2018 Sports Stars of Skagit County

2018

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Skagit Valley Herald

2018 GIRLS’ ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

THE LINEUP QUYNTIN FRAZIER Burlington-Edison

4

DYLAN PETERSON Sedro-Woolley

Football, Offensive

Football, Defensive

5

EMMA CARLTON Mount Vernon

6

KYLE BEUSE Sedro-Woolley

Girls’ Swimming

Boys’ Tennis

Emma Carlton Senior Mount Vernon

Senior Burlington-Edison

◗ Ray was an allNorthwest Conference first-team pick for both volleyball and girls’ basketball. She was the setter on the Tigers’ state championship volleyball team and at 16.8 points a game was Skagit County’s No. 2 scorer in basketball.

She was the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year.

◗ Carlton closed out a high school career with a state meet that earned her Class 4A State Swimmer of the Year honors. She won the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly with a pair of automatic allAmerican times, and her time of 22.88 in the 50 freestyle was a state record for all classes. Carlton is a four-time Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Swimmer of the Year.

◗ Field was the Northwest Conference MVP and the Skagit Valley Herald Volleyball Player of the Year after leading the Tigers to a 20-1 record and the Class 2A state title. In the winter, she was the second leading scorer on a girls’ basketball team that went 18-7 and advanced to the final 12 teams of the Class 2A State Tournament.

Senior Burlington-Edison

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

3

Allyson Ray

7

RUSSELL DEVRIES Mount Vernon Christian

8

KRISTEN GARCIA Sedro-Woolley

Boys’ Cross Country

Girls’ Cross Country

9

AFTON FIELD Burlington-Edison

10

DELLA BABCOCK Sedro-Woolley

14

ALEXANDRA GONCHAR Mount Vernon

Volleyball

Girls’ Soccer

WINTER ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

11

TRYSTAN LOWRY Anacortes Boys’ Basketball

12

ALLYSON RAY Burlington-Edison

13

ISAAC LOPEZ Burlington-Edison

Girls’ Basketball

15

Afton Field

Girls’ Wrestling

EMMETT MOORE Anacortes

2018 BOYS’ ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS Russell DeVries

Jacob South

Trystan Lowry

◗ DeVries was the Skagit Valley Herald Athlete of the Year for both boys’ cross country and boys’ track and field. He was seventh in the Class 2B/1B state cross country meet in the fall, then won the boys’ 1,600 and 3,200 titles at the Class 1B state track and field meet. In between, DeVries played in 23 games for his school’s boys’ basketball team.

◗ South was a standout for Anacortes in three sports — football, boys’ basketball and baseball. The 6-foot6, 285-pound senior was a first-team allNorthwest Conference pick in football and basketball, and in baseball hit .304 with 14 runs scored and 17 RBI. He will continue his athletic career as a football player at Utah State.

◗ Lowry was a firstteam all-Northwest Conference pick in both football and boys’ basketball. He received all-league football honors as a defensive back, and passed for 1,108 yards and rushed for 335 as his team’s quarterback. In basketball, he averaged 9.0 points a game in helping his team to a 20-3 record.

He was the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year.

Sophomore Mount Vernon Christian

Senior Anacortes

Senior Anacortes

Boys’ Swimming

Boys’ Wrestling

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

16

ANTHONY NOTARO Anacortes

17

MEGAN BELLUSCI Anacortes

18

DAKOTA STAMNES Mount Vernon

19

RUSSELL DEVRIES Mount Vernon Christian

Baseball

Softball

Boys’ Soccer

Boys’ Track and Field

20

HEATHER HANSON Anacortes

21

CONRAD BROWN Burlington-Edison

22

ANNIE GILBERT Mount Vernon

23

JESSICA COOLEY Mount Vernon

Girls’ Track and Field

Boys’ Golf

Girls’ Golf

Girls’ Tennis

Skagit Valley Herald Publisher Heather Hernandez

Advertising Director Duby Petit

Assignment Editor Dan Ruthemeyer

Photographers Scott Terrell Charles Biles

Contributing Writers Vince Richardson Trevor Pyle Dan Ruthemeyer

Design Greg Fiscus

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

After a frustrating junior season, Burlington-Edison running back Quyntin Frazier did his best to make sure his senior season went better.

He wanted to be prepared mentally.

He wanted to be strong physically. He wanted to make smart decisions that would make him a team leader.

It took plenty of work, but Frazier became a leader for the Tigers and a headache for their opponents.

“He became a leader. Guys were ready to go to war with him,” Burlington-Edison coach Herb Lehman said.

For his production and the effort it took to get there, Frazier is the Skagit Valley Herald Offensive Football Player of the Year.

Frazier’s junior season was shortened by a suspension. He chalked it up to poor decision-making, and was determined not to let it happen again.

“I didn’t want to let it define me,” he said. “Everyone makes mistakes. It’s how you bounce back that defines you.”

To bounce back, Frazier carried more focus into his senior season.

He supplemented team film sessions by watching more film at home, and he spent the summer working on his strength and agility.

In previous years, he said, he hadn’t taken preparation as seriously. He didn’t realize that what seemed like a small advantage, with enough work, could be turned into a big one.

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“You can tell (from film study) where a linebacker’s going to go on a play, or what type of defense they’re going to roll into,” he said.

And he’d need that knowledge.

Going into the season, Frazier and Lehman knew the senior running back would have to carry a big part of the offensive load. “(In previous years) he’d been a guy in a crowded backfield. Sometimes we’d put him at H-back, sometimes at receiver,” Lehman said. “He showed us how many things he could do, and we resolved not to let him off the field.”

Frazier said he realized early on how big a role he would play. He had 22 carries in his team’s season-opener against King’s, after having 23 in his entire junior season.

“I had a lot of carries. It was cool to see the (offensive) line hyped up, to see them feeding off me, and to feed off them,” Frazier said.

That was crucial, Frazier said, because his success depended on his line.

“You can’t run without a line,” he said.

As the Tigers battled in a competitive Northwest 2A Conference, Frazier was one of the most successful weapons in Skagit County.

He had 1,108 rushing yards, good for second-best in the county. He had 15 touchdowns, also second-best, and he was a potent receiver with 20 receptions for 176 yards.

