Preps

Port Angeles' Daniel Cable ran for 133 yards in this 2019 contest against Olympic. (Mark Krulish/Kitsap News Group)
Port Angeles' Daniel Cable ran for 133 yards in this 2019 contest against Olympic. (Mark Krulish/Kitsap News Group)
Port Angeles freshman Sam Hayes charges up a hill during a race at Port Townsend Golf Club on Wednesday. Hayes pushed hard and improved his 2-mile time by 15 seconds from the first race of the season. (Rodger Johnson/Port Angeles Cross Country)
Port Angeles freshman Sam Hayes charges up a hill during a race at Port Townsend Golf Club on Wednesday. Hayes pushed hard and improved his 2-mile time by 15 seconds from the first race of the season. (Rodger Johnson/Port Angeles Cross Country)
Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News
Anne Edwards of Port Angeles takes part in the diving portion of Tuesday's first time trial meet at the Shore Aquatic Center in Port Angeles.

PREP SWIMMING: Port Angeles dives back in during first time trial

Four Port Angeles individuals and six relay teams earned district-qualifying times as the Roughriders girls swim and dive team returned to the… Continue reading

Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News
Anne Edwards of Port Angeles takes part in the diving portion of Tuesday's first time trial meet at the Shore Aquatic Center in Port Angeles.
Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News

Port Angeles' Kennedy Bruch, 10, defends the net against East Jefferson Volleyball Team of Katie Ballard, left, and Sophie Patterson during a Tuesday game in Chimacum.

PREP VOLLEYBALL: Port Angeles downs combined Jefferson team in opener

The prep volleyball season got back on the court after a 15-month COVID-19 pandemic hiatus with the Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Chimacum… Continue reading

Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News

Port Angeles' Kennedy Bruch, 10, defends the net against East Jefferson Volleyball Team of Katie Ballard, left, and Sophie Patterson during a Tuesday game in Chimacum.
Port Angeles’ Lauren Larson, left, and Sequim’s Riley Pyeatt lead the pack at the beginning of a 2019 cross country race at Robin Hill Park. Prep runners can now run without masks at competitions after a change in state guidance. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

PREP NOTEBOOK: Cross country runners now free to remove masks during races; spectator update

Prep cross country runners can all breathe a little bit easier as part of a Washington Interscholastic Activities Association update that will… Continue reading

Port Angeles’ Lauren Larson, left, and Sequim’s Riley Pyeatt lead the pack at the beginning of a 2019 cross country race at Robin Hill Park. Prep runners can now run without masks at competitions after a change in state guidance. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Port Angeles High School
Port Angeles senior cross country runner Kathryn Guttormsen competes at Klahowya on Saturday. It was the first prep sports competition since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all prep sports last March.

PREP CROSS COUNTRY: Roughriders’ harriers get back on course

Port Angeles cross country runners put in some fast times at their first meet in over a year, but they fell short as… Continue reading

Port Angeles High School
Port Angeles senior cross country runner Kathryn Guttormsen competes at Klahowya on Saturday. It was the first prep sports competition since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all prep sports last March.
Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News
Lauren Larson of Port Angeles nears the finish line to win the girls cross-country race in a three-way competition with Olympic and North Mason on Wednesday at Lincoln Park in Port Angeles.

CROSS COUNTRY: Much lost, but much gained for elite Port Angeles High School runner Lauren Larson

Port Angeles Roughrider Lauren Larson possibly had some state championships taken away from her by the COVID-19 pandemic. But, over the past… Continue reading

Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News
Lauren Larson of Port Angeles nears the finish line to win the girls cross-country race in a three-way competition with Olympic and North Mason on Wednesday at Lincoln Park in Port Angeles.
Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News
Port Angeles Roughrider cross country runners begin practicing Monday at the Port Angeles High School track. The first cross country meets are scheduled Saturday as prep sports slowly return to the Olympic Peninsula. Only cross country can begin competing at the moment but other sports are practicing in hopes of beginning in mid-February.

PREP SPORTS: Cross country leads the way as first prep sport to return to action

It’s a baby step, but prep sports are slowly returning to action. Prep athletes are back with limited practices this week. Fall… Continue reading

Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News
Port Angeles Roughrider cross country runners begin practicing Monday at the Port Angeles High School track. The first cross country meets are scheduled Saturday as prep sports slowly return to the Olympic Peninsula. Only cross country can begin competing at the moment but other sports are practicing in hopes of beginning in mid-February.
Port Angeles Athletic Director Dwayne Johnson speaks to a group of freshman during a pre-COVID orientation session. Johnson has received the Gareth Giles Memorial Award recognizing him for his leadership and dedication to Washington state students from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. (Port Angeles School District)

PREPS: Port Angeles Athletic Director Dwayne Johnson receives Giles Award from WIAA

In recognition of his leadership and dedication to students

Port Angeles Athletic Director Dwayne Johnson speaks to a group of freshman during a pre-COVID orientation session. Johnson has received the Gareth Giles Memorial Award recognizing him for his leadership and dedication to Washington state students from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. (Port Angeles School District)
Sequim senior Eli Gish has signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Corban University, an NAIA program in Salem, Ore.

