[Article by contributing writer Rhett Workman of Snoqualmie Valley Sports Journal]
As all of you continue to dig out from the relentless snow the Valley received over the past few days, here is a look at where Mount Si High School sports stands with all the cancellations and changes thanks to this very wintry weather.
Boys’ Basketball: All this snow has not helped Mount Si’s boys basketball team, who hasn’t played a game in over a week – and has had little to no practice time in that span thanks to all the school closures in the Snoqualmie Valley School District. They are tentatively set to host – yes, host at Mount Si High School – their winner-to-state playoff game against either Skyline or Mariner High Schools in the Wes-King bi-district tournament Friday – provided there’s no more snowy weather. This was the game that was supposed to be last weekend at Bothell High School, but was shifted back due to the big storm that preceded this one. There has been chatter on Twitter suggesting the tournament needs to be done by next Monday so there’s a chance that this whole event – if we keep getting more snow – will get completely scrubbed. Were that to happen, Mount Si would likely advance to regionals on the basis of their top seeding from Kingco and a strong state Ratings Percentage Index computer ranking, which is used to seed the regionals.
Girls’ Basketball: Mount Si’s girls finished their season last Thursday with a loss to Inglemoor in the first round of the Wes-King tournament. Their season ended at 11-12, but many around the program will argue that it could have been much better if it weren’t for all the injuries to key players. A total of three players – Sela Heide, Lauren Glazier and Carly Britton – missed time due to concussions and two others – Izzy Smith and Nitika Kumar – had their seasons end early due to knee injuries. And that doesn’t account for other players and their normal bumps and bruises. This would include sophomore Gwen Aasland, who dealt with some ankle issues and missed the district qualifying game with Redmond because of that. So the goal for the Wildcats in the near term will be to recover and heal from their injuries, then have a strong offseason schedule.
Wrestling: Nine wrestlers advanced to the state Mat Classic meet representing Mount Si after last weekend’s regionals were scrubbed thanks to this weather. They included Mark Marum and Tryon Kaess (106 lbs.), Braedon Haynie (126), Brody Belaire (138), Jaeden Durham (145), Luke Harper (152), Spencer Marenco (160), Sage Phelps (170) and Tate Stedman (195). All nine will start competition Friday morning at 9:00am inside the Tacoma Dome, where the meet is held. The meet will run through Saturday. Look for Marum, Kaess and Marenco to be the best chances for Mount Si to win individual titles, although with the format being what it is this year with 32 entrants, anything can happen.
Gymnastics: The Wes-King bi-district meet scheduled for Bothell’s North Creek High School last Saturday too was called off because of the bad weather, leaving Mount Si and the rest of the conference in limbo as to whether they’ll make it up or not. An announcement perhaps will come soon about that once everyone gets back in their school buildings following the school closures of early this week. Again, it’s expected Mount Si will have a couple of girls, including senior Shelby Johnson, very much in contention for the all-around title in the meet should it take place.
A lot going on, and this has been a look at Mount Si High School sports this week in Living Snoqualmie!