QUYNTIN FRAZIER

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

From a tough junior year to stellar senior season

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

OFFENSIVE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

CONGRATULATIONS QUINTYN & ALL OUR SKAGIT ATHLETES FOR...

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

DYLAN PETERSON

Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

DEFENSIVE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Peterson made things very difficult for foes

By VINCE RICHARDSON Sedro-Woolley football player Dylan Peterson made his presence known this season to running backs, quarterbacks and opposing coaching staffs.

If they didn’t pay attention to the senior, they were in for a rude awakening from the 6-foot, 235-pound nose guard.

For his outstanding efforts on the Cubs’ defensive line, Peterson has been named Skagit Valley Herald Defensive Football Player of the Year.

Peterson’s goals for this season were simple — work hard, be disciplined and play as a family.

“Making the team goals, my goals,” he said. “They were one in the same this season. We came up short of where we wanted to end up. Still, playing on this team was a lot of fun.”

Peterson began his high school career as a middle linebacker on SedroWoolley’s Class 2A state championship team in 2014. He made the move to the defensive line the next season and has been rooted at nose guard ever since.

“I just like defense,” he said. “I like being physical and I want to hit someone every play. That is the way I have played ever since youth football.”

Not the biggest defensive lineman, Peterson used fast hands and quick feet to beat offensive linemen to the point of attack, despite the fact he was often doubled teamed.

“He was such a force,” Sedro-Woolley

coach Dave Ward said. “Other coaches had to figure out how to block him.”

Sedro-Woolley employed a slant strategy to its defense. While Peterson would occupy offensive linemen, the Cubs’ linebackers would fill the holes.

And that slanting style of play was successful partly because of a quick first step from Peterson.

“I definitely used that to my advantage,” Peterson said. “I had to. Quick slant and a speed rush got me to the ball. It was my job to push the center as far back into the backfield as I could.”

Against Blaine, Peterson pushed the center back into the quarterback and forced a fumble on the Borderites’ goal line. The Cubs recovered, then scored.

“He really made a name for himself,” Ward said. “He provided a great rush up front from his nose guard position.”

Peterson said he hardly did things on his own.

He is quick to hand out credit to the players who lined up beside him — Chase Nispel at right tackle and Codey Pittis at left tackle — as well as linebacker Isaac Howell.

“Without them, I wouldn’t have looked nearly as good,” Peterson said. “I owe a lot to them. And our secondary, if didn’t have the coverage down the field, you don’t get the sacks.

“We all worked well together as a single unit. And our coaches had us well prepared for every game.”

Peterson plans to play next fall at Whitworth University in Spokane.

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

EMMA CARLTON

Senior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

Carlton left indelible mark on area sports landscape

By VINCE RICHARDSON Emma Carlton made quite the splash during her high school swimming career.

And she capped it off with a pair of state titles, winning the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly, while also being named the state Class 4A swimmer of the year.

For the fourth consecutive year, Carlton has been named the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Swimmer of the Year.

“It has gone by so fast,” she said of her four years of swimming for Mount Vernon. “I can’t believe my high school swimming career is over. It was so much fun.”

Carlton met her high school swimming goals this season.

“I wanted to represent the Bulldogs one last time,” she said. “I felt really good at the state meet. My goal was to win those two events and really enjoy my teammates. I had a great time.”

While she won the two titles, it was a third-place finish of which Carlton said she was most proud.

“The (400 freestyle) relay team got third,” she said. “That team was amazing. Honestly, that is one of my best moments.

“We had to come together as a team and we did. That was awesome.”

Over the past year, Carlton also traveled to Indianapolis for the 2017 FINA World Junior Championships, competing in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly as a member of Team USA.

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“I gained so much experience at that meet,” she said. “I was frustrated with my times, but it was still amazing.”

Carlton also competed in the Speedo Winter Junior Championships in Iowa City, Iowa, during the winter.

Next fall, she’ll suit up for Texas A&M and study kinesiology.

While signing to swim in college was certainly a dream come true, swimming for the U.S. was also big for Carlton.

“Representing the USA was a definite highlight this year,” she said. “The people I have met there are so incredible.”

When asked what she improved on during her senior year, Carlton didn’t hesitate in saying that her confidence grew.

“The turning point was the junior worlds,” she said. “I came back from that competition a new person. Mentally, a switch was flipped. I left (Indianapolis) knowing I could compete at the national level. I finally felt like I belonged.”

Carlton said her senior season was about more than just swimming. It was about being a leader.

“I accomplished what I wanted to,” she said. “I was also excited to be a senior, to lead. I was really looking forward to that part of it. It was awesome to finally be the senior in the middle of the team cheer.

“I wouldn’t change anything. I am certainly glad I swam for all four years.

It was so much fun.”

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Instead of approaching every match — no matter the opponent — with a blanket strategy this season, Kyle Beuse decided to tweak his approach according to the competition.

“You play a lot of different players, and I had to adjust my game to those players who hit well,” the Sedro-Woolley senior said.

Because of his second-place finish at this year’s Bi-District 2A Tournament as well as a successful season in Northwest Conference play, Beuse is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Tennis Player of the Year for the third consecutive year.

He qualified for the state tournament for the second consecutive year in October, and in May went 1-2 at the Class 2A State Tournament to officially conclude his season.

While Beuse said his season started slow, by the time he got to the bi-district tournament he was playing some of his best tennis.

“I had to change my game plan,” he said. “I was trying to hit winning shots right off the bat and it wasn’t working for me.”

It all took time, and Beuse eventually hit his stride.

While he changed his approach, he also worked on other aspects of his game.

“My serving really improved,” he said. “I served harder and was much

KYLE BEUSE

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Adapting his game to foe was winning strategy more consistent.”

He also changed his method of attack, both physically and mentally.

“Last year, I focused on getting to the net,” Beuse said. “This year, I played better from the baseline and really stepped it up. It was from there where I scored the majority of my points.

“I was able to hit the ball better. I hit harder ground strokes. It worked out.”

And that mental game?

“A year ago, I felt I needed to win every point and I destroyed myself mentally when I didn’t,” he said. “This year, I was more relaxed.”

At the state tournament, Beuse beat Jared Zaugg of White River 6-0, 6-2 in a first-round match, then fell to Colton Smith of Tumwater 6-0, 6-0 in a state quarterfinal. Smith went on to win the state title.

