The winter sports season hit its stride last week, ushered in by a serious dose of winter weather.
Assuming Mother Nature permits athletic activities – and the required travel – Enumclaw and White River athletes will be plenty busy this week.
Here’s a look at where things stand with the boys’ wrestling programs at both Plateau schools, along with a preview of the coming swim and dive campaign.
ENUMCLAW BOYS WRESTLING
Coming off an 11th-place finish at last season’s Mat Classic, the Enumclaw High group will take to the mat with some proven – and successful – veteran wrestlers.
Coach Adam Eilers also will be without some of the key pieces from a year ago. Lost to graduation are the likes of Cade Carter and Tyler Ramirez, a pair who advanced to last year’s Class 2A state championship meet.
But Eilers still has plenty to work with. The list starts with seniors Westin Triplett and Zeke Luchi, who placed second and fourth at Matt Classic, respectively. Also back is sophom*ore Dylan McMahan, another state veteran.
The Hornets will receive their first test of the season tonight, Wednesday, when a pair of South Puget Sound League 2A foes come to town. Enumclaw will host the Fife Trojans and Washington Patriots at Chuck Smith Gymnasium. Another league meet is set for Tuesday, Dec. 13, when Enumclaw travels to Tacoma’s Foss High to take on the host Falcons and the Orting Cardinals.
WHITE RIVER BOYS WRESTLING
There’s a new coach patrolling the White River High wrestling room, overseeing a healthy handful of battle-tested grapplers.
New on the scene is Josh Sneva, hired six months ago to guide the Hornet fortunes. An attorney by day, he will commute to the Buckley campus; he had a similar arrangement the past six winter seasons when he served as head coach at North Thurston High School.
Sneva, who took the reins from Ruben Navajas, inherits a program that placed seventh at Mat Classic, last season’s state Class 2A championship meet.
Gone from the roster are five state participants, including state champion Logan Lisherhess, all lost to graduation.
But the roster is still stocked with wrestlers who advanced to last season’s Mat Classic. That includes sophom*ores Caleb Dale (fourth at state last season) and Riley Simmons (sixth). Other returnees with state experience include seniors Chase Campbell, Christopher Bowen and Caleb Evanger, along with sophom*ores Hunter Oswald and Thomas Stanhope.
Sneva and his troops kicked off the winter campaign Saturday by hosting an invitational on the Buckley campus. South Puget Sound League 2A action begins tonight, Wednesday, when the Hornets travel to Steilacoom to face the host Sentinels and the Foss Falcons.
BOYS SWIM & DIVE
Coach Scott Usborne is focusing on the season at hand while also realizing he’s building for the future.
“We have a lot of new swimmers this year and (are) hoping to build up our freshman and sophom*ore swimmers for the coming years,” he said, on the eve of his squad’s first meet of the year.
Usborne guides a swim and dive program that includes both Enumclaw High and White River athletes. They turn out together and travel as one, but maintain separate scores during meets. The White River participants can join with Enumclaw because their school does not offer a program.
Here’s a quick, early-season look at each program.
Enumclaw: Last year’s top swimmer, state participant Tanner Harms, was lost to graduation but Usborne is looking at several pool veterans to fill the top of the roster. Heading that list are seniors Connor Strong, Dean Paulson and McCade Walker, along with sophom*ore David Prince.
Looking ahead to this year’s postseason competition, Usborne believes Enumclaw’s strength might in in relays while hoping some may qualify for individual events.
White River: Heading the list is junior Mason Arnold, a veteran of the state meet. A year ago at the Class 2A championships, he placed 10th in the 500-yard freestyle and 13th in the 200-yard individual medley while also participating in the team’s 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. At the conclusion of the season he was a first team, all-league selection.
Joining the program is freshman Conroy Meyers, who is new to the high school program but no stranger to swim competition. “We expect him to hit good times,” Usborne said. Other newcomers include William Hallas and Evan Weisheyer, both sophom*ores.
