Matt Baide for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

Prep Girls Swimming

Kelso and Mark Morris were represented last week at the 2A and 3A State Swimming Championships in Federal Way at the King County Aquatic Center.

Paige Wirtz was the lone Monarch in the mix. The senior finished 20th in the 500-yard freestyle in 6:07.81 and 22nd in 100-yard backstroke in 1:10.59.

The Kelso girls swim team saw several individuals compete, as well as their relay contingent.

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Matt Baide for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

Prep Cross Country

The Blast Zone area had plenty of local runners competing at the state cross country meet on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

In 2A girls cross country, Mark Morris finished eighth as a team.

“Junior Maddie Crowl led the team, taking 29th overall in a time of 20 minutes and 9 seconds,” noted Mark Morris head coach Mark Brumbaugh.

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Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

High School Cross Country

The Mark Morris girls won the team title at the District IV 1A/2A Championships at Lewis River Golf Course last week. Junior Maddie Crowl led the Monarchs in fifth place with a time of 19:59.

That time places Crowl 8th all-time in the Mark Morris girls cross country in a 5k race.

Mark Morris junior Elise Herold finished ninth in 20:42 and senior Audrey Varney took 11th place in 20:51. Freshman Emma Earle took 20th place in 21:35 and freshman Kezia Armstrong rounded out the top five in 30th place in 22:27.

R.A. Long senior Elliana Higgins finished in eighth place in 20:37. Woodland senior Kaylynn McSmith was the highest finisher for the Beavers in 16th place in 21:14.

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By Matt Baide for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

High School Athletics / Roundup

Prep Slowpitch Softball

Kelso’s Hefley, MM’s McGinley earn co-MVPs; RAL’s Jones takes top 2A GSHL offensive honor

Kelso and R.A. Long split a four-way tie for third place when the consolation bracket was rained out at the 2A/3A state slowpitch softball tournament last Saturday at Kiwanis Fields in Yakima.

Kelso was the No. 4 seed after winning the District title, and won its opening match 11-1 against Columbia River, but lost to No. 1 Mt. Spokane 23-4 in the state semifinals.

The Hilanders were scheduled to play Walla Walla on Oct. 25 before the games were rained out.

“It’s mostly disappointing for the kids who just wanted to PLAY, but no shame in third,” Kelso coach Liz Hoopfer said.

The Lumberjills were the No. 7 seed and started the state tournament with a 17-5 win against No. 2 Walla Walla. R.A. Long lost 20-3 against University in the state semifinals.

R.A. Long was scheduled to play Columbia River in the consolation semifinals.

Mt. Spokane won the state title with a 12-2 win against University in a game that was moved to a different location.

Stats for the Lassies and Lumberjills State contests were not provided to BZM, and attempts to contact the R.A. Long brain trust after the rainouts were unsuccessful.

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By Matt Baide for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

Prep Cross Country / Roundup

The greater Blast Zone area has more than a few standout cross country runners who have been busy preparing for league, district and state races.

In the absence of consistent reports from our local coaches, it took some internet sleuthing in order to dig up the top results this fall. Keep scrolling to see what we’ve found out so far.

Editor’s Note: Dear cross country coaches, we know we spoiled you last year with our weekly Cross Country Roads features by Don Schaplow, but our most dedicated running writer has opted to chase elk and turkeys across the great Northwest this fall instead of tracking down results in his spare time. Now we’re running from behind, so please help us out by sending reports with results, times, and other relevant notes by email to: blastzonenews@gmail.com

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Matt Baide for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

Prep Slowpitch Softball / Roundup

Kelso claims first District title on home diamond

Two local teams will have one more weekend to play on the diamond, and a third came within one win of punching its ticket during a slobber-knocker district tournament last week at Tam O’Shanter Park.

Kelso defeated Columbia River by a score of 6-4 on Thursday to win the program’s first District title.

Over the weekend the Lassies were awarded the No. 4 seed in the 2A/3A state slowpitch tournament. Kelso will rematch with No. 5 Columbia River at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24 on Field A at Kiwanis Fields in Yakima to begin the tournament.

Kelso softball has had a tremendous season, sitting at 14-3 and third in the WIAA 2A/3A RPI rankings.

That season has not been without some tough wins, though.

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Prep Girls Swimming / Roundup

By Matt Baide for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

Lassies looking good in solos and relays

The Kelso girls swim team has had a great season so far, and that doesn’t figure to change any time soon.

