The Central Washington University football team finished the regular season with a perfect 11-0 record after defeating Humboldt State 42-28 Saturday. The Wildcats were ranked No. 7 in the final NCAA Division II poll and earned a bye in the first round of the Division II Football Championship.
A number of Snohomish County natives helped the Wildcats get into the national playoffs for the first time since 2009.
Four players from Snohomish County high schools play key roles for Central — Lake Stevens’ Christian Gasca and Tevin Gray, Lakewood’s Justin Peterson and Glacier Peak’s Sean Elledge.
Gasca and Peterson, both senior wide receivers, have been Central’s top two receiving threats. They’re tied for the team lead in receiving yards with 520. Gasca has 37 receptions and four touchdowns, and Peterson has 29 receptions and three TDs.
Elledge, a senior linebacker, and Gray, a sophomore linebacker, have been mainstays on Central’s defense. Elledge is second on the team with 55 tackles, 12 of which were for loss, and is fourth on the team with five sacks. Gray is fifth on the team in tackles with 41 and has added 3.5 sacks.
Central plays host to the winner between Winona State and Texas A&M-Commerce on Nov. 25 in the round of 16.
All-GNAC women’s soccer honors
Four players from Snohomish County high schools were named All-Great Northwest Athletic Association in women’s soccer.
Central Washington University’s Mackenzie Nolte, a senior forward from Marysville Pilchuck High School, and Seattle Pacific’s Kaytlin Willis, a junior defender from Snohomish, were named to the second team. For Nolte it was the fourth straight year in which she received all-conference recognition.
Western Washington’s Liv Larson, a sophomore forward from Arlington, and Northwest Nazarene’s Olivia Carter, a junior defender from Jackson, received honorable mention.
Neale third at regionals
Glacier Peak High School graduate Amy-Eloise Neale, a senior on the University of Washington women’s cross country team, placed third at the NCAA West Regional Championships on Saturday in Seattle. Neale, the defending champion, completed the 6-kilometer race in a time of 19 minutes, 25 seconds, which was 11 seconds behind the winner, San Francisco’s Charlotte Taylor. Neale will compete at the NCAA Championships on Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky, where she hopes to improve on her eighth-place finish from last year.
Everett, Edmonds players named NWAC All-Stars
Three members of the Everett Community College men’s soccer team, which qualified for the NWAC Soccer Championships, were named All-Stars. Freshman forward Aaron Byrne, sophomore forward Ariaan Cardenas and freshman goalkeeper Drexel Cardona were named to the North-West Region team. Also named to the squad were two players from Edmonds: sophomore defenders Sheriff Conta and Pablo Sedano.
Everett also had three players from its women’s team named North-West Region All-Stars: sophomore forward Camryn Cross and freshmen midfielders Lauren Dowdell and Jewelia Meischke.
Clark going for Olympic curling
Lynnwood curler Brady Clark was off to a slow start in his attempt to qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. Clark’s team was 1-3 through the first half of the double round robin at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, which are underway in Omaha, Nebraska.
The event continues through Saturday.
Badminton nationals coming to Mukilteo
The 2018 USA Badminton Adult Nationals have been awarded to the Harbour Pointe Badminton Club in Mukilteo. Adult Nationals, which take place April 13-15, feature some of the best badminton players in the country, including past Olympians.
If you have an idea for a community sports story, e-mail Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.
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