Community roundup: Monroe alum Rybar named D-III All-American

Blake Rybar is an All-American.

The Monroe High School graduate, who’s now a junior linebacker on the Linfield University football team, was named a third-team NCAA Division III All-American by D3football.com.

Rybar, the captain of Linfield’s defense, appeared in 10 games for the Wildcats. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder finished with 67 tackles, including 13 for loss, as well as 3.5 sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. Rybar was named the Northwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Rybar helped Linfield finish the season 10-1 and reach the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Gaye foregoes bowl for NFL draft

Edmonds-Woodway High School graduate Ali Gaye, who just finished his fifth-year senior season with the LSU football team, opted out of the Tigers’ bowl game as he officially declared for the NFL draft.

Gaye, a defensive end, appeared in 13 games for LSU this season, including 12 starts. He finished with 36 tackles, including six for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two passes defensed. However, he chose not to participate in Monday’s 63-7 victory over Purdue in the Citrus Bowl.

The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Gaye is considered a mid-to-late-round draft candidate.

Johnston catches TD in national title game

Snohomish High School graduate Josh Johnston, who just completed his senior season with the Colorado School of Mines football team, caught a touchdown pass in the NCAA Division II national championship game.

Johnston, the Orediggers’ No. 2 receiving threat, caught six passes for 85 yards in the title game against Ferris State on Dec. 17 in McKinney, Texas. That included a leaping 14-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter as Colorado School of Mines lost 41-14.

Make it a baker's dozen in receiving touchdowns this season for Johnston as he hauls this one in from Matocha!

📺 ESPNU pic.twitter.com/I1xzb1okgU

— Mines Football (@MinesFootball) December 17, 2022

Johnston finished the season with 7 catches for 1,373 yards and 13 touchdowns as the Orediggers went 13-3.

Cook competes at swim world championships

Jackson High School graduate Jon Cook, who graduated from Stanford University last spring, represented the Philippines at the FINA short course World Swimming Championships, which took place Dec. 13-18 in Melbourne, Australia. It was the second straight year Cook competed for the Philippines at the meet, which is competed in a 25-meter pool rather than the 50-meter Olympic-sized pool.

Cook competed in two events, placing 28th out of 35 competitors in the 200 breaststroke in a time of 2 minutes, 12.91 seconds, as well as 44th out of 61 competitors in the 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:00.87.

Alter earns GNAC weekly honor

Stanwood High School graduate Ashley Alter, now a senior wing on the Seattle Pacific University women’s basketball team, was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for Dec. 26-Jan. 1.

Alter had 17 points and 14 rebounds in the Falcons’ 58-45 victory over Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, then followed up with 31 points and nine boards in a 70-63 victory over Central Washington on Saturday.

For the season Alter is averaging team-leading totals of 16.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals for an SPU team that’s 3-1 in conference play and 8-4 overall.

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