from quarterback Devin Willard. The Cubs’ rowdy fans exploded, and Sedro-Woolley went on to claim the Class 2A championship over Northwest 3A/2A Conference rival Lynden. It was just another example of what Elms gave Sedro-Woolley all season: big plays at the right time. This season, Elms rushed 58 times for 714 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he caught 28 passes for 588 yards and 10 touchdowns. Many of those scores came after spinning, defender-juking moves, and some originated from Elms playing as a wildcat quarterback. His play helped the Cubs win the first football title in Sedro-Woolley history. Sedro-Woolley coach Dave Ward said the coaching staff used Elms’ dangerous speed and elusiveness more and more as the season went on. “We didn’t use him a lot early, until there were games that would present huge consequences, games where we needed huge plays,” he said. In the first six weeks of the season, Elms had 14 catches and 12 rushes. In the next six, he caught 12 balls but carried it 25 times. Elms’ role expanded even more in the final two games of the season during the semifinal and title games.
w AP Class 2A State first-team wide receiver w All-Northwest Conference first-team wide receiver w All-Northwest Conference second-team defensive back w Rushed for 714 yards, caught 28 passes for 588 yards, and scored 24 total touchdowns
Elms had 21 carries for two touchdowns and three catches for one touchdown. He scored the touchdown that put the Cubs up for good against semifinal opponent Tumwater and the crucial first touchdown against championship opponent Lynden. Ward said Elms didn’t just get the ball more as the season rolled on; he was also used as the squad’s wildcat quarterback. “(Ward) just wanted to use me in a different position and get the defense to overthink,” Elms said. “In some games, wildcat was our best offense,” Ward said. “We didn’t have to hand it to him, or throw it to him. We just snapped it to him and he made us look good.” Elms said he liked playing the wildcat position. “You can see the defense move, and it’s easier to find holes,” he said. “Especially when you have a good offensive line like we do.” Elms said he’s proud of a season that saw the Cubs upend top-ranked Tumwater in the state semifinals and avenge a regular-season loss to Lynden in the championship game.
MASON ELMS
By Trevor Pyle
Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Senior always came up big when needed
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
OFFENSIVE FOOTBALL PLAYER of the Year
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THE SCHLEH FILE
Danny Schleh hadn’t gotten over the thrill of winning it all last winter. The senior said the euphoria surrounding Anacortes’ first boys’ state swim title started the moment the Seahawks grabbed hold of the championship trophy on Feb. 21. “It really hasn’t fully worn off,” Schleh said. Schleh, a four-time state qualifier who helped the Seahawks improve their finish each of his years at the Class 2A state meet, is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Swimmer of the Year for the second consecutive year. It’s also the fourth consecutive time for a Schleh. Brother Ian earned the honor in 2012 and 2013. Schleh swam in 12 state meet finals over four seasons and won two event championships as part of 400 freestyle relay teams. It’s been quite a ride for the distance freestyler. “I started out as an annoying, loud, obnoxious freshman, but one who could still contribute to the team,” Schleh said. “Over the years I gained respect for my swimming and tried to leave that annoying, obnoxious part aside.” Schleh faced obstacles this season. He was in a car accident in October, which left him beat up and forced him to curtail his training for about a month. Then, illness struck during his final two competitions — the Northwest 2A District meet and the state meet.
w Class 2A state, sixth place, 200 freestyle w Class 2A state, seventh place, 500 freestyle w All-Northwest Conference second team, 200 freestyle w All-Northwest Conference second team, 500 freestyle
DANNY SCHLEH
By Dan Ruthemeyer
Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL
Steady growth paid off in a state championship
Though his back, which he injured in that car accident, and illness left him at less than 100 percent for the state meet, Schleh swam well. He was sixth in the 200 freestyle (1 minute, 47.17 seconds), seventh in the 500 freestyle (4:55.68), first as a member of his school’s 400 freestyle relay team (3:16.14) and fifth as a member of the 200 freestyle relay team (1:32.27). Schleh placed higher in his state meet individual events as a junior — second in the 500 freestyle and third in the 200 — but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Two top swimmers made their way into the distance freestyle races this season when Shorecrest and Liberty (Issaquah) moved from Class 3A to Class 2A. So while Schleh had better times in the finals than he did a year ago — by 1.57 seconds in the 200 and 1.80 seconds in the 500 — he placed lower. “I was happy with my times,” Schleh said. “I just focused on being happy with my times and not my placings.”
