2019 Sports Stars of Skagit County

2019

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Skagit Valley Herald

2019 girls’ athlete of the year finalists

THE LINEUP

5 LAUREN McCLINTOCK, Anacortes

8 SAVILLE FEIST, Anacortes

Boys’ Cross Country

Volleyball Girls’ Soccer

winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR 11 ISAIAH BROWN, Mount Vernon

Boys’ Basketball

12 GABBY RONNGREN, Anacortes

Girls’ Basketball

13 ISAAC LOPEZ, Burlington-Edison 14 CORA ORTON, Sedro-Woolley 15 EMMETT MOORE, Anacortes

Boys’ Wrestling

Girls’ Wrestling Boys’ Swimming

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR 16 TY SAUNDERS, Anacortes

22 emma worgum, La Conner

Design Greg Fiscus

Taino Ferdinand

w After he earned first-team all-Northwest 2B/1B District honors for his school’s soccer team in the fall, Taylor had a spring to remember. He won four track and field events at the Class 1B State Championships: 100, 200, 400 and triple jump. Over the course of the three-day meet, he set school records in the 100 and 200.

He is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

w Rutz was a three-sport standout for the Seahawks. He was a state-qualifying diver on the swim team, was a secondteam all-Northwest Conference defender and first-team all-Skagit County in soccer, and placed fifth in the singles tennis bracket of the Class 2A State Tournament. He is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Tennis Player of the Year.

w After running cross country for the first time, Ferdinand averaged 11.1 points a game in earning first-team all-Northwest Conference and first-team allSkagit County honors in boys’ basketball. He then had a stellar track and field season. At the Class 2A state meet, he won the high jump, placed second in the long jump and took third in the triple jump. His high jump mark of 6 feet, 10 inches is one of the best in the U.S. this season.

Senior Anacortes

Senior Burlington-Edison

Girls’ Track Boys’ Track

Boys’ Golf Girls’ Golf

23 LYNDSEE FLEURY, Burlington-Edison

Contributing Writers Vince Richardson Trevor Pyle Dan Ruthemeyer

Luke Rutz

Boys’ Soccer

20 gabe taylor, Mount Vernon Christian 21 KYLE COOLEY, Mount Vernon

Gabe Taylor

Softball

18 BRENDAN woods, Sedro-Woolley 19 MATTY LAGERWEY, La Conner

2019 BOYS’ athlete of the year finalists

Senior Mount Vernon Christian

Baseball

17 MEGAN BELLUSCI, Anacortes

Photographers Scott Terrell Charles Biles

w After she scored 13 goals and earned second-team allNorthwest Conference honors in soccer in the fall, Ronngren put together an impressive basketball season. She averaged a Skagit County-best 21.3 points a game on the way to earning conference MVP honors. She finished her high school career No. 8 on Skagit County’s career scoring list.

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

Girls’ Swimming

10 MOIRA MACKAY, Burlington-Edison

Assignment Editor Dan Ruthemeyer

w Feist started the school year with a title at the Skagit County Cross Country Championships and a berth in the Class 2A state meet. She spent the winter playing on the basketball team, then turned in a strong track and field season.

At the Class 2A state track meet, she placed second in the 1,600-meter run and third in the 3,200 with a school-record time. She is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Football, Defense

Girls’ Cross Country

9 MATTY LAGERWEY, La Conner

Advertising Director Duby Petit

w At the start of her school year, Lagerwey earned league player of the year and state tournament MVP honors in leading La Conner to its fourth state title. She followed that up by earning first-team all-league honors in basketball, then earned a pair of state track and field titles. She won her titles in the long jump and triple jump, and medaled in the 100 and javelin. She is the Skagit Valley Herald Volleyball Player of the Year and its Girls’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

Senior Anacortes

Boys’ Tennis

7 MASON TAYLOR, Mount Vernon

Skagit Valley Herald Publisher Heather Hernandez

Gabby Ronngren

Senior Anacortes

Football, Offense

4 LANDON EDWARDS, Mount Vernon 6 LUKE RUTZ, Anacortes

Saville Feist

Senior La Conner

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR 3 SETH TERCERO, Mount Vernon

Matty Lagerwey

Girls’ Tennis

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Running back Seth Tercero was a force out of the backfield for a Mount Vernon football team that went 8-3 and advanced to the Class 4A State Tournament.

For his efforts, he is the Skagit Valley Herald Offensive Football Player of the Year.

“Of course we had our goals,” Tercero said. “As a team, we wanted to make the playoffs. For me, personally, I wanted to have over 1,000 yards rushing and double-digit touchdowns.”

All was accomplished this season.

The senior led the county with 194 carries for 1,351 yards, an average of 7.0 yards per rush, and was held under 100 yards only once.

That despite missing two games because of injury and being pulled at halftime in a couple others as the Bulldogs had the games under control.

Tercero scored 19 touchdowns and accounted for 114 points to lead the county in scoring.

“Coming into this season, I wanted to work on my speed,” he said. “There were a couple of times last year where I was stopped on big runs by ankle tackles. I didn’t want that to happen anymore. I also wanted to be stronger.”

So Tercero and several teammates found themselves a sports performance facility and began training. Tercero said his strength, agility and overall speed

improved.

“It made a big difference,” he said.

“There were a couple times when I was making a big run and I was thinking about my form and the fundamentals of running. Then when I scored, I thought, ‘Hey, that training paid off.’”

Those long runs came courtesy of an offensive line that benefited from simplified blocking schemes.

Tercero said the Bulldogs’ running backs coach became the offensive line coach this season and it made a big difference.

“Last year, the blocking was very complex,” he said. “This year, it was much easier for those guys up front.”

And Tercero could tell the difference as running lanes grew wider.

“This year, instead to tiny holes to run through, I had huge holes,” he said. “It was easy to get between two guys. It was great. I felt really comfortable.”

It also helped that the Bulldogs found an effective passing attack.

The threat of the pass meant teams could no longer key on Tercero.

Tercero has played running back since he first put on shoulder pads and helmet. It was the contact he enjoyed.

Now at 6 feet and 210 pounds, he’s a load to deal with. Often, it is him delivering the blow on the defender.

He will continue to do so at the next level, having committed to play at the University of Montana Western in Dillon, Montana.

SETH TERCERO

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

Tercero’s season helped Bulldogs reach state

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

OFFENSIVE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

A small change led to a big season for Mount Vernon’s Landon Edwards.

The senior was moved from cornerback to safety ... a position switch that fueled a huge football season for Edwards and a historic one for the Bulldogs.

