CONNOR’S PICKS
Girls wrestling: Blaine 14-team tournament
10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, Blaine High School
Six local teams, including Blaine as the host, will be present at this tournament, making it one of the bigger in-county tournaments of the regular season.
Also in attendance will be Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Mount Baker and Squalicum — making up arguably the top girls wrestling competition in Whatcom County.
Some of the county’s top wrestlers will be present, including Squalicum’s Bella Phillips (second place at 190 pounds at last year’s state tournament), Lynden’s Belen Lopez (second place at 155 pounds) and Blaine’s Lucyanna Dahl (fourth at 145 pounds).
Mount Vernon, Stanwood, Oak Harbor, Anacortes, Lakewood, Burlington-Edison, Woodinville and North Mason will also be competing — five of which are Class 3A schools or larger.
There will only be about two weeks of the regular season remaining after this event, which makes it that much more important for individual wrestlers to get experience and postseason qualifiers.
WWU: Women’s basketball vs. Central Washington
7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, Carver Gym
This rivalry never gets old. This year, Western Washington University women’s basketball has the benefit of beginning its two-game series versus the Wildcats at home.
Western (9-2, 1-0 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) will have its hands full with Central Washington (11-3, 2-0 GNAC), which squeezed in three more games ahead of winter break than the Vikings did.
These teams could not be more different, which will keep it interesting. Western relies on defense and effective scoring in the post, led by senior forward Brooke Walling (17.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.91 blocks per game).
Central, however, is fueled by its guard play. Sophomore Asher Cai currently leads the GNAC with 20.5 points per game, and she is immediately followed by 5-foot-4 frontcourt teammate Sunny Huerta’s 19.8-point average.
While the Wildcats will have to try and contain Walling, the Vikings will need their defensive-minded guards to hold up against Central Washington’s high-powered perimeter players.
After this game, these teams won’t meet again until Saturday, Feb. 10.
Western Washington University starters gather Feb. 4, 2023, during a game against Central Washington University. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)
Recreation: 2024 Lake Samish Runs
9:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, Lake Samish Park
The Lake Samish Runs, hosted by the Greater Bellingham Running Club (GBRC), is back for its 46th annual event with 6.5- and 13.1-mile courses in 2024.
Pacific Multisports is timing the races, which will include prizes based on division and age group: overall, masters (40 and over) and kids (12 and under).
The long course (9:30 a.m. start) is two laps around Lake Samish with a one-tenth-mile dog leg at the end. The short course (9:45 a.m. start) is one lap around the lake.
Walkers are allowed, but no early start is permitted and there is a three-hour max race time, according to the event’s website. GBRC members can register for either distance for $10, while the non-member price is $35. Day-of registration is an additional $5 for participants of either of the aforementioned membership statuses.
FULL CALENDAR
Friday, Jan. 5
Boys basketball
Oak Harbor at Ferndale, 7:15 p.m.
Lakewood at Sehome, 7:15 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Nooksack Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Girls basketball
Nooksack Valley at Lynden Christian, 5:40 p.m.
Sehome at Lakewood, 7:15 p.m.
Ferndale at Oak Harbor, 7:15 p.m.
Boys wrestling
Burlington-Edison at Bellingham, 7 p.m.
Girls wrestling
Blaine, Ferndale, Mount Baker, Squalicum at Braided 64 tourney, 3:30 p.m., Kelso High School
Girls bowling
Blaine at Ferndale, 3:15 p.m., Mt. Baker Lanes
Nooksack Valley at Squalicum, 3:15 p.m., 20th Century Bowl
Recreation
Open Roller Skate, 6 p.m., Depot Market Square
Saturday, Jan. 6
Boys basketball
Mount Baker at Burlington-Edison, 1 p.m.
Bellingham at Lakewood, 5:30 p.m.
Meridian at Anacortes, 7:15 p.m.
Girls basketball
Blaine at Squalicum, 3:15 p.m.
Burlington-Edison at Mount Baker, 7:15 p.m.
Mount Vernon at Meridian, 7:15 p.m.
Boys wrestling
Lynden at Everett tourney, 7 a.m., Everett High School
Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Sehome at Mount Vernon, 9 a.m.
Girls wrestling
Lynden at Oak Harbor tourney, 10 a.m., Oak Harbor High School
Blaine, Ferndale, Mount Baker, Squalicum at Braided 64 tourney, 10 a.m., Kelso High School
WWU
Women’s basketball at Alaska Fairbanks, 3 p.m., Patty Center
Men’s basketball vs. Saint Martin’s, 7 p.m., Carver Gym
WCC
Women’s basketball at Pierce College, 5 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 7
NFL
Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals, TBD
Recreation
2024 Lake Samish Runs, 9:30 a.m., Lake Samish Park
Sunday Funday Cornhole Tournament, 11 a.m., Volli Bellingham
Fungi Basics Crash Course, 1 p.m., Chuckanut Center
Monday, Jan. 8
Boys basketball
Nooksack Valley at Squalicum, 7:15 p.m.
Anacortes at Lynden Christian, 7:15 p.m.
Girls basketball
Lynden Christian at Anacortes, 7:15 p.m.
Squalicum at Nooksack Valley, 7:15 p.m.
Recreation
Public ice skate, 8:30 a.m., Bellingham Sportsplex
Women’s drop-in soccer, 6 p.m., Bellingham Sportsplex
Men’s drop-in soccer, 8:30 p.m., Bellingham Sportsplex
Tuesday, Jan. 9
Boys basketball
Lynden at Mount Baker, 7:15 p.m.
