PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend boys took first and the girls finished second in the Redhawks’ first home cross country meet of the season at Port Townsend Golf Club.
The Port Townsend boys varsity easily won the 3.25-kilometer meet with 25 points over North Kitsap 51 and Bremerton 52.
Redhawks senior Ryan Clarke clinched another overall win, finishing Wednesday’s race in 10 minutes, 18 seconds. He was followed by sophomore Brennan LaBrie (fourth, 11:03) and senior Mark Streett (fifth, 11:25).
The Port Townsend girls varsity ran shorthanded with only five runners, but placed second, only three points behind North Kitsap.
Senior Hannah Trailer (13:27) took the overall win with freshman Ally Bradley coming in as Port Townsend’s second finisher in third place overall, 17 seconds behind Trailer.
In the boys JV race, the Redhawks placed second to North Kitsap with senior Austin Roemke leading the Port Townsend squad, placing third in his first-ever cross country race. Freshmen Kyle Mackey and Jesus Duran followed only three and 14 seconds back.
The Redhawks next run Saturday at the eighth annual Twilight XC Invitational at Cedarcrest Golf Course in Marysville.
Port Angeles sweeps three-way meet
BREMERTON — The Roughriders boys and girls won their respective cross country meets with Olympic and North Mason at Kitsap County Fairgrounds’ 2.85-mile course.
Port Angeles narrowly won the boys race over Olympic 27 to 28.
The girls race wasn’t quite as close, with the Riders beating the Trojans 19 to 38.
Neither North Mason’s girls or boys team had a full team for Wednesday’s race due to illness.
Port Angeles’ Peter Butler placed first in the boys race with a time of 15 minutes, 48 seconds. He was followed closely by teammate Simon Shindler, who took second with a 15:53.
Tristan Butler came in seventh (17:08) overall for the Riders, Hunter Dempsey was eighth (18:04.3), Alek Long took ninth (18:03.7) and Forest Clark was 12th (19:15).
“The course was a good, pretty flat, fast one. I think the real key for us was our three, four and five runners [Tristan Bultler, Hunter Dempsey and Alek Long] beating Olympic’s No. 5,” Shindler, a senior captain for Port Angeles, said.
Port Angeles freshman Gracie Long won the girls race in 18:50. Port Angeles also took second, third and fourth: Willow Suess (20:12), Annika Pederson (20:25) and Lael Butler (20:35).
Zaundria Patterson had a breakout race and came in a strong ninth (fifth for the Riders) in 23:36.
Port Angeles next travels to Robin Hill Park next Wednesday to take on Sequim and Port Townsend.
Boys Tennis
Port Angeles 6, North Mason 1
BELFAIR — The Roughriders travelled far to defeat the Bulldogs in Olympic League action.
“With outstanding focus and controlled shots, the players completed their jobs quite efficiently,” Port Angeles coach Gil Stockton said.
A number of Port Angeles varsity players elected to step aside and give some JV players the opportunity to play a varsity match and perhaps win a varsity letter.
The Riders’ doubles teams consisted of a varsity player teamed with a JV player.
“The varsity player was to mentor and give court advice while playing the match to help the JV players gain court awareness and confidence,” Stockton said.
“It was a great success. The varsity players were extraordinarily helpful and the JV fellows gained considerable knowledge in the fine art of doubles while having fun.
“This was a classic win-win situation where everyone grew in many aspects of life.”
Stockton broke from tradition and awarded match balls to his four doubles teams (Elliott Soelter and Wes Duncan, Matt Hendry and Jessie Calvert, Josh Hendry and Kenny Soule and Julian Eren and Keenen Leslie).
“To see the JV players’ faces after winning their matches made the whole process of coaching so worthwhile and satisfying,” Stockton said.
“In addition, the mentoring the varsity players offered illustrated what fine human beings they are. I am very proud of them all.
“This match did more to create dynamic team cohesion than anything in the past. There was a lot of growth by all players [Wednesday].”
Port Angeles 6, North Mason 1
Match Report
Singles
No. 1: Bo Eddy (NM) def. Janson Pederson (PA) 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.
No. 2: Nick Fritschler (PA) def. Eric Villar (NM) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
No. 3: Kody Kuch (PA) def. Steven Settlemier (NM) 6-2, 6-1.
Doubles
No. 1: Elliott Soelter/Wes Duncan (PA) def. Donny Plankenhorn/Jarod Curtis (NM) 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.
No. 2: Matt Hendry/Jessie Calvert (PA) def. Cole Tillen/Tanner Hall (NM) 6-3, 7-5.
No. 3: Josh Hendry/Kenny Soule (PA) def. Nick Vatour/Justin Rozle (NM) 6-1, 6-0.
No. 4: Julian Eren/Keenen Leslie (PA) def. Blake Manke/Adir Wheelander (NM) 6-0, 6-0.
