After a two-year hiatus, the Herald Athletic Cup is back.
And with a strong all-around showing, Lake Stevens High School reigns supreme.
The Vikings amassed a winning score of 133.5 points to claim the 2021-22 edition of the Herald Athletic Cup, which rewards local high schools for their athletic success over the past school year.
Schools receive points based on where their teams finished in their respective state tournaments or state competitions.
Arlington took second place with 119 points and Jackson finished third with 98 points. Archbishop Murphy placed fourth with 88.5 points, while Snohomish rounded out the top five with 85 points.
The Herald’s sports staff debuted the Herald Athletic Cup following the 2018-19 school year. Jackson took first place in that year’s inaugural competition.
During the 2019-20 school year, Lake Stevens led the Herald Athletic Cup standings through the fall and winter sports seasons. But the spring sports season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in the Herald Athletic Cup being scrapped that year.
There also was no Herald Athletic Cup for the 2020-21 school year. Due to ongoing effects from the pandemic that year, schools across the state were forced to play abbreviated seasons without any official playoffs.
But this school year, state tournaments and state competitions returned. And with it, so did the Herald Athletic Cup.
Below is an explanation of the points system, followed by a look at the top 10 schools in the standings.
POINTS SYSTEM
Schools are awarded 25 points for a state title and 20 points for a second-place state finish. From there, the scoring decreases by one point for every state placing — all the way down to two points for 20th place.
In the case of a tie in state placing, teams receive the average number of points for however many teams were part of the tie. For example, a three-way tie for sixth place would give a team 15 points — the average number of points for places six through eight.
The same concept applies to sports where not every state placing is determined. For example, if a soccer team loses in the state quarterfinals, that would be considered a four-way tie for fifth place and would be worth 15.5 points — the average number of points for places five through eight.
1. LAKE STEVENS — 133.5 points
Lake Stevens boys track and field won a pair of state relay titles en route to its first-ever state team championship. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Vikings’ success-filled year featured nine teams that earned points in this competition, including seven teams with Class 4A top-10 state finishes. Boys track and field captured its first-ever state team title, led by a pair of victories in the relay races. The juggernaut football program made another run to the state championship game, finishing as a state runner-up for the second time in the past three full-length seasons. Boys wrestling capped Brent Barnes’ legendary coaching career by taking sixth place at the Mat Classic, giving the powerhouse program its 23rd top-10 team finish in the past 24 state tournaments. Volleyball placed seventh at state, earning its third consecutive state trophy. Girls basketball advanced to the state quarterfinals with a dramatic overtime victory in the Hardwood Classic. Girls cross country and girls track and field both earned top-10 state finishes. And the swim and dive teams rounded out the scoring with a pair of top-15 state placings.
Boys track & field: 1st place — 25 points
Football: 2nd place — 20 points
Boys wrestling: 6th place — 16 points
Volleyball: 7th place — 15 points
Girls basketball: T-7th place — 14.5 points
Girls cross country: 9th place — 13 points
Girls track & field: 10th place — 12 points
Boys swim & dive: 11th place — 11 points
Girls swim & dive: 15th place — 7 points
2. ARLINGTON — 119 points
Parker Duskin helped lead Arlington boys track and field to a second-place state finish. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Eagles experienced widespread success across their athletic program, with 11 of their 18 teams receiving points. Boys track and field achieved a program-best second-place team finish at the 3A state meet, highlighted by Aiden Emerson’s state title in the 800 meters and Parker Duskin’s state title in the 300 hurdles. Girls basketball made a return trip to the state semifinals and claimed its second consecutive third-place state trophy. Volleyball matched its best-ever state finish, earning a second consecutive sixth-place state trophy. Boys cross country continued its run of success, notching a seventh consecutive top-10 state placing. Softball and football made their first state appearances since the 2012-13 school year. Boys basketball reached the state regionals for the third time in the past four full-length seasons. And girls cross country, boys wrestling, boys golf and girls track and field added top-20 state finishes.
