FOOTBALL: Sequim’s Velarde named League MVP

Gavin Velarde

Gavin Velarde

PORT ANGELES — Sequim’s Gavin Velarde was named the Olympic Football League 2A Division’s Most Valuable Player, while his teammate Riley Cowan was named Offensive MVP.

Velarde, a receiver, running back and kick returner for the Wolves, had a stretch this season in which he scored 11 touchdowns in three weeks.

He and his quarterback Cowan helped lead Sequim to a 7-3 finish, a second-place finish in the Olympic 2A Division and a berth in the West-Central District playoffs.

Sequim receivers Payton Glasser, Kyler Rollness also made the first-team All League offensive squad, as did offensive lineman Brendan Lauritzen. Port Angeles offensive lineman Hayden Wickham also made the first team as did his teammate Garrett Edwards as a long snapper.

Making the first team on defense were linebacker James Thayer of Sequim and the Roughriders’ Edwards as a defensive back.

Making the Olympic 2A second team Port Angeles’ Rudy Valdez as a wide receiver and Sequim’s offensive lineman Josh Benson. Valdez also made the second team special teams as a kick returner.

Sequim placed three players on the 2nd All-League defensive team — defensive linemen Beau Bernsten and Michael Larsen and linebacker Rudy Whitehead. Port Angeles’ Jace Lausche made second team all defense, as well.

Port Angeles’ Matt Warner made second team special teams as a punter.

Olympic 2A League All-League teams

MVP: Gavin Velarde, Sequim

Offensive MVP: Riley Cowan, Sequim

Defensive MVP: Quinnten Notah, North Kitsap

Coaching Staff: North Kitsap

Sportsmanship: Sequim

Offense First Team

Quarterback: Tristan Newman, North Kitsap

Running backs: Diyamante Hall, Bremerton, Dax Solis, North Kitsap, Sam Henden, North Kitsap

Wide Receiver: Payton Glasser, Sequim, Savante Perrigo, Bremerton, Kyler Rollness, Sequim

Tight end: Aiden Allsop, Kingston

Offensive line: Nate Griswold, North Kitsap; Brendan Lauritzen, Sequim; Ryan Brooks, North Kitsap; Hayden Wickham, Port Angeles; Zach Cantrall, Bremerton; Chayse Becar, Olympic

Defense First Team

Defensive line: Kico Ramirez, North Mason; Anthony Lopez, Bremerton; Ryan Brooks, North Kitsap; Gabe Fuiava, Olympic

Linebacker: James Thayer, Sequim ; Desmond Heath, North Kitsap; Sam Henden, North Kitsap; Connor Westby, North Kitsap; Rollie Enriquez, Olympic; Richard Bios, Bremerton; Zach Clark, North Kitsap; Jon Sedy, North Kitsap; Garrett Edwards, Port Angeles; Jayden Fernandez, Olympic.

Special Teams First Team

Kicker, Kainen Warren, North Kitsap

Punter, Max Boekenoogen, Bremerton

Kick Returner, Damon Ledezma, Kingston

Long Snapper, Garrett Edwards, Port Angeles.

Offense Second Team

Quarterback, John Jones, Kingston

Running back: Nate Kjormoe, North Kitsap, Mason Quitevis, Olympic

Wide Receiver: Brett Heaps, Kingston; Nick Waxon, Kingston; Rudy Valdez, Port Angeles

Tight end: Tristan Mullins, North Mason

Offensive line: Josh Benson, Sequim, Ian Atwood, North Kitsap; Tommy Fernandez, Olympic

Defense Second Team

Defensive Line: Beau Bernsten, Sequim, Michael Larsen, Sequim, Troy Saunders, Bremerton, Oliver Chapman, North Kitsap

Linebacker: Rudy Whitehead, Sequim, McCoy Retome, Bremerton; Jace Lausche, Port Angeles; Jayce Holcomb, Olympic; Aiden Allstop, Kingston

Secondary: Savante Perrigo, Bremerton; Trey Fisher, North Mason; Kainen Warren, North Kitsap; Darelle White, Olympic; Paul Johnson, Kingston

Special Teams Second Team

Kicker: Dylan Reed, Bremerton

Punter: Matt Warner, Port Angeles

Kick Returner: Rudy Valdez, Port Angeles

Long Snapper: Greg Bishop, North Mason

More in Sports

Port Angeles boys head coach Kevin Ruble, right, and volunteer assistant Bryant Hoch watch during pregame Tuesday in Port Angeles before the Roughriders took on defending state champion Bremerton. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
BOYS PREP ROUNDUP: Defending champs Bremerton cruises past PA

Sequim, Forks, East Jefferson all victorious

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Riders, Spartans seal league titles

4th straight league championship for Forks girls

GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL: PA, Sequim both in state tournament this weekend

In their inaugural seasons of girls flag football, both Sequim and Port… Continue reading

Sammie Sullivan of Kingston (143) leads the pack, including Tanya Woodward of Forks (638)  at the starting line of the 2025 Elwha Bridge Run, which returns Saturday. (Run the Peninsula)
RUN THE PENINSULA (Updated): Elwha Bridge Run returns Saturday

The Run the Peninsula series returns this weekend with… Continue reading

Tom Garrick celebrated a hole-in-one at Cedars at Dungeness on Jan. 28. (Cedars at Dungeness)
AREA SPORTS BRIEFS: Hole-in-one at Cedars at Dungeness and OJBR sign-ups

The Cedars at Dungeness reported its first hole-in-one of the… Continue reading

The Klahhane Gymnastics Xcel gold team of, from left, Emily Bair, Abigail Odland, Lorelei Sanders and Zayleigh McCullem finished first at the Freedom Invitational Gymnastics Meet at the Kitsap Pavilion last week. (Klahhane Gymnastics)
KLAHHANE GYMNASTICS: Xcel gold first at Freedom Invite

Klahhane Gymnastics Xcel teams delivered an outstanding weekend of competition… Continue reading

Liam Sprague, Crescent basketball.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Liam Sprague, Crescent basketball

Crescent basketball player Liam Sprague finished the season with a flourish, showing… Continue reading

GIRLS BOWLING: Port Angeles’ Franich, Van Gordon qualify for state

The Port Angeles girls bowling team will send a pair… Continue reading

WRESTLING ROUNDUP: Forks’ Jade Blair wins her fifth tournament this season

Forks’ Jade Blair won another wrestling tournament, taking first in… Continue reading

Sequim's Jordyn Julmist dribbles against the defense of Port Angeles' Mikkiah Stevens on Friday night in Sequim. (Emily Matthiessen/for Peninsula Daily News)
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Sequim hot from the floor in win over Port Angeles

Sequim put together its finest performance of the season in… Continue reading

Forks' Bailey Johnson brings the ball up the floor against North Beach on Friday in Forks with teammate Skye Hestand. Johnson, despite a broken wrist, scored 25 points in a 67-25 victory. (Lonnie Archibald/for Peninsula Daily News)
PREP ROUNDUP: Forks girls win to stay in first place

Crescent’s Liam Sprague scores 42 in victory