In many ways, 2016 was an extraordinary year for sports on the Twin Harbors. From individual accomplishments on the mat, on the court, in the water and on the field, Twin Harbor student-athletes exceeded expectations and delivered stunning and memorable events that will set a high bar for sports in 2017.
To summarize 2016, The Daily World sports department had a tough time narrowing this list down to the top-16 moments — also known as The Best 16 Stories of 2016. It was a tough task, with many moments and accomplishments left on the cutting room floor, but we were able to accomplish it.
Here are the Best 16 Stories of 2016 and we look forward to seeing you at the games in 2017:
1. MONTESANO WRESTLING THREE CHAMPIONS
The Montesano wrestling team broke a 40-year drought at the Mat Classic in 2016 and did it in a big way. Not since 1976 had a Montesano wrestler won a state wrestling title, but, on February 20, a trio of Bulldogs claimed gold medals as state champions.
Austin Cain broke the drought with a 6-2 decision over Vashon Island’s Bryce Hoisington in the 152-pound final. About 40 minutes later, Kylar Prante joined Cain in the ranks of Bulldog champions with an overtime decision over Forks’ Jack Dahlgren in the 182-pound final. Taylor Rupe put an exclamation point on the day for Monte with a second-round pin of Forks’ Tristan Tumaua.
The three individual titles helped Monte make a run at the team title. The Bulldogs finished fourth as a team with 125 total points.
2. MULTIPLE STATE TITLES IN TRACK & FIELD
Montesano’s Jordan Spradlin and Raymond’s Karlee Freeman rewrote the state record books at the state 1A/2B/1B track and field championships at Cheney.
Spradlin broke the state meet all-classification record, set by Monte’s Tera Novy four years earlier, in winning the girls 1A shot put with a throw of 48-8. That also cracked Spradlin’s own school record. The Montesano junior came back a day later to take the discus at 134-8.
On her first throw of the competition, Freeman broke the state 2B meet girls discus record by some 13 feet with a mark of 159-8. That also extended her school record and the state all-classification sophomore record for the event she had established earlier in the season. She returned to the track a day later to win the 100-meter hurdles at 15.65.
As usual, Twin Harbors track athletes harvested considerable gold at state. The state champions included Freeman’s brother Jayce, who won the Class 2B 110 hurdles in 15.79.
Other state champs included Montesano’s Connor Lovell in the boys 800 meters, Monte’s 4×400-meter boys relay team, Raymond’s Jace Duckworth in the boys 2B pole vault, North Beach’s Seth Bridge in the boys 2B discus, Taholah’s Levi Jackson in the boys 1B javelin, Wishkah’s Ryan Anderson in the girls 1B javelin and North Beach’s Tim Poplin in the boys 2B shot put. Poplin’s title highlighted a remarkable Hyak performance in the shot, as he and teammates Jonny Law, Bridge and Alex Horn swept four of the top five places in that event.
Although falling short of their third successive state 2B title, Raymond’s boys did collect a third-place team trophy.
3. GH LONGSHORE WINS PNW SENIOR BABE RUTH BASEBALL PENNANT
Youth baseball went through a sea-change over the summer, with Grays Harbor’s Babe Ruth League and the revitalized American Legion programs sharing players and resources for the first time.
The end result came in August when Grays Harbor Longshore — stocked full of 16-18 year-old Twin Harbor players, with a few Thurston and Pacific County imports — became the first Grays Harbor-based Senior Babe Ruth team to win a regional title and a berth into the SBR World Series.
Longshore had to do it the long way, winning three consecutive games in near-100 degree heat in Quincy, to win the title. Longshore elimianted rival Wilder, of Port Angeles, to get into the regional title game against Rural Baseball Inc., of Winlock. Against RBI, Grays Harbor combined its pitching strength with cluth hitting to win the title-game doubleheader series for the pennant, 8-4 and 14-7.
The squad didn’t have to travel very far, heading to Ephrata for the World Series tournament, but success was tough to come by. Longshore ran into several powerful pitching teams and went 0-4 in pool play to fall out of contention.