After the quarterfinal loss, Beuse still had a chance to finish as high as fourth place, but he was bumped from the tournament by Skagit County rival Han Hiller of Burlington-Edison.

Hiller, who was an alternate for the tournament and gained entry when a spot opened up, beat Beuse 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Russell DeVries is not big on setting goals.

He said over the next two years he would like to work his way into the top three at the Class 2B/1B state boys’ cross country championships.

And he’d like his full team to qualify in each of his four seasons.

But beyond that, DeVries is relatively guarded.

“I don’t usually set super-high goals,” the Mount Vernon Christian sophomore said. “I don’t like that much pressure on me. I run for the fun of it.”

DeVries, who this season finished seventh at the Class 2B/1B state meet, is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Cross Country Runner of the Year.

He is the first Mount Vernon Christian runner — boy or girl — to receive such an honor in the 16-year history of the school’s program and is its secondbest state meet finisher. Jeffrey Schloemer finished fifth in 2004 and 2005.

“He runs with the maturity of a junior or senior,” Mount Vernon Christian coach Paul Westra said. “He understands running tactics. I just have to provide him with good training. He’s going to figure out how to run races.”

DeVries took a big step up this season.

After finishing better than 10th in one race as a freshman, DeVries was seventh or better in eight of nine races this season, including winning three races and placing second in two others.

“I think the track season really helped,” he said. “I stayed active and I trained hard during the (cross country) season itself.”

In fact, after the Mount Vernon Christian boys’ team won its bi-district meet in 2016 and qualified for the state meet for the second time in school history, Westra upped his runners’ training in 2017 by about 10 percent in terms of mileage.

DeVries said that played a role in the success he and his teammates had.

“At the end of year, yeah,” DeVries said about how the extra training was received. “Maybe not at the time (it started).”

DeVries improved his times on every course this season.

While he ran the course in Langley in 18 minutes, 13.6 seconds and 18:06 as a freshman, he finished in 17:36.1 and 17:20.1 this season.

And his state meet time went from 17:26.8 as a freshman — when he finished 21st — to 16:38.9 this season.

DeVries has also shown he can hold his own against runners from larger schools.

He was second this season at the Skagit County Championships to Mount Vernon sophomore Mason Taylor, and finished second in a five-team Northwest Conference meet that included Class 2A and Class 1A teams.

“At points, it’s humbling,” DeVries said. “But it’s cool to see what’s out there.”

RUSSELL DEVRIES

By DAN RUTHEMEYER

Sophomore, MOUNT VERNON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

DeVries does his best to keep running enjoyable

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Congratulations Sports Stars!

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FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

KRISTEN GARCIA

Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Garcia was at top form at state championships

By TREVOR PYLE Up until the last race of the year, the 2017 high school cross country season was a prickly one for Sedro-Woolley senior Kristen Garcia.

She enjoyed spending time with her coaches and teammates, but after working to recover from an injury suffered in the offseason the racing itself was hit-or-miss.

One of the top club runners in the state and a recruited college athlete, Garcia was bested several times by talented Bellingham runner Annika Reiss, who beat Garcia in the conference and bi-district meets.

“Early in the season, I lacked confidence in myself,” Garcia said.

Then the state meet approached.

Garcia said she felt good in the week leading up to the season’s final race at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

“I felt absolutely amazing,” she said.

“Everything felt like it fell into place.”

Garcia knew she’d hit her stride almost as soon as the Class 2A meet began.

She started out fast and largely stayed that way, claiming a win at the state meet in 17 minutes, 52 seconds over the 5,000-meter course.

She was the only runner in that race in finish in under 18 minutes, beating Reiss’ second-place 18:06.

The victory made Garcia the fourth state cross country champion in Skagit County history, and the first from

Sedro-Woolley.

For her stellar finish, she has been selected as the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Cross Country Runner of the Year. It’s her second such award; she also won her freshman year, when she was a second-place finisher at state.

Garcia ran with her club team rather than for the Cubs in her sophomore and junior years. This year, she decided she wanted to compete with the Cubs again.

“I’d loved it my freshman year,” she said. “I loved the team environment.”

Garcia suffered an injury before the season, but worked hard to get back into the mix with a cross-training routine that included core exercises, work on a stationary bike and aqua-jogging.

She enjoyed a lot about the season, including being part of a talented Cubs squad and sparring with Reiss, whom she said pushed her throughout the year.

As she prepares for her college career — she has signed with the University of Wisconsin — Garcia is pleased her high school career in cross country had such a good ending.

“I felt like it was my chance to prove myself,” she said.

Congratulations, Kristen Garcia and all the Sports Stars!

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FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

AFTON FIELD

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Field capped her prep career with state crown

By VINCE RICHARDSON Burlington-Edison’s Afton Field had quite a high school volleyball career.

She capped her senior season with a Class 2A state title, and was named state tournament MVP and Northwest Conference Player of the Year.

For Field’s outstanding efforts on the court, she was named the Skagit Valley Herald Volleyball Player of the Year.

“It was an exciting season,” Field said.

“It was a lot of fun. I am really going to miss playing a lot. But I always wanted to leave a legacy behind and I did that. It was just an awesome season.”

The Tigers sat atop the Class 2A state rankings for much of the season and showed they deserved the top spot when they claimed their second state title in three seasons.

“This year, we really did expect to win it all again,” Field said. “Last year was really a growing year. We knew that going in. We put a lot of work in and it paid off.”

She said the Tigers’ consistency on the court improved this season, especially when it came to offense.

With only eight players on the team, Field and Katie King got a lot of swings.

But the two delivered.

“But having such a great setter in Allyson Ray coming back (from injury) this season, it made is easier,” Field said. “My court awareness got better over the four years. This year, it finally came together.”

Though not the biggest middle hitter

at 5-foot-9, what Field lacks in height she more than made up for with court savvy and a 29-inch vertical leap.

She said she was able to identify defenses on the other side of the net quickly this season and that made a difference.

“Especially the block against taller teams like Lynden and Lynden Christian,” Field said. “I think coach (Tawnya) Brewer was preparing us for those matches. She is used to not having the tallest team, so she knows how to coach you to swing.

“For me, I concentrated on looking before I hit. I learned you have to watch the defense and make adjustments and look for openings to get the ball down.”

Field had a hand in the Tigers’ title win her sophomore season. She learned plenty from that experience.