Edwards notched 73 tackles, snagged seven interceptions and broke up 24 passes, numbers that earned him a firstteam spot on the all-Western 4A Conference squad.

His play also helped boost the Bulldogs to a quad-district playoff appearance and a berth in the Class 4A State Tournament for the first time in 11 seasons.

“We moved him to safety hoping he could anchor our defense, and he did that and more,” Bulldogs coach Nic Vasilchek said.

For his eye-popping totals and contributions to the Bulldogs’ success, Edwards is the Skagit Valley Herald Defensive Football Player of the Year.

Vasilchek said the coaching staff moved Edwards in the offseason because they felt he’d be a good fit at safety.

“We wanted to put guys in the best positions possible,” he said. “We needed a safety who was vocal, who could 2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald come downfield and make tackles. If (Edwards) was in middle of field, he could cover both sides. He could double

LAUREN MCCLINTOCK

DEFENSIVE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

By TREVOR PYLE

Sophomore, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

LANDON EDWARDS

Senior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

Edwards’ move to safety anchored MV’s defense

his output.”

Edwards, who hopes to play football in college and has been in touch with several schools, did just what the coaching staff wanted.

He led the team in interceptions, defensive touchdowns and passes broken up, was tied for the team lead in forced fumbles, and was third in tackles.

And all that despite missing two games.

Edwards was a versatile performer, getting named to the all-WesCo’s second team on offense, and was dangerous on special teams.

“We never had a punt hit the ground.

And we forced (teams) to spend everyone to try to cover him,” Vasilchek said.

“He always made huge plays, he broke tackles, he set up short fields all year. It built our confidence. We’d have a huge return that would get everyone pumped and we’d get out and score. It would demoralize opponents.”

Edwards said he made sure to savor the season ... and not just because of the Bulldogs’ success, but because this was his last season playing for Mount Vernon.

“It was exciting, but I was trying to capture every little thing,” he said. “I knew this was going to be it. Every time I stepped on the field, I tried to embrace that.”

Edwards signed to play football next season at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana.

GIRLS’ SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

LUKE RU

Senior, ANACORTES HI

SETH TER

Senior, MOUNT VERNO

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

LAUREN MCCLINTOCK

Sophomore, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

McClintock enjoyed a strong finish to season

By DAN RUTHEMEYER Lauren McClintock didn’t sweat her fifth-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke finals of her Bi-District 2A swim meet.

The Anacortes sophomore knew the meet was deep in backstroke talent, and that her time of 1 minute, 1.64 seconds, set her up well for a strong state meet.

“I felt pretty confident,” McClintock said. “I went to state last year and I had trained all year. I felt I could do it.”

McClintock finished sixth in the Class 2A state backstroke finals, earning the highest state finish for a Skagit County girls’ swimmer.

For her season, she is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Swimmer of the Year.

McClintock worked hard this season to get her backstroke time low enough to put her into the state title race.

It took a bit of doing.

Midway through the season, she was posting finishes in the 1:05 range.

But after swimming 1:03.50 in the bidistrict prelims, she put together three strong final swims to end her season.

She swam the 1:01.64 in the bi-district finals, a personal-best 1:00.71 in the state prelims and 1:01.08 in the state finals.

“It’s a lot,” she said of the time drop.

“That hardly ever happens. I had been stuck in one place in the backstroke for a while, so it was good to see the times drop.”

At the state meet, McClintock finished

the backstroke ahead of three swimmers who had placed ahead of her the week before at the bi-district meet.

McClintock, who was swimming 1:04 at the end of last season, said part of the time drop was due to improving her turns.

The rest was because of hard work.

“It’s definitely an overall thing — more training, more time in the pool,” she said.

McClintock swam in three others events at the state meet.

She placed 14th in the 200 individual medley (2:21.17), and swam legs on the Seahawks’ 10th-place 200 freestyle relay team (1:47.65) and their 17th-place 200 medley relay team (2:02.64).

Though primarily a backstroke swimmer, McClintock swims the individual medley for a little variety.

“I like that race,” she said. “It’s not my favorite, but I think it helps round me out as a swimmer.”

In her two state meet relays, McClintock swam with senior Emma Bakke and a pair of other strong sophomores — Ellie Snowman and Savannah Sparks.

The three sophomores will look to move up in the relays next season.

“We’ve just got to keep honing our relays and building off each other,” McClintock said.

McClintock has set her goals for next season.

She wants to swim under a minute in the backstroke, and she wants a top-three state meet finish.

Finding Your road to success!

JErrY sMitH CHEVrolEt anaCortEs 360-293-5166

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LUKE RU

Senior, ANACORTES H

Congratulations laurEn & all our sKagit atHlEtEs For...

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

OFFENSIVE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

LUKE RUTZ

room. Rather, it was a summer job that bulked him up.

“I carried kayaks around,” he said with a laugh.

His mental game also got stronger.

“I’m not so worried about scoring every point,” Rutz said. “I wanted to be more consistent and let my opponent make the mistakes. The mental part of tennis is big. You have to let a bad shot go and stay focused.”

His play at the net is what he said sets him apart from others.

And what about giving up doubles for singles his senior season?

“It wasn’t that hard,” he said of making the switch. “My dad plays a lot of tennis and he played in college, so we play singles all the time. It was an easy switch.”

While Rutz is involved in numerous athletic endeavors — the latest being rock climbing and pickleball — he started playing tennis at the age of 4.

He stopped playing in middle school before picking it up again in high school.

It’s a sport he can play for years to come.

“You see elderly people playing tennis at the courts all the time,” he said. “You can certainly play tennis longer than you can soccer.”

Rutz plans on attending an in-state four-year college. He’d like to continue to play tennis, even if it’s only at an intramural level.

“I’d like to play in college if possible,” he said.

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

As an alternate for the Class 2A State Tournament, Anacortes senior Luke Rutz had to hope a player in the final 16 would drop out to get a chance to extend his season.

That’s exactly what happened, and Rutz more than took advantage of the situation.

Rutz, who placed fourth at bi-district last fall, won his first two matches at state to advance to the semifinals before ending up with a fifth-place finish.

For his efforts, Rutz is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Tennis Player of the Year.

Rutz, who played doubles his first three years in the high school tennis program, decided to make the change to singles this season.

And he certainly made the most of it.

“I was very happy about the way my season went,” Rutz said in the fall.

In the meantime, Rutz had plenty of time to not only work on his tennis game, but on his efforts as a diver on the Seahawks’ swim team.

He also played on Anacortes’ soccer team and on a local club soccer team.

