BOYS GOLF
It’s a battle-tested (and successful) squad that coach Ryan Picinich has welcomed back for another season on the links.
A healthy handful of golfers return from last year’s team that scored eighth-place honors at the Class 4A state tournament. Overall, Picinich says, he has “a great group of boys with a variety of leadership qualities and positive motivation.”
The team was first tested Sept. 5 when Auburn Mountainview came to town for a match at Enumclaw Golf Course. Yesterday (Tuesday), the Hornets were again on their home course, taking on Auburn Riverside.
Leading the way are familiar names like senior Ty Albrecht, a two-time, first team selection to the all-North Puget Sound League team; he tied for 17th during last season’s state tourney. He’s joined by fellow senior Jaeger Christian, another first team, all-NPSL selection who was 40th at last year’s state tournament.
Cameron Serba, a junior, was a second team all-league pick last year and finished 41st at state; senior Colton Willson earned all-league honorable mention and was 55th at state; and senior Wyatt Bort also received honorable mention honors and was 71st at state. Senior Tristen Nichols was another Hornet receiving all-league honorable mention.
Among those making a varsity push are junior Ray Coville, who won last year’s junior varsity qualifying tournament and advanced to district play, and Ben Laurnen, a sophomore who was an alternate to last season’s district tournament.
GIRLS GOLF
The Enumclaw High girls golf program seems to be sitting in a sweet spot at the dawn of a new season. Coach Steve Murphy has a team that has experienced success both during the regular season and beyond.
His top six returnees all qualified for the West Central District tournament a season ago and several have garnered league honors. Leading the squad are: senior Emma Murphy, a two-time state tournament participant, a first team all-NPSL selection and a three-time letter winner; senior Danyel Korpe, second team all-NPSL a year ago and a three-time letter winner; senior Maya Rismiller, honorable mention all-NPSL last year and a two-time letter winner; senior Maddie Rubin, a two-time letter winner; senior letter winner Ava Jenkins; and junior letter winner Meredith Petellin.
The Hornet girls tee off for the first time at 3 p.m. Thursday, hosting Auburn High at the Enumclaw Golf Course.
VOLLEYBALL
Veteran coach Jackie Carel has been preparing to kick off the 2019 campaign with what she terms “a new crop of girls this year with a core of returning seniors.”
The some new additions, the early part of the season could be crucial. It will provide “a great opportunity for us to play together and get to know each other as a team,” she said. Included in the additions to the Hornet program is a freshman class that has the coach excited.
But it’s the established core that may be counted on to set the tone. That includes returning seniors like middle hitter Jesslyn Huizenga (a second team all-NPSL selection a year ago), opposite hitter Sydney Brazier, outside hitter Amy Meneghini and defensive specialist Kiana Triplett. The rest of Carel’s early-season varsity roster includes senior Gabrielle DeMarco and juniors Ashley Avila, Deana Beals, Adelynne Goumaz, Hayle Kiblinger, Karsyn Kranc, Jessalyn Osborn and Emily Wessel.
The Hornets’ first action came last night (Tuesday) when EHS traveled to Des Moines to take on Mount Rainier High. Thursday brings another road contest, this time to Graham-Kapowsin.
GIRLS SOCCER
Veteran coach Shawn Tobius anticipates one thing with the dawn of a new season: that his squad will “fight to the very end and give a maximum effort.”
That outlook was first tested Tuesday, when the Hornets hosted Kentridge in the 2019 season opener. Tonight at 7, again at the Expo Center, EHS will host neighboring White River. A busy week continues Friday when the Hornets host Federal Way.
Tobius figures his top returners to include seniors like Sawyer Anderson, Claire Lewis, Gracie Neu, Rén Olson and Monica Brown. A season ago, when North Puget Sound League 4A coaches made their all-league selections, Olson was tabbed as a second-team forward and Anderson earned honorable mention as a midfielder.
The rest of the varsity roster includes seniors Kennedy Harstad, Kate Hayett; and juniors Saydee Anderson, Emilee Blakemore, Kira Bowdre, Jordyn Cook, Sydney Cumiford, Katie Hardman, Bella Hoyer, Nicole Huff, Alison Laukala, Olivia Quinnett (a second team midfielder last year) and Hailey Sholseth.
The Hornets will be looking to improve upon last season, which showed a regular-season record of 6-9-1 and ended with a district loss to Olympia.