Bellingham at Oak Harbor, 7:15 p.m.
Blaine at Meridian, 7:15 p.m.
Girls basketball
Mount Baker at Lynden, 7:15 p.m.
Oak Harbor at Bellingham, 7:15 p.m.
Meridian at Blaine, 7:15 p.m.
Boys wrestling
Ferndale at Anacortes Triple Dual, 6 p.m., Anacortes High School
Boys swim
Sedro-Woolley at Bellingham, 3:45 p.m., Arne Hanna Aquatic Center
Squalicum at Burlington-Edison, 7:30 p.m., Skagit Valley Family YMCA
Girls bowling
Squalicum at Meridian, 3:15 p.m., Mt. Baker Lanes
Blaine at Nooksack Valley, 3:15 p.m., Mt. Baker Lanes
NHL
Seattle Kraken at Buffalo Sabres, 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 10
Boys basketball
Ferndale at Burlington-Edison, 7:15 p.m.
Mount Vernon at Sehome, 7:15 p.m.
Girls basketball
Sehome at Mount Vernon, 7:15 p.m.
Burlington-Edison at Ferndale, 7:15 p.m.
Boys wrestling
Ferndale at Oak Harbor, 6 p.m.
Bellingham at Squalicum, 6:30 p.m.
Meridian at Nooksack Valley, 7 p.m.
Girls wrestling
Ferndale, Lynden, Nooksack Valley at Bellingham, 6 p.m.
Sehome, Meridian at Blaine, 6 p.m.
WCC
Women’s basketball at Peninsula College, 5 p.m., Pirate Gymnasium
Men’s basketball at Peninsula College, 7 p.m., Pirate Gymnasium
Recreation
Public ice skate, 8:30 a.m., Bellingham Sportsplex
Thursday, Jan. 11
Boys basketball
Blaine at Lynden, 7:15 p.m.
Anacortes at Bellingham, 7:15 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Meridian, 7:15 p.m.
Girls basketball
Meridian at Lynden Christian, 7:15 p.m.
Lynden at Blaine, 7:15 p.m.
Bellingham at Anacortes, 7:15 p.m.
Boys wrestling
Blaine, Mount Baker at Ferndale, 6 p.m.
Girls wrestling
Mount Baker at Squalicum, 7 p.m.
Boys swim
Squalicum at Lynden, 3:30 p.m., Forge Pool
Sedro-Woolley at Sehome, 3:30 p.m., Arne Hannah Aquatic Center
Ferndale at Burlington-Edison, 7:30 p.m., Skagit Valley Family YMCA
WWU
Men’s basketball at MSU Billings, 5:15 p.m., Alterowitz Gym
Women’s basketball vs. Central Washington, 7 p.m., Carver Gym
NHL
Seattle Kraken at Washington Capitals, 4 p.m.
Recreation
Friday, Jan. 12
Boys basketball
Squalicum at Mount Baker, 7:15 p.m.
Girls basketball
Mount Baker at Squalicum, 7:15 p.m.
Boys wrestling
Bellingham at Anacortes, 6 p.m.
Girls wrestling
Ferndale at Ladies Premier Tourney, 5 p.m., Marysville-Pilchuck High School
Girls bowling
Meridian at Nooksack Valley, 3:15 p.m., Mt. Baker Lanes
Ferndale at Squalicum, 3:30 p.m., 20th Century Bowl
Recreation
Adult drop-in soccer, noon, Bellingham Sportsplex
Saturday, Jan. 13
Boys basketball
Sehome at Sedro-Woolley, 2:30 p.m.
Nooksack Valley at Ferndale, 7:15 p.m.
Girls basketball
Sehome at Sedro-Woolley, 1 p.m.
Ferndale at Nooksack Valley, 7:15 p.m.
Boys wrestling
Sehome, Squalicum at MP Premier Tourney, 9:30 a.m., Marysville-Pilchuck High School
Ferndale at Dave Holter Memorial Tourney, 10 a.m., Kelso High School
Girls wrestling
Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Mount Baker, Squalicum at Blaine, 10 a.m.
Boys swim
Bellingham, Sehome, Squalicum at Northwest Conference Boys Dive Invite, 10 a.m., Fidalgo Pool
WWU
Men’s basketball at Seattle Pacific, 4:15 p.m., Brougham Pavilion
Women’s basketball vs. Northwest Nazarene, 7 p.m., Carver Gym
WCC
Women’s basketball vs. Shoreline, 2 p.m., Whatcom Pavilion
Men’s basketball vs. Shoreline, 4 p.m., Whatcom Pavilion
NFL
NFC Wild Card Round: teams, times TBD
NHL
Seattle Kraken at Columbus Blue Jackets, 4 p.m.
Recreation
Galbraith Mountain: Community Race Series #3, 7:30 a.m., Galbraith Mountain
Sunday, Jan. 14
NFL
NFC Wild Card Round: teams, times TBD
Recreation
Sunday Funday Cornhole Tournament, 11 a.m., Volli Bellingham
Walking soccer, 6 p.m., Bellingham Sportsplex
CDN’s sports calendar is published online Thursdays and in print Fridays. To submit an event for consideration, email connorbenintendi@cascadiadaily.com. News Producer Eric Trent compiled the featured listings.
