Sports shorts: Tennis, swimming, XC and more

Boys tennis

The Eatonville High School boy’s tennis team continued their impressive winning streak, notching their third consecutive victory with a hard-fought 3-2 win against Annie Wright at the Galbraith Tennis Center.

In a thrilling showdown that kept spectators on the edge of their seats, Eatonville Tennis showcased their prowess on the court. The dynamic duo of Austen Quirie and Nate Goode secured a dominant victory at #2 doubles, prevailing with a score of 6-1, 6-1. Meanwhile, Carl Lucas, playing at 2nd singles, set the tone with a remarkable performance, winning seven consecutive games in the first set, ultimately clinching the set 7-5.

Freshman sensation Jacob Golding displayed his competitive spirit while playing at #1 singles, pushing his opponent to the limit. AJ Lightfoot and Brody Thirtyacre, playing together for the first time at #1 doubles, exhibited tremendous potential to become a force to be reckoned with in the league.

However, the most breathtaking match of the night unfolded at #3 doubles, where Dana Bazan and Jackson Rockey executed a remarkable comeback. They fought from behind and secured a dramatic final match victory in a third-set tie-breaker, ultimately propelling Eatonville Tennis to an exhilarating win.

After a rainout on Thursday, the Cruisers rescheduled their match with Charles Wright for Friday, facing a challenging situation with key players absent from the lineup. Unfortunately, the team experienced a tough outing as Charles Wright downed them 5-0, putting a halt to their winning streak.

Swimming

The Eatonville Cruiser swim team is making waves this season, and their impressive performance continued this past week with two thrilling home meets. With every member of the team achieving at least two personal best times, it's clear that the Cruisers are on a remarkable journey this year.

In a display of pure talent and determination, the following swimmers secured coveted first-place finishes this week:

• Junior Kaylee Bernt dominated the 500 Free.

• Sophomore Annika Howard secured two first-place finishes in the 100 Fly.

• Junior Gracie Forsman conquering every individual event she participated in, including the 200 IM, 100 Free, 50 Free, and 100 Breast.

Adding to the excitement were the nail-biting come-from-behind second-place finishes in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. These thrilling races were made possible by the combined efforts of sophomore Annika Howard, senior Reese Zurfluh, junior Kaylee Bernt and junior Gracie Forsman anchoring the relay teams.

Remarkably, all three relay teams have already secured their spots at the districts.

Moreover, two individual team members have not only qualified for multiple events at districts but have shown outstanding improvement in their qualifying times this week Bernt has earned her place at districts in the 200 Free, 200 IM, and the 500 Free. Meanwhile, Forsman's performance has secured her spots in the 200 IM, 50 Free, 100 Free, and the 100 Breast.

Cross country

The Eatonville High School Cross Country team left a lasting impression at their recent 1A Evergreen League meet, held at Camp Arnold in Eatonville on Tuesday. Colton Rush and Grace Coonrod led the charge, securing first-place finishes in their respective races, while the boys' team clinched the team title.

In the boys' division, Colton Rush, a 10th grader, won in 18 minutes and 7 seconds. Joe Mueller, a 12th grader, followed closely behind, crossing the finish line in 18 minutes and 54 seconds, with teammate Benjamin Bernt, a 9th grader, just a second behind him. The boys' team showcased their depth, resulting in an overall team victory.

The girls' division saw 10th grader Grace Coonrod setting the pace with an impressive time of 20 minutes and 55 seconds, securing her first-place finish. Cheyanne Price, an 11th grader, and Bridget Stumph, a 10th grader, also had strong performances, finishing 5th and 6th, respectively.

Noteworthy personal records were achieved by several athletes, including Hannah Bieker in the girls' race and Micah Vannier in the boys' race.

Volleyball

After a promising week that saw them take home two consecutive wins the previous week, the Eatonville Cruiser volleyball team faced a setback in their lone match last week. As they ventured into 1A Evergreen League play, the Cruisers struggled and suffered a 3-0 defeat in straight sets at the hands of the Montesano Bulldogs. The match took place in Montesano on Thursday, leaving the team eager to regroup and refocus.

Looking ahead, the Cruisers will host the Hoquiam Grizzlies at their home court. Following that, they will hit the road to take on the Elma Eagles in what promises to be another challenging contest.