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
BOYS’ SWIMMER of the Year
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BRENDA REYNA
Sophomore, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
GIRLS’ WRESTLER of the Year
Offseason work pays off for Bulldogs star By Trevor Pyle
THE REYNA FILE
Brenda Reyna’s big season for the Mount Vernon girls’ wrestling team may have ended in a state title match, but it started with plenty of unheralded hours of work in the offseason. Reyna’s grueling workouts and trips to challenging camps and tournaments was capped by a second-place finish at the state tournament — the highest for a Skagit County girl wrestler. Reyna, a sophomore, went 27-5 last season. This season she improved on that, going 26-3. Her record included one loss at the state tournament — to the two-time defending champion in the 110-pound championship match. Bulldogs coach Doug Nelson said Reyna’s work in the summer led to her success this winter. “Her offseason, definitely. She wrestled in big tournaments in the spring and summer and spent time working with Andy Cook at Vandit (Wrestling Academy) — that was huge,” he said. “Andy was in corner with us, and she responds well to him. He makes a huge difference in how she wrestles.” Reyna grew up in a family where two older siblings wrestled. She took up the sport in seventh grade, then began working out at Vandit in the eighth grade. This offseason, she went to a national tournament in Fargo, North Dakota, and to another in Reno. In Fargo, she took
w Class 4A state runner-up, 110 pounds w Class 4A Region I champion, 110 pounds w Class 4A North Sub-Regional champion, 110 pounds w All-Sub-Regional first team
third in the cadet and junior divisions — grueling tests that helped her get ready for the high school season. “I worked hard, went to big tournaments and kept training,” she said. Nelson said the work paid off. “Her confidence was up. She was just really good on her feet. She got way better on her feet. She took kids down that were sometimes better than her,” he said. Reyna had only two losses headed into the state tournament. Once there, she won on a first-round pin, then had decisions of 14-4 and 10-2. In the title match, however, she ran into two-time defending state champion Marizza Birrueta. While Reyna turned in a competitive match, she lost to the standout senior 5-0. To make sure next year’s state tournament ends with a win, Reyna wants to improve even more. “I want to get stronger and faster,” she said.
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AARON TISINGER
Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
BOYS’ wrestler of the Year
The perfect plan leads to the perfect season By VINCE RICHARDSON
THE TISINGER FILE
Aaron Tisinger was a tactician on the wrestling mat this season. Each move the Anacortes senior made was calculated. Each was carefully planned to achieve a specific end. In Tisinger’s case, that end was often a pin. And his master plan was executed to perfection as he won the Class 2A state title in the 182-pound classification. He’s the first Anacortes wrestler to win a state title since Tim Sommer in 2003. “Winning the state title was my goal,” he said. “It was on my mind the entire season. Every time I went out on the mat I visualized it and it became a reality.” Tisinger ran roughshod over his competition. He went 36-0 with 33 pins. Not bad for a kid who finished fourth in last year’s state tournament, lost both his tournament matches as a sophomore and went two-and-out at districts as a freshman. He also didn’t win a match when he started wrestling as a seventh-grader. “I was terrible,” Tisinger said. “But I wasn’t going to quit. It was still fun and something new.” Anacortes coach Don McMoran is happy Tisinger stuck with it. McMoran said Tisinger had the drive and desire this season to reach his goal. “He improved dramatically this year,” McMoran said. “I used to get out on the mat with him year after year at practice. This year, it was different. The old coach
w Class 2A State champion, 182 pounds w Class 2A Region I champion, 182 pounds w North Sub-Regional champion, 182 pounds
didn’t want to get out there with him anymore.” Whether his opponent was ranked or unranked this season, Tisinger’s strategy remained the same — use his fitness and finesse to beat his opponents. Tisinger worked hard at those two aspects of his wrestling. He attended camp after camp during the offseason. The camps, such as the J Robinson 14 Day Intensive Wrestling Camp in Oregon, closely resembled basic training for the military. “He arrived in shape and ready to wrestle,” McMoran said. “His technique was excellent. His mat awareness had improved. He is a very coachable kid. That continued through the state tournament. He was still listening to his coaches and making changes in that championship match.” After the start of the school year, Tisinger continued to hone his wrestling skills with the Seahawks and at Vandit Wrestling Academy in Mount Vernon. “I’m not very strong, so I really had work on technique,” Tisinger said. “That was going to be the difference between me and the other guy. Coach McMoran had me living in my stance. I still work on that constantly.”
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THE JONES FILE
Adiya Jones is the first to admit she doesn’t readily come out of her shell. On the basketball court, however, she is more than willing to let her play do her talking. The junior forward helped the La Conner girls’ team to a 26-1 record and a third-place finish at the Class 2B State Tournament. A transfer from Tulalip Heritage, Jones averaged 16.3 points a game, scoring in double digits in 25 of 27 games. Jones said it was tough at the start, what with a new school, new team and new teammates. She played with La Conner during summer league and said she got to know her teammates better during that time. “I adjusted pretty well,” Jones said. “It didn’t take too long. At first, I wasn’t sure how I would fit it. They had another solid post and a good point guard. I earned my spot and fitting in wasn’t a problem.” Fitting in at school wasn’t as easy. “Adjusting to the new school was the toughest part,” Jones said. “Getting to know people. I just don’t get out of my shell much.” With the La Conner basketball team, Jones found a group of girls with the same goal — making it to the state tournament. Along the way, they became the most successful girls’ basketball team in La Conner history. “From the start, making it to state was the goal,” Jones said. “We came so close to
w AP Class 2B all-state first team w Northwest 2B/1B League Co-MVP w Averaged 16.3 points
winning the whole thing.” She admits to feeling pressure going into her first game. Though those nerves disappeared during the regular season, they returned at the state tournament. “That first game (of the season), I couldn’t concentrate at school,” Jones said. “In sixth period, I couldn’t get any work done. I was nervous. My nerves came back at state. That was really nervewracking.” Jones is happy with the progress she made this season. “I become a better shooter this season,” she said. “And I learned a lot more about my inside game. Last year, I fouled out of almost every game. This year, I think I fouled out of two games. I played with a different mentality. I learned to go straight up, not to foul, to play smarter.” Her surrounding cast also helped. “My teammates were great,” Jones said. “We all really came together and had a solid year. After that first loss (in a state semifinal), we fought back. We played well. We wanted to end the season strong and we did. It was definitely a character builder, something we can use for next year.”