4. MONTE SOFTBALL, HOQUIAM BASEBALL AND PWV BASEBALL FINISH SECOND AT STATE
A trio of Twin Harbors teams came up just short of glory to finish second in the Spring. The Montesano softball and Hoquiam baseball teams each lost the state title game in their bids to repeat as champions, while Pe Ell-Willapa Valley dropped the 2B championship game to Toledo.
After barely getting into the state tournament as the third-seed team out of District IV, Montesano put together a run to the title game, which included plenty of power hitting to compliment a strong effort in the circle by pitcher Samantha Stanfield. In the end, Monte was the final victim of a La Center team that finished the season a perfect 23-0.
Hoquiam hit its stride at just the right time as well and worked its way into the state finals in Yakima. In the semifinal, junior left-handed pitcher Skyler Jump struck out 14 batters as the Grizzlies defeated Freeman 3-1 to earn a spot in the title tilt. However, Vashon Island batted around for 17 runs in the championship and beat Hoquiam 17-8.
PWV rode strong pitching performances to the championship game and the matchup against Toledo would be another pitchers dual. The Titans played strong defense behind the pitching of Aidan Arrington, but in the end the Indians would get just a few more timely hits to beat PWV 4-1. The second place trophy was the best finish for the combine or both schools.
5. HOQUIAM BOYS FINISH 6TH AT STATE
Hoquiam boys basketball ended a decade-long drought with a trip to the state 1A tournament in Yakima. The Grizzlies went 1-2 at the tournament and battled their way to a sixth-place finish.
After struggling to get over the hurdle of the regional round the last few years, Hoquiam held off Seattle Christian, 67-59, in its regional matchup to earn a spot in field at the SunDome.
The Grizzlies hope for a state title ended with a 60-47 loss to Freeman in their opening game, but Hoquiam rebounded and defeated Cashmere 68-64 to guarantee a trophy. While it wasn’t the trophy they were hoping for, the Grizzlies were pleased to leave Yakima with some hardware. Hoquiam earned sixth place the following day with a 71-60 loss to Zillah on March 5.
Jack Adams III, who scored 26 points in the Grizzlies win over Cashmere, set the single-season scoring record for Hoquiam. Adams finished the season with 515 points, 20 more than any other Grizzly in the history of the program.
Adams wasn’t the only Grizzly to rewrite the record books. Hoquiam head coach Curtis Eccles became the school’s career leader in wins, with 133 total victories, when the Grizzlies defeated Forks on January 29. Eccles finished the season with 140 wins as the Hoquiam head coach.
6. TAHOLAH BOYS, GIRLS BASKETBALL GO TO STATE, GIRLS WIN STATE TROPHY
Postseason appearances have become commonplace for Taholah’s basketball teams, perennial qualifiers for regional and state competition. The Chitwhin girls attained a milestone in 2016, however, by earning their first-ever state trophy.
Only 4-6 at the midpoint of the regular season, the Chitwhins came on strong to earn a district 1B girls championship and avenge a regular-season loss by beating Neah Bay, 48-40 at regionals.
Following a state-opening loss to Evergreen Lutheran, Taholah overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to nip Mount Vernon Christian, 51-49, and clinch a state trophy. The Chitwhins wound up sixth at state.
Taholah’s boys also made a dramatic run to Spokane. The male Chitwhins stormed back from 12 points down to top Evergreen Lutheran, 64-61. They lost both their state contests.
7. FOUR TWIN HARBOR FOOTBALL TEAMS QUALIFY FOR STATE
State football games were on the schedule for four Twin Harbors teams this past fall, but the schedule makers were not kind to the Harborites this time around.
Evergreen 1A League champion Montesano, which finished up an undefeated regular season and a No. 4 ranking in the state 1A media poll, had the worst luck of them all. Despite the league title, the Bulldogs were a No. 2 seed coming out of District IV (due to a top-seed sharing criteria with the Trico League) and were sent to Connell to take on the No. 3-ranked Eagles. The Bulldogs were eliminated, 48-28.
