EHS soccer team hit hard by graduation

Students have returned to their classrooms, the sun sets a bit earlier these days and there’s soon to be a true nip in the air. That means one thing: high school sports are finally in full swing.

The following is a quick look at the Enumclaw High sporting landscape. The exception is football, which was previewed in this publication a week ago.

GIRLS SOCCER

With veteran coach Shawn Tobius again at the helm, the EHS girls soccer team has launched into a new season with a new league and new, larger classification.

The Hornets had their first taste of 3A North Puget Sound League action Monday when they hit the road to challenge Federal Way High School. Tonight (Wednesday) brings a home game against Kentlake, beginning at 7 p.m. on the turf at the Enumclaw Expo Center. The only nonleague contest of the season comes Thursday, Sept. 12, when the Hornets host the Bonney Lake Panthers.

Tobius has welcomed back a handful of Hornets who received league accolades a season ago as members of the Class 2A SPSL. Now a senior, Megan Madill was tabbed as Keeper of the Season.

Also returning are seniors Emma Henshaw and Ruth Landwehr, a pair of first team all-league selections in 2023. Named to the second team last year were Ally Mavin, now a senior, and Clare Largent, a junior.

VOLLEYBALL

For the first time in decades EHS volleyball players will not be taking instruction head coach Jacki Carel, who retired following the 2023 campaign.

Instead, they will be guided by former Enumclaw standout Barbie Becker, who played for Carel before taking her game to the college ranks.

Becker and Co. received their first test Monday night when they hosted Kentlake High on the EHS campus. Tonight (Wednesday) brings a road trip and a battle against Decatur. Both are foes in Enumclaw’s new home, the 3A North Puget Sound League.

Heading the list of key returnees is senior Haley Osborne, who was voted Libero of the Year a season ago. Another varsity veteran who earned postseason honors last year is junior Haley Dumontet.

Those two helped the Hornets earn a share of the league championship during their final SPSL season with a 15-1 record.

CROSS COUNTRY

The frequently-heard word is “new” in Hornet cross country circles.

There is the new classification, as EHS has been bumped from Class 2A status to the larger 3A realm courtesy of growing enrollment. That, in turn, has taken the Hornets into a new league; gone is the familiar SPSL 2A, replaced by the 3A North Puget Sound League.

Also new is the cross country coaching staff, which now consists of Rebekah and Curtis Cheney. The opening came when longtime coach Jeff Jacobson stepped away after decades in the profession.

And, finally, the Hornets will be running on a new course when they host a pair of 3A NPSL meets. Runners will take off from the field near Enumclaw Middle School, across from the district administration building. The first home meet is set for Sept. 25; the second features Senior Night and is planned for October 16.

Rebekah Cheney offered a preseason glimpse into the EHS running world.

On the girls side, the Hornets boast five runners who advanced to last year’s state meet. The talented quintet includes senior Brynne Stafford, juniors Lillian Haas and Sydney Poe, and sophomores Avery Marecle and Stella Grant. A key addition to the varsity fold should be sophomore Isabella Pohlman, the coach said, adding that there are promising newcomers in Emily Haas, Julia Michael and Halle Stafford.

A season ago, Lillian Haas was honored as a first team, all-league selection. Marecle was a second team honoree.

The boys squad is highlighted by a pair of runners, junior Ellis Behrens and sophomore Elliott Cheney (a second team, all-league performer a season ago), who earned berths in last season’s state meet. Also returning from the 2023 varsity team is sophomore Jack Blair.

The team will be helped by runners who have made the leap from the junior varsity ranks. That group includes senior Colin Flynn and juniors Spencer Ballard and Melvin Johnson. Showing promise as a freshman competitor is Reagan Palmer.

The boys squad took a serious hit due to graduation. Lost are McCoy Brooks, last year’s league Athlete of the Year, and Evan Cheney, a first team, all-league selection.

BOYS TENNIS

Jumping quickly into the fall sports season, the EHS boys tennis team hosted nearby Bonney Lake in nonleague action the afternoon of Sept. 6. With several varsity veterans dotting the lineup, the Hornets registered a 4-2 victory over the Panthers.

All four EHS wins came in doubles play. Earning victories were the No. 1 pairing of King Gisa and William Stuenkel, the No. 2 duo of Eli Macy and Nick Harris, the No. 3 tandem of David Ratsko and Tallon Warren, and the No. 4 pair of Levi Nelson and Asher Johnson.

Playing singles matches, but coming up short, were No. 1 Noah Nuttle and No. 2 Amos Hall.

Nuttle was pair of a league MVP duo a season ago and participated in the state Class 2A tournament. Hall and Gisa were first team, all-league selections in 2023 and Macy was a second team pick.

GIRLS GOLF

It’s fair to say the Hornet girls are in a rebuilding mode, considering the hit June’s graduation took on coach Tyler Salsbury’s squad.

Seven seniors departed the program, including the top four players.

“This is a year for learning and growth,” Salsbury said, “as we seek to maintain our high standard of golf in our new league.”

This fall, the Hornets had a squad of seven taking part in early-season practice. Making up the team are junior Taylor Puryear; sophomores Kennedy Francis, Emma Fardig, Audrey Peterson and Lucy Thomas; and freshmen Ava Knecht and Violet Wallstrom.

A season ago, both Puryear and Francis advanced to the district tournament.

The Hornet girls will see their first action the afternoon of Sept. 12 when they host Auburn Riverside at the Enumclaw Golf Course.

BOYS GOLF

The early season brought “a good group with a mix of chemistry, talent and depth,” according to coach Ryan Picinich.

Leading the way are senior Dylan McMahan and junior Travis Leonard. Chosen to be team captains, “they each bring leadership and valuable state tournament experience,” Picinich said. Also back are junior Parker Cook and sophomore Wyatt Webb, two more Hornets who earned a spot in the 2023 Class 2A state tourney.

Also battling for spots in varsity play are juniors Taelon Van Dam, Henry Bort and Cole Kiblinger, along with sophomore Ian Nitsche and freshman Max Craighead.

Picinich has a promising trio of ninth-graders that also includes Willie Watterson and Sawyer Mowbray.

A season ago, Leonard and Webb earned first-team all-SPSL 2A honors.

“The Enumclaw boys are aware that they are playing in a division loaded with teams that have been traditionally strong in golf,” Picinich said. “Our goal is to enjoy the preparation and have fun competing, one match at a time.”

The EHS squad kicked off the season Sept. 10, hosting Auburn Riverside. Thursday, Sept. 12, brings a road trip to Tapps Island Golf Course where the Hornets will enjoy a repeat match against Riverside.

The 3A North Puget Sound League calendar features back-to-back matches all season, one on each team’s home course.

GIRLS SWIM & DIVE

As the EHS girls prepare to splash their way into a new season, they will be doing it with a handful of competitors who experienced success a season ago.

Returning after collecting first team all-league honors in 2023 are seniors Tori Massey and Scarlet Connelly, along with junior Alexandra Levesh. Back after earning second team recognition are juniors Addisyn Sawyer and Molley Michael, plus sophomore Audrie Roddy.

The fall campaign gets underway tomorrow (Thursday) when the EHS girls travel to the Covington Aquatic Center to take on Kentlake High and White River. The following Thursday, Sept. 19, will see the EHS crew squaring off against Decatur at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center.