Community roundup: Local duo honored by Northwest Conference

Monroe High School graduate Blake Rybar and Glacier Peak High School graduate Jacob Erickson were among the top honorees when the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference announced its football awards Monday.

Rybar, now a junior linebacker at Linfield, was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Rybar has 52 tackles, including 12 for loss, and 3.5 sacks for a Wildcats team that is allowing just 10.4 points per game. Linfield is 9-0 and hosts Pomona-Pitzer in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday.

Erickson, now a freshman defensive end at George Fox, was named the Rookie of the Year. Erickson recorded 32 tackles, of which 15 were for loss, and he tied the school record with 10.5 sacks as the Bruins finished the season 8-2.

Both Rybar and Erickson were named to the conference’s first-team defense. The other local who was named all-conference was Marysville Pilchuck High School graduate Dylan Kuk, a junior receiver at Whitworth, who was an honorable mention.

Local trio headed to NCAA cross country nationals

Three Snohomish County products are headed to the NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country Championship, which takes place Saturday in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Lake Stevens High School graduate Taylor Roe, now a senior at Oklahoma State, was part of the Cowgirls team that earned an automatic berth to nationals by winning the Midwest Regional. Roe, who placed third at regionals, is seeking her third straight All-American performance after finishing fifth at nationals last year and as the runner-up the previous season.

Lynnwood High School graduate Malia Pivec, now a graduate student at Oregon, was part of a Ducks team that placed second at the West Regional to get an automatic berth to nationals. Pivec placed 23rd at regionals and third among Oregon runners.

Woodway native and King’s High School graduate Naomi Smith, now a sophomore at Washington, was part of a Huskies team that received an at-large bid after placing third at the West Regional. Smith placed 36th at regionals and fifth among Washington runners.

Locals receive GNAC men’s soccer honors

Two Snohomish County natives were among the players selected to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s men’s soccer all-conference team.

Seattle Pacific senior goalkeeper Lars Helleren, an Edmonds native who graduated from King’s High School, was named to the first team. Helleren, who started all 19 of the Falcons’ games, was named to the first team for the second straight year.

Seattle Pacific junior defender Evan Aune, an Arlington High School graduate, was named honorable mention. Aune started 17 games for the Falcons and registered one goal.

EvCC men’s soccer eliminated in semis

The Everett Community College men’s soccer team’s season came to an end last Friday with a 3-1 loss to Columbia Basin in the semifinals of the Northwest Athletic Conference Soccer Championships in Tukwila. Everett outshot Columbia Basin 24-12, but only had River Stewart’s second-half goal to show for it. Everett, the North Region’s No. 3 seed, finished 13-4-4 and matched the school record for wins in a season.

Stewart, a sophomore forward and Meadowdale High School graduate, was named the North Region’s Most Valuable Player after leading NWAC in goals with 30, a number that broke the school’s single-season record. The other Trojan selected to the All-North Region All-Star Team was freshman goalkeeper and fellow Meadowdale grad Avary Olson.

Other North Region All-Stars included Edmonds freshman midfielder Trevon Hamilton, Peninsula sophomore forward and Mariner High School graduate Fernando Tavares, and Whatcom freshman midfielder and Snohomish High School graduate Beckham Uderitz

EdC, EvCC knocked out of NWAC volleyball

The Edmonds College and Everett Community College volleyball teams both reached the second day of the Northwest Athletic Conference Volleyball Championship, but did not advance to the Elite Eight.

Edmonds (15-18), the North Region No. 3 seed and playing in the East Bracket last weekend in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, lost to Lane 3-1, beat Tacoma 3-1, but was eliminated 3-1 in a rematch with Lane.

Everett (19-15), the North Region No. 4 seed and playing in the South Bracket in Albany, Oregon, last weekend, lost to Linn-Benton 3-0, beat Pierce 3-1, but was eliminated by Columbia Basin 3-1.

Luton, Eason back on NFL practice squads

Snohomish County quarterbacks Jake Luton and Jacob Eason are back on NFL practice squads a week after they were released.

Luton, a graduate of Marysville Pilchuck High School, continued his on-again off-again relationship with the New Orleans Saints, re-signing to their practice squad last week, just a week after he had been released. Luton has yo-yoed on and off the Saints’ 53-man roster and practice squad throughout the season.

Eason, a graduate of Lake Stevens High School, was signed to the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad Wednesday. Eason was released from the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad last week.

If you have an item for the community sports roundup, email Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.