Wesco athletes look to repeat last year’s successes

By John McDonald

Prep Editor

Can they do it again?

Last season was a banner year for Western Conference girls track. Kamiak’s Heather Hetzer won three individual championships, sweeping the sprints, and Snohomish won the 4A team title.

Hetzer is back to defend her championships as are many of the girls who contributed points to the Panthers’ team triumph.

But winning back-to-back in track is far from a given.

Girls change a lot physically from year to year. So do boys. But boys usually get bigger and stronger. Girls often just get bigger.

“A girl’s best year is often her freshman or sophomore year,” Snohomish coach Dan Parker said. “You can’t assume they’re going to get better like you can with boys.”

Parker said his team will be strong again in the same areas in which it did well last year, but that only means a likely top-four finish not necessarily a championship.

Because so many girls teams are fueled by freshmen and sophomores, you never know from which quarter a new power will arise.

But Parker thinks Hetzer has the ability to remain among the state’s elite in the sprints.

“Obviously, Heather is a talent,” Kamiak coach Bill Costello said, “and is showing great determination and work ethic. She hopes to maintain and/or increase her skill level.”

Wesco North: Snohomish displayed great depth in winning their state crown. They edged Eisenhower by a point without winning a single event or scoring any points in the relays. Snohomish graduated only one athlete who scored at state off last year’s team. Returning for the Panthers are distance runner Lucy Miller, who was fourth in the 1,600-meter run and second in the 3,200; Emily Kling, who was second in the long and triple jumps; Emily Enders, who was fifth in the pole vault; Kaitlyn Waterhouse, who was fourth in the triple jump, and Jackie Mundell, who was 13th in the discus.

Perhaps the strongest challenges the Panthers will face in league will come from former 3A teams Lake Stevens and Stanwood.

Lake Stevens was the Wesco 3A’s top team last season with a fifth-place finish at state. The Vikings graduated state-placing sprinter Tanya Pater and state-placing thrower Maisie Todd is playing softball. But they return Amber Nickelson, who was 13th in the 1,600 and 3,200; Amy Kruckenberg, who was 14th in the high jump, and Alicia Steinruck, who was ninth in the javelin.

Stanwood returns Nikki Tepley, who was fourth in the 400; Zoe Urness, who was sixth in the 800; Devin Wall, who was eighth in the triple jump; Kim Bascom, a state qualifier in the triple jump, and Darcy Madsen, who was seventh in the discus.

Wesco South: Hetzer may be a triple threat for Kamiak, but, otherwise, the Knights are young and not a team title contender. Look for Shorewood and Everett to fill that role.

Everett returns Sharon Bjella, who was second in the high jump; Molly Loesche, a state participant in the pole vault; sprinter Chandry Moore, a state participant in the 400 and 800 relays, and Leslie Barton, the Wesco 3A champion in the shot put.

Shorewood returns Celia Maclean, who was ninth in the 3,200; Laura Weigel, who was 10th in the pole vault, and Akosua Fordjour, who was eighth in the 100.

Other individuals to watch include Kelsey Voetmann of Mountlake Terrace, who was seventh in the shot put; Edmonds-Woodway’s Tiana Roma, who was fourth in the high jump, and Lynnwood’s Sarah Revoyr, the cross country district champion.

North Cascades: Defending champion South Whidbey appears to have the wherewithal to repeat. The Falcons have a strong point producer in Katy McGillen. She placed in four events (second 100 hurdles, first triple jump, first long jump, first pole vault) in the league meet last season. She’ll be supported by teammates Melissa Poolman (second 400) and Karen Schwager (fourth 1,600).

Sultan returns a pair of league champions in Danie Kamiya (100) and Heather Howard (200), while Lakewood has one in Amber Nash (300 hurdles). Lakewood also has four other returning state participants: Crystan Mitchell (discus), Jessica Pike (triple jump), Ashley Kubin (pole vault) and Katherine Chamley (400 relay).