Rutz said he improved his all-around tennis game this season, particularly his strength.

“I am bigger and stronger than I was a year ago,” heSkagit said. “MyValley ground strokes 2018-19 Herald really improved. That extra strength really helped. It helped a lot.”

And he didn’t spend time in the weight

SETH TERCERO

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

Switch from doubles to singles paid off for Rutz

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

From his first meet of the cross country season to his last, Mount Vernon runner Mason Taylor was focused on a set of goals.

With some help from coaches and teammates — and a grueling and ambitious training regimen — Taylor methodically checked every box on his list.

For his consistent performance and improved finish at the Class 4A state meet, Taylor is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Taylor said he began the season with three goals in mind: to repeat as Skagit County boys’ cross country champion, to help his team repeat as county champion and to improve his showing at the state meet.

He accomplished all three.

At the county meet at Sedro-Woolley’s Riverfront Park, Taylor finished the 5,000-meter course in 16 minutes, 51 seconds, to claim the overall crown. He was the only runner to break 17 minutes.

While Taylor is proud of the performance, he’s even more excited by what his teammates accomplished as they rolled to their second straight team title.

“Andre (Knudson) had a great race,” Taylor said, noting the sophomore’s second-place finish in 17:17. “He passed (two other runners) to move into second ... that was motivating for me.”

MASON TAYLOR

By TREVOR PYLE

Junior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

A season of goals made and goals checked off Taylor was also enthusiastic about Rainnier Bozung’s late pass to finish seventh.

“Everyone had a great race, and that got us the win again,” he said.

At state, Taylor finished 80th (16:40), an improvement on a revamped course over the previous year, when he finished 120th.

“Last year, it was freezing,” Taylor said. “This year it was fun. Experiencing one of the biggest races in the state is fun.”

Mount Vernon coach David Mitchell said, “He dropped 40 places at state under the same kind of competitive pressure. Last year I figured it was the fastest 4A race ever, and this year it stayed about the same. But he got faster.”

Mitchell said he wasn’t surprised by Taylor’s dramatic improvement.

“Mason’s right up there with the hardest working guys in the county.

You’ve got to have a gift and work at it, and he does both,” he said. “He ran out to my house this summer. I wasn’t home but my wife met him at door. He said he wanted to meet (with) coach. He was in the middle of a 20-mile run. He’d started from the high school and I live in Conway.”

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR

SAVILLE FE

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH S

w

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

8 Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Already a top runner, Feist added to résumé

By TREVOR PYLE Saville Feist’s contributions to the Anacortes cross country team this season can’t be summed up by her finishes alone.

Sure, Feist was the top local runner at the Skagit County meet and the bi-district 2A championships ... but the softspoken senior also stepped into a role as a leader for the young Seahawks.

For both of her roles — as top performer for the Seahawks and example to teammates — Feist has been selected as the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Cross Country Runner of the Year.

It’s the second such selection for Feist, who was the Herald’s runner of the year after her sophomore season.

In terms of finishes, it was a season of peaks and valleys for Feist.

A medical issue tripped her up at the Class 2A state meet, but she was a consistently solid performer during the regular season, as well as other stops in the postseason.

She finished 81st at the state meet.

“I was bummed with how it went,” said Feist, who noted she’s still recovering from injuries sustained when she was stuck by a car while riding her bicycle last year.

But her regular season included three victories, including in 19 Herald minutes, 55 2018-19 Skagit one Valley seconds on the 5,000-meter course at the Skagit County Championships in SedroWoolley.

MOIRA MACKAY

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Skagit Valley Herald

Junior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

SAVILLE FEIST

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

She was also the top local runner at the bi-disrict meet, where she finished second, and at the Northwest Conference championships, where she finished third with a personal-best time of 19:00.3.

Seahawks coach Brad Templeton said Feist was also an important presence away from races, where she helped guide a young Seahawks program that saw the boys go 7-0 in conference and the girls go 5-2.

“It didn’t happen right away. A couple, three weeks into the season, she started to bond with the younger kids,” Templeton said. “We had five or six freshmen and she started taking on the leadership role. She’s not the kind to call team meetings but she’d give advice when they needed it. In the past, that’s not something I’d expect from her. But it came naturally. ... She wanted to show the kids if you want to win, you have to show up and run your best.”

Feist said, “I’m not loud or bossy or demanding. But I tried to lead by example and it was fun. We had a strong group of girls and I wanted them to enjoy it. Cross country has moments where it’s not fun, but I wanted them to have fun. We had a great time.”

GIRLS’ SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR

w

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Skagit Valley Herald

FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

MATTY LAGERWEY

Senior, LA CONNER HIGH SCHOOL

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Senior’s leadership fueled state title run for Braves

By TREVOR PYLE When she was a freshman, Matty Lagerwey played on a La Conner volleyball team that lost in the state title match.

It was a disappointment ... but far from a waste.

Lagerwey paid attention to how the upperclassmen on that year’s team led: encouraging teammates when they needed a shot of energy, teaching them when they needed to refine their skills.

During her senior season, Lagerwey put it all to use, resulting in her being named the Skagit Valley Herald Volleyball Player of the Year.

“When I think of that 2015 year, it’s a huge part of who I am today,” she said.

With her smarts, leadership and hardhitting attack on the court, Lagerwey led the Braves to an undefeated season and the state Class 2B title, the program’s fourth state championship. Aided by underclassmen such as Joanie and Justine Benson and newcomer Morgan Herrera — as well as a crop of talented freshmen — Lagerwey capped a volleyball career by being named the statetournament Most Valuable Player.

That award goes along with another: She was also named her league’s Most Valuable Player.

Lagerwey said she wasn’t always sure the Braves’ season would end with a state title.

“If you’d asked me a month before,

I would have said ‘No way,’” she said.

“But our mindset changed from ‘We can do this’ to ‘We will do this.’ You just need to stop talking about what you want to do and do it.”

The Braves rolled through the Class 2B tournament, a run that included a five-set clash with Tri-Cities Prep the Braves won 22-25, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21, 15-10, and a win over Mossyrock in the title match 24-26, 25-22, 25-21, 25-11.

Lagerwey said those wins were fueled by the Braves’ conditioning.

“We were more conditioned ... that’s why we could kick it into another gear in the fifth set,” she said.

Braves coach Suzanne Marble said the work for that success started in the summer, when Lagerwey took on a key role in organizing her teammates for workouts.

“If people didn’t show during summer workouts, she’d make phone calls,” Marble said. “She held herself accountable, and it made others want to follow. She led by example. With that came a huge amount of confidence.”

