Anacortes Seahawks
Coach: Ken Welk, 18th year
League: Northwest Conference
Last year: 24-4, fifth in state
Key returners: Hayley Rieger, sr., 5-6, guard; Monica Archer, sr., 5-11, post; Kim Herrigstad, sr., 5-6, guard; Hannah Holtgeerts, sr., 6-2, post; Jorgina Moore, sr., 5-8, wing; Kayla Rieger, so., 5-6, guard/wing.
Key newcomers: Madison Bundy, so., 5-5, wing; Jackie Saunders, so., 5-4, guard; Alex Weygandt, jr., 5-8, wing; Connie Grimnes, sr., 5-8, wing/post.
Outlook: The graduation of several players off last year’s state tournament team leaves a group that will be tested this year in Northwest Conference play.
“We’re a group that’s unproven,” Welk said. “We have some girls with playoff experience and Hannah (Holtgeerts), who has had to play a major role; Hayley Rieger has played some solid minutes. Other seniors have been role players. To step into major varsity minutes, they’re a group that will have to prove themselves.”
Welk said the Seahawks will still play the running, pressuring style that opponents and fans have come to expect, but there will also be adjusting to this group’s talents.
“They have a lot of good ability and do a lot of things well but they’ll have to create their own identity,” he said. “We’ve got a few wrinkles with this group to fit their abilities and their style. We could look a little different in some of the things we do.”
Welk said the Northwest Conference will be competitive after the graduation of several of the conference’s top players.
“A lot of programs lost key seniors — we have, Sehome has, Lynden Christian has,” he said. “Every program has had someone ... Lynden is probably exception, but teams are figuring out life after those graduates.”
Burlington-Edison Tigers
Coach: Mike Buckholz, fifth year
League: Northwest Conference
Last year: 18-8 overall, state qualifier
Key returners: Sarah Stewart, sr., 6-2, post; Brenna Anderson, jr., 6-0, post; Katelynn Mannon, so., 5-10, forward; Virginia Brown, jr., 5-7, guard; Tricia Youngquist, jr., 5-10, forward; Kristine Thoe, jr., 5-7, guard.
Key newcomers: Molly Breckenridge, so., 5-2, guard; Cambie Edwards, so., 5-11, post.
Outlook: The Tigers are looking for their fifth state tournament appearance in as many years. They’ve graduated standout guard Keri Arendse, who averaged 15.8 points per game, but bring back a young, deep group of talented athletes.
“So far I really like their work ethic,” Buckholz said. “They work really hard in practice ... they’re doing a good job relying on each other, helping each other out.”
Among the returners are Stewart, who last season averaged 10.1 points per game for the Tigers; Mannon, who got significant playing time last year as a freshman and turned in eight double-digit scoring games; and Anderson, whom Buckholz said has improved over the offseason.
“Brenna is really stepping up and asserting herself,” he said. “She feels like it’s her time.”
He said Thoe is eager to take the reins at point guard.
Concrete Lions
Coach: Kevik Rensink, 10th year
League: Northwest 2B/1A League
Last year: 10-10 overall
Key returners: Tasha Smith, sr., 5-8, wing; Violet League, sr., 5-11, forward; Kelsey Barnett, jr., 5-4, guard; Taylor Lee, jr., 5-6, forward; Ashley Johnson, jr., 5-4, guard; Martha Schoolland, so., 5-6, guard.
Key newcomers: Connie Castaneda, jr., 5-6, guard/forward; Tori Semro, sr., 5-5, guard.
Outlook: With the return of Smith (10.9 ppg) and a new emphasis on defense, Rensink is looking forward to a competitive year from the Lions.
The team lost top scorer Beka Thomas (17.9 ppg) to graduation, but Rensink said the team will respond by turning in tough defense.
“This will be one of best defensive teams we’ve had,” he said. “If you take a little bit of scoring away, you’ve got to add defense on the other end.”
Rensink said League is co-captain with Smith, and Barnett will take over play at point guard.
He said newcomer Connie Castaneda will add a spark with her athleticism.
