BELLINGHAM
Nate Laas, Sophomore, Boys wrestling
Bellingham wrestler Nate Laas.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: My personal goal for this season is to make state, and as a team to not lose a single dual.
Most excited for: To meet all the new freshmen and see how I do in the postseason.
Go-to pregame ritual: Hop back and forth to get the body warm, then I shadow wrestle to get my skills down.
Ellie Wolverton, Senior, Girls basketball, Point guard/Shooting guard
Bellingham basketball player Ellie Wolverton.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: My personal goal is to be a good leader and push myself to be the best I can. My team goal is to have fun together on and off the court.
Most excited for: I am most excited to enjoy my last season of high school basketball with my dad, who is also the coach.
Go-to pregame ritual: I like to listen to music and dance with my team in the locker room.
BLAINE
Lucy Dahl, Junior, Girls wrestling
Blaine wrestler Lucy Dahl.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: I would like to make it to state but also be the best leader I can be and make the most out of this season with a good attitude.
Most excited for: The tournaments and duals, we unfortunately did not have much last year.
Go-to pregame ritual: Listen to music and calm down the nerves. Every once in a while, I do homework.
Timothy Pomeroy, Senior, Boys wrestling
Blaine wrestler Timothy Pomeroy.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: My personal goal is to place top three in state. Team goal is to win regionals.
Most excited for: The opportunity to wrestle people who make me better and the opportunity to wrestle in state.
Go-to pregame ritual: Sleep, listen to music and eat a sandwich.
FERNDALE
Malia Welch, Senior, Girls wrestling
Ferndale wrestler Malia Welch.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: My personal goal is to win state, and my goal for the team is to help create an encouraging family dynamic where everyone is motivated to do their best.
Most excited for: I’m most excited to get to know all the new girls who decided to give wrestling a shot.
Go-to pregame ritual: I like to eat sour big chewy nerds, and right before my match I like to listen to music.
Gabby Krutsinger, Senior, Girls wrestling
Ferndale wrestler Gabby Krutsinger.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: To get back on the mat; to work with each other.
Most excited for: To go back on the mat.
Go-to pregame ritual: I try to calm down and do my warmup, and just go for it.
LYNDEN
Anthony Canales, Junior, Boys basketball, Guard/Forward
Lynden basketball player Anthony Canales.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: Win a state title and build a great bond with all the guys on the team.
Most excited for: Getting to play with my teammates and play for my high school, friends, family and community.
Go-to pregame ritual: Listen to music and eat Scooby Doo fruit snacks.
Chloe Wittenberg, Senior, Girls basketball, Post
Lynden basketball player Chloe Wittenberg.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: Personal goal is to be a good captain and leader for my teammates and lead us to a successful season. Team goal is to make it to that last game on Saturday night at the Dome!
Most excited for: I’m most excited to build on what we started last season and have another successful year.
Go-to pregame ritual: As a team, we always gather together in the locker room and sing “Before He Cheats.”
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN
Reganne Arnold, Senior, Girls basketball, Post
Lynden Christian basketball player Reganne Arnold.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: To start off where we ended last year; work hard and build relationships.
Most excited for: Just to play again and end senior year strong.
Go-to pregame ritual: Read devotions, pray and listen to music.
Tyler Sipma, Senior, Boys basketball, Point guard
Lynden Christian basketball player Tyler Sipma.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: To win.
Most excited for: Playing again with my guys.
Go-to pregame ritual: Listening to music, prayer.
MERIDIAN
Ryan Jensen, Senior, Boys wrestling
Meridian wrestler Ryan Jensen.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: Personally, I would really like to go state this year. As a team, I would really like to see a chunk of us go to state. We were really close last year and I think we can manage it.
Most excited for: I’m really excited about hanging out with our friends and any trips — I just love the little moments with all of that.
Go-to pregame ritual: I will always have one of my friends hype me up, and it’s always the same one.
Mirage Deneal, Senior, Girls wrestling
Meridian wrestler Mirage Deneal.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: My personal goal is to go to state and place. My team goal is to have other people place, but also create a sense of family on our team.
Most excited for: I’m most excited to see my team every day and my coaches, and then also to compete.
Go-to pregame ritual: Mine is wearing the same hairstyle, and same socks and stuff. I go and eat with my friends, and we talk.
MOUNT BAKER
Madison Barter, Senior, Girls basketball, Shooting guard/Small forward
Mount Baker basketball player Madison Barter.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: Personal goals are to become the best leader I can be for my team and improve in every aspect of the game. Team goals are to play for each other, play a full four quarters and compete our hardest each game.
Most excited for: I am the most excited about our team bond and the focus and determination everyone has to have success this season.
Go-to pregame ritual: Team-wise is to get very excited and ready for the game through locker room music. Personally, I like to make sure I get in a lot of dribbling drills as well as shots up before each game.
Jorey Johnson, Senior, Boys wrestling
Mount Baker wrestler Jorey Johnson.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: We are all hoping to make it to state. If we have the numbers, we hope to win duals and be the top team in the conference. I hope to get back to the state finals.
Most excited for: New team members, which is always fun to see the growth. I’m excited to see how full of a team we have.
Go-to pregame ritual: The team laying on the mat in a circle for a pre-tournament talk. Eating waffles with the team is up there, too.
NOOKSACK VALLEY
Bennett DeLange, Senior, Boys basketball, Guard
Nooksack Valley basketball player Bennett DeLange.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: Personally, I want to make it to state, so whatever I need to do to get us there.
Most excited for: Being able to play with my cousins and teammates one last time.
Go-to pregame ritual: I like to eat a pack of candy before every game.
Hallie Kamphouse, Senior, Girls basketball, Guard
Nooksack Valley basketball player Hallie Kamphouse.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: We had a great season last year. We are going to work really hard in practice and hopefully be back in that state championship game.
Most excited for: Us girls have a great bond and I want another opportunity to get back to state.
Go-to pregame ritual: Locker room dancing and our prayer.
SEHOME
Mackenzie Cooper, Senior, Girls basketball, Shooting guard
Sehome basketball player Mackenzie Cooper.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: To give my 100% in both practices and games to better myself and my teammates.
Most excited for: The people I am playing with. I’ve played with most of the girls for a while.
Go-to pregame ritual: My parents and I talk about game plan and what I should focus on.
Dane Dominguez, Senior, Boys basketball, Point guard
Sehome basketball player Dane Dominguez.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: My personal goal is to be the best leader I can to try and help our team goal, which is to win state.
Most excited for: One last season with all the guys I have grown up with.
Go-to pregame ritual: Me and my dad always have a conversation. Not even about basketball, but life in general.
SQUALICUM
Jason Retz, Senior, Boys wrestling
Squalicum wrestler Jason Retz.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: To grow wrestling at my school.
Most excited for: Being able to compete in tournaments and growing with my boys.
Go-to pregame ritual: Listening to “Black” by Pearl Jam, eating some sort of fruit, imagining myself succeeding in my head.
Mari Binning, Junior, Girls basketball, Point guard
Squalicum basketball player Mari Binning.
(Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Personal and team goals this season: I would like us to be successful and to overall just have fun as a team.
Most excited for: Meeting new players and feeling confident with our team.
Go-to pregame ritual: I usually like to listen to music and eat some sort of carbs.
Athlete interviews
Squalicum
Sehome
Nooksack
Mount Baker
Meridian
Lynden
Lynden Christian
Ferndale
Blaine
Bellingham