Boys track & field: 2nd place — 20 points
Girls basketball: 3rd place — 19 points
Volleyball: 6th place — 16 points
Boys cross country: 7th place — 15 points
Softball: T-9th place — 11.5 points
Football: round of 16 — 9.5 points
Boys basketball: state regionals — 7.5 points
Girls cross country: 15th place — 7 points
Boys wrestling: 16th place — 6 points
Boys golf: 18th place — 4 points
Girls track & field: T-17th place — 3.5 points
3. JACKSON — 98 points
Henry Park (center) and Ben Lee (right) led Jackson boys tennis to the 4A state team title. (WIAA photo)
After winning the inaugural Herald Athletic Cup in 2018-19, the Timberwolves followed with another top-three finish in this year’s standings. Boys tennis captured the 4A state team title, thanks to a pair of top-five singles placings by underclassmen Henry Park and Ben Lee. Boys swim and dive rode a balanced effort to a program-best third-place state trophy. The perennial powerhouse softball program, which won back-to-back state titles in 2018 and 2019, made its third consecutive state semifinal appearance. Girls swim and dive earned its ninth consecutive top-12 state finish. Girls soccer reached state for the seventh time in the past eight full-length seasons. Boys basketball made its third consecutive state regional appearance. Volleyball also advanced to state and girls tennis added a top-20 state placing.
Boys tennis: 1st place — 25 points
Boys swim & dive: 3rd place — 19 points
Softball: T-5th place — 16.5 points
Girls swim & dive: 12th place — 10 points
Girls soccer: round of 16 — 9.5 points
Boys basketball: state regionals — 7.5 points
Volleyball: T-13th place — 7.5 points
Girls tennis: T-17th place — 3 points
4. ARCHBISHOP MURPHY — 88.5 points
Archbishop Murphy girls soccer completed a perfect season en route to the 2A state title. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Just five of the Wildcats’ teams scored points, which was the fewest of any top-10 school on this list. But those five teams packed a punch. Girls soccer completed a rare perfect season, going 23-0 en route to the 2A state title. The team compiled a staggering 125-7 goal differential, including an 84-6 differential in Wesco 3A/2A play and a 33-1 differential during its dominant playoff run. Boys golf added its fourth top-four team finish in the past five state tournaments. Girls basketball also earned a fourth-place state trophy. Baseball made its second consecutive trip to the state quarterfinals. And boys swim and dive rounded out the scoring with a 10th-place state finish.
Girls soccer: 1st place — 25 points
Boys golf: 4th place — 18 points
Girls basketball: 4th place — 18 points
Baseball: quarterfinals — 15.5 points
Boys swim & dive: 10th place — 12 points
5. SNOHOMISH — 85 points
Ella Gallatin led Snohomish girls basketball to another top-four state trophy. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
The Panthers received points from 11 of their 20 teams. Girls basketball led the way with a 3A fourth-place state trophy, which marked the program’s fourth top-four finish in the past six state tournaments. Girls soccer broke through to the state quarterfinals, ending a streak of five consecutive losses in opening-round state matches. Softball made its seventh consecutive state quarterfinal appearance. Girls swim and dive placed 12th at state, led by 50-yard freestyle state champion Mary Clarke. Volleyball earned its fourth consecutive trip to state. And girls tennis, girls track and field, both golf teams and both cross country teams each added a top-20 state finish.
Girls basketball: 4th place — 18 points
Girls soccer: quarterfinals — 15.5 points
Softball: T-9th place — 11.5 points
Girls swim & dive: 12th place — 10 points
Volleyball: T-13th place — 7.5 points
Girls tennis: T-12th place — 7 points
Boys golf: 17th place — 5 points
Girls track & field: T-17th place — 3.5 points
Girls cross country: 19th place — 3 points
Boys cross country: 20th place — 2 points
Girls golf: 20th place — 2 points
6. KAMIAK — 83.5 points
Daniel Kim led Kamiak boys golf to a second-place state finish. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Knights were highlighted by their boys golf team, which followed its 2019 4A state title with a second-place state finish this spring. It was the powerhouse program’s third top-three team placing in the past four state tournaments. Boys soccer matched its deepest run in program history, pulling off a first-round upset to reach the state quarterfinals. Girls swim and dive achieved its sixth consecutive top-eight state finish, led by butterfly state champion Claire Smith. Girls golf earned its seventh consecutive top-10 state placing. Boys tennis and boys cross country added top-15 state finishes, while girls tennis earned a top-20 state placing.