Hoquiam, as a No. 3 seed out of the district, also took to the road up to Bellingham to face Mount Baker, which ended the Grizzlies’ season with a 39-14 decision.
In the state 2B bracket, Pe Ell/Willapa Valley kncoked off Mabton, 30-13, in the opening round to set up a meeting with rival Napavine in the quarterfinals. The Tigers, who won the 2B state title, knocked off the Titans, 41-7. Raymond, which used a last-second field goal to earn a state berth over Adna the week before, couldn’t hold off La Conner, 33-10, at Sedro-Woolley Stadium.
Taholah was the lone eight-man football team to make it into the quad-district tournament. As the Coastal 1B League champion, the Chithwins hosted eventual state 1B champion Neah Bay and fell, 58-22.
8. FOURTH STRAIGHT DISTRICT 2A GIRLS SWIM TITLE FOR AHS
Depth and a strong youth program has given Aberdeen’s girls swimming program a steady supply of swimmers over the last several years. In 2016, they played a big part in giving the Bobcats a fourth straight District IV 2A team title in November.
Despite only winning two events — Kayleia Sias in the 100 backstroke and the 200 freestyle relay (Annike Eisele, Katie Lewis, Karli Heikkila and Emily May) — the Bobcats outlasted the field with 578 points to win the district team title at The Evergreen State College pool.
On their strength of top swimmers, Aberdeen swam into the top-10 spots in the state 2A meet one week later at the King County Aquatic Center, taking seventh place overall. At state, four school records were set or reset in two relays (200 medley and 200 free) and Eisele lowered her own school marks in the 200 individual medley and 100 fly.
9. ABERDEEN NATIVE BRYAN DANIELSON RETIRES FROM WWE IN-RING DUTIES
Taking a phone call from World Wrestling Entertainment owner Vince McMahon two days before a national television broadcast in Seattle, Bryan Danielson retired from professional wrestling in-ring action for good due to concussion issues in February.
The three-time WWE World Champion, plus reality television star (WWE shows “Total Bellas” and “Total Divas”) and New York Times best-selling author, had spent the previous nine months rehabing and recovering from a major concussion suffered after Wrestlemania. This time, it wasn’t meant to be as Danielson spoke to the WWE crowd at Key Arena in Seattle on live television and tearfully announced his retirement.
Since then, Danielson can still be found on WWE TV as a part of Smackdown Live on Tuesday nights.
10. JOHN SAND WINS FOURTH DISTRICT GOLF TITLE, TAKES FIFTH AT STATE
Hoquiam High senior John Sand again demonstrated that he was unbeatable in Southwest Washington golf.
Sand captured his fourth district individual 1A championship in as many tries when he carded a 36-hole total of even-par 144 in October to beat his nearest rival by 14 strokes. All of his district championships have come by double-digit margins.
He also led Hoquiam’s boys to their second straight district team title.
Sand was in good position to take his second state high school championship when he fired an opening-round 70 to take the first round lead last May in Spokane. Plagued by a balky putter on the front nine of the final round, he faltered to a 79 and placed fifth.
He again figures to be among the favorites at state next spring.
11. ABERDEEN BOYS SOCCER RUNS DISTRICT GAUNTLET TO STATE, WINS OPENING GAME
Aberdeen’s boys soccer program has been known to take small chances and turn them into state tournament runs. In May, the Bobcats had a long run to navigate before getting to state, but they got there and won their first-round contest for the first time in recent memory.
As a District IV 2A independent, Aberdeen had to win two play-in matches before the district tournament. There, the Bobcats fell to Ridgefield, 1-0, in the opening round and ran the table — wins over Centralia, Tumwater and Woodland — to earn the district’s third and final state berth.
In the state 2A opening round, Aberdeen traveled to Fife and watched as goalkeeper Alexis Garcia and his defense (nearly everyone in an Aberdeen uniform, including the managers) made life difficult for the Trojans. Miguel Torres’ rebound goal off the Fife goalkeeper was the lone goal in a 1-0 victory. In the quarterfinals, Aberdeen couldn’t hold off Archbishop Murphy, 3-0.
