Klahowya Eagles | Fall Sports Preview

Football
2016 record: 7-3

Head coach: Dan Ericson

Returning players: C/DL Collin Deutscher, senior; FB-LB Tyler Vandergriff, senior; SB/DB Karsten Martinson, senior; SB/DB Jerikho Presley, senior.

Key newcomers: FB/DL Cooper Martinson, junior; QB John Hartford, junior; QB Chase Templeton, junior; SB/LB Tanner Weaver, junior; OL/DL Ben Schnabel, junior.

Outlook: The high-flying Eagles graduated 29 players, an astoundingly high number at the 1A level. But the roster has been replenished with 20 freshmen signing up, boding well for the future of a program that had only 22 players when Ericson took over. The Eagles wide-open offense will be as entertaining as ever with returning players at key positions.

Girls Soccer
2016 record: 12-3, won league

Head coach: Troy Oelschlager

Returning players: D Hailey Sargent, senior; MF Rylee Radford, junior; MF Alyssa Peters, sophomore.

Key newcomers: D/MF Hailey Connolly, freshman; F Kayden Eckley, freshman.

Outlook: Replacing Emily Peters, who has gone on to play Division I soccer at Montana, will not be easy, but the roster boasts plenty of young players with club experience. The program has been a participant in the state tournament seven years in a row and the expectations remain high to make it eight.

Volleyball
2016 record: 9-9

Head coach: Wendy Kraft

Returning players: OH/S Kindra Fuller, senior; OH Katrien Lont, junior; MH Taylor Bruce, junior.

Key newcomers: DS Maile Lueck, sophomore; S Anna Bell, freshman; MH Chloe Settle, sophomore; OH Rachel Bailey, sophomore.

Outlook: There are plenty of new faces to go around, but the youngsters are talented. Kraft expects the team to do well at the 1A level with the goal of improving upon last year’s 9-9 finish.

Cross Country
2016 record: Boys, 1-3; Girls, 3-3

Head coach: Marty Krafcik

Returning runners: Sam Cook, junior; Darius Joe, senior; Tanyr Gagnon, junior; Lucas Becker, junior; Mason Hawes, sophomore; Rhys Hamblet, junior; Hannah Meehan, So. Savannah Smith, senior; Madison Godsey, junior.

Key newcomers: Rachel Newhard, freshman; Aleah Schultz, freshman; Jaeden Ellis, freshman; Alex Oathout, freshman; Whyatt Vertefeuille, freshman; Logan Brunson, junior; Justin Becker, freshman.

Outlook: There is plenty of youth to go around on both squads as 12 of Krafcik’s 34 runners are freshmen this year, but with plenty of juniors, the program looks to be successful both this year and in future years.

Schedule: Sept. 7, 5 p.m., Eagle Jamboree | Sept. 16, noon, Salt Creek Invitational | Sept. 20, 4:30 p.m., tri-meet at Olympic with North Mason and Olympic | Sept. 27, 4:30 p.m., tri-meet at Battle Point Park with North Kitsap and Bremerton | Sept. 30, 10:30 a.m., Curtis Invitiational at Chambers Bay | Oct. 4, 4:30 p.m., home tri-meet with Port Townsend and Kingston | Oct. 7, 2:30 p.m., Hole in the Wall Invitational at Lakewood | Oct. 11, 4:30 p.m., tri-meet at Port Angeles with Sequim and Port Angeles | Oct. 19, 4:30 p.m., league meet at Sequim | Oct. 28, TBD, West Central District 3 meet at Chambers Bay | Nov. 4, TBD, state meet at Pasco

Boys Tennis
2016 record: 4-8

Head coach: Rick Ellis

Returning players: Taylor Fite, junior; Jacob Kraft, junior.

Key newcomers: Joseph Bowman, junior; Morgan Seidel, sophomore; Drew Kraft, freshman.

Outlook: Fite placed sixth at state last year and Ellis said the Kraft brothers have plenty of tennis experience, both having played overseas. Ellis expects his team will be much improved over last year.

Girls Swimming
2016 record: 3-4

Head coach: Diana Petersen

Returning swimmers: Kira Crane, Hallie Turk, Amber Bumbalough, Hannah Woelper

Key newcomers: None

Outlook: Only a handful of swimmers return to a team otherwise stocked with mostly those who are new to the program. But the few returners are strong swimmers, most of whom made it to states last year and look to return again this year.