Photo by Becky Allen-Lutton

 

Fall athletes move on to State competitions

 

Article by Nicole Kidder-Perry, Reporter

 

With its 20-17 win over rival Freeman on Oct. 29, the Lakeside High School football team secured a Northeast 1A district champion title. The 2021 varsity Eagles are the first team to go undefeated in the history of the school’s football program, landing them in fourth place in Washington State’s Class 1A division.

 

Under the leadership of Head Coach Devin Bauer, who was named a Seattle Seahawks Coach of the Week this season, the 9-0 team pulled off hard-earned victories, including against the previously undefeated Riverside Rams. On Friday at 7 p.m., LHS hosts the state-qualifying playoff game against Cashmere High School. Gates open at 6 p.m.

 

The first-seeded LHS volleyball team (16-2) also hosted the district playoff games in late October. The team fell short 3-1 in the final matchup to second-seed Freeman in the championship match. LHS will now go on to compete in the District 6/7 crossover tournament on Nov. 6 alongside the fifth-seeded Colville team, which beat third-seed Medical Lake. LHS will host the matchup against Cashmere while Colville travels to Chelan. The first-place winner of both games will go on to play in the WIAA State Tournament at the Yakima Valley SunDome.

 

The LHS cross country team also showed up to compete in the Oct. 30 NEA District 7 Championships at the Chewelah Golf Course. Five varsity athletes participated in the women’s 5k race with Matise Mulch securing the first-place win and Sadie Meyring taking third. In the men’s competition, three of the six runners placed in the top ten. Hayden Blank grabbed third and Colby Splichal crossed the finish line in fifth place.

 

Both teams secured an overall second-place victory, behind Medical Lake, with the men’s team falling short by just one point due to a 40-second differential. In Race 3, the Lakeside Men’s JV team, which sent 16 athletes to compete in the 38-person race, took home a full sweep of the top seven spots. A total of 16 Nine Mile Falls runners will attend the State Championships on Nov. 6 at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

 

An 11-5 overall record landed the girls soccer team in second place in the Northeast 1A. Freeman knocked out the varsity team by a score of 4-3 in their home semi-final playoff game on Oct. 28. The previous week, senior Abbi McLellan was named Washington’s Player of the Week by Max Preps/United Soccer Coaches Association in the team’s victory over Riverside. “College coaches should take notice of this talented goal scorer,” the shoutout advises. The final showdown will take place on Nov. 2 against Riverside for third place in the district.

 

The cheer program also had a great fall season, adding a new JV squad and hosting 84 kids during the annual after-school cheer camp.

 

At the recent school board meeting, newly-appointed Athletic Director Mike McCune and the council members praised the 200 student athletes for their hard work this season, noting their abilities to be a powerhouse in sports and academics. Along with having the highest participation in the league, 96% of LHS athletes met or exceeded academic expectations.

 

The winter sports schedule begins this week with boys and girls basketball and wrestling. Along with the middle school sports program, Lake Spokane Youth Sports (LSYS) is sponsoring basketball for grades K-6. Registration for the co-ed program is $40 and ends Nov. 19.