Weekly La Conner High Sports capsule, Nov. 10, 2010

Braves dominate – even in pouring rain   

By M. Sharon Baker

The La Conner Boys Soccer team handed undefeated Bear Creek School its first loss of the season on Saturday Nov. 6, thus earning the No. 1 seed for the 1B/2B State Championship Tournament.

La Conner beat Bear Creek 1-0 during a heavy downpour at Sammamish High School in Bellevue. The Braves lone goal came late in the first half when Todd Hoagland threw the ball into DJ Carr, who then headed the ball to Trenton Swigert.

Then Swigert jumped and shot the ball high, and it sailed over Bear Creek goalie Jamie Clough’s outstretched arms.

“We knew this was going to be a tough game,” said La Conner Coach Steve DeLeon. “And we got a little revenge knowing that these guys beat us last year in the state tournament. They are a good team and well coached but Trenton hit a good ball that swizzled right in.”

Bear Creek Head Coach Chad Pohlman praised the play of La Conner goalie Taylor Fay, who made a number of good saves. The game was Fay’s fifth shutout of the season.

“We couldn’t get much going on offense,” said Pohlman, whose team was 16-0 going into the match and whose defense and goalie are the stingiest in the state. Bear Creek had only let in seven goals this season prior to Swigert’s goal.

Senior Kyle McKnight, who for most of the season played center mid, anchored the La Conner defense as sweeper, successfully thwarting the advances of Bear Creek’s offense. Fay, along with La Conner’s defense, holds the No. 2 spot when it comes to goals allowed, having only let in 13 this season.

The Braves (16-2) now face 2008 and 2009 State Champion Tacoma Baptist (10-5-1) in the quarterfinals of the 1B/2B Boys State Championship Tournament to be played at Mount Vernon High School at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12.

Week in Review

By Amylynn Richards

STATE TOURNY

Head over to Mount Vernon High School on Saturday, Nov. 12 to see the Lady Braves play Evergreen Lutheran at 4 p.m. and the Braves boys take on last year’s state champ, Tacoma Baptist at 6 p.m.

FOOTBALL

The Braves football season ended on Thursday, Nov. 4, after a season in which the team showed incredible progress.

The Braves traveled to Orcas to play the Vikings. Vikings won 12-10, in one of the best games that the Braves have played in many years, according to Brave fans.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the way this team played,” Coach Johnny Lee said, “We have shown nothing but improvement each and every week. The team has become very close and they are learning to depend on one another. I think many kids grew up throughout this season, both in terms of football and in their lives off the gridiron.”

The boys were only 2 points away from State playoffs.  “That’s something to hold our heads high and build on for next season,” Lee said.

 Lee praised his seniors, “we wouldn’t have had near the success we did this year without them. They are a truly special group that helped this team turn the corner. They will be missed for sure next year, both on and off the field.”

The seniors were: Alex Teissen; Dan Biladeau; Garrett Wilbur; Conner Anderson; Brandon Drye; Travis Silva; and Sherman Quinn.  

VOLLYBALL

The legacy continues: The girls’ varsity volleyball team is the Tri-District Champion for the sixth year running!

The Braves were up against Tacoma Baptist first, and beat the Crusaders in three: 25-12; 25-6; 25-7.  Second game was against Mount Vernon Christian, which the Braves won in three: 25-20; 25-11; 25-14. The championship game was a trouncing of the Darrington Loggers in three: 25-15; 25-11; 25-21. 

Coach Suzanne Marble reports, “We had a great day overall.  Everyone really stepped up and we played some of our best volleyball on Saturday!  The girls kept their focus and composure throughout the day.”

The Lady Braves are red hot:  Candice Pedroza had 73 assists, 7 blocks and 6 aces; Lauren McClung had 39 kills, 15 blocks and 49 digs, “She was so strong for us at the net,” Marble says; Kelley McClung had 7 aces and 22 digs; Priscilla Ponce-Venegas 14 aces, 19 kills and 31 digs; Emily Anderson had 37 kills, 9 aces and 9 blocks; Samie Miller had 7 kills, “she was a strong force for us,” Marble said.. Priscilla Ponce-Venegas “was 53/57 from the serving line and was unstoppable,” Marble said, “Sammie Miller was really strong hitting for us against Darrington.”

The girls play Northwest Christian at the Yakima Dome on Friday, Nov. 12.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

The girls took on the Seattle Lutheran Saints on Thursday, Nov. 4 in Bellevue, winning the first step to the Bi-District Championship 3-2.

The Braves scored their first two goals within the first seven minutes of the game, and a third right before the end of the first half, with a half-time score of 3-1 for the Braves.  The Saints score their second goal seventeen minutes into the second half. “At that time we switched to a conservative defensive formation to simply hold them, and it worked,” Coach Amy Freeto reports, “the girls played great.  I believe that Seattle Lutheran will be one of our toughest matches we may see in state competition, so it was nice to get another win on them.”