ADIYA JONES
By Vince Richardson
Junior, LA CONNER HIGH SCHOOL
Newcomer proved to be just the right fit
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Player of the Year
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THE JACKSON FILE
Jackson Price finished his career at Sedro-Woolley as one of the most potent scorers in Skagit County history. More memorable than that, he said, was teaming up with the rest of the Cubs for a fiery, competitive year in one of the toughest conferences in the state. Price averaged 23.6 points a game — easily best in the county — while leading the Cubs to a season that saw them reach the district tournament. Price’s season cemented his status as one of the county’s most skilled scorers. He scored 1,565 career points, a total that leaves him fifth among all Skagit County boys behind overall leader Tyler Clark. He’s second among large-school players behind Mount Vernon’s Grant Leep. Price was brought up from junior varsity in his freshman season where he complemented already skilled scorers like Isaac Bianchini and Aaron Stroosma. From there he took off, scoring 19.2 points per game as a sophomore, 26.9 as a junior and 23.6 as a senior. This year’s Cubs squad got off to a bumpy start, losing three of its first five games. Many of the players started late because they were also members of the Sedro-Woolley football team that won the state Class 2A title. “The beginning of the year was a struggle, but we calmed down and focused on what was important: getting to districts,” Price said.
w AP Class 2A State Player of the Year w Northwest Conference MVP w Averaged county-leading 23.6 points w Finished career with 1,565 points, fifth in county history
Price said he was “off his game” at the beginning of the year. He and the Cubs managed to pick it up together. The second half of the season saw highlights such as a 71-68 upset of Anacortes, with Price scoring 24 points, and a district-tournament win over Cedarcrest, with Price pouring in 27. Cubs coach Brett Farrar said the team’s cohesion helped it turn into a strong competitor late. “The confidence and trust (Price) had in everyone around him was at an all-time high, around the last quarter of the season. It made us as a team better and tougher to defend,” he said. Farrar said while Price is mostly known as a scorer, his passing was sharp this year as well. He had 117 assists. “His passing is underrated,” he said. “A lot of people talk about his scoring and fear his scoring, but there were games this season where he didn’t have as many attempts and was more of a true point guard.” Price said it was a good year considering how tough the conference was. Two Northwest Conference teams made it to the final four at state and one of them, Anacortes, made it to the title game.
JACKSON PRICE
By Trevor Pyle
Senior, Sedro-Woolley HIGH SCHOOL
Lethal scorer just as adept dishing the ball
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year
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ANNIE GILBERT
Freshman, mount vernon HIGH SCHOOL
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
GIRLS’ GOLFER of the Year
Future bodes well for Bulldogs freshman By AARON WEINBERG
THE GILBERT FILE
Mount Vernon golfer Annie Gilbert had a strong finish to her freshman season. She shot a personal-best 87 on the second day of the Northwest 4A District Tournament, coming close to a spot in the Class 4A State Tournament. “To have her best match at the end of year was great for her as a freshman heading into next year,” Mount Vernon coach Polly Hagg said. “I think she raised the bar for our team.” Freshmen aren’t expected to compete at a high level, especially in Class 4A. But Gilbert wasn’t an average freshman. She started playing golf at age 10, often hitting the links with her father and grandparents. She is a member at Skagit Golf & Country Club. The strongest part of her game is the long ball. “One of the things my grandpa always liked about my golf game is that I’m not afraid to hit my driver,” she said. “I can hit it consistently straight and far.” She can drive about 215 yards. Gilbert didn’t know what to expect from her first stint in competitive golf. She didn’t have the highest of goals at the start. “My hopes were to just make varsity,” Gilbert said. Hagg had a hunch Gilbert would rise to the top of the depth chart as the season wore on. “Any freshman probably faces that (competitive) adjustment,” Hagg said. “In
w Northwest 4A District Tournament, 14th place w Skagit County runner-up
golf, you have to put your time in on the course. She really did. And let’s be honest. She is a skilled golfer.” Gilbert shot a 95 on May 14 on the first day of the district tournament at Walter Hall Golf Course in Everett to make the cut for the second round. That put her in a tie for 15th place. Her round of 87 five days later left her in a tie for 14th place, four spots off a state tournament berth. That round was the best of any Skagit County girl golfer this year. Another highlight of Gilbert’s season was her second-place finish May 7 at the Skagit County Championships. She shot a nine-hole 50. “She is golfing with some of the top golfers in the state and holding her own,” Hagg said. “Even when she did get into trouble, she always found her way out of it.” Hagg and Gilbert are looking forward to the next three years. “I think this is a great season for her to build on and I know she is excited about that,” Hagg said. “We are also expecting our team to get stronger, and I know Annie will be a big part of that.”
