Girls relay squad among best in the state
The Hornets track and field team opens the season with a full slate of top shelf athletes.
Coach Jenelle Murrell said the 1,600-meter girls relay team is one of the top in the state. The girls will be competing for the gold this season at state.
The girls track and field team took fifth in state in 2015 and this talented team has no where to go but up.
Returning for the girls are Samantha Engebretsen, Aleea Gwerder, Rachel Lewis, Sarah Meeker, Emmie Neu, Josie Neu, Taliah Olson, Nikole Schroeder, Susan Starr, Hunter Storm, Caitlin Swenson, Taylor Tandecki, Jessica Cerne and Alexa Demarco.
On the boys side are Brandon Barnett, Eric Hamel, Bryce Johnson, Connery McLaughlin, Jeremy Watts and Tim McCann.
Vets bring leadership to water polo squad
The Hornets water polo girls have been working their game in the pool and are now ready to open the regular season.
The team played in a jamboree Saturday at Curtis High and host Tahoma at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17.
Coach Bob Averill wrote in an email, “The Hornets return with 12 veterans from last year’s league champion team that finished the season claiming fourth place at the Washington State Championship Tournament.”
The team lost three stars to graduation – All-State award winners Bailey Sexton and Hayley Sonneson, and four-year veteran Madi Woodall.
Returning for the Hornets are seniors Anna Davenport, Brandi Meneghini, Lauren Pratt, Grace Sales and Hannah Simurdak.
Junior Emilie Weyer also returns to help defend the Hornets’ league title along with sophomores Madison Ely, Morgan Hall, Lindsay Harms, Kate Meneghini, Grace Munnell and Grace Rich.
Averil noted Davenport, Sales, Simurdak and Pratt all earned all-league honors last year with Davenport also earning all-state honorable mention recognition.
Joining the team for the first time are Caitlyn Schuler, sophomore Bryonna Harris, freshmen Kenzie Invie-Johnson, Jordan Lawson and Tessa Vallison.
The 2016 season will mark the 18th season of girls water polo at Enumclaw High School. Averill returns for his 12th year coaching the girls water polo program. Coach Ken DeMan is coaching the girls for his 11th season. The Hornets have qualified for the state tournament for the past 11 years, advancing as high as the semifinal round twice. During that time, the Hornets’ record has been 167-84.
Soccer teamlooking to continue climb
The Enumclaw boys soccer squad is on the Expo Center pitch with postseason plans as the 2016 season opens.
Last season the boys posted a 6-9-1 South Puget Sound League record and coach Shawn Tobius has been moving the team up the ranks each season.
Returning to the team is senior goalie Nathan Sanders along with Logan Garcia in the midfield. Junior Asland Taylor is also back at midfield.
Defender Jakin Rogel returns along with Seth Olney.
The Hornets host Auburn Mountainview at 7 p.m. Monday.
Doubles team sets the tone for Enumclaw tennis
Coach Rick Carel has once again put together a girls tennis team that will roll through the league and challenge for the state in doubles.
Carel has been coaching girls tennis for more than three decades and said his secret is, “I get great athletes and I convince them to play tennis.”
Returning for Enumclaw is the doubles team of Kylie Rademacher and Mariah Bone. The girls took fifth in state last season and as seniors the girls will challenge for the top step this year.
The second doubles team for the Hornets are seniors Barbie Becker and Olivia Adams. The girls made districts last year are will likely move to state matches this season.
Carel said Enumclaw is a very good team this season and he is hoping to get some practice outside if the weather decides to cooperate.
The Hornets will play 3:30 p.m. today, Wednesday, at Sumner.
