Community roundup: Local pair honored by USATF Pacific NW

Last year was a big one for local hammer throwers, and two Snohomish County natives were honored for their achievements.

Everett High School graduate Jayden White and Mukilteo resident Kimberly Beard both received awards at the USATF Pacific Northwest Association’s 2022 awards banquet, which was held Feb. 18 in Tukwila.

White, now a junior on the University of Washington men’s track and field team, was named the Open Division Athlete of the Year. Last year as a sophomore White set an indoor weight throw school record when he finished fourth at the NCAA Indoor National Championships, earning first-team All-American honors. He also produced the second-best mark in school history in the outdoor hammer throw when he placed ninth at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships, earning second-team All-American recognition.

Beard, a first year on King’s High School girls track and field team, was named the Youth Division Field Event Athlete of the Year. Beard, as an eighth grader, won the ages 15-16 Junior Olympic national championship, setting the meet record in the process.

Kolly named GNAC Freshman of the Year

Mariner High School graduate BJ Kolly, now a redshirt freshman on the Western Washington University men’s basketball team, was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s Freshman of the Year.

Kolly, a 6-foot-8 forward, started all 28 games for the 15-13 Vikings, averaging 10.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots per game while shooting 63.9% from the floor. He led the league in both blocks and shooting percentage.

Kolly, who was also named honorable mention All-GNAC, was the first Western player to win the Freshman of the Year award in the conference’s 24-year history.

Alter surpasses collegiate 1,000-point mark

Stanwood High School graduate Ashley Alter, now a fifth-year guard/forward on the Seattle Pacific University women’s basketball team, has surpassed 1,000 points in her collegiate career.

Alter achieved the milestone in the Falcons’ 69-52 loss to Western Washington on Feb. 18. She became the 25th player in SPU history to reach 1,000 points.

Alter is averaging team highs with 15.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for the 14-12 Falcons, who earned the No. 5 seed to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament.

Matray, Rucshner earn NWAC weekly honors

Glacier Peak High School graduate Hayden Matray and Edmonds College’s Sydney Rucshner were named Northwest Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week for Feb. 13-19.

Matray, a freshman outfielder on the Columbia Basin College baseball team, was named the Baseball Hitter of the Week. Matray went 5-for-12 with two home runs and seven RBI as the Hawks went 1-3.

Rucshner, a first-year catcher/outfielder from Lake Tapps on the Edmonds College softball team, was named the Softball Hitter of the Week. Rucshner went 4-for-5 with a homer and seven RBI as the Tritons swept two games.

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