This season, she was a force as a team co-captain.

“We had a lot of underclassmen on this team,” Field said. “I knew I had to take a bigger leadership role. I learned a lot as a sophomore from the leaders on that team, so I was more comfortable in the role.”

Field’s demeanor on the court was calm, cool and collected.

“I’m not vocal,” she said. “Either was Allyson, the other captain. We are both quiet, not loud. We wanted our play to do the talking. We were calm. We just wanted to make sure everyone knew we were going to be fine, even in those fiveset matches.”

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Four years ago, Sedro-Woolley girls’ soccer coach Gary Warman tabbed promising freshman Della Babcock as a player around whom he could build an improving Cubs program.

Four years later, Babcock and her teammates fulfilled that potential, leading the Cubs to a solid season and a trip to the Bi-District 2A Tournament.

“This is the best season we’ve had in the last four years. It was great to be a part of a team that built up to this year,” Babcock said.

“We played with heart.”

For the leadership and versatility Babcock displayed during Sedro-Woolley’s strong season, she was selected the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year.

The Cubs were a young team that hadn’t had a ton of on-field success when Babcock reached high school. The year before, Sedro-Woolley was 3-11-2.

“When she and Kami Hamilton came in their freshman year it was clear the program would be built around them, and that’s what we did,” Warman said.

He said Babcock’s smarts and fitness level helped her become a mainstay for the Cubs. She played in 71 matches over her career, he said, playing significant minutes in each one.

That proved especially important this season, when the Cubs were hit hard by injuries.

“We thought the team was cursed.

DELLA BABCOCK

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Babcock helped make the Cubs into a winner We’d come to practice and ask, ‘Who’s next?’” Babcock said.

The Cubs showed improvement in Babcock’s first three seasons, though they still won only a handful of matches each season and failed to post winning records.

This year, they broke through, going 12-5-2 and earning a postseason berth.

The team had talent across the field — including high-scoring forward Natalya Schwetz and key newcomer Olivia Isakson — but Babcock and her seven goals were as important to the team’s success as anything.

“We put a lot of emphasis on her trying to score from outside of the box and having more confidence scoring from distance. We worked on her technical ability,” Warman said.

Babcock plans on playing soccer at Skagit Valley College, and maybe beyond that.

No matter where she ends up, she’s proud she and her teammates have left something behind at Sedro-woolley.

“Gary’s built a great foundation there,” she said.

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Congratulations Della Babcock Sedro-Woolley, Girls Soccer!

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WINTER ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Trystan Lowry had a new role this season for the Anacortes boys’ basketball team.

Called upon to put points on the board in previous years, the senior’s role this season was to get the ball into the hands of others.

For his unselfish efforts, Lowry is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year.

“I really had a different role this year,” he said. “I’ve always been a shooter and a scorer. It’s what I did.

This year, my scoring average is about the lowest it has ever been. But I did everything else.”

That included forcing defenses to collapse on him, then getting the ball to the likes of Tyler Blouin and Jacob South.

“I think the most 3s I shot in a game was two,” Lowry said. “For me this season, it was more about driving to the basket, attacking, then finding the shooters.”

While Lowry averaged nine points a game — his lowest average since scoring 6.4 as a freshman on the varsity team — Blouin averaged 15 and South 13.9.

Lowry and South were named to the all-Northwest Conference first team.

Lowry said he expected the change in roles and said he “pretty much embraced” the opportunity.

“It was tough,” he said. “But I could care less how much I scored. As long

as the team got the ‘W,’ that’s what was important.”

And the Seahawks certainly racked up wins this season, going 20-3, yet bowing out of the playoffs in the bi-district tournament.

“It was a good season,” Lowry said.

“It didn’t end the way I wanted it to as a senior. Obviously it would have nice to have won, but I have no regrets.”

Failing to get to the state tournament certainly wasn’t because of a lack of effort or preparation. Lowry described coach Brett Senff’s practices as harder than games.

“There were no practices off,” he said. “He (Senff) is a tough coach. He’s also the best one.”

There were certainly expectations for a Seahawks team that finished fourth at the Class 2A State Tournament a season ago. Lowry said there was pressure, but he wasn’t affected by it.

“I had lots of shooters around me,” he said. “I knew we were going to score.

So that really took the pressure off me.

“There were certainly high expectations. I think it affected some players more than others. We had high expectations for ourselves.”

Lowry was more than a little familiar with some of those scorers. After all, he’d played with Blouin and South since the fourth grade.

“It was a lot of fun this season,” he said. “I knew it was my last year of playing basketball. It was fun to play with all my buddies.”

TRYSTAN LOWRY

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

Lowry met challenge in new role for Seahawks

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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WINTER ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

ALLYSON RAY

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Ray filled many roles in leading Tigers to state

By VINCE RICHARDSON Allyson Ray has been a stalwart for the Burlington-Edison girls’ basketball program.

She averaged a team-best 16.8 points per game and grabbed nine rebounds a game in her senior season. With 906 career points, Ray is the No. 5 scorer in Burlington-Edison girls’ basketball history.

For her outstanding efforts on the hardwood, Ray is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year.

“Overall, this season was good,” she said. “The ending wasn’t ideal. But we were still district champs and that was a goal.”

Following a run to the Class 2A state championship game a season ago, expectations were high this season for the Tigers. But after their bi-district title, it was two-and-out at the state tournament.

“Some people may say there was pressure to repeat,” Ray said. “I didn’t feel any pressure.”

Not only was Ray responsible for a good portion of the Tigers’ scoring, she was also asked to lead by example.

“I was put into more of a leadership role this year,” she said. “Out on the court, our coach liked to change things up quite a bit. If Annaleis (Reyes) was playing point (guard) and didn’t hear those changes, it was up to me.

“Communication is big on the court.

It’s so important. It’s important that

everyone is on the same page.”

Ray said she wanted to be seen as a leader on and off the court.

“I wanted to lead by example,” she said. “It’s my hope that all the girls looked up to me.”

The season started slow for Ray as she struggled to find her shot and adapt to her role as a leader.

That all changed after she talked to her coach.

“I was missing shots,” she said.

“Coach told me to keep shooting, even if I missed 100, to just keep putting the ball up. I got a lot of encouragement from all the coaches.

“After that talk, I found my shot and my confidence.”