La Conner Braves
Coach: Scott Novak, second year
League: Northwest 2B/1A League
Last year: 19-8, state qualifier
Key returners: Kelsey Kennedy, sr., 5-5, guard; Julie Hulbert, jr., 5-9, forward; Megan Raymond, jr., 5-7, guard/forward; Candice Pedroza, so., 5-4, guard; Lauren McClung, so., 5-10, forward; Tara Gilkey, jr., 5-8, guard/forward; Galena Graham, so., 5-9, guard/forward.
Key newcomers: Chelsey Allman, jr., 5-10, forward; Nikki Finley, fr., 5-2, guard.
Outlook: With several players returning off last year’s state tournament team, Novak said the Braves could be in the mix for a league title.
“As far as league goes it’s going to be tough again. Until someone knocks off Shoreline Christian, they’re the team to beat. We plan on being in the mix,” he said.
While the team lost several players off last year’s squad, including graduated seniors Cora Kellerman and Sabrina Schwindler, Novak said the remaining group has put in the work required to be competitive.
“A lot of the girls put in a lot of work in the offseason and it shows. The girls stepped it up,” he said.
Kennedy is the team’s top returning scorer at 9.2 points per game.
Mount Vernon Bulldogs
Coach: Scott Stromer, third year
League: Northwest Conference
Last year: 6-7 conference, 10-13 overall
Key returners: Cheyenne Walker, sr., 5-7, guard; Ally Kutz, sr., 5-8, guard; Emily Noste, sr., 6-0, post; Sabrina Squires, sr., 5-8, guard; Mandi Barnett, jr., 5-11, post; Jessica Keesee, sr., 5-8 guard; Angelica Espinoza, jr., 5-6, guard.
Key newcomers: Courtney Shilling, sr., 6-0, post; Emma Verge, jr., 5-7, guard; Heather Keesee, jr., 5-9, post; Natasha Evans, jr., 5-7, guard; Tessa Carter, so., 5-8, guard; Derrick Walser, so., 5-9, post; Liz Keck, so., 5-8, post; Gloria Gay, so., 5-8, guard; Karli Welch, fr., 6-0, post.
Outlook: Stromer sees a couple strengths for the Bulldogs.
“We’re deeper than we were last year and we have quite a bit of experience coming back,” he said.
Mount Vernon has seven returners and nine newcomers — all are capable of playing at the varsity level, said Stromer — and a good group of returning seniors.
Squires is a third-year starting point guard, Walker and Kutz were the team’s top scorers last season and Noste is looking for a big season after being slowed by a broken finger last year.
“It’s hard to say,” Stromer said of expectations. “But the first week of practice was a real good week.”
The Bulldogs can play a variety of styles.
They have decent speed, but can also go big with three 6-footers to choose from.
“And they (the 6-footers) aren’t slow by any means,” said Stromer. “They are all pretty quick for big kids.”
Mount Vernon Christian Hurricanes
Coach: Dick Gudmunson, 10th year
League: Northwest 2B/1A League
Last year: 4-14 overall
Key returners: Stephanie Geertsma, sr., 5-8, guard; Tawni Van Berkum, sr., 5-9, forward/center; Kylie Whitener, so., 5-3, guard.
Key newcomers: Rachel Freeman, so., 5-3, guard; Adriana deHaan, so., 5-9, forward; Kendra McConnell, so., 5-8, guard/forward; Melanie Kuipers, fr., 5-8, guard; Katie Hoag, sr., 5-4, guard; Jessica Munoz, jr., 5-3, guard.
Outlook: The Hurricanes return two of their leading scorers in Whitener (10 ppg) and Geertmsa (8.7), as well as Van Berkum, who was lost early last season to injury.
Gudmunson thinks the mix of young and experienced players will pay off for the Hurricanes, who will be playing in the team’s new gym.
“We’ll look for improvement and quality play from the underclassmen, along with some good senior leadership,” he said.
He said the team’s quickness will be a weapon this season.
“I’m happy with the quickness and speed team. We’re going to try to utilze that as a strength,” he said.
