ARLINGTON — Arlington senior Nathan Beamer is the No. 1 cross-country runner in the state, and he’ll be aiming to take the 3A individual title this year, coach Mike Shierk said. He is also nationally ranked at 83rd.
Last season, he was eighth in state in cross-country and seventh in the 1600 and fifth in the 3200 during track.
For the girls team, 3A Wesco league track runner and senior Marie Gaudin will return for cross-country. She is expected to place in the top 20 and wants to qualify for the Border Clash, which will pit 50 Washington runners against 50 Oregon runners in Beaverton, Shierk said.
“Our boys are hoping to continue with improvement from our fourth-place finish at state last season,” Shierk said. “Our girls hope to make it back to the state tournament once again and also improve from last year’s performance.”
ARLINGTON — The Arlington boys tennis team is young with just one senior.
Coach Ben Mendro expects his strongest players juniors Connor Gutherie, Nick Mendro, Sean McCauley and Isaiah Mitzelfeldt to be the biggest contributors.
“The nice thing for us as a young team is that the Wesco 3A North League is pretty wide open,” Mendro said, adding Everett is the only clear favorite. “I’m excited about what we can do in the league, and especially the fact that I’ll basically be bringing my whole team back next year.”
Mendro is also pushing for juniors Wren Pullig, Kenny Knutson, Kade Meyer and sophomore Will Eckley to do well.
ARLINGTON — The Arlington girls soccer team returns 16 lettermen.
“Our season goal is to return to the state playoffs and improve on our quarterfinal finish from last season,” coach Nathan Davis said. “Our league will be very tough. Marysville-Pilchuck is great, Stanwood is always tough and we will play the defending state champion in Edmonds Woodway in our first league match.”
Olivia Larson, McKenzie Buell and goalkeeper Kat Sanchez are the players Davis expects to lead the team.
Larson led last season with 14 goals and 12 assists, and Buell scored 13 with four assists.
On defense, Sanchez will be assisted by returning centerbacks Kerra Williamson and Kali Knepper.
LAKEWOOD — The Lakewood High School cross-country team returns juniors James Hafner and Anthony Meza for the boys, and junior Keely Hall, and seniors Lilly Whitehead and Britney Albro for the girls.
Also, Lakewood will be hosting the Hole in the Wall Invitational Oct. 10, the largest invitational in the state consisting of 96 schools.
LAKEWOOD — The Lakewood volleyball team returns five starters who carried the team to the state tournament.
“We have some experience and hunger to return,” coach Tasha Kryger said.
Senior Morgan Shimkus, juniors Sophia Guinn and Nicole Williamson, and sophomore Sidney Goodall are the netters to watch for, Kryger said. Other contributors in the middle are seniors Megan Fenton and Emily Granard, and in the back court defenders senior Lexi Perry and junior Jenna Melton.
Junior Mariah Jensen will be the setter.
LAKEWOOD — Returning Lakewood girls soccer players that could make an impact in the Wesco 2A Cascade Conference are seniors Ali Eastman on defense, striker Stephanie Smith and midfielder Madison King, coach Steve Brown said.
“We anticipate that the traditionally strong teams in the cascade conference (Archbishop Murphy, Kings and Cedarcrest) will again be the teams to beat,” Brown said.