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CONNOR ATKINSON
Sophomore, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
boys’ golfer of the Year
Despite struggles, still a strong season By VINCE RICHARDSON
THE ATKINSON FILE
Burlington-Edison golfer Connor Atkinson wasn’t feeling too confident in the week leading up to the Class 2A State Tournament. “Honestly, I golfed better last year,” he said. “This year, I just can’t seem to be able to put many good rounds together.” Atkinson was being hard on himself. The sophomore had a strong season. He tied for sixth at the Class 2A State Tournament, won the Skagit County title for the second straight year and placed seventh in the Northwest 2A District Tournament. But overall, he said, his season was a bit of a struggle. “It just hasn’t come together this season,” he said. “I really like the team and we’ve had a lot of fun. Like I said, the rounds just haven’t come together.” Atkinson said the mental part of his game was inconsistent this season. At the district tournament, he led after the first round. “Then things just fell apart,” he said. “I had to get over that and stay in it. It was pretty rough.” Atkinson has been happy with his long game. “My long game is good right now,” he said. “In between, I missed a lot of short putts. And those misses add up. For me to continue to build my confidence, I need my short game. “I get the ball to the hole and then struggle with putting. I’ve put a lot of time in on
w Class 2A State Tournament, sixth place w Northwest 2A District Tournament, sixth place w Skagit County champion
it (putting). It’s just not where it should be.” Atkinson changed his putter in an attempt to get his short game in order. The move was a positive one. “It has helped,” he said. “I switched from a big, two-ball putter to a blade putter and it has helped. I’m more confident now.” Atkinson was excited about returning to the state tournament and having an opportunity to improve on last year’s tie for ninth. And he also liked the fact he wasn’t going alone. Teammate Dennis Geissler — a freshman — also qualified. “It would have been great to have a few more. There were several who barely missed the cut,” he said. Before the state tournament, the only time Atkinson had played Liberty Lake Golf Course was during the tournament’s practice round. He knew what he needed to do to be competitive. “The key for me will be the short game,” he said. “Even if my long game is bad, my short game has to be good. I definitely felt more pressure last year. But overall, I am a better golfer this year.” At the state tournament, Atkinson had rounds of 69 and 74.
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THE BEUSE FILE
When Kassidee Beuse played Sehome’s Ali Morrow twice in the postseason, those matches could have spelled disaster for the Sedro-Woolley sophomore. Instead, Beuse turned the matches into a springboard. Beuse twice beat Morrow in three-set matches — once in the sub-district tournament, once at districts — to qualify for the Class 2A State Tournament. And once at state, Beuse rallied from an opening-round loss to place fifth. Beuse had a good freshman year, but wanted to be better this time around. So she worked on her game to make it more dangerous, adding a sharper backhand and a serve with spin on it. “On the backhand I wanted more topspin. On the service, I went from a flat serve that I used just to get it in to one that has spin,” she said. Sedro-Woolley coach Mike Ludwig said the changes in Beuse’s game were apparent right away. “Last year, she was more of a defensive player. (Now) she’s more aggressive and has more weapons to put away shots,” he said. “Last year, she was a puncher, a pusher. When she gets a short ball now she can get a winner. Instead of getting 21⁄2-hour matches, she’s ending them more quickly.” Beuse said she could tell before the season began it would be a better season than her freshman year. She won most of her Northwest Confer-
w Class 2A State Tournament, fifth place w Northwest 2A District Tournament, third place
KASSIDEE BEUSE
By Trevor Pyle
Sophomore, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Never-quit attitude paid off for sophomore ence matches. Even when paired against last year’s state runner-up, Lauren Smith of Sehome, she turned in a fiercely competitive match, with Smith winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Then came Beuse’s postseason matches with Morrow. At sub-districts, Beuse topped the Sehome standout after a first-set loss, 0-6, 6-3, 7-5 At districts, Beuse beat her 1-6, 7-6(0), 6-0 in a three-hour match for third place in the district tournament. Beuse’s win gave her the district’s final berth to state, where she lost her firstround match, then reeled off three consecutive wins. Ludwig said he wasn’t surprised by the result. Not only because of Beuse’s improved technique, but because of her mental toughness. “She never quits,” he said. “She doesn’t quit even when she feels down. I think she relaxes now. If she loses a set, she relaxes and her game gets better. She doesn’t think as much; she just plays tennis.”
