The grind of summer workouts, weight lifting sessions and early fall practices are just about over. Regular season games in girls soccer plus cross country, swim and golf meets and even duals in tennis are just a few days away.
Here are 10 athletes in those respective sports to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
Conner Hill, Toledo, XC
The Riverhawks junior enters this season with plenty of motivation after going from a favorite to placing 36th at the state meet in Pasco. While still running sub-18 minutes in his last race, it was just the second time he finished outside the top-15. Hill comes into this season with a PR of 15 minutes, 56.19 seconds.
Charlee Nelson, W.F. West, Soccer
One of the best netminders in the area, Nelson will look to make it three consecutive EvCo Goalkeeper of the Year honors in her senior season. She allowed only five goals in 11 regular season contests with 74 saves.
Zander Corwin, Centralia, Tennis
It’s been quite the start to the junior’s prep career with two top-three state finishes for the Tigers. In a transition to singles, he recorded a sub-district and district title before securing three wins at the state tournament in Seattle.
Clayton Knutson, Rochester, Golf
A dramatic finish pushed Knutson into the Class 1A state tournament in his debut season for the Warriors. He needed to win a playoff at the district meet to clinch his state berth. Knutson had a pair of meet medalist honors last year.
Callie Mickelson, Tenino, Soccer
The Beavers striker heads into her senior year surrounded by a team that brings plenty of firepower back. She had a career year herself with 21 goals and dished out five times to be an all-league honoree.
Komaire Robles, Rainier, XC
One of the stars for the Mountaineers has pocketed a state team championship and two individual medals. Now in her junior year, Robles comes in as a potential contender for an individual state title. The reigning C2BL champion set a new PR at least year’s state meet with a time of 19:40.40.
Brynn Carson, Tumwater, Soccer
A returning midfielder for the T-Birds this season, the sophomore tallied two goals and three assists last fall. For a roster that graduated heavy hitters, Carson could be tasked to provide additional offensive production this fall.
Iris Ballif, Adna, XC
In her debut varsity season for the Pirates, Ballif was their top runner for much of the year and recorded two straight top-20 finishes at the league and district championships. At the state meet, she recorded a 49-second personal best and placed 75th overall.
Emmett Goodman, W.F. West, Golf
Baseball might be Goodman’s top sport, but the Bearcat junior proved he can go far on the links. He snared one of the final state qualifying spots with a total score of 162 at districts and parlayed it into making the cut for day two at state. Goodman’s overall finish was 32nd in 2A.
Kian Christiansen, Rochester, XC
For the first time in his young high school career, Christiansen was tasked to be the Warriors top runner and he filled the role comfortably. The junior recorded two top-10 finishes and ran a 37-second PR at the Class 1A District 4 meet. He placed 95th in his state meet debut.
