Photo by David Willoughby, www.WPANetwork.com
Photo by Karla Reynolds
Landy James
Photo by Karla Reynolds
Braves "pull together" with family icon
By Bill and Karla Reynolds
The La Conner football team had plenty of wind in its sails going into Saturday's playoff action in Everett.
Even so, the Braves weren't going to be caught battling upstream without a paddle against highly touted Morton/White Pass.
A special paddle, at that.
La Conner senior Landy James carried with him onto the Memorial Stadium turf a treasured, hand-crafted canoe paddle bearing the image of a graceful blue heron.
The handsome paddle was fashioned by James' beloved granddad, the late Jimi Sam, a La Conner High alum. It belongs to James' uncle, Dr. Wil James, who graciously allowed his nephew to bring it with him to the big game.
"Jimi and Landy were very close," notes Landy's mom, Theresa, now the La Conner High cheer squad coach.
As was demonstrated at this past summer's Canoe Journey hosted by the Swinomish Tribal Community, ceremonial paddles are revered family icons passed down from generation to generation.
They are uniquely carved and shaped, often bearing images symbolic of important family events.
Saturday's game, while a 32-13 setback to Morton/White Pass, now counts as such for Landy and his relatives.
At halftime, when Landy returned to the field from the locker room, he was bearing the cherished paddle. He proudly propped it against a sideline table, then looked skyward, well above the pressbox.
It was a fitting tribute to a grandfather whose lasting gift made even plying the troubled waters of a playoff loss a sacred memory.
"I cried," Theresa said afterward, "when I saw him run onto the field with the paddle."
Nor was she alone.
Landy's grandma, Ava Goodman added, "We were all in tears when he came running out with it."
Photo by David Willoughby, www.WPANetwork.com
Photo by Karla Reynolds
Photo by Amylynn Richards
from Braves Raves ...
By Amylynn Richards
ROLLER SKATING
La Conner freshman Hayden Schmidt and mother Brenda Schmidt will represent the United States in at the World Roller Skating Precision Show Groups Championship in Brazil on Sunday, Nov. 20 as part of team Northern Dynamics.
This is the fifth consecutive year Northern Dynamics has qualified for the World Roller Skating Championship, but it is the first year for Hayden to skate. The team qualified by earning silver at the national championships earlier this year.
The Schmidts and 17 team members are the only team representing the U.S.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
The Braves girls’ soccer team earned the program’s first-ever trip to the state 2B semifinals last week, beating Brewster 2-0 Saturday, Nov. 12. “They seemed to exude a confidence and ownership of the field the moment they left the bus,” Coach Amy Freeto said. “In a unified group, music blaring, they walked onto the field in a mass of Braves Blue, together and poised. They seemed to dwarf the Bears with not only our athletic size, but with their confidence.”
The athletes agreed that everything went just right, starting with the warm-up, which teammate Sammie Mesman described as “our best ever.” The Braves scored midway through the first half when Madi Cavanaugh crossed the ball to senior Emily Bruland, who blasted a shop that hit the crossbar and ricocheted into the back of the net, Freeto said. “This set the tone for the rest of the match.”
Five minutes into the second half, Nikki Finley crossed the ball to Kelsey Crawford, scoring the team’s second goal.
Coach Freeto then moved Crawford, the Braves’ leading scorer, back into the defense to “help preserve the win and the defensive shutout,” Freeto said. “The Braves not only kept the Bears leading scorer and all league MVP Veronica Arrez from scoring, but from even getting a single shot” on goal.
La Conner will now face Napavine, a team they beat earlier this year 4-2, in the final four at the 1B/2B State Championship tournament this weekend at the Sumner Chevrolet Stadium. The girls’ play Friday Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. If the Braves win, they will play the winner of the Bear Creek - Crosspoint Academy game for the state 2B crown at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19.
Should they lose to Napavine, the Braves play at 10 a.m. Saturday for third or fourth place.
VOLLEYBALL
The Bi-District Champion La Conner Braves faced a tough draw in the State finals, facing the Colfax Bulldogs in the first round. Colfax took the Braves out in three (22-25, 11-25, 19-25) in the first round of play, removing the Braves out of the winner’s bracket.
This left seventh place the highest possible ranking the Braves could earn, which the Lady Braves did. “We could not get the momentum going throughout the first set and that dictated our play in the second and third, Coach Suzanne Marble said. “We played a bit timid and reserved and didn't attack and go after the ball the way we know how. It is tough because you only three hours to shake off a loss and have to come back to win your next match just to stay in it and that is exactly what they did.
The girls made quick work of NWC Lacey and played relaxed and in control throughout the entire match. Marble said. The Braves won matches against North West Christian (25-22, 25-8, 25-17), and Asotin (25-14, 24-16, 25-11, 25-12).
The Asotin win was “a solid match,” Marble said, and secured the Braves 7th or 8th place; the Braves successfully battled for 7th against Kittitas (25-14, 25-16, 25-20). “We played Kittitas really well and made quick work of them,” Marble said. “We played relaxed and confident. We had a strong tournament going 3-1 and I am very proud of the way the girls fought hard and never gave up after the disappointing loss to Colfax.”
Brave State Championship highlights: Kelley McClung had 118 assists, 7 aces, 26 digs, and 6 blocks; senior Emily Anderson 42 kills, 12 aces, 47 digs and 10 blocks; senior Priscilla Ponce-Venegas had 43 kills, 12 aces, and 32 digs; and Carly Anderson had 52 digs.
BOYS’ SOCCER
The boys’ soccer team ended the season with 2-1 overtime loss to Providence Classical Christian at the 2B State tournament Saturday, Nov. 12 at Everett Memorial stadium. The Brave goal was scored by Taylor Fay, who headed the ball in the net off a throw-in from senior Todd Hoagland.
The Braves played with a ton of heart and determination, said Coach Steve DeLeon. “We came from behind to equalize and we took Providence to overtime.”
DeLeon challenged the team to “leave everything on the field, be physical… Providence should know they were in a war…It didn't work out for us, but I'm proud of our effort.”
FOOTBALL
The boys ended their season Saturday, Nov. 12 in a state playoff game at the Everett Stadium losing 41-13 to Morton White Pass. The player of the week was Dahlton Zavala for his 45-yard run and two running touchdowns.