12. MONTESANO GIRLS BASKETBALL EARNS FOURTH REGIONAL BERTH
The Montesano girls basketball team wound up singing a familiar bittersweet refrain last February.
For the fourth straight season, the Bulldogs earned a regional tournament berth. And, for the fourth straight year, they fell short of advancing to the eight-team state 1A tournament.
Unlike the three previous seasons, Montesano was not a district finalist. Although the Bulldogs went unbeaten in Evergreen League competition for the third successive season, they fell to La Center in the District IV semifinals. But they nailed down another regional berth by beating East County rival Elma, 56-31, in a winner-to-regionals, loser-out district contest.
The third-place district finish, however, forced Monte to journey to Yakima for regionals. There the Bulldogs ran afoul of a hot-shooting Granger team and fell, 54-39.
With a senior-laden squad and a change in the regional/state format, the Bulldogs are hoping for a change in their state fortunes this season.
13. MONTE VOLLEYBALL GOES UNDEAFEATED TO EARN STATE TOURNEY BERTH
A perennial Evergreen 1A League power, Montesano enjoyed a dominant regular season. The senior-laden Bulldogs seldom dropped even a set in powering their way to a 14-0 regular-season mark.
The Bulldogs maintained their unbeaten record until the district championship match. They clinched a state berth with a three-set victory over Castle Rock in the district semifinals.
Poised to become only the second northern team to break the Trico League’s stranglehold on district championship honors (Monte’s 2006 team was the only previous northern winner), the Bulldogs were unable to regain the momentum after dropping a tight third set and fell to La Center in a four-set title match.
Montesano went 1-2 at the state 1A tournament, falling barely short of a state trophy.
14. MONTESANO LITTLE LEAGUE MAKES RUN AT REGIONAL TITLE
Montesano 11-12 Little League made history in 2016 as it worked its way through the loser’s bracket at the Washington State 11-12 Little League tournament and finished fourth out of the 13 teams to earn a berth to the state competition.
Montesano defeated Elma in the district title game, but met its toughest competition with a 7-1 loss to Federal Way in the opening round of the state tournament.
Battling back through the loser’s bracket, Montesano defeated Salmon Creek 5-4, upended defending champions Cascade 8-4, overcame a 5-0 deficit to beat Queen Anne 6-5 and surged past West Seattle 7-2. However, Montesano’s rematch against Federal Way ended the exact same way as the first match, with Monte on the short end, this time 10-5.
Montesano had plenty of power hitting through the run including two home runs from Trace Ridgway and one home run from Jack Anderson, Malaki Osbekoff and Isaiah Pierce.
15. ELMA’S WESLEY ALLEN WINS THIRD STRAIGHT LIFTING TITLE
Elma senior Wesley Allen lifted a total of almost 10 times his body weight as he took home his third straight individual lifting title at the Washington State High School Powerlifting Meet at Snohomish High School in May. Allen hoisted a total of 1,030 pounds to win the dead lift, squat and bench press each by more than 60 pounds for the 123-pound weight class.
Allen set the state record for dead lift, pulling 425 pounds up to hip level and bested his nearest opponent in the overall by 525 pounds.
For his efforts, Allen received the outstanding lifter of the meet award.
16. LAYNE BRUNER DRAFTED BY ORIOLES…AGAIN
In a turn of déjà vu’, Montesano native Layne Bruner was drafted for the second time by the Baltimore Orioles. The left-handed pitcher, who had attended Washington State University for three years, was selected by the Orioles in the 18th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft in June.
Bruner had been drafted in the 26th round by Baltimore after his senior season at Montesano, but he opted to join the Cougars.
The lefty joined the Gulf Coast League Orioles in Rookie League in July and made 10 starts over the next two months. Despite posting a 1-4 record, Bruner finished with a 2.38 ERA and 47 strikeouts to just 19 walks. He allowed 40 hits over 45 1/3 innings pitched.