Freeto believes the team win is a direct result from “renewed practice dedication and mental preparation.”

The girls beat the Bear Creek Grizzlies on Saturday, Nov. 6 in Bellevue and are Bi-District champions.  The Grizzlies were on the Brave’s heels during the match, but a “hard shot goal from Sydney Hartwick midway through the first half, and a hard fought battle throughout the team, kept us ahead and gave us the win.”

The weather was terrible. “It was a nightmare, as far as weather goes. There was sideways wind and rain, almost blowing over our team's tent, coaches and subs right out of the stadium, but that's what it's like playing soccer in November.” 

As the regular season ends in October, Freeto tells her girls to “cherish these games, no matter the weather.”

The girls are prepping hard this week for their State bid.

The winner of La Conner’s Friday’s game against Evergreen will go on to the final four in Sumner on Saturday, Nov. 19.  “We plan to advance to the semi’s,” says Freeto, “we’ll be only the second La Conner all-girls team to do so.”

If Bear Creek wins their Friday match against Napavine, the Braves will face them at the semi-finals on Saturday, Nov. 19 in Sumner. 

The win gives La Conner the number one seed from districts one and two going into State competition on Friday, Nov. 12 against the Evergreen Lutheran Eagles at Mount Vernon High at 4 p.m.

BOYS’ SOCCER

Bear Creek high was the only undefeated team in Washington State, until it took on the La Conner Braves in the Bi-District Championship, that is.  The Braves took down the Bear Creek Grizzlies 1-0 in Bellevue on Saturday, Nov. 6. Senior Trenton Swigert scored the Brave goal, assisted by Todd Hoagland and DJ Carr.  The Braves will face last year’s state champs Tacoma Baptist at Mount Vernon high at 6 p.m.

SWIMMING

Senior Isabel Sible has had a tremendous year as the lone La Conner Brave on the Anacortes Seahawk swim team. Sible recently set a new state record of 1:55.26 in the backstroke 200 IM. relay team, which won her first place at district level competition, and earned her a first seed in State. Sible anchored the 200 m. free relay, placing sixth in district and qualifying for State. 

Also at districts, Sible swam her personal best in the 100 m. backstroke, 1:06.88, which earned her third place; fifth in the 200 IM relay and another personal best in 2:22.39. 

The State championship will take place at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal way on Thursday, Nov. 11 and Friday, Nov 12. 

In the November 3, 2010 issue

Tax deadbeats could cost taxpayers

By Sandy Stokes

At last week’s La Conner Town Council meeting, Finance Director Lorraine Taylor said state regulators suggested that the town raise the levy for the fire hall bond since it hasn’t been able to collect enough tax money to make the full payment for the past several years.

The reason, she said, “not everyone pays,” their property tax bills.

What it means, is that the tax burden for the bond shortfall, which only amounts to a few thousand per year, would be shifted to the 350-or so property owners who do pay their taxes every year...  Get the whole story in today's paper.

Photo by Kirsten Morse

Who's this pretty little pixie? That's Nora McCormick, and her grandpa, John Christianson. He brought her to town for Thursday's Halloween parade and merchant trick-or-treat. 

 Photo by Anna Ferdinand

 An earthquake destroyed her home, now thieves have stolen her livelihood. This is Benita Jean Francois, who lives in a tent in a park in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She was starting to rebuild her life selling coffee, hot chocolate and soup. They stole everything she owned.

Read Anna Ferdinand's final story on her return trip to post-apocalyptic Haiti, which is about to have elections, but  most of  the electorate is too busy trying to survive to even bother to vote.

"Operation Sandbox"

A La Conner preschool called in the U.S. Navy when the kids needed a new playground equipment -- Amylynn Richards was on the scene when three sailors showed up and handled the situation.  It's in today's paper

  Oh, and the water bill's going up again

(Count on us to let you know every time)

The paper is on sale in news stands all over town!

Don't miss another issue! Subscribe for $30 per year inside Skagit County and $35 to have the paper mailed to any other address in the U.S.  (And, if you want us to, we'll give $5 of your subscription price to the La Conner High School Booster Club to help support extra curricular activities and fund scholarships.)

Weekly La Conner High Sports capsule, Nov. 3, 2010

By Amylynn Richards

VOLLEYBALL

The La Conner Braves volleyball team played a tense 3 out of 4 cliffhanger against Darrington to win the first annual WIAA sponsored 1A/2B Northwest League championship on Saturday, Oct.30. 

