Winter season in full swing at Enumclaw High

The Hornets have participated in a pair of four-team gymnastics meets so far. They will compete again Wednesday hosting Federal Way, Kennedy Catholic and Mount Rainier at PEAK Gymnastics in Enumclaw.

By Kevin Hanson • December 12, 2017 10:45 am
Former EHS senior Victoria Hernandez placed sixth on the beam and third on the floor at state gymnastics last year. Junior Macie Bosik and sophomore Leah Perry will be filling her shoes this year. File image
Former EHS senior Victoria Hernandez placed sixth on the beam and third on the floor at state gymnastics last year. Junior Macie Bosik and sophomore Leah Perry will be filling her shoes this year. File image

BOYS WRESTLING

The Enumclaw High boys have returned for another season on the mat, looking to improve upon last year’s resumé that included a third-place finish at regionals and a 27th-place showing at the Class 4A state tournament.

This year’s Hornet squad is headed by a pair of seniors who battled their way to the 4A state meet a year ago. At the Tacoma Dome, Quinton Southcott finished fourth while competing at 138 pounds, his third trip to the state podium; Austin Rewoldt also had qualified, wrestling at 220. Anthony Russell, now a junior, was a state alternate last year.

In the early season lineup, coach Adam Eilers has Cole Brown at 106 pounds; Brandon Cormier at 113; Anthony Martinez, 120; Zane Eilers, 126; Aidan Carroll, 132; Edgar Garnica, 138; Russell at 145; Southcott at 152; Duncan Somera, 160; Matthew Dion, 170; Trevor Chase, 182; Alex Roth, 195; Ryder Popke, 220; and Rewoldt at 285.

Eilers points out he has a young squad with just three seniors, but notes his wrestlers are “getting better every week. They push and work hard every day.”

A roster of 36 Hornet wrestlers have been put through their early-season paces. Competition begin with the White River Classic and, during the past week, included a dual meet against Auburn Riverside and Saturday’s Decatur Invitational. Tonight, Wednesday, Enumclaw hosts a North Puget Sound League dual meet with Todd Beamer.

GIRLS WRESTLING

Paced by three veteran wrestlers with state experience under their belts, the Enumclaw High girls have launched into a new season.

The EHS program, under third-year coach Nathan Herbert, is looking to build on last year’s successes. The team advanced four wrestlers to the state meet and eventually placed 14th in a field that included schools from all classifications.

Back this year are three of the state veterans, headed by sophomore Kenzie Cormier. After claiming a regional championship, she battled her way through the state field, eventually reaching the finals; in the showdown for the state title at 100 pounds, Cormier came up short but still returned home with second-place honors.

Also back this year is senior Alexandra Puzon. She, too, competed at 100 pounds and had squared off against Cormier for the regional title. At state, she placed seventh. Natasha Puzon is a sophomore this year, coming off a season in which she qualified for state at 115 pounds.

This year’s roster of six also includes senior Bryonna Harris, sophomore Kate Hayett and freshman Natalie Lessard.

GYMNASTICS

Leading the Hornet program into the 2017-18 season are a pair of gymnasts who gained valuable experience at last year’s state meet in the Tacoma Dome.

Back for another campaign are junior Macie Bosik, who participated at state in the floor exercise, and sophomore Leah Perry, who advanced on the bars.

Also making up the roster for coach Regina Chynoweth are: seniors Joanna Bartz, Emily Lewis, Molly Metschan, Mikyla Olsen, Willow Perry, Kathia Ramos, Heidi Rojo Parra and Anabelle Sharick; juniors Gracelyn Boren, Graciela Brauer, Lily Drozynski, McKenzie Kent, Kassidy Rima and Payton Roberson; sophomores Piper Gunderson and Keely Schroeder; and freshmen Tayler Anderson, Katheryne Hardman, Nicole Huff, Jennifer Salinas Acosta and Journi Salomon.

Turning out with EHS is a small contingent from neighboring White River High School (see separate story).

The Hornets have participated in a pair of four-team meets so far. They will compete again Wednesday, hosting Federal Way, Kennedy Catholic and Mount Rainier at PEAK Gymnastics in Enumclaw.

BOYS SWIM AND DIVE

Hornet coach Jesse Nitz has plenty of experience at the top of his roster, including a handful of athletes who earned postseason honors a year ago and qualified for the Class 4A state meet.

Leading the charge is senior Ethan Horan, last year’s NPSL Athlete of the Year. He joined teammate and fellow senior Kyle Morgan as an all-Olympic Division first team selection last season. Senior Adam Percival was a second team pick a season ago, as was junior Ben Hauswirth.

At last spring’s state meet, Horan, Morgan and Percival made up three-fourths of the 200-yard medley relay team that placed 17th in the 4A field. Individually, Horan finished 17th in the 50 freestyle and 13th in 100 freestyle. Hauswirth was 13th in diving.