COLLEGE SOCCER: Sequim senior Eli Gish signs to play for Corban University

Way back at the beginning of his club soccer career with Storm King, Sequim senior Eli Gish was placed on the club’s reserve… Continue reading

Sequim senior Eli Gish has signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Corban University, an NAIA program in Salem, Ore.
Sequim’s Greta Christianson, center, attempts to reach second as Port Angeles’ Jada Cargo waits to make the tag while umpire Scott Ramsey looks on in a May 2019 playoff game at Billy Whiteshoes Memorial Park west of Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe /Peninsula Daily News)

PREPS: WIAA adds traditional spring and winter sports to timeline

Some of the guess work surrounding the potential return of prep athletics was cleared away when the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association approved… Continue reading

Sequim’s Greta Christianson, center, attempts to reach second as Port Angeles’ Jada Cargo waits to make the tag while umpire Scott Ramsey looks on in a May 2019 playoff game at Billy Whiteshoes Memorial Park west of Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe /Peninsula Daily News)
Pierre LaBossiere

COLUMN: Optimism over the return of prep sports is served with a side of caution

It’s hard to believe, but we’re slowly creeping up on an entire year without prep or juco sports on the North Olympic Peninsula. By the… Continue reading

Pierre LaBossiere
Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Port Angeles, Sequim and North Kitsap boys runners are packed together at the start of Wednesday's cross country meet at Robin Hill County Park.

PREP SPORTS: Path to participation exists for preps

A pathway to participation exists for prep athletes this school year after recent changes to the… Continue reading

Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Port Angeles, Sequim and North Kitsap boys runners are packed together at the start of Wednesday's cross country meet at Robin Hill County Park.

PREPS: WIAA revises prep sport seasons, fall sports on deck

Fall sports would be the first to return under an amended prep sports schedule announced by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association that… Continue reading

Port Angeles' Kennedy Bruch, center, returns the volleyball between the hands of Sequim's Kendall Hastings, left, and Kali Wiker during an October 2019 match in Sequim. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Port Angeles Roughriders’ Bruch driven to succeed

Aside from an understandable “mopey” period at its outset, Kennedy Bruch has kept to a strict schedule of workouts and training during… Continue reading

Port Angeles' Kennedy Bruch, center, returns the volleyball between the hands of Sequim's Kendall Hastings, left, and Kali Wiker during an October 2019 match in Sequim. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim's Riley Pyeatt races in the preliminaries of the 200 meters at the Class 2A state track and field championships in Tacoma in May 2019. Pyeatt placed fifth in the 400-meter race. Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group

PREPS: Sequim runner Riley Pyeatt in the midst of a metamorphosis

With her focus centered on running at the collegiate level, Sequim junior Riley Pyeatt has stuck to a workout and training regimen consistently… Continue reading

Sequim's Riley Pyeatt races in the preliminaries of the 200 meters at the Class 2A state track and field championships in Tacoma in May 2019. Pyeatt placed fifth in the 400-meter race. Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Forks' Trey Baysinger (55) tackles Montesano quarterback Sam Winter during a 2019 contest at Spartan Stadium. (Lonnie Archibald/For Peninsula Daily News)

PREP SPORTS: Forks’ Trey Baysinger building up skills during pandemic

A stabilizing force on the football field, basketball court and baseball diamond for Forks, Spartans’ senior Trey Baysinger has found comfort in his… Continue reading

Forks' Trey Baysinger (55) tackles Montesano quarterback Sam Winter during a 2019 contest at Spartan Stadium. (Lonnie Archibald/For Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles’ Dru Clark, center, drives down the court surrounded by Lakewood’s Shae Dixon, left, and Andrew Molloy during a 2019 game in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

PREPS: Port Angeles senior Dru Clark dedicated to his craft

When a coach describes an athlete as possessing “an unbelievable commitment to personal improvement” and says with absolute confidence that that player… Continue reading

Port Angeles’ Dru Clark, center, drives down the court surrounded by Lakewood’s Shae Dixon, left, and Andrew Molloy during a 2019 game in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

PREPS: Shining a light on local athletes

THE WINTER SOLSTICE and the snowfall received Monday in parts of the North Olympic Peninsula had me thinking about the passage of time as we… Continue reading

Port Angeles' Myra Walker, right, grabs a rebound from Sequim's LeeAnn Raney, left, and Hannah Wagner during a game last February at Port Angeles High School. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

WIAA pushes back prep seasons

The return of high school sports will be delayed by at least another month and all three prep seasons have been reduced… Continue reading

Port Angeles' Myra Walker, right, grabs a rebound from Sequim's LeeAnn Raney, left, and Hannah Wagner during a game last February at Port Angeles High School. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)