Preview: Soccer, volleyball quick look for 2023

Continued from B1 birth in the 1A state tournament after upsetting Meridian in the district consolation nal.

Nooksack Valley went 16-8 overall and 9-6 in the NWC which placed them in third for 1A. Despite being below LC and Meridian in the regular season, they won when it counted.

e Pioneers continued into the state tournament and came out with fth-place hardware.

Big losses for the Pioneers include Taylor Lentz, Faith Bartl and Hallie Kamphouse. But much like the Pioneers basketball team, they will be able to run it back with a lot of talent still on the court.

Lainey Kimball, Tana Hoekema and Juliana Gimmaka will all be back and ready to contribute to another state playo run.

Soccer Lynden e Lions went on a historic run in the 2022 season winning their rst state playo game in program history. e rst-round win over Tumwater cemented the team's legacy and gave them momentum and con dence for their next season. e Lions also won the 2A NWC district championship with a win over Bellingham. is season the Lions will lose some big pieces like Adia Newcomb, Megan Sloan and Samantha Escobar, but a lot of the core team will be around for the 2023 season. e Lyncs advanced to the championship after winning the 1A NWC district title and tearing through the state bracket. LC su ered a heartbreaking loss to Klahowya in the state championship game. e 1A NWC is a fairly soft division and LC should not have a hard time taking the district title again. Blaine will be their biggest competition in the 2023 year.

Faith VanBrocklin and Evelyn Saldivar will be juniors and bring their heavy legs to the o ense.

Mallary Villars will be a part of the senior leadership group and also will provide on o ense.

Annabelle Uyttewaal and Miranda Bassett will be the anchors on the defensive side of the ball.

Lynden will again be battling with the challenging Bellingham schools for the 2A NWC crown, but I would not be surprised to see Lynden take it for a second consecutive year.

Lynden Christian e Lyncs will have a tough task this year replicating the production of the seniors they lost.

Demi Dykstra, Daisy Poag, Alexie Hagen, Taryn Herwerden all have left the team. Poag, the NWC o ensive MVP and company took LC to the 1A state championship game.

LC is losing six players that were placed on the NWC all-teams in 2022. Luckily, they retain a few pieces like juniors Grace Hintz and Jesse Wynstra.

It is also a good trail for bike riders and joggers. A lot of the trail has trees bending overhead, but you can always see the water peeking through.

I have no negatives of note for this trail as it is a e North Lake Whatcom Trail is an easier adventure that takes you along the edge of Lake Whatcom. It is a fun walk that is good for bikers, joggers, or walking your dog. You get a panoramic view of Lake Whatcom and can relax by the water.

Or, you can hang out in the park area and use the facilities the park o ers. I often go there to play basketball and take a walk around the lake.

It is also a good place to swim in the summer when it gets unbearably hot.