As the transition between summer and fall closes in, high school fall sports return to action.
The Reporter looks ahead at the 2015 season with the head coaches of boys tennis, girls swim and dive and volleyball for Kentwood, Tahoma and Kentlake.
Boys Tennis
Tahoma
David Reynoldson returns for his 15th season as the varsity coach for the Bears.
He said he most looks forward to being competitive this season.
“Many of the top teams have lost their depth so the year should be fairly wide open for teams to succeed.”
Key doubles players, Reynoldson said Tahoma lost were Tyler Gage and Chris Lovre. And Ryan Luderman at singles, he said.
Some keep players to watch this season, Reynoldson said is senior Davis Galgano, juniors Matt Simmons and Andrew Lovre and sophomores Brody Magbaleta, Kyle Sherick, and Tagen Whitaker.
Galgano is the Bears only senior this year and Reynoldson said it will be interesting to see how Tahoma’s young team does this year.
“I expect us to compete well in each match but time will tell where our team will finish this year,” he said.
The Bears host the Kentwood Conks at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Kentlake
The Falcons started the season with a league matchup against Tahoma at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Tahoma High School.
Next up for Kentlake is a home match at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 against Mount Rainier.
Kentwood
The Kentwood Conks opened its season with a jamboree at Auburn Riverside High School at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4.
Girls Swim and Dive
Kentwood
Sharon Wright has been coaching for 23 years and is entering her 10th season at Kentwood.
She said she looks forward to “our swimmers getting faster and our divers gaining experience on the board.”
Key losses to the Conks from last season are Lindsey Nelson and Alana Akiyama.
“Both of these girls were great leaders in and out of the pool and great assets to the team,” Wright said.
Newcomers this season are Annalise Hed, Hannah Ackerman, Reem Slim, Sidney Suit and Thao Dinh.
“I look forward to these girls being big contributors to our team score this season,” she said.
In addition to the newcomers, Wright said returners to the team this year are Avry Freaney, Chiyo Miyake, Abbey Quintos, Gabby Rizzo, Celina Sellers, Hannah Lesnick, Michele Chao and Theresa Rodriguez.
The 2015 season began with a jamboree hosted by Auburn Riverside at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4 at the Auburn Pool.
The first regular season meet of the season comes against Thomas Jefferson at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 at home.
Tahoma
Returning for his ninth season at Tahoma is head coach Dave Wright.
Aside from coaching at Tahoma he has been coaching for the past 29 years.
Last season, the Bears were undefeated and won the SPSL North division title for the first time in school history.
At the state championships, Wright said the Bears finished in seventh place.
Tahoma lost five seniors from last year’s team, Wright said.
They were Jessica Miller, Hailie Mazick, Mackenzie Dress, Austin Hanger and Michelle Johnson.
“It will be fun to see the returning girls step up and fill the varsity spots that are empty due to graduating seniors,” he said.
Two returning Bears who placed at state last season are junior Lindsey Hanger and diver Ashley Lewis.
“ We have a number of district placers that should step up this year for us,” he added.
Tahoma began the season participating in the jamboree hosted by Auburn Riverside.
The Bears host Mount Rainier at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 for the first regular season meet of the season.
Kentlake
Brad Williams is set to coach his third season at Kentlake.
Last season the Falcons finished with a 7-2 record.
Williams said the Falcons placed 16th at state.
“Every year I look forward to seeing athletes accomplish goals that they didn’t think possible,” he said.
Last season, Kentlake had 12 seniors on its team.
This year, key performers to watch Williams said are swimmers Avalyne Peters, Allie Losacco, Sarah Ruckman, Brittany Figaro and diver Katie Beliveau.
Williams said he expects this season will be a rebuilding year.
The Falcons have 11 new team members, he said.
“Our goals are to work hard, have fun and always give our best,” Williams said.
The Falcons start the season with an away meet against Todd Beamer at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 at The Weyerhauser King County Aquatics Center.
Volleyball
Kentwood
The Kentwood Conks have “an incoming class of freshman that are skilled and passionate about playing and I’m certain they will bring value to the volleyball program,” head coach Bil Caillier said.
The Conks tipped of the new season with a home match against Mt. Si on Tuesday.
Next up for the Conks is an away match against Kentlake at 7:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14.
Tahoma
Kelly Kim has been coaching high school for 12 years and six of those have been at Tahoma.
And this year, Kim enters her second season as head coach of the Bears.
Last season, Bears tied for first place in league and finished fifth at districts and sixth place in state.
“This season I am looking forward to seeing the team grow closer with each other as a team and learning from each other on and off the court,” Kim said.
The Bears lost outside hitters Amanda Troxel and Natalia Burdulis and setter Emma Terry, she said.
But some key players to watch this upcoming season are sophomore Emily Smith and juniors Ginny Mehl and Sierra Stultz.
Looking ahead to the 2015 season, Kim said she “hopes to finish strong in the league and return to the state tournament this year and place at state again.”
The Bears started the season with a jamboree hosted by Emerald Ridge Saturday.
Tahoma plays next at the Sterling Athletics Volleyball Classic hosted by Auburn Mountainview.
The time is still to be determined.
Kentlake
Eduardo Guerrero has been coaching for 12 years and two of those have been spent at Kentlake.
The Falcons lost five seniors, he said, Lexi, Victoria, Taylor, Jayce and Kathleena.
Key players to watch this season, he said, are Zoe Gaines, Jordan Fong, Morgan Colston and Ryleigh Burdick.
The Falcons began the 2015 season with a home match against Holy Names Academy on Thursday, Sept. 10.