Lagerwey, also a key basketball player and multiple title-winning track and field athlete for the Braves, credits her success to the tools given to her by previous La Conner athletes.

“You can have lots of talented people,” she said. “But leadership takes you where you want to go.”

MOIRA MA

Junior, BURLINGTON-EDISO

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

10 Wednesday, June 12, 2019

VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

MOIRA MACKAY

SAVILLE FEIST

When girls’ soccer teams went up against Burlington-Edison this season, they had to make sure to locate and mark the player wearing No. 2.

That was the jersey worn by Moira MacKay, the forward responsible for 36 goals this season — six off the school record of 42 set by Edie Breckenridge in 2014.

For her efforts on a BurlingtonEdison squad that finished 18-5-1 and was fourth at the Class 2A State Tournament, MacKay has been named the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year.

“This season, we got far farther than I expected,” MacKay said. “We really improved as a team ... It was a lot of fun, one of my favorite years of soccer.”

That’s saying something seeing as how MacKay has been playing since she was 5.

The junior was a thorn in the sides of defenses all season.

With a lethal combination of speed and accuracy, MacKay scored time and time again while earning Northwest Conference Offensive MVP accolades.

“I’m fast,” she said. “That helps a lot.

Plus, I’m able to disguise what I want to do pretty well.”

MacKay hasSkagit a knack Valley for lullingHerald 2018-19 defenses to sleep, then breaking into a full sprint. After getting the ball, she can put it away with either foot.

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Junior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

MacKay’s skill at scoring put opponents on edge

“My right foot is stronger, but I will shoot with my left if I have to,” she said.

MacKay’s junior season saw her continue to evolve as a soccer player.

In her third varsity season, she said she improved her ability to go one-oneone with an opposing player as well as her shooting.

It showed time and time again.

“My techniques got better,” MacKay said. “In 1-v-1, I knew when to do a skill and when to go ahead and make a pass.

When it came to shooting, I went back to the basics. I made sure I was settled and controlled when I took the shot.

“Scoring, that’s my job. And I got a lot of help from the midfield. They were great. We had great chemistry and the team really clicked. People were in the right spots. We all stuck together, had each other’s backs and really bonded.”

When she’s not busy maintaining her 3.70 grade-point average, MacKay enjoys singing and reading. She used to play basketball and still runs track for the Tigers.

“I like to sing, and I read a lot,” she said. “I also like photography, with my phone since I don’t have enough money for a real camera.”

Next season, MacKay is likely to be the lone senior on the Tigers roster.

“Next year, everyone will have to step up even more,” she said. “We are losing a huge group of seniors. I’m both excited and nervous. It’s going to be a lot different.”

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Skagit Valley Herald

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Congratulations Sports Stars!

AwArds & EmbroidEry • 360-424-9339 • mrtsAwArdsAndEmbroidEry.com 17691 stAtE routE 536 • mount VErnon • wA • 98273 1626642

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winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

With a young team around him and a teammate sidelined by injury to begin the year, Mount Vernon’s Isaiah Brown got a chance to be a leader as a sophomore this season.

In the end, the star guard stepped into the role nicely.

Brown was the Bulldogs’ leading scorer as he helped the young team reach the postseason.

For his efforts on and off the court, Brown has been selected the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year.

Brown was Skagit County’s leading scorer among boys this season at 16.9 points per game, forming a potent scoring duo with fellow guard Carlos Garcia, who averaged 14.7 points per game.

The two weren’t together all season, though.

Garcia, who is also a star receiver for the Bulldogs football team, missed an early portion of the season with an injury, meaning Brown had to take on a larger role than expected.

Brown kept up his scoring, to be sure.

He poured in 30 points in the Bulldogs’ season-opener against Sedro-Woolley; notched 29 against Kamiak in the Bulldogs’ first game against a Western 4A Conference opponent; and racked up a season-high 33 in the postseason against Issaquah.

But that’s not all he did.

“He had a lot put on his shoulders initially,” Bulldogs coach Roger Valentine said. “We started the season without Carlos. Isaiah is a combo guard, but he had to take on the point position because Carlos was injured ... He had to do quite a bit for us to be successful.”

Valentine said Brown stepped into the new role well.

“He’s a young player ... early on, we were living with more turnovers than he would have liked. But as the season went on, he got better at taking care of the ball ... I feel like I saw a great deal of improvement defensively as the season went on. As a freshman he was looking to score. This year he put a lot of his energy into defense.”

Brown said he and his teammates worked hard in the offseason to be ready for this year’s playoff-qualifying season.

“We pushed ourselves over the summer ... weights, open gyms,” he said. “A lot of guys had the desire to play. That desire ... there was more than last year.

We wanted to play more. We knew what we could do.”

It was a young Bulldogs squad made up of underclassmen. Under those circumstances, Brown was happy to take on a leadership role.

“I try to lead in every aspect ... scoring, feeding the ball to other players if they get hot.”

ISAIAH BROWN

By TREVOR PYLE

Sophomore, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

Sophomore led young team to the postseason

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

ISAAC LOP

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISO

12 Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Skagit Valley Herald

winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

GABBY RONNGREN

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Leadership and scoring characterized Ronngren

By TREVOR PYLE In a season of change for the Anacortes girls’ basketball team, Gabby Ronngren was a constant.

The Seahawks had a first-year coach, a roster of young players and no home court while their gym was being renovated.

Despite it all, Ronngren was a steady performer, as well as Skagit County’s top girls’ basketball scorer.

For her consistently high level of play, Ronngren has been selected the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year.

Ronngren scored 21.3 points per game season. Her 555 points gave her 1,283 for her high-school career, placing her eighth all time on the career scoring list for Skagit County. She’s the second-highest scorer among Anacortes players behind Brittany Janz, who scored 1,605 points.

Her tally included a season-high 40 points in the Seahawks’ opener against Stanwood; a 32-point effort against Mount Baker; and a string of five straight 20-point postseason games.

The Seahawks went 17-9 and qualified for the Class 2A State Tournament.

First-year coach Nate Dunham said Ronngren was crucial to the Seahawks’ success.

“Obviously, Gabby’s really talented,” he said. “To have that while starting a new program is fantastic. Her willingness to be coached and willingness to be

excited about what we were doing ... it helped pave the way for our program. It was an example every day of how to be a student-athlete, how to be a member of a program.”

Ronngren, who is also a standout soccer player, said she wasn’t sure at first how this season would go.

The team had a new face on the sidelines in Dunham, and was set to play its home games in various gyms, including at Anacortes Middle School.

