Enumclaw boys gunning for another trip to state

The Hornet girls will be missing a top player this year, but are hoping to find themselves on top of districts.

By Kevin Hanson • November 27, 2018 10:20 am

Tags: Hornets (EHS)

ENUMCLAW BOYS

Coach Terry Johnson has welcomed back several players who were integral to the Hornets’ state tourney run a season ago.

Things might start with talented junior Peter Erickson, who matches 6-foot-6 size with an enviable skill set. A season ago, he picked up first team all-South Puget Sound League 4A honors.

Running mates include the Engebretsen twins: Kale is a three-year starter and, by the end of last season, Bryson was honored as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Other varsity returnees include Kellen Kranc, Easton Tandecki and Travis Smith, all seniors. The rest of Johnson’s varsity roster includes senior Payton Willis and sophomores Will Schroeder, John Leonard, Jordan Iacobazzi, Drew Kazuro, Carson Firnkoess, Tyler Feddema and Cameron Brauer.

It’s rare that a team returns intact and Enumclaw suffered a notable loss to graduation. Gone is Kaden Anderson, who shared league MVP honors last year, and fellow starter Griffin Webb. Anderson departed as the school’s all-time leading scorer and finished his Hornet career No. 2 on the all-time rebounding list.

“We will be much smaller this season and need to adjust how we play, especially offensively,” Johnson said. “It may take us some time to get comfortable, but our guys will play hard and compete every night.”

ENUMCLAW GIRLS

The Hornets will certainly miss Jessica Cerne, who turned in an all-league, first team performance a year ago, but veteran coach Ted Carlson knows he still has plenty to work with.

Among the returning pieces is junior Jesslyn Huizenga, a 6-footer who garnered all-league second team honors a season ago.

She is joined on the early-season varsity roster by seniors Maggie Poulin, Rebecca Lindberg, Lauren Hanson, Kennedy VanHoof and Kyndra Rademacher; and juniors Sawyer Anderson, Claire Lowe, Ren Olson and Sydney Brazier.

Last season, Carlson and his troops went 12-11 for the season, but were a noteworthy 9-5 in North Puget Sound League Olympic Division play. The team advanced to the district tournament but was eliminated in the first round.