The Plateau’s prep athletes were heading in all directions last week, some participating in district tournaments while others capped their seasons with state-level appearances.
Cross country runners from Enumclaw and White River high schools ended their 2021 campaigns by tackling Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. The venue is the traditional home to the state meets for schools of all sizes throughout Washington.
Others saw their seasons continue or, in some cases, end.
Here’s a rundown of how local athletes fared.
ENUMCLAW: VOLLEYBALL
Sixteen teams will kick off the District 2/3 volleyball tournament today (Wednesday) and, when the dust settles Saturday, the top six will be heading to the Class 2A state tournament.
The state tourney will be staged Nov. 19-20 at the Yakima Valley SunDome and will highlight the 16 teams from throughout the state that survived postseason play.
Enumclaw’s district experience will begin at 6 p.m. tonight (Wednesday) with a contest against Sammamish High. The winner will be guaranteed a state slot and play again on Saturday; the loser will play again on Wednesday in a loser-out match.
WHITE RIVER: VOLLEYBALL
The Hornet girls are among 16 teams that will participate in the District 2/3 volleyball tournament that begins today (Wednesday). When the tourney concludes Saturday, the top six will be heading to the Class 2A state tournament.
The state tourney will be staged Nov. 19-20 at the Yakima Valley SunDome and will highlight the 16 teams from throughout the state that survived postseason play.
White River opened district play at 4 p.m. this (Wednesday) afternoon, taking on North Kitsap High. The winner will be guaranteed a state slot and play again on Saturday; the loser will play again on Wednesday in a loser-out match.
ENUMCLAW: GIRLS SOCCER
After finishing the SPSL 2A season with an impressive 11-2-1 record, the EHS girls found themselves needing just a single victory to qualify for the state tournament.
That came Nov. 2 when the Hornets traveled to the Olympic Peninsula and defeated the Port Angeles Roughriders 2-0.
Mia Ammons scored first, connecting at 33 minutes, and Lauren Boger scored in the 61st minute courtesy of a Heidi Sholseth assist.
With a state berth secured, Enumclaw continued through the West Central District tournament with a Nov. 4 contest against North Kitsap. Game 2, played at the Enumclaw Expo Center, resulted in a defeat that went past overtime and eventually into a shootout. Sholseth and Charlee Torgison scored first-half goals for the Hornets, but the Vikings answered twice during the second half.
In the shootout, Jordyn Thompson and Cate Bell found the net for Enumclaw but the visitors tallied three times to escape with the win.
The tournament finale was played Saturday at Franklin Pierce against White River. It was the third meeting of the year between the neighboring schools. White River took a 1-0 victory Saturday.
The game brought another shootout for the EHS girls as the two teams battled throughout regulation and overtime only to remain scoreless. In the shootout, White River managed a 3-2 advantage to secure the win.
Now, Enumclaw looks ahead to the 16-team state 2A tourney, in which the first two rounds are loser-out affairs. EHS opens state play at 6 tonight (Wednesday), traveling to take on the host Ridgefield Spudders. With the loser eliminated, the winner will take on the winner of an first-round game between Ellensburg and West Valley-Spokane; that game will be played either Nov. 12 or 13.
The four-team state semifinals are slated for Nov. 19 at Shoreline High School; the following day will feature the championship game along with a contest for third and fourth place.
WHITE RIVER: GIRLS SOCCER
Thanks to a successful 10-2-1 league record, White River headed into West Central District play just one win away from landing a berth in the Class 2A state tournament.
The state-clinching victory came in decisive fashion on a cold, rainy Oct. 2, when the Hornets blanked the visitors from Sammamish High School 4-0. Goals came from Morgan Greene (two), Laura Corr and Ella Lidstrom.
With a state berth guaranteed, the Hornets had two more WCD contests to play. The first was a semifinal match against league rival Fife, played on the Trojans’ home turf. The league champions from Fife had defeated White River twice during the regular season and made in three in a row with a 1-0 win on Oct. 4.
That sent White River to a Saturday afternoon district finale against neighboring Enumclaw. Taking on their Plateau neighbors for the third time this season, White River picked up its second victory, winning in a shootout. The teams were scoreless through regulation play and overtime; White River emerged on top with a 3-2 advantage in the shootout. Following some big saves by Abby Goetz in goal, the Hornets’ decisive PK came off the foot of Ava Bright.