Most recently, the Hilanders won against Skyview 91-73. Earning wins for Kelso was Stephanie Gonzalez, winning the 200-yard freestyle in 2:25.41. Trinity Noga won the 200-yard IM in 3:04.32. Natalie Brown won the 50-yard freestyle in 26.92 and the 100-yard freestyle in 1:01.31. Emily Tennant won the 100-yard butterfly in 1:14.10.

The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Mili Whipps, Tennant, Seimears and Brown won in 4:24.08.

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By Matt Baide for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

Prep Boys Golf / Roundup

The boys golf season will soon close up shop for seven months, and while I will never understand why this side of the state plays boys golf in the fall, there were numerous golfers from The Blast Zone coverage area who turned in solid seasons.

We’ve got all the details below to get you caught up with prep action from the local links. And if you’re also wondering why the boys golf season is cleaved in two for western Washingtonians, Kelso head coach Pat Connors has some insight.

“The great thing about golf in the fall is it allows our baseball players to come out and play,” Connors noted.

You see, the Hilanders boast at least three baseball players on their District champion golf squad. By playing the regular season in the fall, it allows those multi-sport athletes to compete in both sports, while leaving open the possibility of also playing in the state tournament in the spring, depending on how things shape up on the diamond.

Also, it rains a lot here in the spring. So I guess it makes sense to get as many rounds in as possible while the getting is good. Still, seven months between the penultimate round and the championship round will never feel normal to this golfer-turned-reporter who was born and raised in eastern Washington.

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High School Boys Golf / Photo Galleries

CLARK COUNTY — The late autumn weather cooperated for local teams as the postseason got underway this week at a pair of golf courses in North Clark County.

Kelso got the 3A Greater St. Helens League District Tournament started on Monday at Lewis River Golf Course, and wrapped up a league title on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Mark Morris, R.A. Long, and Woodland spent Tuesday traipsing around Tri-Mountain Golf Course for the 2A Greater St. Helens League Tournament.

The Hilanders also saw Colton Burgoyne win the individual title at the 3A GSHL Tournament, and earned an automatic team bid to State. The Monarchs, Lumberjacks and Beavers who made the cut will compete for again next week in the 2A District IV Tournament with tickets to the state tournament on the line.

Editor’s Notes: Continue scrolling for complete standings and photo galleries from the 2A and 3A GSHL postseason golf tournaments. And be sure to check back at BlastZoneMedia.com for full additional prep golf coverage, including quotes and insight from local coaches.

— Mark Morris’ Ethan Kosoris blasts out of the bunker on Hole 12 at Tri-Mountain Golf Course in Ridgefield, keeping his par hopes alive during league play Tuesday afternoon. / Video by Skyler Smith for Blast Zone Media —

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Don Schaplow for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

With the State medals now hung in their commemorative spaces to gather dust and fall sports officially put to bed, here's a look at the lead dogs in the pack that we’ve selected to make up the first annual Blast Zone All-Area Cross-Country Team.

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Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com

1A/2A State Meet

Two-thirds of the local prep swimming co-op team were represented this weekend at the King County Aquatic Center for the 1A/2A Girls Swimming State Championships, but it was a Woodland swimmer who left more foes in her wake over the course of the weekend.

Karlen Stuart, a junior from Woodland placed sixth in the 50-yard freestyle race with a time of 25.36 seconds on Saturday, improving slightly on her preliminary time (25.41) from Friday. Maya Geddes of Bainbridge won that race with a time of 24.45 seconds..

In the 100-yard freestyle Stuart placed seventh with a time of 57.64 seconds, which was also an improvement over her preliminary time (57.64) from Friday.

Stuart won the 50-yard freestyle at the District meet the previous week at Dick Mealy Memorial Pool, and placed second in the 100-yard freestyle.

Meanwhile, Mark Morris was represented by junior Paige Wirtz, while Kalama once again had senior Emma Anderson in the water until the season’s penultimate day.

Anderson was able to improve slightly on her District finals time in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:09.22 on her way to an 18th place finish in the Friday’s preliminary race. She also improved on her District performance in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:21.41. That time left her 22nd overall in the prelims. Both times were in line with her rankings coming into the meet, but were not enough to advance to the finals in either race.

For Anderson, who is hoping to find school to swim for in college, it was a full circle moment as she completed her prep career.

“This pool, the (King County Aquatic Center) is where Emma first learned to swim as a little girl, paddling and blowing bubbles,” noted Mark Morris coach Richard Carr.

Wirtz also turned in a dependable performance at the State meet with a time of 6:09.13 in the 500-yard freestyle preliminary race. That time was just off her personal best, which left her ranked 21st and outside of the qualifying zone for the finals. 