Despite her lofty scoring average, Ray said it’s her rebounding total she is actually most proud of. She said it took her a couple of years to master the art.

She learned a lot by watching former teammate Carly Watson.

“Rebounding takes effort,” Ray said.

“That’s why I am so proud of that stat.

It takes much more effort than scoring.

I wanted people to see the effort, the intensity I play the game with and the class I have out on the court.”

She said the season was a lot of fun on and off the court and that it’s a time she will always remember.

“This team was close,” she said. “It was a family. It wasn’t just one person.

It wasn’t just the seniors. Everyone practiced hard, played hard and we did it all together. It was a real fun season.”

Congratulations, Allyson Ray and all the Sports Stars!

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WINTER ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

ISAAC LOPEZ

Junior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

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A perfect, dominant year for state champion

By TREVOR PYLE Burlington-Edison wrestler Isaac Lopez had his best-ever season finish this season at the state tournament.

To get that finish, he and his coaches made sure the junior put in plenty of grueling work in the Tigers’ mat room.

Fueled by the more intense workouts, Lopez stormed through an undefeated season and capped it with a Class 2A state title.

For his finish — and the work he put in to achieve it — Lopez is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Wrestler of the Year.

Lopez is no stranger to the state tournament. He finished second as a freshman and sixth as a sophomore.

This year, his approach changed.

The Tigers’ practices included more “live” wrestling — hard-fought matches against talented teammates — followed by sprints, followed by more matches.

“We did a lot of live wrestling, trying to get ready for the tournament, getting ready for wrestling tired,” Lopez said.

Burlington-Edison coach Kirk Hamilton said, “We had to make sure when we did our training for conditioning, we pushed him so he’d understand how to push himself. We did more live wrestling — pushing him, making sure he was going and going and going.”

That’s just what Lopez did. Especially when the season got started.

He roared through the year undefeated, claiming titles at the Edmonds

Invitational, the Hammerhead Invitational, the Spud Walley Invitational, the Pacific Coast Championships, the Panther Classic and the King of the Hills Invitational.

At the Edmonds Invitational, Lopez was matched up in the finals against Bryce Miller of Kelso, a well-regarded wrestler from a Class 3A school. Lopez won by decision.

In the finals of the Hammerhead Invitational, Lopez wrestled Kalel Salcedo of Sumner, a state placer in Class 4A. Lopez won by first-round pin.

Hamilton said the match against Miller was a turning point.

“He was relaxed and calm. He wasn’t even thinking about being tired. ... He came out and was like, ‘now I know what it’s like.” It was a different feeling. ... You could see his confidence. He knew he wasn’t going to get tired.”

Lopez was just as dominant in the state tournament.

He won his first three matches by a combined score of 33-0. In the finals, he dispatched Conor Goucher of Orting 4-1 for the Tigers’ first individual title since Ty Peth won two years ago.

It was a satisfying end to the prep season for Lopez, but it wasn’t the end of the hard work. This offseason he’s working with Vandit Wrestling, the local club he’s been wrestling with for years.

“I’m learning new moves. I’m learning new things. I’m perfecting the things I know now,” he said.

CONGRATULATIONS ISAAC & ALL OUR SKAGIT ATHLETES FOR...

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WINTER ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Alexandra Gonchar’s two-year layoff from wrestling ended with a surprising return to the Mount Vernon team and a thrilling run at the Tacoma Dome.

Gonchar, who also goes by Sasha, had wrestled her freshman year, but didn’t enjoy it much. She spent the next two years away from the sport, only to be coaxed back by an encouraging relative.

She proved to be largely free of rust, especially at the end of the season with a third-place finish at the state tournament.

For her return and her strong state tournament finish, Gonchar is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Wrestler of the Year.

Gonchar had wrestled well her freshman year, qualifying for the state tournament.

She didn’t have much fun, though.

“I didn’t have a good experience. I was tired of it,” she said.

Gonchar spent two years away from the sport, but was encouraged to return by cousin Kirill Chirva, a freshman in the Mount Vernon boys’ program.

First-year Bulldogs coach Alysia Pohren said she hadn’t expected Gonchar to turn out.

“It was a surprise,” Pohren said.

Not only was Gonchar back for the Bulldogs, she had the perfect work ethic to bounce back from the layoff, Pohren said.

ALEXANDRA GONCHAR

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

Two-year layoff didn’t slow down Gonchar “She’s very active. She goes above and beyond what’s expected of her.

She trains outside of the mat room and does her own workouts before and after practice ... preparing herself,” Pohren said. “Her stance, her moves, her techniques ... everything improved toward the end of the season.”

Gonchar said, “I knew the basics, but I learned a lot of new techniques.”

Gonchar placed second in her weight class in the regional meet. She said a muscle injury slowed her down there.

The injury didn’t seem to affect her at state, where she kicked off her run in the 155-pound weight class with a 10-2 decision, then followed with a 13-4 victory in the quarterfinals.

Gonchar’s only loss in the tournament came to Wilson’s Kathleen Flanagan, who pinned Gonchar late in the first period in the semifinals.

But Gonchar bounced back from her loss with two more wins, first a pin in 2:36, then — in the third-place match — a pin in 2:39.

The third-place finish was the highest by a Skagit County wrestler in the girls’ tournament this season.

“It was fun watching her wrestle, she made me proud,” Pohren said. “I’m sure she made the whole community proud.”

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

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WINTER ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Anacortes swimmer Emmett Moore made the most of his time in the pool this season.

With an emphasis on “time.”

The junior swam to a state title in the 100-yard butterfly in a Class 2A meet record of 49.94 seconds. That time is also an all-American consideration mark.

For his efforts, including helping his team to its third Class 2A team title in four years, Moore is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Swimmer of the Year.

Moore’s state meet wasn’t limited to his state record effort. He also finished fifth in the 100 backstroke (52.89) and was a member of Anacortes’ secondplace 200 medley relay team and its third-place 400 freestyle team.

“I was happy with my state meet,” he said. “I was able to score points for my team in a meet where it was really close.

It was a good meet individually and as a team.”

Moore said he was surprised about being named swimmer of the year, an honor that puts him in the company of two former teammates — Elliott Hofferth and Nathan Mathes.

“The last two years Anacortes swimmers have won this award,” he said.

