Football might have enjoyed an early start, but for most of the fall’s athletic programs, Sept. 6 was Opening Day.
From a busy afternoon and evening, here’s a look at how some of the Enumclaw High and White River programs fared on their first day of competition.
EHS VOLLEYBALL WINS OPENING NIGHT
It wasn’t always easy, but the Enumclaw High volleyball squad was victorious in its season opener.
Playing on their home court, the Hornets defeated the Orting Cardinals in a South Puget Sound League 2A match. Enumclaw opened with a 25-15 win, fell 31-29 and then closed out the night with 25-22 and 25-11 scores.
Individual highlights for EHS were turned in by Lexie DeGroot, six aces; Macy Furtwangler, 13 kills and two blocks; Sam Darby, 13 kills and 22 assists; and Bella Firnkoess, nine kills.
The hard-fought varsity win capped a sweep of the visiting Cardinals. The Hornets’ junior varsity squad won 2-1 and the C team won 3-0.
WRHS VOLLEYBALLERS DEFEAT FRANKLIN PIERCE
The White River High girls used their home-court advantage to sweep past the visiting Franklin Pierce Cardinals on opening night of the volleyball season.
Taking on a South Puget Sound League 2A foe, the Hornets won in three straight (25-13, 25-7, 25-19).
Leading the way for White River were Maddy Osborn, 10 digs; Kelli Kaelin, 11 digs; Kianna Rohner, seven kills; Audrey Nicolls, eight aces, seven kills and three blocks; and Audrey Berg, seven kills.
EHS ROMPS PAST CARDS IN SOCCER OPENER
Enumclaw High made an immediate statement on opening night, crushing the Franklin Pierce Cardinals 8-0.
Aside from being the season opener, it was also a South Puget Sound League 2A contest. The Hornets’ victory came on the road.
It didn’t take Enumclaw long to crack the scoreboard. In just the seventh minute, Charlee Torgison buried the season’s first goal, courtesy of a Lauren Boger assist. Heidi Sholseth then added a pair of unassisted goals, converting at 16 and 21 minutes. A dominant first half concluded with a Josie Schampera goal at 26 minutes, off a Sydney VanHoof assist.
The second half featured Hornet goals by Gabi Martel, Emma Henshaw, VanHoof and Grace McCain.
Keeping the Cardinals off the scoreboard was EHS goalkeeper Megan Madill who registered the shutout.
WRHS WINS SINGLES BUT DROPS MATCH
Singles play apparently agreed with White River High’s Tate Ringel and Hayden Stevenson. The former doubles partners went solo during the Hornets’ opening match of the season and registered two-set victories over their Fife opponents.
The rest of the slate didn’t fare quite as well and the visiting Trojans motored home with a 3-2 victory.
The Sept. 6 match was the first outing of the season for both squads and, additionally, was between South Puget Sound League 2A foes.
Playing in the No. 1 singles slot, Ringel defeated Fife’s Tre Sims 6-4, 6-2. In the No. 2 match, Stevenson rolled to a 6-2, 6-4 win over Mason Schuller.
Fife’s team victory came in doubles play, where the visitors swept all three matches in relatively easy fashion. In No. 1 doubles, White River’s Colby Lange and Devin McRae fell 6-1, 6-0 to Ryker Feitz and Brody Hunter. In the No. 2 doubles match, the Hornets’ George Hernandez and Zach Slominski were knocked off 6-1, 6-1 by Fife’s Braden Bedell and Aiden Graham. And, in No. 3 action, the White River pairing of Chase Hoalst and Caleb Swensrud were bounced 6-1, 6-0 by Fife’s Miles Duchahme and Addison Becker.
The Hornets wasted little time jumping into SPSL 2A play. The early-season schedule also included a Sept. 8 trip to Steilacoom and a Sept. 12 home match against the Washington Patriots.
EHS GIRLS TRIUMPH IN GOLF OPENER
The Tyler Salsbury era started on a high note when the Enumclaw High girls’ golf team defeated Fife 42-22.
A former EHS standout, Salsbury returns to his alma mater this season to coach the girls’ squad. The debut came the afternoon of September 6 at the Enumclaw Golf Course.
Leading the way for the Hornets was Emily Alicea who fired an 8-over-par round of 44. She shared co-medalist honors with Fife’s Kylie Nguyen.
Other top finishers for EHS included Kate Tinney, who carded a personal best round of 49, and Raegan Chevalier who came in at 55.
EHS BOYS OPEN GOLF SEASON ON TOP
It was a successful start to the 2022 golf season for the Enumclaw High boys, who opened with a 49-31 victory over the Fife Trojans.
The win came Sept. 6 at Enumclaw Golf Course.
The Hornets’ Jake Bort took medalist honors with a 3-over-par round of 38. Coach Ryan Picinich also noted the contributions of some younger players: sophomore Dylan McMahan carded a 45, freshman Taelon Van Dam came in at 44 and fellow frosh Travis Leonard shot a 45.
WRHS GIRLS CRUSH ORTING
The White River girls carry a reputation for talent and that was on full display during the 2022 season opener.
Playing Sept. 6 at High Cedars Golf Club, the Hornet crew swamped the host Cardinals 77-3.
Alle Klemkow led the way with a round of 42, just one stroke ahead of teammate Lexie Mahler’s 43. The rest of the squad included Abby Rose, 45; Sophie Ross, 49; Abigail Ringel, 63; and Abby Akins 67.
WHITE RIVER BATTLES TO SOCCER DRAW AT ORTING
Making an immediate leap into SPSL 2A season, the White River High Hornets battled to a 1-1 draw against the Orting Cardinals.
The Sept. 6 game, the season opener for both clubs, was played at Orting Cardinal Stadium.
Coach Mack Breeden and her girls were looking to earn the season’s first win a night later (Sept. 7) when they hosted Franklin Pierce High.
