Katie Benson is taking her coaching talents to the collegiate level.
The Snohomish High School graduate, who’s been an assistant coach with the Panthers’ girls basketball team the past three years, has been hired as an assistant coach for the Seattle Pacific University women’s basketball team.
Benson played four seasons at Seattle Pacific from 2011-14, averaging 14.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game during her career and twice was named an All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference selection.
Benson joins the staff of Mike Simonsen, a Meadowdale High School graduate who was named interim head coach in June.
“What I loved about coaching at Snohomish and now coaching here is there is a tradition of excellence — not just winning, but high-character programs,” Benson said in quotes provided by the school. “Even though Mike is the new face of the program, he is still into keeping that tradition of high character and high performance.
“Those situations are really special, and I wanted to be part of that at Snohomish, and now here.”
Arlington native places at weightlifting worlds
Arlington High School graduate Nate Lewis, now a senior weightlifter at Northern Michigan University, placed sixth in the men’s 105-kilogram category at the 2018 University World Championships held Sept. 20-23 in Biala Podiaski, Poland.
Lewis placed fifth in the snatch (147 kilograms) and fourth in the clean and jerk (181 kilograms), which resulted in a sixth-place overall finish.
Lewis helped Team USA place third in the men’s team competition behind Chinese Taipei and Poland.
Koppenberg advances at U.S. Mid-Amateur
Everett High School graduate Jake Koppenberg advanced to the round of 64 at the U.S. Mid-Amateur golf tournament held Sept. 21-27 at Charlotte Country Club and Carolina Golf Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Koppenberg, now a volunteer assistant coach with the Western Washington University men’s golf team, shot a 4-over 146 during the two rounds of stroke play, finishing tied for 42nd to advance to match play. Koppenberg was seeded No. 48 for match play and lost to No. 17 Kyle Davies of Iowa City, Iowa, 2 up in the round of 64. Koppenberg nearly pulled off a dramatic comeback, winning three straight holes after trailing by four with four to play. However, Davies won 18 to seal the victory.
Everett resident Jacob Rohde, who also qualified for the tournament, shot a 20-over 162 during stroke play and did not make the cut.
Local youth golfers help win regional title
Three youth golfers from Snohomish County helped the Bellingham-Skagit All-Stars win the PGA Jr. League Regional 11 competition held over the weekend at The Home Course in DuPont. Kiana Schroeder of Arlington, Conrad Chisman of Stanwood and Palmer Mutcheson of Snohomish, all of whom are 12 years old, were among the 10 members of the team comprised of players from Bellingham Golf and Country Club and Skagit Golf and Country Club.
Bellingham-Skagit defeated teams from Oregon, Idaho and Utah to advance to the PGA Jr. League Championship on Nov. 16-19 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Three local teams in NWAC polls
Three local teams were among those ranked in the latest Northwest Athletic Conference polls.
The Everett Community College men’s soccer team was ranked No. 4 in the latest poll. The Trojans (5-2 league, 8-4 overall) dropped one spot from the previous poll, but received one first-place vote.
The Edmonds Community College volleyball and women’s soccer teams were both ranked. The Tritons’ volleyball team (3-0, 20-6) held steady at No. 5, while Edmonds’ women’s soccer team (5-1-1, 6-1-2) moved up one spot to No. 7.
If you have an item for the community sports roundup, email Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.
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