Cream of the crop

The good news continues to roll in for the Oak Harbor girls volleyball and swim teams.

After taking seventh place at the 4A state tournament two weeks ago, the swim team dominated the WesCo North all-opponent team along with Snohomish, taking first-team honors in five of 12 events.

Freshman Missy McIntyre who won the 100 breaststroke at State was named the first-team swimmer in that event as well as the 200 individual medley.

Kyla Meuer was named the first-team swimmer in the 50 freestyle. Meuer, a junior, took second in the 50 freestyle this year after placing third in state as a sophomore.

The Wildcats also earned first-team honors in two out of the three relay events. Meuer, McIntrye and seniors Lora Burge and Brandy Rupert were honored in the 200 freestyle relay, while Meuer, McIntyre, Rupert and senior Kate Waller took the 200 medley relay. The 200 freestyle relay team placed second in state while the medley team earned a ninth place finish.

The Wildcats girls soccer team also racked up several all-conference nods led by senior striker Katy Nydam. The team’s leading scorer, Nydham was named a to the WesCo All-opponent first-team as a forward. She was joined on the first team by a pair of sophomores, midfielder Gretyl Pruss and defender Hazel Sapida.

Two more sophomores were recognized with Kaylea Kingma named to the second team on defense and Jen White earning honorable mention as a midfielder.

Even with the loss of Nydam to graduation, the Wildcats squad should remain in contention for a division title next year because of a solid corps of underclassmen.

“You can’t take away Kate’s skills, work ethic, and leadership, but we have several players who can step up next season,” said Cats’ head coach Gretchen Talmadge. “They know what to do because they have played together for so long.”

In volleyball, Wildcats senior setter Valarie Hartman was named to the WesCo North all-opponent first team. Hartman, a three-sport athlete who is getting ready to take over point guard duties on the Cats’ basketball team, was the lone senior on a squad that improved by three games in 2001 and was one spot shy of reaching the district playoffs.

“She had a lot on her shoulders this year and she did a great job working with our hitters,” said head coach Kerri Molitor about Hartman who set the schools all-time assists record.

Despite the loss of Hartman, things should continue to look up for the Cats spikers next year as three other girls made the All-opponent teams. Freshman outside hitter Heidi McNeill was named to the second team while junior Nikki Barone and sophomore Celeste Garey received honorable mention nods.

In other WesCo awards, junior Daniel Hinkley was named to the All-opponent team in singles tennis. In boys cross-country, freshman Chris Wichers earned honorable mention honors in cross-country. Wichers led the Wildcats with a 21st place finish in the WesCo North Championships.

The WesCo All-Conference football team will be announced later this week.

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