“It’s good to follow in their footsteps.”

Moore said this state meet was different than last year’s. He learned from his past experiences that getting too keyed up would not be good.

“I was more relaxed,” he said of his mood before the start of the 100 butterfly.

Moore said his start felt smooth and he stayed focused on the actions — strokes, kicks, etc. — that take place under the water.

Then it was a matter of keeping his pace and not letting others dictate it.

“Two other swimmers swam a faster first 50 than me,” he said. “I didn’t let them throw me off. I knew if I kept my pace, I could swim faster in the second half. If I went with them, I wasn’t going to be able to do that.

“I took a quick look off the first wall.

I hoped I could get the adrenaline to go faster. I didn’t even look on the last wall. I was just going for the finish line.”

That strategy worked as he claimed the title. He didn’t find out about entering the record books until he was on the podium.

“On the podium, it was really a blur.

I just remember all my teammates cheering me on,” he said. “It feels nice to have the record. To set something that won’t be broke for a while or until next year. Setting a new record is one of my goals.”

Moore described being a member of the relay teams as a fast-paced, give-iteverything-you-have opportunity.

“They are exciting,” he said. “There really or no breaks. You are either swimming or you are cheering for your teammates.”

EMMETT MOORE

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Junior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

Moore led ’Hawks to third title in four years

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

Finding Your Road to Success!

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SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Congratulations Anthony!

Anacortes catcher Anthony Notaro enjoyed a great year both behind the plate and alongside it.

For what he accomplished — and helping the Seahawks to a Northwest Conference title and 20-3 record — Notaro is the Skagit Valley Herald Baseball Player of the Year.

Notaro’s numbers were impressive, and coaches in the Northwest Conference took notice when they named him the conference MVP. “It was a good year,” said Notaro, who will play baseball next season at Washington State. “I got to play with the same group since I was 8 years old. Way back to the Black Hawk days. This team improved and we played as a team. We were a family. It was the closest team I’ve ever played on.”

Notaro led Skagit County in batting average, hitting at a .553 clip, as well as in RBI with 43. He was third in the county in runs scored with 25.

“He had a really big year,” Anacortes coach Pat Swapp said. “I’ve never had a guy with those types of numbers.”

Notaro started behind the plate early on. “I started with T-ball when I was 4, and started playing competitive baseball at 8. I’ve always caught,” he said. “The position is great because you are involved in the game all the time. There are so many things going on both physically and mentally.”

Notaro caught standout pitchers,

including Northwest Conference Pitcher of the Year Caden Cornett as well as Lincoln Gilden.

“We’ve been best friends since we were young, so we have this sort of communication,” Notaro said. “We were always aware of the situation.

“They never shook me off. Not once.”

Swapp left calling pitches in Notaro’s capable hands.

“As catcher, you have to be calm,” Notaro said. “That’s the mentality you need to manage a game and the ability you have to have to play at a high level.

Everyone looks to the catcher. There’s a lot to playing the position, and game experience is the only way to really learn.”

Catching also provided Notaro with plenty of insight when he stepped into the batter’s box.

“It helped me as a hitter,” he said.

“You know what pitchers want to do in certain situations. I really worked on hitting this past winter. I hit every single day.

I was really prepared for this season. I was ready to go.”

And Notaro won’t be slowing down this summer, playing a 70-game schedule with one of the state’s top 18-and-under teams. The team is based in Seattle.

“Baseball is every day for me,” Notaro said. “I had aspirations to play in college and I want to play professional baseball.”

Notaro is eager to play next season for the Cougars. “I loved it there,” he said.

“It’s a baseball program on the rise and it’s a perfect fit for me.”

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BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

By VINCE RICHARDSON

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ANTHONY NOTARO

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

Notaro flourished at the plate and behind it

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 17

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

MEGAN BELLUSCI

Junior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Dominant in the field, dominant at the plate

By TREVOR PYLE Whether she was roaming the outfield or leading off in the batting order, Megan Bellusci was a difference-maker this season for the Anacortes softball team.

Coach Tom Swapp, who has coached the Seahawks for 39 seasons, said Bellusci may be the best defensive outfielder he’s coached.

That’s high praise considering Swapp coached Bellusci’s older sister, Tara, who went on to play at the University of Washington and now coaches in Anacortes.

On offense, Bellusci’s numbers tell the other half of the tale. In 23 games, she hit .717 with 48 runs scored and 44 RBI — each of which led Skagit County.

“She was the best outfielder maybe I’ve ever seen, and her season at the plate was one of the best I’ve ever seen,” Swapp said.

For her all-around excellence, Bellusci has been selected the Skagit Valley Herald Softball Player of the Year.

Bellusci said preparation in the offseason helped her to the season she had for the Seahawks. She played in the fall for a travel team, the Washington Lady Hawks, stocked with competitive players.

“I came in hitting better than I had before, and I was a more mature player, so that helped,” she said.

Swapp said that maturity showed as

Bellusci, a junior, helped lead an Anacortes team with only one senior.

“She just took over a role as a leader and as a positive force in the dugout and practice,” he said. “She acted as if she was a senior. She’s played more softball than anyone else on the team.

She has a lot of experience and it shows.

For example, she took one talented (younger) player aside ... to help her learn bunting.”

For the Seahawks, their season came to an end sooner than they would have wanted, with them being eliminated in the Bi-District 2A Tournament. One of the team’s two bi-district losses was by one run to a talented Cedarcrest team.

“It was a battle, and I’m proud of how the team fought,” Bellusci said.

She said she’s excited for the Seahawks’ next season, especially considering how much she grew as a player between her sophomore and junior seasons.

She said she thinks many on the sophomore-heavy roster can make a similar jump.

As for her own goals?

“I want to be a better power hitter.

I want to get better at driving in runs when I need to,” she said.

Finding Your Road to Success!

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Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Congratulations Dakota Stamnes

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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After a year away from high school soccer, Dakota Stamnes returned for his senior season with the Mount Vernon boys’ soccer team.

His impact was immediate.

Mount Vernon shared the Western 4A Conference title, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 4A State Tournament and finished 14-5-1.

“It went well,” said Stamnes, who didn’t play last season in order to compete in a club program. “I really wanted to play my senior year. We had it all planned out. It was a tough decision, but my high school teammates wanted me to play.”

For his efforts, Stamnes has been named the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year.

