For most of the Plateau’s prep athletes the regular season is in the rear-view mirror. And, for many, the excitement of postseason competition is already under way.
Here’s a look at some of the fall sports that are heating up.
FOOTBALL
The South Puget Sound League 2A season came to a close last Friday when Enumclaw and White River clashed in the traditional Battle of the Bridge.
The outcome, perhaps, seemed inevitable: Enumclaw headed to Buckley sporting an 8-0 record and No. 2 ranking in the statewide AP poll; White River had gone in the opposite direction, losing seven in a row after a season-opening win.
When the game clock hit zero at Arrow Lumber Stadium, Enumclaw was still perfect on the season thanks to a 72-21 demolition of the cross-river rivals.
EHS wasted little time Friday, posting three touchdowns in the first quarter. Seamus Twohey scored on a short run, then it was turnovers that made the early difference. Enumclaw scored on a 90-yard interception return and a 57-yard fumble recovery that was returned for another TD. The advantage was pushed to 31-13 by halftime and 59-21 by the end of the third quarter.
White River’s first two touchdowns came on second-quarter passes delivered by Aaden Rathbun, first to Denver Mollett and then to Tyler Roach. The team’s third and final score came on an 80-yard kick return by Mollett in the third period.
Now it’s time for White River to regroup from a season in which injuries decimated the starting lineup. Putting the campaign behind them, a “Week 10” game against Kent-Meridian was scrapped more than a week ago.
Enumclaw, on the other hand, is looking to keep the ball rolling with a district game that advances the winner into the Class 2A state playoffs. The process begins this Friday, Nov. 4, with a home game against the Lindbergh Eagles.
The visitors will head to the Expo Center with a 5-3 overall record that includes a 4-2 mark in KingCo League play.
VOLLEYBALL
The end of the regular season should be plenty exciting as two of the league’s best squads, White River and Enumclaw, will square off on the final night of SPSL 2A play.
The Plateau rivals will meet Thursday, Nov. 3, in the White River gym.
The regular season ends Thursday night for local teams and it’s a big one, as Enumclaw High will invade the White River gym. Both are near the top of the standings and will soon be taking part in postseason play. In this photo from two weeks ago, White River’s Ava Froemke prepares to serve during a Hornet victory. Photo by Kevin Hanson
Through matches of last week both teams sat at 12-2 in league play, sharing second-place honors behind the 14-1 Washington Patriots. Prior to Thursday’s action, both local teams had Tuesday matches: Enumclaw hosted Franklin Pierce (5-8 in league and overall) while White River traveled to Fife (9-5, 9-6).
The district volleyball tourney is planned for Nov. 11 (at Franklin Pierce High School) and Nov. 12 (at Sammamish High). Seeding into district play will take place this weekend.
CROSS COUNTRY
There will be 24 cross country runners from the Plateau – 14 from Enumclaw High and 10 from White River – competing in Saturday’s Class 2A state championships.
The Nov. 5 state meet will be contested at the traditional site, Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.
The local runners earned their state berths during last weekend’s West Central District meet at the Chambers Creek course in University Place. The district event advanced the top five teams and top 35 individuals to state in boys’ competition; for the girls, it was six teams and 42 individuals.
Enumclaw qualified both its complete girls and boys teams for Pasco, as both registered third-place finishes in the team standings. The best individual performance was turned in by Enumclaw junior McCoy Brooks, who placed second in a field of 131 runners.
Joining Brooks in Pasco will be teammates Evan Cheney, Henry Tripp, Liam Lenard, Kane Thorson, Jeremy Dumler and Michael Poleski.
The EHS girls team was paced by junior Ava Sawyer who finished seventh in a field of 120. Joining her at state will be teammates Lillian Haas, Jasmine Dumontet, Lindsay Essex, Brynne Stafford, Anali Johnson and Ahna Lemeshko.
Also qualifying as an entire team, thanks to a championship performance, were the White River girls. With 71 team points they were clearly the cream of the crop, finishing No. 1 among the 16 teams at the district meet.