GIRLS SWIM & DIVE
Coach Becky Pratt and her program are boosted by 10 returning athletes, some promising newcomers and four competitors from neighboring White River High.
Because White River does not offer a swim program, those Hornets make the trek across the county line to join the EHS Hornets.
Leading this year’s squad are sophomore Anna Bogh and senior Margaret Petellin, a pair of school record-holders and veterans of the Class 4A state meet. The duo made up one-half of a crew that set a school record last year in the 200-yard medley relay.
Additionally, Bogh was a first team, all-league selection at the close of her freshman campaign.
Pratt also is excited to watch the progression of three new divers – freshmen Ashley Dickerson and Jenna Tingley and sophomore Alexis Swafford.
The rest of the 21-person squad includes seniors Hannah Baxter and Janelle Holmes; juniors Kaet Marlow, Reagan Molen, Zusha Maxwell, Brooklyn Fessler (WR) and Jacqui Propst (WR); sophomores Ella Hoyne, Keelyn Long and Leanna Walski; and freshmen Alexandria Harrington, Zoey Ryan, Clara Madewell, Kate Perlot, Lillian Schatz (WR) and Samantha Sapp (WR).
Pratt and her team will open the season with three consecutive home meets: Sept. 17 vs. Auburn, Sept. 24 vs. Auburn Mountainview and Sept 26 vs. Sumner.
BOYS TENNIS
With the bulk of last year’s varsity roster lost to graduation, coach Will Stuenkel is reloading. Taking to the court this season, he said, will be “a new group of seniors and some exciting newcomers to the program.”
Returning to the squad and looking to contribute are seniors Alex Roth, Tyler Ediger, Brennan Gallagher, Cole Bowen, Jackson Zuydhoek and Sam Laurnen. Returning underclassman include Jarom Warren and Keagan VanHoof. A new addition to the team, Carter Eldridge, “is looking to have an exciting year at the varsity ranks,” Stuenkel said.
The coach had his first look at live action yesterday (Tuesday) when the Hornets took to the road and faced Todd Beamer High. Thursday, the team travels to Auburn Mountainview. The first home match of the season is set for Friday against Federal Way.
BOYS WATER POLO
With youth and inexperience comes opportunity and growth. That’s the message heading into the season for the EHS boys water polo squad.
Second-year coach Scott Usborne saw graduation take away most of his program, with eight of last season’s 11 players finishing their high school days. But the coach considers himself lucky because 11 new recruits signed on.
“We are young and new,” Usborne said, “but this gives us a great opportunity. The players are learning a lot quickly and I expect to see a lot of growth.”
There are no seniors on this year’s roster, but there is varsity experience with Jacob Hauswirth and Kellen Murray in the water. The rest of the roster includes Samuel Beal, Angus Drynan, Asher Harlan, Jacob Hatzenbeler, Anthony Martinez, Logan McNabb, Dean Paulson, Luke Perlot, Conner Strong, Ethan Thorley and Gunnar Warren.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Jeff Jacobson, the reining NPSL Coach of the Year, has fewer decisions to make this season. He has typically seen turnouts ranging as high as 40 would-be runners but this year has just a dozen on his active roster. That comes after 17 graduated from last year’s roster and another eight turned out for different sports this fall.
“But we still have a good core,” Jacobson said, rattling off the names of some veteran runners and promising newcomers.
Heading that list is senior Jacob Dickson, a first team, all-league selection a year ago. Joining him in the ranks of returning varsity competitors are Seth Coons, Trevor Storm and Derek Sanders. Among the brightest of the new faces are sophomore Noah Harkness and freshman Henry Tripp.
The squad had its first taste of competition Saturday, heading over the Cascades to attend the Ellensburg Jamboree. The first official test comes the afternoon of Sept. 18 when Enumclaw hosts Auburn High at Nolte State Park.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
There’s a new coach leading the Hornet harriers, as John Freeburg has taken the helm.
Leading the team this year will be senior Natasha Puzon (a second team, all-league selection last season) and sophomore Kristen Dickson, a pair of experience runners.
Also expected to bolster the team’s chances are sophomore Addie Neu, turning out for the first time, and freshman Kate Dickson.
Like their male EHS counterparts, the Hornet girls had their initial competition Saturday at the Ellensburg Jamboree. The first official meet comes Sept. 18 when Enumclaw hosts Auburn High at Nolte State Park. The girls will run first, touring the course that circles Deep Lake.