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
girls’ tennis player of the Year
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It was a solid year on the track for Burlington-Edison junior Abby Dimock. It was also a busy one. Dimock ran the 300 hurdles at an elite level and ran the anchor legs on all three of the Tigers’ relay teams. “I’m really pleased with this year,” Dimock said. “It was really good. I wouldn’t change a thing. I really dedicated myself to track this season.” She finished second at the Class 2A State Championships in the hurdles (44.51 seconds) and ran on the Tigers’ eighthplace 1,600 relay team (4:14.55). Burlington-Edison coach Kevin Gudgel is pleased with what Dimock has done. “You don’t expect her to do anything but win,” he said. “Sometimes you have to take a step back and realize, ‘This is pretty amazing.’” Dimock has her reasons for running the 300 hurdles. “You don’t have that extra 100 to run at the end as you would if you ran the 400,” she said. “Plus, I really like having the hurdles in between. It’s something else to do instead of just running.” It took her a while to embrace the event. When she was a freshman, she wasn’t sure she had the legs to run it. “You think of hurdlers and you think of girls with long legs,” she said. “I am definitely not tall. I was really wondering how I was going to get over the hurdles with such short legs. Once I did it, I was shocked.” Dimock doesn’t worry as much about
ABBY DIMOCK
By VINCE RICHARDSON
Junior, burlington-edison HIGH SCHOOL
Dedication pays off for multitalented junior THE dimock FILE w Class 2A State Championships, second in 300 hurdles w Northwest 2A District champion, 300 hurdles w Skagit County champion, 300 hurdles w Skagit County Championships record-holder, 300 hurdles
her start as she does her finish. “The most important is the last 100 meters,” she said. “It’s the end that matters and not taking stutter-steps in between the hurdles. You have to keep your rhythm.” Dimock runs her other events with a baton in hand. “She’s run anchor on all three relays, has been since she was a freshman,” Gudgel said. Much like having the hurdles to negotiate, having a baton in her grasp gives Dimock something else to concentrate on as she races around the track. Plus, she likes the teamwork it takes to run a relay. “The coach likes me at the end of those relays,” Dimock said. “I like the relays because I like being a member of a team. I also play soccer, so I like having teammates. “There is certainly pressure when it comes to running the anchor leg. There’s lots of pressure because a lot of people are counting on me. But they know I can push it.” Handoffs are a stretch for Dimock — literally. She said because her arms are shorter than those of most other runners, handoffs are a little more tricky. “So we work on those a lot,” she said.
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE of the Year
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DYLAN HOLLAND
Junior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
boys’ track and field athlete of the Year
Record-setting season for long-distance runner By AARON WEINBERG
THE holland FILE
Dylan Holland is used to running alone. That’s because there are few runners who can catch the Anacortes junior. But running solo has its drawbacks. It’s harder to push yourself when you always seem to be in front. “We’ve been looking forward to having him chase down guys all season,” Anacortes coach Brad Templeton said. “We finally got that at state.” Holland shattered personal bests in the 1,600 and 3,200 at the Class 2A State Championships. He finished third in the 3,200 and fourth in the 1,600 to take home medals. The junior set meet records at the Skagit County Track and Field Championships in the 1,600 and 3,200. He also took first in both events at the Northwest 2A District Championships. But he didn’t expect such a good season. Holland — also the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Cross Country Runner of the Year — said he started competing in track and field just to stay in shape for cross country. “I never thought I’d get good at the (1,600),” Holland said. “I didn’t really like track. I was never good at it.” That changed in March when he ran a personal-best in the 1,600 at his first meet. “I thought, ‘Wow, OK, let’s keep doing this,’” Holland said. Templeton said growth and maturity helped Holland along this year. “I think a lot of that has do with being a year older and seeing what his potential
w Class 2A State Championships: fourth in 1,600, third in 3,200 w Northwest 2A District champion, 1,600, 3,200 w Skagit County champion, 1,600, 3,200 w Skagit County Championships record-holder, 1,600, 3,200
is as far as the next level goes,” Templeton said. Since his early breakthrough, Holland continued improving upon his personal bests until the final races of his season. At the state meet, he shattered his personal best in the 1,600 with a 4:17.50 and in the 3,200 with a 9:21.29. The 3,200 time is an Anacortes record. Despite Holland’s list of accomplishments, he’ll still tell you there’s untapped potential. Late this season, Holland ran a 400meter race. It was a far cry from the longerdistance events he’s used to. He took first place and beat the top sprinter on his team. “I might branch out next season,” Holland said. He’s already set a few goals for next season. Aside from putting in more work in the shorter races, Holland is aiming to go below 8:50 in the 3,200 and below 4:00 in the 1,600. That’s pretty fast. “Those are big goals,” Holland said. “But when you set big goals you do well.”
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TYLER HOUTSMA
Senior, MOUNT VERNON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
BOYS’ SOCCER player of the Year
It was all about the team for prolific scorer By VINCE RICHARDSON
THE HOUTSMA FILE
Tyler Houtsma was an integral part of a Mount Vernon Christian boys’ soccer team that made history this fall by winning the school’s first state soccer championship “It’s been pretty surreal,” he said of winning the title. “At first, I really didn’t think it was real. I couldn’t believe it. I mean ever since I was a little guy, this is something I wanted. It’s pretty cool.” Houtsma said he and his team worked hard year in and year out to get that state title. “For four years, the players in my class did all they could even during the summer months to prepare. That resulted in some really good chemistry. This year we had all the pieces of the puzzle and all the hard work paid off.” The championship is special for Houtsma on other fronts as well. “It’s more special for me because my older brother played in the program,” he said. “And I’ve had so many friends who played in the program. They were all part of this and I made sure to share it with them. That is really awesome.” The Hurricanes finished 22-0, outscoring the opposition 116-7. They began the season with four straight shutouts and had 15 scoreless matches overall. Houtsma scored 45 goals this season. For his career, he had a school-record 95. He failed to score only once — in his team’s state semifinal — and had 16 multiple-goal games. Not bad for a player who never played in select soccer, choosing to play in recreation leagues until making the middle school
w Washington State Soccer Coaches Association Class 2B/1B Player of the Year w Northwest 2B/1B District first-team forward w Scored 45 goals in 22 matches
team. “Select just wasn’t the right lifestyle for me,” Houtsma said. “Too much money and too much time. I really learned to enjoy the sport, to have fun, without it becoming some sort of time-consuming chore.” Houtsma said scoring goals starts well before putting the ball into the net. “It’s about doing the work off the ball,” he said. “It’s about knowing what teammates like James Hurd and Jack (Hammingh) are going to do, what pass to make. It’s about watching the other team’s defensive formation and knowing what to do to beat it.” In order to do that, Houtsma studied opponents. He dissected defenses in search of weaknesses, cracks he could exploit. He studied statistical information to find where other teams were having success. He attended games as his own scout. He watched film. “I also analyze professional players,” he said. “You want to be able to mimic what the pros can do.” Houtsma gives credit to his teammates. Without them, he said, the season wouldn’t have been so special. “I love the guys I played with, and our coaches,” he said. “It was the definitely the right atmosphere to win a championship.”