At noon, the Braves beat Mount Vernon Christian in three: 25-14; 25-13; 25-13. Candice Pedroza had 28 assists; Kelley McClung had 12 assists and went 19 for 19 serving; Lauren McClung had 10 kills and 18 digs; Priscilla Ponce-Venegas had 15 kills; and Emily Anderson had 9 kills. “It was a good opening win for us,” Coach Suzanne Marble said, “and I was pleased with the way we ran a lot of offensive options that we have been working on in practice.  Candice did a nice job of mixing up our hitters.”

Mount Vernon Christian packed it up and took the bus over to their home turf to continue in the competition against Orcas. Orcas won the game, which earned the Vikings third place and the Hurricanes fourth.

The real surprise of the day was the Darrington team. The Loggers won the first set 24-26. It was the first league loss in 9 years for the lady Braves, and shook the team up a bit. “Darrington came in fired up,” Sammie Miller said after the game.  The last time the Braves played the Loggers was on Oct. 12 and that day’s score had been 25-18, 25-20, 25-22; up until taking on the Braves that day, the Loggers had been undefeated. The Loggers were ready for revenge.

Both teams were visibly tired during the second set, but the Braves earned a satisfying set win, 25-16. The Braves began the third set with a 7 point lead but the Loggers caught up fast, reducing the difference to 2-points.  The fans were getting nervous, but the Braves caught their second wind in time to beat the Loggers in the third match 25-21.  The Braves were red hot in the fourth set, winning the set, and game, 25-18. 

Candice Pedroza had 40 assists and went 19 for 19 serving; Lauren McClung had 16 kills and 9 blocks and 26 digs; Priscilla Ponce-Venegas had 17 kills; and Emily Anderson had 10 kills and went 26 for 26 serving.

“Darrington came out fired up and ready to go in the first set and we played catch up pretty much the entire set,” Coach Marble said, “We had the lead at 24-22 in the first set and were unable to finish and Darrington took the first set 24-26.  We came out mentally and physically ready in the second set and that carried us through the match. It was a great match and Darrington definitely came ready to play.  It was a good match for us to see what we need to work on going into post season.  It was the first ever league tournament we have ever had and we were pleased with how the day went!”

Eight schools in the Northwest 1A/2B League competed: Concrete Lions; Friday Harbor Wolverines; Darrington Loggers; Mount Vernon Christian Hurricanes; Orcas Island Vikings; North Sound Christian Lions; and the La Conner Braves. The championship was held simultaneously at the Mount Vernon Christian and La Conner campuses.  Losing teams boarded their home school busses and travelled to the Mount Vernon Christian campus to vie for lower seed rankings in State competition.

Bi-District Tournament is this Saturday, Nov. 6 at Stanwood.

Earlier in the week, on Monday, Oct. 6, the Braves hosted Friday Harbor for the final regular season game. The Braves won in three: 25-5; 25-9; 25-13. Candice Pedroza had 15 assists; Kelley McClung had 12 assists; Lauren McClung had 6 kills and 14 digs; Emily Anderson had 10 kills and 4 aces; Samie Miller had 3 kills 5 aces and 10 digs; and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas had 7 kills and 10 aces, “a great night for her,” Coach Marble said, “It was a great night to honor our seniors and I am very pleased with the way we played.  They did a nice job from start to finish.  This was a good match for us to get focused for the league tournament.”  The Braves ended the regular season 10-0 and 13-1 overall.

Volleyball seniors are: Candice Pedroza; Lauren McClung; and Sammie Miller.

BOYS’ SOCCER

The Braves are 1A/2B district champion, thanks to a 2-1 win over Providence Christian on Saturday, Oct. 30. La Conner is the number one seed for the Bi-District championship in Sammamish on Saturday, Nov. 6, and will play at 5 p.m.

The win came at a terrible cost: DJ Carr, the state goal leader with 34 goals scored, was taken off the field by ambulance due to a head injury that, at first, appeared serious. “DJ’s head connected with a Providence player’s chin. There was quite a bit of blood,” said Coach Steve DeLeon.

Carr was treated in an emergency room and released. Tracy Carr, DJ’s mother, said on Sunday, “The gash was pretty deep, about an inch long.”  DJ needed five stitches.

Doctors confirmed there was no concussion or other injuries, though he needed to wear a neck brace to stabilize the muscles in his neck.  Sill, DJ hopes to be well enough to play at the Bi-District championship on Saturday, Nov. 6 in Sammamish.  The top five teams will advance to State.

DJ’s was the second injury in last Saturday’s game; Christian player collided with a Brave and injured his arm.

Kory Duran and Todd Hoagland scored the goals for the win.  “Conditions were difficult; the turf was slick and wet. Providence is a hard team to break down,” DeLeon said. “At the end of the day, it was our captains who pulled us through. DJ’s injury in the seventy-sixth minute made it an emotional ending to a tough game. The entire team wishes him a speedy recovery.”