Wirtz is the daughter of Dane and Sarah (Calhoun) Wirtz, both known entities in the Longview School District and swimming record holders at their respective alma maters of Kelso and R.A. Long. Paige will return for one more season in baby blue next fall, when she will continue to chase her mother’s school records in both the 200 and 500 yard freestyle.

“Overall, the girls did well handling the difficult higher level of competition less than a week after a demanding and exhausting District Championships just to make it to this meet,” Carr noted.  

3A State Meet

Kelso was represented in the water at the 3A Girls Swimming State Championships by its 400-yard freestyle relay team of Trinity Noga, Mili Whipps, Emily Tennant, and Natalie Brown.

The Hilanders top relay team finished in 22nd place in Friday’s preliminary race with a time of 4:12.76, which was just off their District finals time from the previous week.

“They swam. Had a good time,” Kelso athletic director Bob Kickner said. “(They) finished where they started, (but) didn’t qualify for Saturday.”

Don Schaplow for Blast Zone Media

The final times, places and scores have been tallied at Sun Willows Golf Course, bringing yet another Washington prep cross country season to a close.

As our local runners are washing their shoes and resting before their next training run (that’s right… it never truly ends with this crowd), let’s take one quick final lap around the Blast Zone to catch up on the highlights from Saturday’s State Championship Meet in Pasco.

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Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com

Woodland’s Karlen Stuart was named the Swimmer of the Meet at the 2A District IV Girls Swim Meet last weekend at Dick Mealy Memorial Pool over the weekend after standout performances against many of the best swimmers in the area.

Stuart, a junor, was the No. 1 ranked swimmer overall with 207 points following two-days of swimming at The DMMP, Friday and Saturday, and punched her ticket to State in two events. Rebecca Yamada of Ridgefield was second overall with 200 points. The next closest local swimmer was Emma Anderson of Kalama who placed 17th with 108 points.

The only Woodland swimmer in the pool this season, Stuart was also selected as the 2A Greater St. Helens League Swimmer of the Year when that list was released on Tuesday. (See below for the complete full All-League list.)

On Saturday, Stuart won the 50-yard individual medley with a time of 25.33, beating out Georgina Romero of Hockinson (25.59). She also placed second in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 56.15 seconds that was just behind Paige Dangleis of Hockinson (55.72).

The top-four placers in each event were granted a berth to the 2A State Meet later this week.

The overall team results from the meet saw Columbia River win the team title with 318 points. Aberdeen (279) was second, and Hockinson (208) placed third. Mark Morris tallied 150 team points to finish 10th, while Woodland (41) finished 15th and Kalama (34) placed 16th. R.A. Long did not register qualifying points for the team count.

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Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com

The Kelso girls swimming team put together a collective effort at Gaither Pool on Saturday in order to secure a District championship for the school trophy case.

The Hilanders saw their 400-yard freestyle relay team of Mili Whipps, Emily Tennant, Trinity Noga and Natalie Brown take first place with a time of 4:11.21 that was more than 26 seconds faster than the runners up from Shelton. However, that was the only first place finish the hosts registered in any single event.

The rest was a communal effort to pick up points whenever, and wherever, they might be available. Sort of like two player Super Mario Bros., all underwater world, all the time.

Kelso got by Mountain View 278-226 for first place, while Shelton, Prairie, Heritage, and Evergreen rounded out the team finishes..

“All the girls improved their times throughout the meet and we had many 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th place finishes which gave us enough points to win,” Kelso coach Lori Clark said.  “It was a total team effort by 12 very dedicated girls.”

The first place finish for Whipps, Tennant, Noga and Brown qualified the relay team for a trip to the 3A State Championship meet at the King County Aquatic Center.

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Don Schaplow for Blast Zone Media

3A District 3-4 Championships

Kelso Kids Kick Up Dust En Route to Pasco

The Lads in Plaid placed 7^th last week at the bi-District 3/4 Cross Country Championships, earning the final team spot as they qualified for State next Saturday at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

“They really ponied up and competed today,” said coach Tim Wines. “I’m so proud of them. They just really rose to the challenge.”

Kelso scored 207 points as Central Kitsap placed first with 50. Jax Corvin of Lakes broke the tape first at 16:03.

Jesus Rios was the top Kelso finisher placing 21^st (17:03). Along with Rios, Will Cheslock, Owen Gallagher, Collin Caballero, Nolan Cox, Wesley Leeper and Marcelo Samaniego will represent the Hilanders at State.

Kelso’s Mia Johnson and Aurora Hiebert each will compete at State as well, qualifying as individuals. Johnson placed 29^th (21:11) for the Lassies, while freshman Hiebert PR’d to place 45^th (22:12). Both will return next season joining a squad of young returners.