“In the beginning, I was a little unsure with having a new coach and not having a home gym,” said Ronngren, who will play at Western Washington University next season.

But she said the Seahawks’ fall league went well, and that momentum carried into early-season games when the Seahawks were competitive with a larger school in Stanwood, and played well in a win over a top-shelf smaller school in La Conner.

Ronngren, who was one of the team’s captains, knew she’d play an important role. “My coach said I’d be an influence, a role model. I had to play aggressive and confident,” she said.

On that end, Dunham said, Ronngren helped place the cornerstone for future success.

“People saw how hard she worked in practice. People saw I was able to coach her and correct her when she made mistakes, and she was willing to accept it, she wanted to be coached,” he said.

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BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

BOYS’ SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

Skagit Valley Herald

V

O TE D

CAR DEALERSHIP

By VINCE RICHARDSON There’s not much better than claiming a state wrestling title.

Well, except garnering two.

And that’s exactly what BurlingtonEdison’s Isaac Lopez did.

For hit efforts on the mat this season, the two-time state champion is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Wrestler of the Year for a second consecutive year.

This year, Lopez claimed the top spot at Mat Classic XXXI in the Class 2A 120-pound classification. He won a title a season ago at 113 pounds.

“My goal, 100 percent, was to repeat,” Lopez said. “I knew to do that I was going to have to work super hard this season. It paid off.”

Lopez is the sixth Burlington-Edison boys’ wrestler to win multiple state titles, and the first since Andy Cook won his third in 1996.

Lopez said he is pleased with how his state tournament went, adding he wrestled more relaxed this season than he did last season despite having a target on his back as a defending champ.

“I had that experience,” he said.

“Knowing how it all went took a load off. If I hadn’t won it last year, I think there would have been a lot more pressure.”

There was also less pressure thanks to 2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald an improved mental focus. Lopez said he was able to wrestle through situations better this year, slowing down and tak-

CORA ORTON

BOYS’ WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

Lopez etched his name in B-E lore with two titles Junior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

ISAAC LOPEZ

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

Wednesday, June 12, 2019 13

ing time to figure out exactly what was taking place.

Coaching played a significant role in his ability to mentally compartmentalize and diagnose what he was facing on the mat.

“Good coaching,” Lopez said. “Good coaching in my corner, reminding me to slow it down.”

He also worked hard on his improving his technique, looking to outwit rather than outwork his opponent.

“I was really focused on using my strength as least as possible,” Lopez said.

“I get much more satisfaction working out in the mat room instead of the weight room. Plus, there isn’t any hesitation when you know exactly what you want to do. It’s then stuff really clicks.”

There is no rest for Lopez as he wrestles year-round. And next season, he will wrestle for national junior college power North Idaho College in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho.

He doesn’t expect it to be his final stop at the college level.

“I definitely want to wrestle Division I and become an All-American,” Lopez said.

GIRLS’ WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

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BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

BOYS’ SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

14 Wednesday, June 12, 2019

BOYS’ WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

CORA ORTON

Orton did some self-diagnosis and made the necessary changes.

To combat anxious thoughts, she began walking to the beat of certain music. When her pace exceeds that beat, she knows it’s time to slow down.

“When I’m walking to a certain beat, if I get going too fast I know my anxiety it ramping up,” Orton said. “I know I have to slow down and get it under control.”

She started her anti-anxiety technique several weeks before the state tournament and the results were positive.

“I kicked into gear about a week before the start of the postseason,” she said. “Really, I just wanted to make it to the second day (at state).”

She made the second day and her final match went down to the wire.

If there was a time to be anxious, this was it. But Orton didn’t flinch. She trailed late and rallied for the win at the last second.

“I was down by one, but I wasn’t nervous,” she said. “I knew I had it. I knew how hard I’d worked for it. I was really excited about that match.”

Orton is a three-time state meet competitor who went 1-2 as a freshman and finished seventh at 100 pounds as a sophomore. She hopes to make it to the top of the podium her senior season.

“That’s exciting,” Orton said. “I’ve started to get a handle on my anxiety and I now have the methods to deal with it.”

Junior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Sedro-Woolley’s Cora Orton faced plenty of adversity this season both on and off the wrestling mat.

The junior persevered, finishing fifth in the girls’ 110-pound weight class at Mat Classic XXXI. For her strong season, Orton has been named the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Wrestler of the Year.

“I was happy with the end result,” Orton said. “Happy with the way it went at state. I was ranked between seventh and 10th all year and I finished fifth.”

As a whole, Orton said her wrestling season wasn’t her best.

“It was one of my toughest seasons,” she said. “I had a lot of injuries and I struggled with anxiety.”

Orton, who wrestles pretty much yearround and who first picked up the sport as a 6-year-old, found herself foundering in the middle of this season, unsure of herself and panicking when she stepped onto the mat.

It was a situation that caught her off guard.

“I was always pretty chill,” she said.

“Then all of a sudden, I felt unprepared, I felt anxious. I was going through this slump, mostly in the second half of the season.

“I2018-19 started going backwards andHerald I kept Skagit Valley going downhill. ... There was some doubt on whether or not I was even going to qualify for state.”

ISAAC LOPEZ

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

Orton overcame struggles to place at state tourney

Skagit Valley Herald

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

Wednesday, June 12, 2019 15

Skagit Valley Herald

winter ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

EMMETT MOORE

ISAIAH BROWN

In the end, not even the cancellation of a postseason swim meet could knock Emmett Moore and his teammates off their game.

Moore and the other members of the Anacortes boys’ swimming and diving team, who entered this season with high expectations after winning the Class 2A state title the previous season, did well to overcome the cancellation of the BiDistrict 2A Championships because of snow.

“For a lot of our team, it’s a build throughout the season,” Moore said. “(The cancellation) stopped the momentum ... but we carried through it. It felt a little weird, but we adjusted.”

The Seahawks adjusted well enough to claim second place at the Class 2A state meet, and Moore had four topfour finishes as either an individual or a member of a relay.

For his versatile and consistent performance, Moore is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Swimmer of the Year.

Moore, a senior, finished third in both the 100-yard butterfly (51.31 seconds) and 100 backstroke (52.75).

He was part of the second-place 200 medley relay team that finished in 1:36.22, and swam on the fourth-place 4002018-19 freestyle relay teamValley that finished in Skagit Herald 3:15.29.

The Seahawks placed behind only Olympic.

