Fall sports see success
By Chancellor Mentink, Reporter

The fall sports season has come to a close for high school athletes, with most teams enjoying a successful season. The girls soccer team did well in their league, falling just short of the state tournament. From boys tennis, seniors Jeremiah Bogaard, Hank Rodgers, and Towner Aderson will compete in the state competition this spring. Cross country junior Ella Yarkin advanced to state after placing eighth at the district meet.

Though they did not advance as far as previous years, girls soccer did well throughout their season, and placed second in league. Over the course of the season, the girls developed a close bond.

“I’m proud of our team for going so far,” senior Olivia London-Chambers said. “We were super close this year and it was awesome, it was super fun … To start the year … we know a few people, we know each other, but the team isn’t really a team. But then we progress throughout the year and senior night comes and we’re all sad to lose each other.”

The team lost to Cascade Christian on the opposing team’s senior night at the end of the season, which bumped them down to second place. The Pirates advanced to the third round of district playoffs before being beaten again by Cascade with a score of 2-1. A strong core of junior players leaves the team in a good position for next year.

The tennis team placed first in the Nisqually league and first in districts. Additionally, three players performed well enough at districts to advance to state this spring. Anderson played singles, finishing first. Bogaard and Rodgers competed as number one doubles and placed first as well. Three other VHS athletes competed at districts as well, but did not qualify for state; sophomore Evan Keppler placed third in singles and senior Cameron Bedard and junior Zach Van Dusen placed fifth in doubles.

“I think this is our most successful season that I’ve been here for the past years,” Bogaard said. “This season was the first time, I think in the past 10 years even, that we’ve won league and districts. In the past, Charles Wright has beat us over and over again, but this year we finally beat them.”

This will be Bogaard’s second time at state, having competed previously as a sophomore alongside then senior Wyatt Keppler.

“We did not place, it was more of just a learning experience then, as opposed to now where Hank and I think we have a better chance,” Bogaard said. “Towner is definitely looking to win … He got fourth last year … [And] Hank and I definitely want to make a push for one of the top places.”

From the cross country team, several individuals placed at the league race. Seniors Ellie Lande, Isabelle Spence, and Sean Robertson, and freshman Ben Larson made second team all league. Junior Ella Yarkin made first team all league after a successful season overall.

“I PRed, … beating a time that I got my freshman year,” Yarkin said. “I just
feel like I was able to push myself really well this season.”

At the district level, Yarkin finished eighth, advancing to the state meet at Pasco for her third successive time.

“I’m not fast enough so that I’m competitive, so it was a more just going for the experience and the fun,” Yarkin said. “Next year we’re gonna actually have a full team, so I have high hopes.”