Community sports: Lang earns 2nd straight Late Models title

Once again Naima Lang is the points champion in Evergreen Speedway’s top class. And this time he finished off a neck-and-neck battle in style.

Lang took the checkered flag in Saturday’s Pro Late Models main event during the Monroe racetrack’s Championship Night No. 1, claiming his second straight Pro Late Models points championship and his seventh points title in Evergreen’s premier class.

Lang entered Championship Nigh No. 1 trailing Thomas Stanford by a single point, with Stanford having the momentum from winning the previous two races. However Lang, starting in the seventh position, quickly moved himself into the lead and led for the rest of the race, finishing comfortably ahead of Chad Fitzpatrick and Daniel Moore.

Lang finished the season with four wins and 368 points. Stanford, who was fifth in Saturday’s race, settled for second with 360 points. Moore was third with 306.

Four other points champions were crowned during Championship Night No. 1: Mark Hubbard won in Street Stocks, Lane Sundholm won in Mini Stocks, Chad Sinner won in Legends and Brooklyn Bender won in Pro 4 Trucks.

Five more points champions will be determined during this Saturday’s Championship Night No. 2, those coming in Winged Sprint Cars, Outlaw Figure 8s, Super Stock Figure 8s, Stinger 8s and Hornets.

Hayward earns SEC weekly volleyball honors

Archbishop Murphy High School graduate Natalie Hayward, now a fifth-year senior on the University of Tennessee volleyball team, was named the SEC Setter of the Week for Sept. 5-11.

Hayward had 107 assists (11.89 per set) over the course of three matches and helped the Lady Vols hit .371 as a team as Tennessee swept each of their three matches. It was the fifth time in her three seasons with the Lady Vols that Hayward was named the SEC Setter of the Week.

EvCC teams ranked in initial NWAC polls

The Everett Community College men’s soccer team checked in at No. 2 when the Northwest Athletic Conference released its initial coaches poll for the 2022 season. The Trojans, who began the season 4-0 and outscored their opponents 17-5, received three of the eight first-place votes and ranked only behind Columbia Basin.

Everett’s women’s soccer team also found itself in the initial NWAC coaches poll. The Trojans, who are 3-1, just sneaked into the poll at No. 10.

GP grad Alsup receives NWAC honor

Glacier Peak High School graduate Sadie Alsup, now a sophomore libero on the Whatcom Community College volleyball team, was named the Northwest Athletic Conference Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week for Aug. 29-Sept. 4

Alsup totalled 92 digs over the course of four matches, with the Orcas winning all four. She also chipped in with four aces for Whatcom, which is 8-1 and ranked No. 3 in the NWAC coaches poll.

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