Sophomore, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

Meet’s cancellation didn’t distract Moore, teammates Moore is quick to deflect attention away from himself and toward teammates who also contributed, whether it was a strong junior class that stepped into larger roles; a group of first-year divers, four of whom qualified for state; or swimmers such as Jacob Erickson, who made the finals of both the 50 and 100 freestyles, and finished third in the latter.

Moore won the Class 2A butterfly title last season in a state meet-record 49.94. He was also the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Swimmer of the Year that season.

He is one of six boys’ swimmers in Anacortes history to win a state title.

All told, the Seahawks didn’t lose a dual meet in Moore’s four years in the program.

That won’t be the final word on his swimming career, however. Next up, he’ll be part of a four-swimmer recruiting class at NCAA Division I Seattle University.

“I’m very excited. I think it’ll be a good place. It’s in the city, which is something I wanted, and it’s Division I, which is cool,” he said.

“It’s an exciting group and during their visits, we realized what a good fit they would be for our team and the Seattle University community as well,” Seattle coach Craig Nisgor said of the recruiting class in a news release.

Moore is the only Washington swimmer in the group.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

BOYS’ SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

CORA OR

Junior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY H

ISAAC LOP

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISO

Congratulations, Emmett!

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

16 Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Ty Saunders will suit up next baseball season for the University of Portland.

But first things first.

For his outstanding efforts in his final high school season, the Anacortes senior is the Skagit Valley Herald Baseball Player of the Year.

This season, Saunders hit .362, scored 15 runs and had 11 RBI. On the mound, he had five wins, 87 strikeouts and an 1.49 ERA. When not pitching, he was playing stellar defense at shortstop.

“Honestly, he (Saunders) is the best defensive shortstop I have ever coached,” Anacortes coach Pat Swapp said. “When he first suited up as a freshman, he showed maturity and ability well beyond his years.

“He has a lot of natural ability. I’ve had other players go D-I, and this is no disrespect to them, but he’s a notch above the rest.”

Saunders was also named the Northwest Conference MVP. “I am happy with my high school career,” he said. “I’m happy with the relationships I’ve made and with the people I’ve had the opportunity to play with. It has been a lot of fun.”

Saunders prepared well for this season.

He said Skagit during the offseason he spent 2018-19 Valley Herald every day in the hitting cage.

That work ethic didn’t go unnoticed.

“He has worked so hard,” Swapp said.

MEGAN BELLUSCI

“He’s just wired to play baseball and knows what it takes to improve ... He knows the game and there is just something calming about him when he’s out there (on the diamond) no matter the situation.”

Saunders swung the bat well from both sides of the plate in his second year of switch-hitting.

He said being able to hit from both sides would help him at the next level.

“You can see the off-handed pitchers better,” he said. “The curveball comes into you, rather than going away. Plus, you are faster out of the box from the left side. That helped me.”

While he finds pitching fun, Saunders really enjoys playing shortstop.

“I like to play shortstop because you can control the game,” he said. “You can go talk to your pitcher, there’s a leadership role with it, and a lot of baseballs get hit there as well.”

As he leaves high school behind, Saunders will play about 80 games this summer with the Seattle Stars club team and try to find some time to fish.

He boasts a 3.82 high school GPA, and despite math being his favorite subject he’s undecided about what he will focus on in college.

“I’ll figure it out,” he said. “It’s nice to have pinpointed Portland. “It’s a great school, has an up-and-coming baseball program and there are a lot of places to fish. I really love the campus. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

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Senior, MOUNT VERNON C

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BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

TY SAUNDERS

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

Saunders excelled at every facet of the game

Wednesday, June 12, 2019 17

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

MEGAN BELLUSCI

Senior, ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Bellusci rewrote the Seahawks’ record books

By VINCE RICHARDSON Anacortes softball coach Tom Swapp has been around the game a long time.

Forty years to be exact.

So when Swapp says, “We’ve had some great igniters at the top of our order over the years, but there’s never been one like Megan (Bellusci),” it’s duly noted.

For the second consecutive year, Bellusci has been named Skagit Valley Herald Softball Player of the Year.

This season, the senior rewrote the Anacortes record books.

Her batting average of .725 topped her record of .717 set a season ago.

“That was a goal this season, to beat my batting average from last year, and I did that,” Bellusci said.

For her four-year career, she batted a school-record .665, while her on-base percentage was a school-record .709. Her 66 hits is a school record for a season as is her 266 career hits, pushing past her sister Tara’s 186 hits between 2008-2011.

Bellusci said she never thinks about stats when she’s in the batter’s box.

“I relax my mind,” she said. “I think about fishing or I usually have a song stuck in my head, something.”

She had a school-record six hits against Granite Falls, and her 51 career extra-base hits places her third all-time.

“That’s interesting because the two ahead of her are Madison Bundy and Amber Writer, both power hitters who

became college stars,” Swapp said.

“Megan is thought to be a slapper.”

Bellusci’s hitting style is to make contact with the ball as she moves forward, allowing her to move toward first base while at the same time directing the ball’s trajectory.

“I was able to get on base because of my speed,” she said. “I could bunt, slap, or hit away. I practiced slapping at the batting cage. I’d set up a bucket and try to hit the ball to it. You learn to pick your spot, get the timing down, to go on contact and that makes it easy.”

Though Bellusci didn’t shy away from crushing the ball hard and deep when the opportunity arose, she knew that wasn’t her true value to the team.

“My job was to get on base,” she said.

“Then let someone else get the glory.

Slap, bunt, whatever it took.”

Bellusci’s season helped the Seahawks to an unbeaten regular season in which they went 18-0.

In the playoffs, they were 1-2 to see their season end at the bi-district round.

“I wish we’d went further,” Bellusci said. “An undefeated senior (regular) season, that was great.”

As for what next year holds for her, Bellusci has made no decisions. She said she originally wasn’t looking to play softball in college, but has changed her mind.

“I was done with softball and now I’m not,” she said. “I know wherever I go I’ll have a good time. Just where that will be, I’m not sure.”

KYLE COO

Junior, MOUNT VERNON H

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18 Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

BRENDAN WOODS

said. “I am extremely lucky. My mom is amazing.”

In his second year as captain, Woods said he felt more responsibility this year because it was his senior season.

“I had great teammates this year,” he said. “Everyone worked hard and we had a great system.”

Then there was the matter of being moved from defender to attacking center midfielder.

The move paid off as Woods shined, catching the eye of coaches from Douglas College in New Westminster, British Columbia. That’s where Woods will play next season.

“Again, I owe it to Gary,” Woods said.

“He has helped me out in so many ways.

Getting to play in college is a dream come true.”