This year’s Kelso girls team will only lose one senior, Madison Fowler. The Lassies placed 8^th as a team with 259 points just missing the 7^th place position.

“They have just come so far this season,” said Wines. “They just ran out of their heads today, battled hard and I really couldn’t have asked for more. I’m just so proud.”

Peninsula’s Elektra Higgins won the meet finishing at 17:48. 

2A District IV Championships

MM Boys and Lumberjills Hop the Train to Sun Willows

The Mark Morris boys and R.A. Long girls teams both qualified for State in strong fashion on Halloween to advance to the State Meet next Saturday in Pasco.

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Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com

Prep Girls Swimming

Kelso’s girls swim team was first among the rest at the Southwest Washington Invitational, Saturday, at Dick Mealy Memorial Pool on the Mark Morris High School campus. With a team total of 255 points, the Hilanders edged Shelton (222) for second place, while the aquanaut juggernauts from Camas ran (swam?) away with the team title by posting 652 points.

All told 214 swimmers took their turns in the pool at the SWW Invite while representing 21 schools ranging from the Columbia River gorge to South Puget Sound.

In addition to the Papermakers, Hilanders and Highclimbers, the meet included the hosts from Mark Morris, R.A. Long (and Kalama), along with Woodland, Columbia River, Seton Catholic, Ridgefield, Mountain View, Hockinson, Prairie, Skyview, Heritage, Union, Hudson’s Bay, Fort Vancouver, and Battle Ground.

The meet was the third time in a week that Kelso has shared a pool with the R.A. Long-Mark Morris-Kalama co-op. Last Wednesday the Hilanders dominated a meet back at the DMMP, even as atrophy has set in on their roster.

“Unfortunately I am down to 12 girls, — fortunately 10 of them have qualifying times for the District meet,” Kelso coach Lori Clark said. “This group of girls have been very team oriented and individual standouts have varied with each meet… I’m very pleased with progress the team has made.”

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Haunted Edition

A wet, windy final week of October ushers in scary tales of postseason qualifying meets for our area runners and their respective high school cross country teams. With District meets brewing, limited berths to the State meet will be the most coveted treats, so let’s go door to door around the Blast Zone to see who might wind up running away with the candy sack.

The reward for the fastest runners, and most complete teams, will be trips to the State Championship Meet at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco on Nov. 9.

3A bi-District 3-4 Championships

Chambers Bay Golf Club, Saturday, Nov. 2, 12:50 PM

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Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com

CROSS COUNTRY

All Hilanders, Mark Morris boys runner up at league meets

Both of the Kelso cross country team as well as the Mark Morris boys team managed second place finishes at their respective league championship races this week at Lewisville Park in Battle Ground.

Kelso’s Mia Johnson posted the highest individual finish of the day by placing third in the 3A Greater St. Helens League girls race on Wednesday. Her time of 21:14 put her less than a minute behind the winner, Daniela Vasquez-Gonzales of Evergreen (20:34).

The Kelso girls also saw Aurora Hiebert (2:38) place 9th, Olivia Engel (22:48) place 10th, Kiera Fassold (23:18) place 15th and Madison Fowler (23:38) finish 17th.

Prairie won the team title with a total of 41 points. Kelso finished with 50, ahead of Evergreen (55), Mountain View (101) and Shelton (106).

The Hilanders best finish on the boys side was posted by Jesus Rios, who placed fifth with a time of 17:28. That mark placed him nearly a minute behind the winner, Devyn Thomas of Heritage (16:39).

The Kelso boys’ next four finishers were Owen Gallagher (10th/18:00), Collin Caballero (11th/18:05), Will Cheslock (12th/18:35) and Nolan Cox (13th/18:37).

Prairie also won the boys team title with just 23 points. Kelso’s 51 points were better than Shelton (103), Mountain View (106), Heritage (121) and Evergreen (134).

~

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Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com

A strong follow up to a disappointing start allowed Mark Morris senior Broden Toney to play his way into a bronze finish at the 2A District IV boys golf championship at Heron Lakes (Blue) in Portland, Tuesday.

Toney, and Riley Coleman of R.A. Long, each managed to finish in the top-four with just one stroke separating Longview’s top talent on the links in Oregon country. Mason Acker of Washougal wound up winning the whole thing with a two-day total of 145 on the par 72 course.

Acker and Coleman were tied in third place after the first round on Monday when both golfers shot a round of 75. Meanwhile, Toney was just outside the top-5 after Day 1 when he finished on 77.

“Broden had a great tournament overall.  His back nine on the first day was probably the worst score of the year for him,” MM coach Kim Ulman said. “The second day was more indicative of how he has played.”

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