Stamnes helped the Bulldogs to their first state tournament appearance since 2015 and their first state tournament win since 2012.

“Overall, it was a good season,” Stamnes said. “It was great to play with my teammates. A lot of us have been playing together since we were 10.

We’re family. It was a lot of fun.”

Stamnes, who next year will play for Western Washington University, spent last spring in the Crossfire Academy program.

“That was very hard,” Stamnes said of not playing that year of high school soccer. “But to play at the academy level was an honor. It was hard to

leave.”

From his center midfield position, Stamnes was instrumental in keeping the Bulldogs’ high-powered offense firing and its defense in lock-down mode.

“Dakota was the glue that held our team together,” Mount Vernon coach Behr Ibarra said. “He’s an outstanding player and is great on and off the field.

He is very well respected by his teammates and well liked by his teachers and his peers.”

As far as a particular style of play, Stamnes said he plays for his team and coaches, leaving it all on the field.

A team captain, Stamnes tallied four goals this season, but his influence on the Bulldogs reached far beyond putting the ball in the net.

“I always looked to defend first,” he said. “Then play the ball out of the back and create chances for our forwards. I wasn’t worried about scoring as long as my team was up.”

He came off the field only once this season, and that was after catching an elbow just below his right eye in a match against Jackson. The injury required stitches.

Ibarra said whether things were going well or not for the Bulldogs, he counted on Stamnes to either right the ship or pour it on.

“He was our go-to guy,” Ibarra said.

“He was our team’s X factor and my eyes and ears out there on the field. He just got it. On the field, he was always a threat.”

DAKOTA STAMNES

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

Stamnes guided ’Dogs with leadership, skills

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Tuesday, June 12, 2018 19

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

This year, Russell DeVries managed to surprise himself.

It wasn’t the success the Mount Vernon Christian sophomore had that was surprising. After all, he won Class 1B state track and field titles last spring in the boys’ 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.

But this year, DeVries managed to get stronger as the races rolled along on his way to repeating as a state champion in each event for the Hurricanes.

For his strong season, DeVries has been selected the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

He said there were no dramatic changes to his training routine headed into this season. With a consistent and competitive program under coach Linda Gudmunson, he said he already felt challenged and supported.

“You don’t fix what’s not broken,”he said. “We have a reliable program, and every year it pushes us.”

DeVries, who finished seventh in the Class 2B/1B state cross country meet in the fall, said he was also pushed by talented teammates, particularly Jonathan Brown.

“I had Jonathan behind me. He pushed me,” DeVries said. “But everyone was encouraging.”

DeVries finished the 1,600 in 4 minutes, 36.52 seconds, beating an opponent who had defeated him at the TriDistrict 1B meet.

RUSSELL DEVRIES

By TREVOR PYLE

Sophomore, MOUNT VERNON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

A season of repeats for DeVries and the ’Canes Gudmunson said DeVries’ fourth lap, where he opened up a crucial lead, was especially important.

“His fourth lap was crazy,” she said.

DeVries said exposure to the meet last year helped him prepare better for this season.

“Going into state, I was more confident. I had more experience with the environment. It helped,” he said.

“I knew I had to control my nerves, knew what time to warm up, I knew I could only control what I could control.”

In both state meet races, DeVries said, he had to improvise when his original race plan didn’t work out.

He didn’t mind.

“That’s what makes track fun,” he said.

Two days after his win in the 1,600, DeVries added the title in the 3,200. He won that event in 10:15.52.

His success helped fuel his team.

With a total of three wins on the final day of the state meet — including DeVries’ victory in the 3,200 — the Hurricanes won the 1B boys’ state title for the second consecutive year.

They racked up more than twice the points of their closest competitor.

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

20 Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

HEATHER HANSON

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Second 800 state crown perfect cap for career

By VINCE RICHARDSON Anacortes’ Heather Hanson wrapped up her high school track and field career the same way she started it: By winning a state title in the girls’ 800-meter run.

She also finished third at the Class 2A state meet in the 1,600, fifth as a member of her school’s 800 relay team and for the second consecutive year helped the Seahawks to a state championship in the 1,600 relay.

For her outstanding efforts this season, Hanson is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year. It’s an honor she also won last season.

“I am really happy with everything that happened,” Hanson said of her state meet. “Things went very well.”

They certainly did as Hanson concluded her prep career in spectacular fashion, helping the Seahawks finish second overall in the state meet’s team scoring.

“I felt really good running the 800,” Hanson said. “I felt confident going in.

But five minutes before the race, I started to doubt myself. I got it together and was happy with how it went.

“It was nice to get back there (atop the podium) after my freshman year. It was a cool race to win.”

Hanson finished the 800 in 2 minutes, 15.21 seconds. It was the third fastest 800 of her high school career.

Hanson ran the anchor leg on the championship-winning relay team.

To give her team the relay title, she

needed to make up ground on the field.

“I ran my fastest leg of the season,” Hanson said with a smile. “Probably my fastest leg ever.”

Good thing she did because it took all she had to burst across the finish line for the win.

“I’m sure the girl in front of me looked farther ahead than she was,” Hanson said. “My eyes drilled a hole in her back.

I kept telling myself I needed to lean.

We don’t do that in distance races. So I kept saying, ‘Remember to lean Heather, remember to lean.’”

She did just that — and it made the difference.

“I got her at the end,” Hanson said. “I was in shock. But once I realized we’d won, I was very, very happy. All the girls were really happy to win the state title again. We wanted that.”

At the same time, Hanson said she felt bad for the second-place White River team.

“It was tough to see what they were going through,” she said. “It was the exact same outcome as last year. They are a really good team.”

Hanson finished third in the 1,600 in a school-record 5:02.18.

Hanson leaves Anacortes as the school record-holder in the 800 (2:13.83), 1,600 (5:02.18) and as a member of the 1,600 relay (3:57.51).

Hanson will take her 3.98 GPA to Brigham Young University, where she plans to run for the Cougars while studying math and science.

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SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

CONRAD BROWN

Freshman, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

BOYS’ GOLFER OF THE YEAR

By VINCE RICHARDSON Cool, calm and collected.

Those words aren’t normally associated with high school freshmen, let alone one playing in a state golf tournament.

But those words characterize Burlington-Edison’s Conrad Brown, who for his success this season has been named the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Golfer of the Year.