Oak Harbor Wildcats
Coach: Brett McLeod, seventh year
League: Western Conference North Division
Last year: 16-8, district qualifiers.
Key returners: Cori Henricksen, sr. 5-6, wing; Jessica Denmon, jr., 5-4, guard; Jennifer Jansen, sr., 6-2, post; Cheyenne Tubo, sr., 4-11, guard.
Key newcomers: Nicole Mowbray, jr., 5-9, forward; Kathryn Sisken, sr., 5-8, wing; Clarissa Abadesco, so., 5-5, guard; Tiffany Earnhart, jr., 5-8, forward; Justine Bartolomaetti, sr., 5-4, guard.
Outlook: The Wildcats have been hit with a pair of losses early, including Jasmine Chong, who would have been a third-year varsity player. She is out for the season with a knee injury. Also gone is Roshaunda Smith, a third-year varsity player who has moved.
But the Wildcats return several players from last year’s team, which was one win away from reaching the state tournament, including point guard Tubo, 6-foot-2 post player Jansen and all-league guard Denmon.
“It’s nice to see that we have that combination,” McLeod said. “We were pretty good at pressing and running; we need to get better in halfcourt. But if we can cause chaos on defensive end and get in transition, that’s where we’re best.”
McLeod believes Snohomish will probably be tops in the league, but expects it to be a competitive group of teams.
“The league is probably the hardest to predict in terms of the order of finish after Snohomish,” he said. “Every night is an important game for us.”
Sedro-Woolley Cubs
Coach: Adolfo Hinojosa, third year
League: Northwest Conference
Last year: 4-16
Key returners: Maddy Hillier, sr., 5-10, forward; Keiana Clark, sr., 5-8, wing; Alix Baker, sr., 5-10, post; Cheyenne Best, so., 5-6, guard; Genyssa McCauley, so., 5-2, guard; Charissa Crawford, so., 5-6, wing; Ebony Crawford, so., 5-6, guard; Brittany Grandy, so., 5-10, post; Meriel McCoy, so., 5-10, post; Jenae Yri, so., 5-8, wing/guard.
Key newcomers: Brianna Walker, sr., 5-11, post; Lorissa Bumgarner, jr., 5-8, post.
Outlook: Several players return off last year’s improving squad, including point guard Best, who led the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game, and Clark, who chipped in 11.4 points per game and was the team’s leading rebounder.
Hinojosa said the team is more concerned with another number: wins.
“They’re more determined this year to improve in the win column, and I think we’ll be able to do that,” he said. “We’re going to be a run-and-gun team. We’re going to get the ball out, run and try to score off that.”
Hinojosa said Hillier, McCauley and Crawford lead a group of young players who have improved over the offseason.
He thinks that improvement will be seen throughout the team.
“Last year, a lot of teams saw that we’ve improved and we hope they will see more,” he said.
Stanwood Spartans
Coach: Dennis Kloke, fourth year
League: Western Conference North Division
Last year: 4-16 overall
Key returners: Jordan Nemo, sr., 5-5, guard; Kallen Shaughnessy, jr., 5-6, guard/wing; Tessa Voelckers, sr., 5-8, post; Taelor Vargas, sr. 5-7, wing; Morgan Wietzke, sr. 5-7, wing.
Key newcomers: Dalin Chapin, jr., 5-4, guard; Paisley Heckman, fr., 5-10, post; Jade Borseth, fr., 5-8, wing; Brenda Bingham, fr., 5-8, wing; Renee Lucero, fr., 5-7, guard.
Outlook: This year’s Spartans are young and deep, with 15 to 16 players capable of playing varsity, Kloke said.
“We’ve had good players in the past, but as you look at the varsity and junior varsity, it’s the most athletic group that we’ve had in my time. We may not have any superstars at the moment, but we have a number of athletes.”
This year’s squad includes four freshmen who could see playing time during the competitive Western Conference North Division season.
“They’ve made, like the rest of the kids, a commitment to play in (offseason) camps and leagues. That’s what’s made the competition for playing time a little tougher.”
Kloke said Snohomish, which has had three players commit to college, is expected to be the WesCo’s top team.