Tops for the WRHS girls, placing third overall, was junior Emma Tomlinson. Also competing in Pasco will be Vivian Kingston, Soleil Bianchi, Paityn Kaydus, Evelyn Holmes, Lily Rodarte and Nativity Leddy.
White River’s boys placed sixth in the team standings, just missing a full state berth. However, three members of the squad earned individual berths.
Leading the way was sophomore Michael Marlow, who placed 13th overall. He will be accompanied by Christian Chaussee and Drew Sprouse.
SOCCER
Both Enumclaw and White River advanced to the 16-team District 2/3 tournament that kicked off Tuesday, Nov. 1.
White River was the slightly higher seed (No. 4) into district play after a second-place finish during the SPSL 2A campaign. Enumclaw was seeded No. 6 after placing third in league play.
Results of the Tuesday games came too late to be reported here, but here’s how things will play out moving forward.
White River hosted No. 5 Port Angeles on Tuesday. If the Hornets won, they play again Thursday against the winner of Tuesday’s contest between No. 1 Fife and No. 8 Lindbergh. If White River lost Tuesday, they play at home tonight (Wednesday) in a loser-out contest against the loser of Tuesday’s game between No. 12 Bremerton and No. 13 Franklin Pierce.
Enumclaw opened district play Tuesday with a road game against Sammamish, the No. 3 seed. A victory would bring a Thursday match against Orting or North Kitsap. A Tuesday loss would mean playing tonight (Wednesday) at home against No. 11 Steilacoom or No. 14 Highline, in a loser-out game.
With the regular season and the SPSL 2A meet behind them, select swimmers are gearing up for this weekend’s West Central District competition. Among those taking part will be Enumclaw High’s Kate Perlot, pictured here during a recent home meet. Photo by Kevin Hanson
SWIM AND DIVE
Both Enumclaw and White River will be represented later this week when swimmers and divers from throughout the area gather for district competition.
The three days of action will kick off Thursday with diving at the Auburn School District pool. Friday and Saturday will be dedicated to swimming events at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.
Here’s a look at those who qualified for district-level competition.
200-yard medley relay: the EHS quartet of Tori Massey, Kate Perlot, Alexandra Levesh and Ella Hoye; and the White River team of Cheyenne Fessler, Samantha Sapp, Haley Weisheyer and Trista Turgeon.
200-yard freestyle: Perlot.
200-yard individual medley: Levesh, Massey.
50-yard freestyle: Weisheyer, Fessler.
Diving: Turgeon, Ashley Dickerson (EHS), Naomi Prince (EHS).
100-yard butterfly: Hoyne, Levesh.
100-yard freestyle: Fessler, Weisheyer.
500-yard freestyle: Perlot, Clara Madewell.
200-yard freestyle relay: EHS team of Hoyne, Massey, Levesh and Perlot; andthe WRHS crew of Fessler, Turgeon, Sapp and Weisheyer.
100-yard backstroke: Massey.
100-yard breaststroke: Hoyne, Madewell.
400-yard freestyle relay: EHS team of Scarlet Connelly, Molly Michael, Addisyn Sawyer and Madewell; and the WRHS team of Isabel Laris, Rashelle Girardier, Madeline Cameron and Turgeon.
TENNIS
Eight of the Plateau’s prep tennis players had advanced to the Oct. 28-29 West Central District boys’ tournament, but none made it as far as Day 2.
The Enumclaw High doubles pair of Kyle Koehn and Carter Williams made it interesting, but fell a match short. Also eliminated were the EHS doubles team of Caden Zuydhoek and Noah Nuttle, along with singles entry Nathan Leonard.
White River High sent three players to last week’s district tournament, but none are moving on.
Singles entry Tate Ringel lost his opening match but bounced back with a victory in his second. In a loser-out contest he was defeated and eliminated from tournament play.
The WR doubles team of Hayden Stevenson and Colby Lange dropped their first two matches and were ousted from the tourney.
All had earned a district berth based upon their play a week earlier during the South Puget Sound League 2A tournament.
