In 2022, Whatcom County athletes tallied 24 state titles during the spring season alone. Last season they earned 25. Could 26 be on the horizon in 2024? Spring sports mark the return to the outdoors — often with frequent weather-related hiccups in the early season. Snow flurries, torrential downpours and gray, windy days make “spring” sports challenging. But that’s part of the ride.
[ Whatcom County spring athletes have big shoes to fill in 2024 ]
In today’s story, learn about Lynden High School seniors Lane Simonsen and Kasi Thomas.
Related Stories
Catch up on stories from the 2023 spring season
- Spring roundup: Whatcom County athletes claim 25 state titles
- Lynden falls short of state title in walk-off loss to Tumwater
- Lynden shuts out Selah, reaches first state title game since 2012
- Local athletes capture 8 titles at state track and field meets
- Lynden falls to Sedro-Woolley in district championship
- Lynden eliminated by Archbishop Murphy in penalty kicks
- Local athletes post state-leading times at Bedlington Twilight
LANE SIMONSEN
Senior, Baseball, Pitcher
You’ve been committed to UW baseball since before your first high school season. How did that begin and what made you pick the Huskies?
I was playing in some tournaments down in Arizona and just around the country. I came back, did an event around here and really them and some other schools reached out. I just want to be a Dawg forever. I mean, we’re season ticket holders for football, so it just kind of was like a no brainer for me, right?
What do you view as your most valuable trait as a player?
As a pitcher, my mentality is just there’s nobody that can beat me. And I think that helps me in a lot of situations.
How is the team approaching this season after last season’s heartbreaking title game loss?
Most of us on the team were there last year. So we all know how it felt, watching them celebrate.
I think we have a chance to get back there, and I think everyone’s in the same mentality of we saw how they celebrated like that — we want that to be us this year.
KASI THOMAS
Senior, Softball, Catcher
After last year’s state finish, how are you hoping to continue to shape this team into a contender?
Just putting in the time, putting in all that hard work, you know? Our team, we lost three important players, but I think that we’ve got some new ones that are ready to take up that challenge and work with us.
How long have you played softball, and what drew you to the sport?
I’ve probably played softball since I was about 5 years old. Like, T-ball. I always loved the idea of it’s a team sport, but there’s still so many individual components to it.
And then just being outside is always something I’ve enjoyed, unless the weather’s bad.
What are your plans after high school?
I’m planning to play softball at Skagit Valley College, and then I’m hoping to go play at a four-year [university] somewhere else after Skagit, but I’m undecided. Maybe Western, or somewhere closer to home so my family can watch.
Visit CDN’s prep sports previews page every Tuesday and Friday until April 19 to learn about more Whatcom County athletes.
A previous version of this story misidentified Kasi Thomas as a baseball player. Thomas plays softball for Lynden High School. This story was updated to reflect this change on Friday, April 5 at 10:13 a.m. Cascadia Daily News regrets the error.