FOOTBALL

The Braves showed the Darrington Loggers what they are made of, with a whopping 52-0 win at home on Friday, Oct. 30.  It was a great way for the Alex Teissen; Dan Biladeau; Garrett Wilbur; Conner Anderson; Brandon Drye; Travis Silva; and Sherman Quinn to celebrate seniors’ night. 

 “I thought that the kids did an excellent job executing what was asked of them,” Coach Johnny Lee said, “they also were focused on the task at hand.”  Lee also says that “it would have been easy to have a ton of mental errors after the loss to Concrete,” or to blow off the game, focusing on this Friday’s away game against Orcas Island, whom the Braves need to beat if the team is make the playoffs.  “The boys played extremely well on both sides of the ball,” Lee concluded.

 The first quarter was the show that Braves fans have been hoping for this year: the score was 32-0 going into the second quarter.  

From Friday's Post:  In the opening minutes, Garrett Wilbur made a touchdown on a 50-yard run. A short time after the opening touchdown, the Braves’ Landy James made a second touchdown; Darrington blocked the extra point after James’s touchdown, and the score was 13-0.

 A minute or two later, Matt McCauley intercepted a Logger’s pass and ran the ball to another touchdown.  Right away, La Conner’s Brandon Drye carried the ball past the goal line for yet another touchdown.  Then Garret Wilbur scored again, on a play in the end zone, where Matt McCauley had run the ball.   In the second quarter, Conner Anderson aka “Captain America,” set the Braves fans in the stands and sidelines screaming as he made a 62-yard run for a touchdown.  At halftime, the score was 39-0.

 In the third quarter, Garret Wilbur made his third touchdown of the evening.   The final touchdown was scored by Wyatt Melton; the Braves finished the game at 52-0.

 It was a great end to the final home-turf game of the season for Coach Lee's inaugural year at La Conner, and a great way for the seniors to wrap up their high school career in front of their home-town fans. 

The final game of the season will take place on Orcas Island on Thursday, Nov.4, and will determine if the Braves or the Vikings continue on towards district competition.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

The girls beat Friday Harbor 2-0 at home on Monday, Oct. 25 in the final home game of the season.  “This was a really good game, in that all of our players who normally do not get in a full game of play were on the field all game,” said Coach Amy Freeto, “these girls gave the crowd a good show, and displayed great teamwork and aggressiveness.” The goals were scored by Maddie Cavanaugh and Sara Scott.

Seniors were celebrated during half-time: Galena Graham, Defender and Midfield; Sydney Hartwick, Midfield; Sierra Brown, Defender; Alissa Mc Coy, Keeper;  and Rachel Dewey, Forward

On Thursday, Oct. 28 the Braves beat Seattle Lutheran 3-0 on their home turf. It was a big win for the Braves. Freeto said, “we played them in the state final last year; they got 3rd and we got 4th in state.”   Kelsey Crawford scored on the Saints, and Sydney Hartwick and Sammie Messman scored off of two different corner-kick plays. Freeto says the team has been “diligently practicing” their corner-kick skills, “scoring on two different corner kick plays was a huge improvement for us.”

La Conner Halloween pictures

Photos By Amylynn Richards

  From the 2010 La Conner Halloween Parade held Thursday, Oct. 28

In the October 27, 2010 issue

 Talk about indignity! This young La Conner turkey rode to Arlington in a dog carrier in a dog catcher truck! He's having a happier day, today, as a pampered resident at Farmer Brown's Christmas Tree Farm.

A boardwalk on the waterfront

  La Conner town officials are moving quickly to get plans and permits ready to construct a 2,000 to 3,000 foot long boardwalk along the waterfront.

  Residents can stop in at Town Hall to see the artist's renditions of the boardwalk, which is estimated to cost around $3.5 million. 

  The town is already promoting the idea with state, county and federal agencies to put La Conner at the head of the line when government entities start funding economic development plans, perhaps as early as next year.

   Besides providing jobs during its construction, a boardwalk would revitalize the tourism-dependent downtown with a pedestrian "Main Street" to draw tourists past the shops and restaurants on the waterfront.

An artist's rendering of a portion of the proposed boardwalk at its northern end at a small park near the La Conner Marina. More drawings showing the entire stretch are at Town Hall.

 

Photo by Amylynn Richards

Hailey Hill holds the very best pumpkin in all of Swanson's Farm! Kids are getting ready for Halloween. Tomorrow is the big Halloween Parade followed by trick-or-treating at local stores. And Sunday, on Oct. 31, the Community Halloween Party is at the La Conner Elementary School gym.

From the Police Blotter:

8:33 a.m.: Fraud – Someone went door-to-door selling halibut, but a woman on State Street in La Conner who bought some said the halibut turned out to be chicken. No suspects have been located.

(We don't make this stuff up!)

Read it all in La Conner Weekly News, hot and fresh every Wednesday in news stands all over town.

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