Community News Sports
Local athletes honored with MVP, all-conference honors
The Puget Sound League fall sports schedule has concluded, with several local athletes earning all-conference recognition.
Standouts include Nora Sutherland and Karin Heikkila winning division MVP awards in soccer; Peyton Howard recognized as lineman of the year in football; Lejla Carlson’s fourth-place finish in cross country; Jane Jackman’s diving state championship; and Kaitlyn LaTendresse and Lee Gjertsons sharing swimming MVP honors.
Four local coaches that were named coaches of the year in their leagues.
Puget Sound League football
Narrows Division
Lineman of the Year: Peyton Howard, Gig Harbor, senior
Peyton Howard of Gig Harbor, the Puget Sound League Narrows Division Lineman of the Year. Photo courtesy of Gig Harbor football
Coach of the Year: Jeff Scoma, Gig Harbor
Gig Harbor all-league honorees
First-Team offense
Max Schwab, running back, junior
Hunter Parris, offensive lineman, senior
First-Team defense
Henry Blake, linebacker, senior
Johan Gerl, linebacker, senior
Second-Team offense
Wilson West, running back, sophomore
Josh Page, offensive lineman, senior
Second-Team defense
William Cody, defensive lineman, junior
Ethan Trader, linebacker, senior
Honorable Mention
Troy Arnold, running back, senior
Jeff Scoma, the Puget Sound League Narrows Division coach of the year. Photo by Vince Dice
Nisqually Division
Peninsula all-league honorees
First-Team offense
Lucas Wiseman, quarterback, senior
Jacob Martin, running back, senior
TJ Strilcov, offensive lineman, junior
Peninsula quarterback Lucas Wiseman. Photo by Mandy Krause
First-Team defense
Royal Charles, defensive lineman, senior
Thomas Marzano, linebacker, junior
Logan Johnson, defensive back, junior
Talen McDonnell, punter, junior
Second-Team offense
Trevor Bingham, wide receiver, senior
Grant Williams, offensive lineman, senior
Talen McDonnell, kicker, junior
Second-Team defense
Asher Epstein, defensive lineman, junior
Nehemiah Grandorff, defensive back, senior
Honorable Mention
Aiden Muilenburg, defensive lineman, junior
Puget Sound League girls soccer
Nisqually Division
League MVP: Nora Sutherland, forward, Peninsula, senior
Coach of the Year: Jose Brambila, Peninsula
Puget Sound League Narrows Division soccer MVP Nora Sutherland of Peninsula. Photo by Dennis Browne
Peninsula all-conference honorees
First-Team
Ella Coates, forward, senior
Maya Rogers, forward, senior
Ada Labowitz, midfielder, senior
Brooklyn Finch, goalkeeper, senior
Second-Team
Alex Cichanski, midfielder, junior
Sierra Bierman, defense, junior
Narrows Division
League MVP: Karin Heikkila, forward, Gig Harbor, senior
Offensive MVP: Elizabeth Hayes, forward, GigHarbor, senior
Puget Sound League Narrows Division soccer MVP Karin Heikkila of Gig Harbor.
Gig Harbor all-conference honorees
First Team
Nadia Schwab, forward, sophomore
Sage Sturrock, midfielder, senior
Molly Leverette, defense, senior
Second Team
Anne Louden, forward, junior
Janelle Jones, defense, junior
Ella Conrad, goalkeeper, senior
Honorable Mention
Taylor Sullivan, midfielder, sophomore
Puget Sound League volleyball
Narrows Division
Gig Harbor all-conference honorees
First Team
Maggie Maharry, outside hitter, senior
Bethany Rajnus, middle, junior
Second Team
Hannah Artman, right side hitter, senior
Honorable Mention
Payton Heim, libero, senior
Addie Anderson, outside hitter, sophomore
Nisqually Division
Team Sportsmanship: Peninsula
Peninsula all-league honorees
Second-Team
Kate Cardinal, libero, senior
Emma Young, outside hitter, senior
Honorable Mention
Leah Schmidt, middle hitter, junior
Boys Water Polo, Division Two
Coach of the Year: Ben Douglas, Peninsula
Peninsula all-league honorees
First Team
Brandon Plitkins, senior
Theo Middleton, senior
Cullen Stitt, sophomore
Second Team
Oliver Salter, sophomore
Travis Buell, junior
Honorable Mention
Tyler Hoeschen, sophomore
Boys water polo, Division One
Coach of the Year: Alana Ponce, Gig Harbor
Gig Harbor all-league honorees
First Team
Joel Carpmail, junior
Second Team
Sam Petrie, junior
Vance Carpmail, freshman
Whitaker Filbey, freshman
Charlie Davis, junior
Puget Sound League boys cross country
All Conference
Max Dower, Gig Harbor, junior
Joshua Minner, Gig Harbor, junior
Jack Greer, Gig Harbor, junior
Gavin McKeegan, Gig Harbor, senior
Galen Peloquin, Gig Harbor, sophomore
Wyatt Harding, Peninsula, freshman
Nolan Windell, Peninsula, sophomore
Palmer Schumacher, Peninsula, sophomore
Wilson Shipp, Peninsula, junior
Puget Sound League girls cross country
MVP: Lejla Carlsson, Gig Harbor, senior
Lejla Carlsson of Gig Harbor. Photo by Russell Moore
All-conference
Ella Savage, Gig Harbor, sophomore
Maya Crane, Gig Harbor, freshman
Clarabelle Simmond, Gig Harbor, junior
Brynnlie Upchurch, Gig Harbor, freshman
Hadiah Hallam, Gig Harbor, sophomore
Ascher Lascheck, Peninsula, sophomore
Isabella Easley, Peninsula, junior
Megan Dyer, Peninsula, sophomore
Anya Bierman, Peninsula, senior
Puget Sound League girls swimming and diving
Puget Sound League co-MVPs: Kaitlyn LaTendresse, Gig Harbor, senior and Lee Gjertson, Peninsula, junior
Lee Gjertson of Peninsula, swimming co-MVP of the Puget Sound League. Photo courtesy Peninsula swimming
First Team all-league
Reese Miller, Peninsula, sophomore
Sophia Evers, Peninsula, freshman
Boe Ballard, Peninsula, freshman
Jenna Nelson, Gig Harbor, senior
Eva Dahlin, Gig Harbor, junior
Hannah Bevans, Gig Harbor, freshman
Audrey LaTendresse, Gig Harbor, sophomore
Snejana Yevstifieieva, Gig Harbor, freshman
Puget Sound League boys tennis
Singles, first team
David Ghazaryan, Peninsula, sophomore
Doubles, first team
Avery Svabenik, Gig Harbor, freshman
Holling Svabenik, Gig Harbor, freshman