It will be another freezing cold winter sports season in Whatcom and Skagit counties. Although the weather patterns rarely change, allocations for the district postseason will change with new classifications. The allocations have not been released yet.
Also, Bellingham Public Schools (Bellingham, Sehome and Squalicum High School) and Ferndale High School will be featuring girls flag football in January and February.
The four schools will host a jamboree, play each team twice in a six-game season, then finish with a league tournament. The Bellingham School District and Ferndale High will try to work together to play teams in Everett, Seattle and Tacoma next season.
If girls aren’t interested in playing flag football outdoors, they can play several indoor sports.
The girls basketball scene will be very competitive after Nooksack Valley and Lynden won the 1A and 2A state titles, respectively, last season. The Pioneers will be a much younger, but athletic, squad while Lynden returns three of its four all-conference players from last year’s team.
Lynden Christian girls basketball finished third at state last season and returns a couple of all-conference players. Coach Brady Bomber returns as the Northwest Conference Coach of the Year.
Girls bowling had a couple of competitors compete at state last season and an alternate as well. Ferndale’s Madison McFadden was the top bowler last year while Meridian was a powerful squad throughout the season. The Trojans should also have another successful year.
In girls wrestling, Mount Baker and Sedro-Woolley return as the top teams. Squalicum finished third in the conference and former Blaine coach Scott Hume will be joining Brian Porteous and the Storm to create a dynamic coaching duo. Blaine’s new coach Damon Higgins will try and move the Borderites from sixth place to one of the top positions in the league.
Kyle Kaltenfeldt will lead the Bellingham, Sehome and Squalicum gymnastics squads this season. The three teams will try to reach state this season after falling short of qualifying a year ago.
On the boys side, the basketball teams will need new faces to fill these state-contending squads. Mount Vernon’s Quinn Swanson, Anacortes’ Davis Fogle and Lynden’s Anthony Canales leave big shoes to fill. The Lions have a lot of depth to reload the roster, but the Bulldogs, Seahawks and Lynden Christian will need to find newcomers to repeat their success.
In boys swimming, Anacortes finished third, Squalicum placed fourth and Sehome came in 10th last season. The conference had three swimmers win individual titles but two graduated. Squalicum’s Dylan Fisk will be the only returning state champion (100-yard butterfly).
In boys wrestling, Burlington-Edison placed seventh while Anacortes came in 12th in the 2A division. Mount Baker placed 10th in the 1A division.
A handful of the wrestlers graduated but the Mountaineers will be reloading with another talented roster under longtime coach Ron Lepper.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
