Year in review: Blaine High School sports

By Ian Ferguson

Borderite athletes put on an exciting show in 2015, with many outstanding performances and several deep drives into the postseason. Blaine sent four teams and 18 individual athletes to state-level tournaments and meets, an impressive accomplishment for one of the smallest schools in 2A.

The girls basketball, wrestling, track and field and cross-country teams all made it to state. While there were no champions this year, several individuals were top-three finishers in wrestling and track and field. Let’s take a look back at the year, season by season.

Winter:

Coaches had high expectations for the girls basketball team, which had a strong core of senior players. The team made it to the state tournament, but fell short of the final eight when they lost an elimination game to White River. Taylor V’Dovec was later invited to play in the all-state senior game.

The defending state champion wrestling team continued its dominance, sending 10 athletes to the 2015 Mat Classic where six athletes earned medals. Caleb Frey earned a second place medal at 145 pounds, and Colton Economy wrestled to a third place finish at 113 pounds. Olivia Adams placed sixth at 135 in the girls tournament.

The boys basketball team had a rebuilding year, going 5–15 overall and 3–9 in conference.

Spring:

Softball had a big turnout, but struggled against larger 2A opponents. The Borderites went 2–10 in conference and missed out on the district tournament.

The baseball team, under new head coach Larry Hoffman, had its best season in years. The Borderites ended up with a season record of 8–12 overall, but went 5–7 in conference and fell short of the postseason.

Both boys and girls golf teams had small turnouts, but saw improving scores throughout the season. The tennis team went 2–7 in conference and 2–13 overall.

The boys soccer team suffered a few injuries to key players and struggled in the second half of the season. The Borderites went 3–11–2 overall and 0–10–2 in conference.

Fall:

Football had a strong start in 2015. The postseason looked possible, but fell out of reach when the Borderites lost to Sedro-Woolley and Burlington-Edison in the second half of the season. Conference powerhouses Squalicum and Lynden brought the final two losses, and the Borderites ended up 2–5 in conference and 4–5 overall.

The boys cross country team had a strong leader in Parker Morris, who ran his way to the state meet and earned 54th place with a time of 16:53.6. The girls team had too few runners to qualify as a team, but individual runners improved their times throughout the season.

The girls soccer team had a few bright moments, with big wins against Nooksack Valley and Mount Baker, but overall it was a rebuilding year. The Borderites went 2–9–1 overall and 4–10–2 in conference.

A highlight of the volleyball season was a flawless 3–0 win over Nooksack Valley late in the season. The Borderites improved throughout the season and ended up 3–9 in conference and 4–10 overall.