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THE WRITER FILE
Anacortes softball standout Brooke Writer thought the beginning of her junior season in 2014 was “shaky.” So in 2015, she set out to remedy that. It seems to have worked. Helped by a stout defense and dangerous offense, Writer was sterling this year in leading the Seahawks to a berth in the Class 2A State Tournament. She also is the Skagit Valley Herald Softball Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. Writer finished the season with 18 wins, 191 strikeouts and a 1.92 earned-run average. She also was tough at the plate, hitting .392 — fourth-best on the team — with 20 runs scored (fourth) and 23 runs batted in (second). The Seahawks went 1-2 at state. After an offseason spent pitching for the Skagit Valley Thunder club team, Writer thought she came into this high school season stronger and sharper, with an arsenal of a half-dozen pitches she could throw for strikes. “I think I’ve hit my locations better and had more movement on my pitches,” she said. Anacortes coach Tom Swapp said he noticed the improvement. “She gets better every game. She hasn’t quit getting better. I don’t know when she will,” he said. “Her pure velocity overpowers average hitters on down, she’s got movement and can go up and in or down and away. A lot of pitchers think they
w All-Northwest Conference first team w As a pitcher, had 18 wins, a 1.92 ERA and 191 strikeouts
have a lot of pitches when really the best pitch is a strike. But she really does have a variety of pitches.” Writer had six shutouts in the regular season, although Swapp points to the Seahawks’ nonshutout win over Sehome as Writer’s best game. “They have power hitters throughout the lineup,” he said of the state-qualifying Mariners. “That’s a darn good team she beat.” He said Writer is fierce on the mound. “She competes better when she’s angry, so she pitches angry,” he said. Writer may have had a stellar season, but said she isn’t the only one responsible for it. The Seahawks had a formidable lineup led by Brooke’s sister, Amber, who sported a .490 batting average, with 53 runs batted in and five home runs. “When I know we can get hits, it takes stress off me,” Brooke Writer said. “Obviously, Amber’s probably the best hitter in the league, and I get to go out there after she hits home runs.” The Writer sisters will be sticking together after graduation. They’ve committed to play at community college powerhouse Wenatchee Valley.
BROOKE WRITER
By Trevor Pyle
Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL
Offseason work paved way to sterling season
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
SOFTBALL PLAYER of the Year
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SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
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THE GALLO FILE
Eli Gallo was at his best when it counted most. Gallo played his senior season on an Anacortes baseball team stocked with talent, from last year’s Skagit Valley Herald Baseball Player of the Year Matt Irving to Washington State University-bound Ty Johnson. While all the Seahawks contributed, Gallo was especially hot late in the season, as the Seahawks made a run to the regional round of the Class 2A State Tournament. Gallo hit .446 with 18 runs scored, 14 RBI and two home runs. He also saw time on the mound for the Seahawks. Gallo, who has committed to play baseball next season at Bellevue College, said he didn’t have the best start to his season. “It started off kind of slow. I was hitting the ball hard, but right at guys,” he said. He said his fellow Seahawks showed their character by their continued encouragement. “They picked me up,” Gallo said. “Some teams may get down on you in a slump, but they helped me … I started hitting better.” That’s especially true of the postseason. In three district and two regional games, Gallo was 11-of-16, raising his batting average 61 points — from .385 to .446 And those numbers don’t even convey how good he was, Seahawks coach Kevin Matthews said. “A few of those outs were liners right at
w All-Northwest Conference first team w Hit .446 with two home runs, 18 runs scored and 14 RBI
guys,” he said. “He was on fire at the end of the season.” That lasted right through the final game. Though the Seahawks had a tough time in their season-ending loss to Squalicum — hitting into three double plays — Gallo was sharp, hitting a single, double and triple. Matthews, the former head coach at Skagit Valley College baseball team, said, “He didn’t have many bad at-bats all year because he’s got such a solid approach. The high school season is so short, you can sometimes get off to a slow start. But once you see more pitches and play in more games, better players will do exactly what he did.” Besides his stellar late-season hitting and solid defense at several infield spots, Gallo also performed well on the mound. He earned two wins and two saves for the Seahawks, posting a 0.93 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched. He said it was tough to see the season come to a close, especially considering how close he was with his teammates. “This group of guys has been playing together since seventh grade. We were all close,” he said. “Even though we lost in the regionals, I’m still super proud of what we did.”
ELI GALLO
By Trevor Pyle
Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL
Slow start, spectacular finish for ’Hawks senior
2014-15 Skagit Valley Herald
BASEBALL PLAYER of the Year
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SKAGIT VALLEY HERALD SPORTS STAFF
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Skagit Valley Herald sports staff (from left): Vince Richardson, Trevor Pyle, Dan Ruthemeyer and Aaron Weinberg.
