Community roundup: Murphy alum selected for prestigious game

Abraham Lucas’ final tour through college football is going to have one last stop.

The Archbishop Murphy High School graduate, who’s now a senior offensive tackle on the Washington State University football team, has accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl, the game announced via its Twitter account Tuesday.

Please welcome OL Abraham Lucas from @WSUCougarFB to the 2022 @Reeses Senior Bowl!!! #GoCougs #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ @JimNagy_SB @PaniniAmerica #RatedRookie pic.twitter.com/zjGKO1qXXm

— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) November 23, 2021

Lucas, a fifth-year senior, has lined up at right tackle for the Cougars for four straight seasons, starting in 41 games. The 6-foot-7, 319-pound Lucas, who’s know for his pass blocking and ability to prevent sacks, was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2020, and he’s projected to be selected in the early rounds of the 2022 NFL draft.

The Senior Bowl is Feb. 5 in Mobile, Alabama.

Luton signs on with Dolphins

Former Marysville Pilchuck High School star quarterback Jake Luton has joined the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, signing with the Dolphins practice squad.

Luton, who’s in his second season in the NFL after being selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, is now with his third organization this season. He was with the Jaguars during training camp, but was part of the team’s final roster cuts. He subsequently signed with the Seattle Seahawks and spent time on both Seattle’s 53-man roster and the Seahawks’ practice squad, and twice he was elevated from the practice squad to be active on game day to serve as Geno Smith’s backup while Russell Wilson was injured. However, Luton was squeezed out when the Seahawks claimed former Lake Stevens High School quarterback Jacob Eason off waivers, and he was waived by the Seahawks on Nov. 15. He was signed to Miami’s practice squad two days later.

Roe places fifth at cross country nationals

Lake Stevens High School graduate Taylor Roe, now a junior on the Oklahoma State University women’s cross country team, earned All-American honors for the second straight year as she placed fifth at the NCAA National Championship on Saturday in Tallahassee, Florida.

Roe, last season’s national runner-up and The Herald’s 2020-21 Woman of the Year in Sports, completed the 6-kilometer race in a time of 19 minutes, 33.5 seconds. She finished 8.1 seconds behind the winner, BYU’s Whittni Orton, who crossed the finish line in 19:25.4.

Roe helped the Cowgirls finish 13th in the team competition.

Hamilton named GNAC football Defensive Player of the Year

Kamiak High School graduate Donte Hamilton, now a graduate-student linebacker on the Central Washington University football team, was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Hamilton led the GNAC in both interceptions (six) and passes defensed (11). He also ranked second in tackles for loss (14) and sacks (5.5) and was fifth in tackles (71). He was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week three times during the season’s first five weeks.

Hamilton and the Wildcats finished the season 8-3 and reached the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Gunterman named GNAC volleyball Player of the Year

Lake Stevens High School graduate Gabby Gunterman, now a junior outside hitter on the Western Washington University volleyball team, was named the GNAC Player of the Year.

In 25 matches this season Gunterman is averaging 3.21 kills per set with a .233 hitting percentage. She’s also averaging 3.53 digs, 0.30 aces and 0.62 blocks per set, and she’s recorded 14 double-doubles. She was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week three times.

Gunterman and the Vikings are riding a 16-match winning streak into the postseason. Western was named the No. 2 seed to the West Regional, which takes place Dec. 2-4 in San Bernadino, California.

Helleren, Fairhurst named All-GNAC in men’s soccer

Snohomish County natives Lars Helleren and Jason Fairhurst were named All-GNAC in men’s soccer.

Helleren, a senior goalkeeper for Seattle Pacific and an Edmonds native who attended King’s High School, was named to the first team after leading SPU to the GNAC championship and a place in the NCAA Division II tournament. Helleren started all 18 of the Falcons’ games, posting six shutouts.

Fairhurst, a senior forward at Saint Martin’s who graduated from Snohomish High School, was named to the second team. Fairhurst led the Saints in scoring with eight goals in 17 contests.

MVP Johnson leads NWAC volleyball all-stars

Everett High School graduate Brooklyn Johnson, now a sophomore setter on the Skagit Valley College volleyball team, was named the Northwest Athletic Conference’s North Region Most Valuable Player. Johnson, who was named the NWAC Setter of the Week three times during the regular season, led the Cardinals to a second-place finish at the NWAC Championship over the weekend in Lakewood.

Johnson led a strong contingent of Snohomish County natives who were named North Region All-Stars. First-team selections included Bellevue first-year outside hitter Meg Perry (Glacier Peak) and Whatcom sophomore defensive specialist Alexis Carpenter (Monroe). Second teamers were Bellevue first-year outside hitter Arianna Bibby (Arlington) and Everett first-year outside hitter Erin Ingram (Jackson). Honorable mention included Bellevue first-year defensive specialist Kate Hansen (Glacier Peak), Everett first-year middle blocker Sarah Campfield (Snohomish) and Shoreline sophomore setter Claire Johnson (Glacier Peak).

Edmonds, which tied for fifth at the NWAC Championship, had four players named all-stars. First-year outside hitters Jordyn Brooks and Charity Wilson were named to the first team, first-year middle blocker Emma Harada-Suaava was named to the second team, and sophomore outside hitter Keelan Memory was named honorable mention.

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