“I define Conrad as having an unflappable demeanor,” Burlington-Edison coach Charlie Herzberg said. “He’s quiet and composed, which is a huge attribute in this game.”

Brown finished in a tie for seventh at the Class 2A State Tournament after rounds of 71 and 77 at Columbia Point Golf Course in Richland. He was in the hunt for the title after the first round, sitting in tie for third.

“I slept really good the night before (the start of the tournament),” Brown said. “It was my first time playing this course. When I got there, I played it and it was a fun course. I really enjoyed it. It was wide open, but you had to be fairly accurate with your shots.”

Brown found himself in the second group on the first day of the tournament, which meant an early tee time. He made the most of the opportunity on the 324yard, par-4 first hole.

“On my second shot on the first hole, I hit a good three-quarter wedge,” he said.

“It bounced a couple of times, then rolled into the hole for an eagle. Beginning the

round 2-under just like that was very nice.”

There was good and bad in the rest of Brown’s first round.

“I really didn’t like my short-game performance,” he said. “Thankfully on the back nine, I got it back together. ... It was pretty awesome to be in a position where I had a shot at winning the tournament.”

The second day would really test Brown’s mettle. He was paired with the tournament’s two leaders and playing in the last group in the heat of the day.

“It was nerve-wracking,” he said. “But it was fun. It was a good experience.

“I got fatigued and birdie putts just weren’t falling. It just wasn’t my day. I learned a lot about pressure and about hitting shots I had to hit at the right time, shots I needed to hit.”

This season, Brown placed fifth at the Skagit County Championships and second at the Bi-District 2A Championships.

His bi-district rounds at Skagit Golf & Country Club were a pair of 75s.

He credited his teammates, all of whom were seasoned upperclassmen, with helping him along.

“They accepted me,” he said. “They helped me get better. They are not just great golfers, but great guys.”

Herzberg said Brown’s swing is reliable and repeatable.

“He’s got one of the best swings for a freshman I’ve seen,” he said. “He also maintains his composure. He has a toughness. You can’t tell whether he’s having a good or bad day.”

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SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Extra work pays off.

It’s a lesson athletes are fond of, and Mount Vernon senior Annie Gilbert proved it true this spring.

The Bulldog golfer spent some of the offseason — as well as extra time during the season — honing her game and it paid off with a trip to the Class 4A State Tournament.

For her hard work, and the finish it earned her, Gilbert is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Golfer of the Year.

It’s her second such selection. She was also the Herald’s pick as a freshman.

During the Northwest 4A District Tournament at Avalon Golf Links, Gilbert shot a two-day 160 (80-80) to finish third among a tough field and punch her ticket to the state tournament at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

Gilbert, who shot a nine-hole 39 to win the Skagit County Championships this season by 11 strokes, was the only Skagit County girls’ golfer to advance to a state tournament, where she shot a first-round 87 and missed the cut by four strokes.

It was Gilbert’s second straight state tournament appearance after close misses at the district level as a freshman and sophomore.

Gilbert said she spent plenty of time preparing for this season in an effort to make a return trip to state.

She said she comes from a family

ANNIE GILBERT

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

Diligence on course pays off in trip to state of golfers, so there was no shortage of help when she went out to fine-tune her game.

“I played a lot with my family and some of their friends out at Skagit (Golf & Country Club),” she said. “All the pros out there helped a lot.”

That family support also came in handy when Gilbert hit the course at Avalon for the district tournament.

“I played Avalon a lot with my grandpa,” she said. “I was familiar with the course and how to play it. I was at my peak at the right time.”

The extra work Gilbert put in was certainly a factor in her success this season, said Mount Vernon coach Polly Hagg.

“Annie spent an incredible amount of time improving her game,” Hagg said.

“As a senior, she took it on herself to be the best golfer she could be.”

Hagg said in the end, Gilbert’s focus, as well as the hours she spent practicing, helped her earn the return trip to the state tournament.

“She’s one of the most focused players I’ve coached and she was able to put together different parts of her game,” Hagg said. “She was always mentally strong but became even stronger.”

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ GOLFER OF THE YEAR

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Tuesday, June 12, 2018 23

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

over Alana Norton of Monroe, then followed with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Anna Marie Mahler of Glacier Peak and a 6-3, 6-0 win over Winnie Chen of Mariner.

Cooley finally suffered a loss when Emily Peterson of Lake Stevens beat her in the title match 6-0, 6-1.

That matched Cooley against a teammate with a state berth on the line.

Cooley managed a 6-3, 6-2 win over teammate Irelynnd Sproul, who had bested Chen in a battle to reach the second-place match against Cooley.

It was an odd experience, Cooley said.

“We were the only people left playing,” she said. “Whenever we switched sides, people would yell ‘Go Mount Vernon!’”

Cooley said the experience at state was “intense,” especially since the matches were played indoors.

“All those girls were used to playing inside. They all played club,” she said. “I was more used to using the elements.”

The Washington State Universitybound Cooley said she’s glad she got the experience of playing in a state tournament.

It was one she worked toward long before taking the courts for the first match of her senior season.

“My patience paid off,” she said.

2017-18 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Congratulations to all of the 2018 Athletes of the Year!

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Heading into her senior season, Mount Vernon’s Jessica Cooley had one facet of her game she knew she must improve.

It wasn’t her backhand or serve or lob. It was her patience.

In the past, the Bulldogs’ No. 1 singles tennis player sought out potential big plays when a more methodical approach would more likely earn her a win.

This season, Cooley broke that habit, and by doing so earned herself a place in the history of the school’s girls’ tennis program.

For changing her style — and her trip to the Class 4A State Tournament — Cooley is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Tennis Player of the Year.

Cooley said she believes she’s the first Mount Vernon girls’ tennis player to make a state tournament since a doubles team earned a berth 22 years ago.

She said she had a focused approach this year.

“I wanted to make my last season memorable and fun,” Cooley said. “The biggest thing I worked on was being patient. My biggest problem was going for winners every time.”

Over time, Cooley built a more patient approach, and it came in handy late as she competed in a district tournament stocked with talent.

Cooley kicked off the Northwest 4A District Tournament with a 6-0, 6-3 win

JESSICA COOLEY

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

Composure elevated her game to state level

Congratulations Skagit Valley

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