Dan Ruthemeyer
Vince Richardson
Trevor Pyle
Aaron Weinberg
Assignment Editor
Sports/recreation reporter
sports reporter
sports copy editor/REPORTER
Experience: For the past 12 years, Ruthemeyer has managed the Skagit Valley Herald’s sports department as its sports editor. In April, he was named assignment editor. In his new role, he oversees the Skagit Valley Herald’s sports and news-gathering staffs and its copy editors. Prior to joining the Skagit Valley Herald in 2003, Ruthemeyer worked 14 years as a sports reporter and assistant sports editor at The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, California, and two years as sports editor at the Peninsula Clarion in Kenai, Alaska. Most memorable Skagit County sports assignments: Though many of Ruthemeyer’s job duties require him to work in the office, over the years he has been pressed into service to help staff county sports events. Two of his more memorable reporting experiences were covering the SedroWoolley boys’ soccer team’s 2013 Class 2A State Tournament quarterfinal-round win — 1-0 over Sumner — and in February staffing the first state team championship for the Anacortes boys’ swim program.
Experience: Since 2003, Richardson has reported on all aspects of sports and recreation for the Skagit Valley Herald. Before arriving in the Skagit Valley, Richardson spent 31⁄2 years as a sports reporter at the Moscow-Pullman Daily News. He covered Washington State University and 18 high schools in Idaho and Washington. Prior to that, Richardson was the sports, recreation and religion reporter at the Camas/Washougal Post Record in Camas, Washington. Most memorable Skagit County sports assignments: Richardson’s most memorable game coverage came during Sedro-Woolley High School’s run to its first state football title in 2014. Richardson also enjoyed the opportunity to tell the story of the BurlingtonEdison football team rallying around former player Brian Gurney, who was severely injured in a fall while hiking in 2014. It was impossible not to see ‘Gurney Strong’ shirts at any Burlington-Edison event. For Richardson, that spoke to Gurney’s impact on the school and the community.
Experience: For the past 11 years, Pyle has worked at the Skagit Valley Herald as a sports reporter. He has also covered feature and news assignments. Prior to joining the newspaper in the fall of 2013, Pyle worked for four years as a sports and education reporter at the North Kitsap Herald in Poulsbo. He also worked at the Shelton Mason-County Journal and the Daily World in Aberdeen. Most memorable Skagit County sports assignments: Pyle has covered many state tournaments and championship games, ranging from football to basketball, track and field to soccer. Some of his most memorable experiences were covering each of Derek Garcia’s four state titles for the SedroWoolley boys’ wrestling team, following the rise of girls’ wrestling in the state, and covering Sedro-Woolley’s first state football title last fall.
Experience: Weinberg has worked for the Skagit Valley Herald since 2011, primarily as a sports copy editor. He graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in journalism in 2008. He freelanced for several publications before coming to Skagit County, reporting on all levels of Washington state sports. He reported and photographed Sounders FC games during the team’s first two seasons in Major League Soccer, and also has experience writing information articles on mobile technology for various websites. Most memorable Skagit County sports assignments: One of Weinberg’s favorite stories was visiting with ex-CFL player and Burlington-Edison graduate Garner Ekstran. Hearing Ekstran’s endless supply of anecdotes was a treat, especially since Weinberg is a big football fan. His favorite assignment was reporting on Skagit County bass fishermen. The article called for him to spend several hours fishing on Clear Lake on a summer day.
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GIRLS’ ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
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Edie Breckenridge
EMMA CHRISTIANSON
ANNA COOK
JUNIOR, BURLINGTON-EDISON
SENIOR, LA CONNER
SENIOR, LA CONNER
Sports: Soccer, basketball Credentials: Breckenridge was a big scorer for the Tigers soccer team during a season in which it reached the quarterfinals of the Class 2A State Tournament. She scored in 18 of her team’s 22 matches, finishing with a Skagit County-leading 42 goals. Her season included a six-goal performance against Meridian. Breckenridge was the Northwest Conference Offensive MVP, the Skagit Valley Herald Player of the Year, and was a Washington State Soccer Coaches Association Class 2A all-state second-team forward. On the basketball court, Breckenridge was the second-leading scorer on a Burlington-Edison team that went 19-5 and advanced into the regional round of the Class 2A State Tournament. She averaged 11.7 points in her 24 games, and scored in double figures 14 times. She was a first-team all-Northwest Conference and first-team all-Skagit County pick.
Sports: Volleyball, basketball, softball Credentials: Christianson was the leader on a volleyball team that placed third in the Class 2B State Tournament. She was the Northwest 2B/1B League MVP and the Skagit Valley Herald Player of the Year. On the basketball court, Christianson averaged 4.6 points to help La Conner to a 26-1 record and a thirdplace finish in the Class 2B State Tournament. She was a Northwest 2B/1B League honorable mention selection. And on the softball diamond, Christianson was a dangerous hitter. The Braves catcher hit .515 with seven doubles, a triple, two home runs, 32 runs scored and 15 RBI. She was an all-Northwest 2B League first-team pick.