Playing the game with heart was a key to Woods’ success.

“If you don’t have heart, if you don’t play with heart, you don’t have much,” he said. “I saw myself as a playmaker.

I led the team in assists and I’m fine with that. I like setting others up for the glory.”

Sporting a 3.9 grade-point average, Woods wants to pursue a degree in medicine.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to play there (Douglas College), and then transfer to a bigger school,” he said.

GIRLS’ TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Senior, SEDRO-WOOLLEY HIGH SCHOOL

On the soccer field, Sedro-Woolley’s Brendan Woods may not be the biggest or fastest player.

What he is is efficient, calculating and, maybe most of all, a team player.

For his efforts on the field this season, Woods is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year.

“All I wanted to do this year was play well,” Woods said. “I know I’m not the biggest guy out there or the fastest, so I have to play smarter.”

Woods’ high soccer IQ made him a dangerous threat with and without the ball.

“Quite simply put, he is a glider,” Sedro-Woolley coach Gary Warman said. “Off the dribble, he is elusive and is fearless when taking people on. Sometimes, a little too fearless.

“He did a nice job with our squad when it came to simplifying his game so players less technical could be successful.”

Warman played a role in Woods’ development.

“I owe Gary a lot. I learned a lot from him and it wasn’t all on the field,” Woods said. “I was in his office every day. He was my biggest supporter and he made me not only a better player, but a better person.”Skagit Valley Herald 2018-19 Woods had others behind him, including his mother Katherine.

“I have a great support system,” he

LYNDSEE FLEURY

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

Woods used a strong soccer IQ to stand out

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Wednesday, June 12, 2019 19

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Matty Lagerwey doesn’t play it safe.

This spring, that meant taking some chances that made her senior track and field season more memorable than it would have been otherwise.

Lagerwey won two Class 2B state titles, but also nabbed top-five finishes in events she had added this season.

For her versatility and finish, she is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

Competing at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Lagerwey won state titles in the triple jump and long jump with marks of 37 feet, 1 3/4 inches, and 18-4 3/4, respectively.

She also placed third in the javelin (118-6) and fifth in the 100-meter dash (13.18 seconds).

She set personal bests in the long jump, triple jump and javelin in the state finals, and tied a personal-best 13.03 in the state 100 prelims.

While the jumps were events familiar to Lagerwey — she won three previous titles in the long jump and one in the triple jump — the other two events were ones she’d competed in only sporadically.

Despite the newness of the events, her expectations were high.

“My expectation is always to win,” said Lagerwey, who won a state volleyball title with her La Conner teammates in the fall. “I’m a competitive person. I

MATTY LAGERWEY

By TREVOR PYLE

Senior, LA CONNER HIGH SCHOOL

Lagerwey’s decision to add 100, javelin paid off don’t like to lose.”

She said she moved into the new events after previously competing in the relays.

Lagerwey’s coaches had no misgivings about her adding the javelin and 100meter events. “(Coach Peter Voorhees) and I were talking about it on the ride back; she’s at that point where she just gets things athletically,” said La Conner coach Jacob Grantham. “When you communicate, she understands what you’re saying and applies it. She’s the rare high school athlete who can do that.”

Grantham said Lagerwey was a talented athlete from the start, but has grown stronger.

“She really turned the corner last year. She started owning her athleticism,” he said. “She was definitely volleyball- and basketball-heavy in earlier years. Then she realized she was good at (track and field), it was something she wanted to do. ... She split her time between multiple technical events and did it with skill.

“She’s gone from being a raw athlete to a track athlete.”

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

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Senior, MOUNT VERNON C

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GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

20 Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Taylor set an example on and off the track

By TREVOR PYLE When the Mount Vernon Christian boys’ track and field team won a Class 1B state title a few weeks ago, Gabe Taylor was a huge reason why.

The senior won four state titles in individual events — the 100-meter run, 200, 400 and triple jump — and racked up 40 points as the Hurricanes won their third consecutive state crown.

It was only the second time a Mount Vernon Christian track and field athlete accomplished the feat. Carla van Rooyen was the first to do so, in 2014.

Taylor’s season-ending performance has led to his selection as the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

At state, Taylor won the 100 in 11.59 seconds, the 200 in 22.68, the 400 in 50.27 and the triple jump at 43 feet, 10 1/2 inches.

His times in the 100 state prelims (11.17) and the 200 state finals are school records.

In the end, Taylor accounted for nearly half of his team’s 82 points. Powered

by Taylor and teammates such as hurdler Micah Hays, who won both hurdle state titles, the Hurricanes topped the meet runner-up by 12 points.

Taylor said the way the meet unfolded wasn’t a surprise.

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald He said there was suspense in the triple jump because he was in the lead but had to wait for his closest competitor to

KYLE COOLEY

BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Skagit Valley Herald

Junior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

GABE TAYLOR

Senior, MOUNT VERNON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

do one more jump. In the 100, he said, the race had to be re-started because someone in the stands yelled “set” to confuse runners.

By this spring, Taylor was a canny enough veteran to get past such wrinkles.

He grew up around track and field because older sister Jacki was also a Hurricanes star. He was also accustomed to high-level competition in boys’ soccer, where he was a solid contributor for the Hurricanes throughout his career.

Taylor said he briefly considered not competing in track this year. He’s grateful he pushed any doubts aside.

“I’m glad I did it, for sure,” he said.

Coach Linda Gudmunson said Taylor set a good example for his teammates, and not just because of his on-track performance.

“It’s never been about him. There’s never been a cockiness to him,” she said.

“It was a great example for other kids to see how successful he could be, and how he could do it right ... with humbleness and joy.”

She said when Taylor was young and accompanying his sister to meets, he told Gudmunson he wanted her to still be the coach when he entered the program.

After his season had wrapped up, Gudmunson said she got a thank-you card from the senior. It said, “Thanks for keeping your promise.”

BOYS’ GOLFER OF THE YEAR

GIRLS’ TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Wednesday, June 12, 2019 21

Skagit Valley Herald

KYLE COOLEY

Junior, MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

BOYS’ GOLFER OF THE YEAR

Cooley’s hard work made him state title contender

By TREVOR PYLE Small changes led to a big result this spring for Mount Vernon’s Kyle Cooley.

After working on his golf game between his sophomore and junior seasons, Cooley tied for second in the Class 4A State Tournament.

For his finish, Cooley is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Golfer of the Year.

Cooley qualified for the state tournament last year, but didn’t make the cut to get to the second day. This year, not only did he advance to the second day, but he was one of the most competitive golfers there.