Boys golf: 2nd place — 20 points
Boys soccer: quarterfinals — 15.5 points
Girls swim & dive: 8th place — 14 points
Girls golf: T-9th place — 12.5 points
Boys tennis: T-11th place — 10.5 points
Boys cross country: 14th place — 8 points
Girls tennis: T-17th place — 3 points
7. STANWOOD — 76.5 points
Stanwood girls basketball earned a sixth-place state trophy. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
It was a milestone year for the Spartans. Girls basketball placed sixth in the 3A state tournament, marking its second-best finish in program history. Boys golf took seventh place at state, matching its best finish in at least two decades. Boys wrestling placed seventh at the Mat Classic, giving its program back-to-back top-10 state finishes. Football experienced a massive breakthrough, advancing to the state playoffs for the first time since 1996. Baseball ended a similarly long drought, reaching state for the first time since 1998. Volleyball made its third state appearance in the past four full-length seasons. And girls cross country qualified for state as a team for the first time since 2012.
Girls basketball: 6th place — 16 points
Boys golf: 7th place — 15 points
Boys wrestling: 7th place — 15 points
Baseball: round of 16 — 9.5 points
Football: round of 16 — 9.5 points
Volleyball: T-13th place — 7.5 points
Girls cross country: 18th place — 4 points
8. SHOREWOOD — 76 points
Ben Borgida led Shorewood boys golf to a sixth-place state finish. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Stormrays had five teams with 3A top-eight state placings. Boys golf took sixth place at state, which marked its best finish in at least two decades. Girls soccer reached the state quarterfinals for the second time in the past three full-length seasons. Girls track and field tied for seventh place at state, marking its best finish in at least two decades. Both tennis teams earned top-eight state placings. And girls cross country qualified for state as a team.
Boys golf: 6th place — 16 points
Girls soccer: quarterfinals — 15.5 points
Girls tennis: 7th place — 15 points
Girls track & field: T-7th place — 14 points
Boys tennis: T-8th place — 13.5 points
Girls cross country: 20th place — 2 points
9. GLACIER PEAK — 70 points
Jacob Erickson won a state title and led Glacier Peak boys wrestling to a program-best eighth-place state finish. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Grizzlies had nine teams that earned points. Girls soccer advanced to the 4A state quarterfinals, matching its program’s deepest state run. Boys wrestling earned a program-best eighth-place state finish, led by 220-pound state champion Jacob Erickson. Football reached the state playoffs at the 4A level for the first time. Boys basketball made its fifth consecutive state regional appearance. And girls track and field, both tennis teams and both swim and dive teams each added a top-20 state finish.
Girls soccer: quarterfinals — 15.5 points
Boys wrestling: 8th place — 14 points
Football: round of 16 — 9.5 points
Boys basketball: state regionals — 7.5 points
Girls track & field: T-14th place — 7 points
Girls swim & dive: 16th place — 6 points
Boys tennis: T-15th place — 5.5 points
Girls tennis: T-17th place — 3 points
Boys swim & dive: 20th place — 2 points
10. EDMONDS-WOODWAY — 66 points
Edmonds-Woodway baseball earned its fourth consecutive trip to the state regionals. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
The Warriors round out the top 10, thanks to six teams that scored points. Boys tennis took fifth place in the 3A state team standings, with brothers Steven and Russell Anderson providing all of the scoring. Girls cross country continued its run of success, earning a sixth-consecutive top-eight state finish. Baseball made its fourth consecutive trip to the state regionals. Boys soccer advanced to the state round of 16. Boys wrestling added a sixth consecutive top-15 team placing at the Mat Classic, led by repeat state champion Alex Rapelje’s title at 152 pounds. And girls tennis scored points at state for the sixth time in the past eight state tournaments.
Boys tennis: 5th place — 17 points
Girls cross country: 8th place — 14 points
Baseball: round of 16 — 9.5 points
Boys soccer: round of 16 — 9.5 points
Boys wrestling: 13th place — 9 points
Girls tennis: T-12th place — 7 points
Editor’s note: The scoring system for this year’s Herald Athletic Cup is slightly different from the original 2018-19 format, which awarded 20 points for a state title, 15 points for a second-place finish and all the way down to one point for 16th place. The change was made in an attempt to better reward schools that qualify numerous teams for state.
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