Sports: Basketball, track and field Credentials: Cook was one of Skagit County’s top basketball players, averaging 13.5 points for a team that went 26-1 and finished third at the Class 2B State Tournament. She was a first-team all-Northwest 2B/1B League selection, a first-team all-Skagit County pick and an Associated Press Class 2B all-state honorable mention pick. In the Washington State Girls Basketball Coaches Association all-state games, Cook was the named the Class 2B Player of the Game. On the track, Cook is a versatile athlete. She qualified for the Class 2B state meet in the 400, 1,600 and triple jump.
Previous winners 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 1999 Kerie Hughes, Mount Vernon
1998 Kerie Hughes, Mount Vernon 1997 Cherae Walker, Stanwood 1996 Shelley Olson, Mount Vernon 1995 Maria Manley, Stanwood 1994 Kim Brydges, Mount Vernon 1993 Kim Brydges, Mount Vernon 1992 Kim Kettel, Mount Vernon 1991 Erica Schwab, Anacortes
1990 Bethany Britton, Anacortes 1989 Tricia Lake, Oak Harbor 1988 Indira Rouw, Mount Vernon Christian 1987 Julie Banta, Mount Vernon 1986 Cathy Shanander, Sedro-Woolley 1985 Karen Church, Stanwood
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BOYS’ ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
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MASON ELMS
TY JOHNSON
TYLER HOUTSMA
SENIOR, SEDRO-WOOLLEY
SENIOR, ANACORTES
SENIOR, MOUNT VERNON CHRISTIAN
Sports: Football, basketball, track and field Credentials: On his team’s football roster, Elms was listed as a running back/defensive back. But he did much more than that. He had 588 receiving yards, 714 rushing yards and was a dangerous return man. He scored 24 total touchdowns during the Cubs’ Class 2A state championship season. Elms was an all-Northwest Conference selection on offense and defense, was the Skagit Valley Herald offensive player of the year, and he was a Associated Press first-team all-state player. On the basketball court, Elms played in all 22 of the Cubs’ games, averaging 8.4 points. He was the third-leading scorer on his team. He scored in double figures six times and had a season-high of 17 on Feb. 2 in an 88-59 win over Burlington-Edison. And on the track, Elms showed the speed that made him successful during the fall and winter. He ran the 100 and 200 and on the Cubs’ two relay teams, and competed in the long jump. Elms qualified for the Class 2A state meet in the 200 and as member of both relays.
Sports: Football, basketball, baseball Credentials: Johnson played high school football for the first time last fall — and led Skagit County in receptions with 29, despite missing time with injuries. He had 506 receiving yards for a 17.4-yard average and scored nine touchdowns. On the basketball court, Johnson was the Seahawks’ top player. He averaged 16.5 points in leading Anacortes to a second-place finish at the Class 2A State Tournament. Johnson scored in double figures in 20 of 23 games, with a season-high of 26. He was an all-Northwest Conference first-team pick, an all-Skagit County first-teamer and an honorable mention all-state selection. And on the baseball diamond, Johnson, a catcher, helped his team to an 18-5 record and into the Class 2A state quarterfinals.
Sports: Soccer, basketball, track and field Credentials: Houtsma was a dominant soccer player. He scored a school-record 45 goals in leading his team to its first state title, and finished his high school career as the Hurricanes’ all-time leading scorer. Houtsma was a first-team all-district selection, the Skagit Valley Herald Player of the Year and the Washington State Soccer Coaches Association Class 2B/1B Player of the Year. On the basketball court, Houtsma averaged 8.5 points over 22 games. He scored in double figures 10 times, including eight of his final nine games. He was an all-Northwest 2B/1B League honorable mention pick. And on the track, Houtsma competed in five individual events and one relay over the course of the Hurricanes’ season. He qualified for the Class 1B state meet in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, triple jump and high jump.
Previous winners 2014 Andrew Medalia, Anacortes 2013 Jeff Bajema, Burlington-Edison 2012 Aaron Stroosma, Sedro-Woolley 2011 Jackson Kirkpatrick, Anacortes 2010 Kyle McKnight, La Conner 2009 Derek Garcia, Sedro-Woolley 2008 Jake Anderson, Burlington-Edison 2007 Josh Freeman, Anacortes
2006 Kevin Arendse, Burlington-Edison 2005 Tygue Howland, Sedro-Woolley 2004 Peter Janicki, Sedro-Woolley 2003 Kyle Kendrick, Mount Vernon 2002 Kyle Kendrick, Mount Vernon 2001 Garrett Parks, Stanwood 2000 Graham Grindy, Concrete 1999 Rien Long, Anacortes
1998 Jesse Howell, Concrete 1997 Reed Bumgarner, Stanwood 1996 Andy Cook, Burlington-Edison 1995 Rick Guttormson, Anacortes 1994 Ryan Wade, Sedro-Woolley 1993 Cameron Cleeland, Sedro-Woolley Jesus Fuentes, Burlington-Edison 1992 Mark Hendrickson, Mount Vernon
1991 Mark Hendrickson, Mount Vernon 1990 Brendan Bisbey, Sedro-Woolley 1989 Greg Saunders, Burlington-Edison 1988 Matt Strieby, Stanwood 1987 Todd Anderson, Burlington-Edison 1986 Don Beazizo, Concrete 1985 Tim Esary, Mount Vernon
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