The difference?

Nothing dramatic, said Mount Vernon coach Vic Wolffis. Just a lot of tiny improvements that added up to a significant improvement.

“He was able to execute his plan at a higher rate because he improved his skills that much more,” Wolffis said. “If you watched him swing, he looks like the same golfer. But he was able to take his skills up. Over the course of the season his skill level jumped up enough he could execute what he wanted to do.”

Cooley said the improvements came about because of work with local golf pros including Craig Welty and Sam Johnson at Skagit Golf & Country Club and support from friends, teammates and family — especially his parents, Laurie and Todd Cooley.

He said among the parts of his game

that improved was ball striking.

“I was able to hit more fairways and greens, and it led to more birdie opportunities and more birdies,” he said.

Any doubts about Cooley’s potential this season were answered at the Bill Egbers Memorial Tournament, the Skagit County invitational that often draws a slate of the best golfers in the state.

Battling fellow prep standouts such as Mount Si’s Drew Warford, Cooley finished tied for fourth.

“It was cool to battle him and play against him,” Cooley said.

That battle had a sequel at the end of the season at the state tournament at The Creek at Qualchan Golf Course in Spokane.

Warford won the tournament after back-to-back rounds of 71. Cooley shot a 71 and followed it up with a 73 to finish tied with Gonzaga Prep’s Nate Plaster.

“I matured as a golfer,” Cooley said.

“I didn’t get as nervous going into the (state) tournament. I wanted to do well but I knew there were more important things than a high school golf tournament.”

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Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

EMMA WORGUM

including finishing in the top 15 at state and posting scores in the upper 70s to low 80s.

“I was excited about state,” Worgum said. “There is obviously plenty to improve on and I can always say I can do better. But I was really excited to have finished 12th.”

Amid all the changes, her strengths flourished, especially when it came to iron play.

“Chipping is my favorite shot,” Worgum said. “I am just really comfortable with my irons. Pitching shots from about 100 yards and in, that’s where I’m good.

I like having (the ball) go to the pin and watching it roll toward it.”

Between this season and next, Worgum will work on other aspects of her game.

“Putting,” she said. “I really need to get my mental game better. Staying positive throughout. I can get frustrated, but for the most part, I stay pretty calm.”

For her sophomore campaign, she wants to be a more consistent scorer than she was this past season.

“I want to shoot consistently in the mid to high 70s,” Worgum said. “That’s my goal. I love the game and it’s a lot of fun. I’ll golf in 14 tournaments this summer around the state. It’s going to be busy. But it’s also going to be fun.”

Freshman, LA CONNER HIGH SCHOOL

Emma Worgum has been golfing for about as long as she can remember.

At the age of 7, she attended a golf camp at Eaglemont Golf Course, and before that her father had her swinging tiny clubs.

“I remember hitting the ball off a mat in the backyard,” Worgum said. “Now I get to go to driving ranges.”

Worgum, a La Conner freshman, finished 12th this spring at the Class 1A/2B/1B State Tournament.

For her efforts during a season in which La Conner brought back its golf program after a two-year hiatus, Worgum is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Golfer of the Year.

Finishing 12th at state was a big step for a golfer who not only was in her first year of high school play, but benefited from having a coach for the first time.

“It’s a new program, and having a coach has been helpful,” Worgum said.

“We changed around some stuff.”

Those changes included tweaking her swing to make it more vertical than flat, as well as altering her putting grip.

“My putting grip, we made a change so I can’t use my wrist so much,” she said. “I was open to these changes. Honestly, I was kind of lost at the beginning of the season, so I was ready to make 2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald some changes.”

Those changes helped her accomplish what she set out to do this season,

MATTY LAGERWEY

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, LA CONNER HIGH SCHOOL

Freshman season was one of growth for Worgum

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ GOLFER OF THE YEAR

BRENDA

Senior, SEDRO-WOOLL

LYNDSEE

Senior, BURLINGTON-E

w

Wednesday, June 12, 2019 23

Skagit Valley Herald

SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

2018-19 Skagit Valley Herald

GIRLS’ TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

KYLE COO

Junior, MOUNT VERNON H

GABE TAY

Senior, MOUNT VERNON C

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GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

LYNDSEE FLEURY

“She worked just as hard learning the game mentally as she did growing her skills on the court,” coach Joel Wasson said. “It’s really a great success story of someone working hard to achieve their goals ... ‘Look at what you could do if you set your mind to it.’”

The home-schooled Fleury plans on taking a year off from school before moving on to college.

“I definitely want to play in college,” she said. “I want to play at that next level.

Right now, I’m focused on working to save money for college. I plan on playing a lot of tournaments this summer to get my USTA ranking up.”

She said she has plenty to work on.

“There are so many things,” Fleury said. “But I know what I need to do to improve my overall game. I just have to play consistent every point.”

All she’s accomplished isn’t too shabby for someone who first picked up a racquet two years ago at the urging of her grandfather. After that she went high tech, watching YouTube videos involving the sport.

“My grandpa played,” Fleury said. “He told me to try it out to see if I liked it. I did and in six weeks, I was playing third singles on varsity. I’ve improved a lot since then.

“I now play for the Bellingham Tennis Club and actually got a scholarship to play there after writing an essay on what I love about the sport. That’s really going to help me.”

Senior, BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

Lyndsee Fleury didn’t pick up a tennis racquet until her sophomore year of high school.

Two years later, she won a sub-district 2A singles title, was runner-up in her bidistrict tournament and won a match at the Class 2A State Tournament.

For her accomplishments, the Burlington-Edison senior is the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ Tennis Player of the Year.

“I’m really happy with how the season went,” Fleury said. “I had hoped to advance further at state ... It was still a good experience. There were a lot of great players there.”

Fleury said her patience and her mental game improved this season, raising her win total.

“I am a more patient player,” she said.

“I didn’t rush after the point, didn’t go for it too soon. In the beginning, I was trying to put points away in a hurry. Now I set them up. I have lost matches in the past by rushing, by getting anxious, by being focused on just getting the ball over the net. That’s what a lot of high school players do.”

And that mental game?

“I was down a lot this season,” she said. “There were matches where it was 4-0 and 5-0. I just switched some things around and came back. Before, just 2018-19 Skagit ValleyI’dHerald give up. But this year, I kept trying to do my best.”

That improvement didn’t go unnoticed.

MATTY LAGERWEY

By VINCE RICHARDSON

Senior, LA CONNER HIGH SCHOOL

Fleury came a long way in two years of playing

Congratulations Skagit Valley

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