In the 16-team state 2A tournament, White River was slated to open either Tuesday or tonight (Wednesday) against Columbia River High School; the day hadn’t been announced at press time. White River enters the game as the No. 12 seed while Columbia River is rated No. 5.
With the loser eliminated, the winner will take on the winner of the opening-round game between North Kitsap and Fife.
The state tourney semifinals are slated to begin Nov. 19 at Shoreline High School; the following day will feature the championship game along with a contest for third and fourth place.
ENUMCLAW: CROSS COUNTRY
The full Enumclaw High boys team had qualified for state and, running at Sun Willows, finished in 13th place.
Sophomore McCoy Brooks placed 18th overall in a field of 166, crossing the finish line at 16:56; senior Trevor Storm was 35th at 17:12; sophomore Evan Cheney, 120th, 18:25; sophomore Liam Lenard, 131st, 18:41; junior William Holtclaw, 150th, 19:09; sophomore Will Scharf, 155th, 19:40; and sophomore Michael Poleski, 162nd, 20:20.
While Enumclaw’s girls had not qualified a full team, there were three Hornets, all sophomores, who scored individual berth to Sun Willows.
Jasmine Dumontet placed 58th in the field of 152 with a clocking of 21:27; Ava Sawyer ended 64th at 21:33; and Lindsay Essex was 110th with a time of 22:25.
WHITE RIVER: CROSS COUNTRY
White River had qualified its entire girls’ team for the Class 2A state meet in Pasco and, when the running was done, the Hornet ladies landed in 12th place.
The following runners competed in the field of 152: freshman Vivian Kingston, 43rd place overall with a time of 21:05; sophomore Emma Tomlinson, 46th, 21:13; sophomore Evelyn Holmes, 99th, 22:13; junior Soleil Bianchi 107th, 22:20; junior Kelcie Melcher, 117th, 22:47; freshman Nativity Leddy, 132nd, 23:18; and senior Maria Hawthorne, 146th, 24:47.
The White River boys had not qualified a team, but a pair of Hornets earned individual state berths. Freshman Michael Marlow placed 55th in a field of 166 with a time of 17:30 and senior Evan Slish finished 143rd at 18:17.
ENUMCLAW: FOOTBALL
Enumclaw High saw its 2021 season continue on a chilly Friday night thanks to a 28-26 victory over the Washington Pirates at the Expo Center.
The win advanced EHS to the 16-team Class 2A state football tournament. Brackets were being adjusted at press time, but Enumclaw is matched against the Hockinson Hawks in a game to be played Saturday on the Hawks’ home field in Clark County. Both teams will enter the game with an overall record of 8-2.
Against Washington, Enumclaw quickly fell to a 13-0 deficit but soon rallied to take a 21-13 halftime lead. Second-quarter TDs came on a 32-yard scoring strike from Malcolm Harper to Clive Pond, followed by two TD tosses from Harper to Dylan Watterson, the first from 42 yards and the second from 55 yards.
Enumclaw received the game-winning touchdown in the second half on a 35-yard completion from Harper to Seamus Twohey, while also getting the final of Noah Seabrand’s four extra-point kicks.
WHITE RIVER: FOOTBALL
White River’s final football of the 2021 season brought a 27-13 loss to Highline High. The Nov. 5 game was played on the Pirates’ home turf at Highline Memorial Stadium and was a loser-out/winner-to-state affair.
White River finished the 2021 campaign with an overall record of 4-6. Conversely, the victory left Highline with an impressive overall mark of 8-2.
The Hornets’ touchdowns came on a Cole Cashman quarterback sneak and a 20-yard TD completion from Cashman to Tyce Donovan.
Defensive highlights in the season finale were provided by tackle Reice Branch and cornerback Donovan who had interceptions.
ENUMCLAW: GIRLS SWIM & DIVE
The season-ending state meet, for all classifications, will take place this weekend, Nov. 12-13, at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
Enumclaw High will be represented at state by Kate Perlot in both the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle; Anna Bogh in the 200 freestyle and 100-yard butterfly; and Ashley Dickerson and Naomi Prince in one-meter diving. Enumclaw also will have an entry in the 200-yard freestyle relay.
WHITE RIVER: GIRLS SWIM & DIVE
The King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way will again host the state swim and dive meet for all classifications. The pool in Federal Way will be hopping Nov. 12-13.
Representing White River at state will be Cheyenne Fessler in the 50-yard freestyle and Mackenzie Hale in one-meter diving.
