This year’s fall sports season was nothing short of exciting, from a young football team that showed large improvements throughout the season, a soccer team fighting until the end, and yet another record breaking year for our cross country team. Stats, awards, records, and more here on the complete recap of the fall sports season.
Tennis had a rough season this year only having four wins with a record of 2-10 in league play.
They had some standout players such as Otto Hulwen-Altman (‘27), Thomas Tsoukalas (‘26), Jay Rusko (‘27), Jaxon Angel (‘27), Charles Elwanger (‘26), and Eli Hoover (‘27) per Coach Mendro. Unfortunately, none of them made it past the first round of the league tournament.
“I feel like we could have played better,” said Rusko, a starter for the varsity tennis team. “I mean the teams we played weren’t that great” Rusko said.
Their four wins came from Mariner High school twice, Marysville-Pilchuck, and Meadowdale. Hoping for some improvements for next season, good luck next year Tennis!!
Volleyball went further than expected going off the youth of the team, with a record of 7-5 in league, 10-10 overall. They placed third in their conference earning them a spot in the District tournament, where they faced Mount Si High school.
They lost 3-1, which handed them their first loss in the double elimination tournament, as they headed then to Jaunita High school, beating the Ravens 3-0.
But, after the great high, came a great low as they faced 4 seed Kamiak High school, losing 3-1 ending the season there.
“I think we went into that last game knowing it was going to be a hard game,” said Lila Matter (’27), a varsity middle blocker who led the team in blocks with 24. “But we battled, took them to five sets. So we played really well” Matter said.
Outside hitter Emme Shaffer (‘26) was a leader in Kills Per Set (KPS) with 5.1, as well as Hitting Percentage at 0.245. She earned First Team for her second year in a row. Libero, Phoebe Potong (‘28) also earned First Team recognition as well as leading the team in receptions with 373, and Digs Per Set (DPS) with 5.1.
Audrey Marsh (‘26) earned Honorable Mentions for her great season as well, leading in Aces with 31, and Assists with 267. In total the team played their hearts out together, getting over the National average in Digs, Assisted Blocks, Serving percentage, and Receptions Per Match.
Plenty of young talent from the girls throughout this season, showing promising looks for the future of this program. Great work Eagles!!
Football had shorter than usual season. With early struggles moving the ball offensively and stopping the run defensively, the Eagles were bound to struggle.
But as the season progressed, they improved dramatically, showing promise for a hard fought season, they even kept an undefeated conference record for the majority of the year. Until facing Glacier Peak, and Lake Stevens who handed them their only 2 division losses, ending with a record of 4-2 in league, 4-6 overall.
In the round of 32 playoffs, the Eagles couldn’t seem to find that spark they needed, as they lost to Skyline High school 33-13.
“People took the losses to serious” said starting O-linemen Jacob Todd (’26), “I think we had a lot more potential then it showed” Todd said.
Plenty of star players around the team, like our Quarterback Kaleb Bartlett-Wood (‘26) earning 1280 yards throwing, with 404 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns passing.
Rushing wise, Dirci Ngondo (‘26) had 353 yards on the ground with 6 touchdowns and a 6.4 yards per carry. Our top 3 receivers consisted of Eli Rae (‘26) who had 335 yard receiving, and led in receptions with 28. He tied for second with Dylan Durfee (‘26) in receiving touchdowns with 3. Linkin Currie (‘27) led in receiving yards with 446, and touchdowns with 6.
On the flip side, star studded Tre Haines (‘26) led in tackles with a total of 108, 73 of which were solo. Tanner Van Dongen (‘27) and Miles Ecker (‘26) stood out at the D-line, Ecker earning 2 sacks and Van Dongen earning 9 tackles for loss (TFL).
Ngondo, Currie, and Rae all tied for a lead on Pass Break-ups with 3, but Rae took the cake with 2 interceptions on the year. In all, the team showed out for their town, putting in the work, persevering over adversity as best they could. Great job boys!!
Cross country once again showed why they run the Northwest, with records breaking left and right, numerous meets with multiple runners in the top 10, and even a state champion.
For the girls team, they took second place in the South Whidbey Invite as well as winning the WESCO League championship for the seventh straight year in a row.
Standouts like Annabelle Klein (‘27) can’t go unrecognized, winning the individual WESCO league championship, which is only the third person to ever do so in school history. Records don’t stop their for her, as she also was the first female Eagle to ever reach the state podium at 15th place. She also set the school record for 5,000 Meter at 18:19. Klein won 1st Team All WESCO, as well as her fellow teammates like Iylee Belisle (‘28) and Addy Smith (‘28).
“We were very close together, a lot of team bonding activities throughout the summer, which was really great” said Belisle. “And I think overall we’re proud of each other and proud of ourselves, and so that’s all that really matters” Belisle said.
For the boys team, Chase Koenigs (‘28) reached the top 5 in eight different meets, five of which were first place. He obviously took home a First Team All-WESCO award.
Last but certainly not least, Ramon Little (‘27) not only won the Ambulatory State Championship, he did it in 12:29 seconds, which is a course record. Beating out one of the top runners in the state who had won the year prior.
“A lot of seniors and juniors had to step up, and it was really a great opportunity for us to grow as a team” said Blake Mcginnis (’26), a varsity cross country runner.
All in all, nothing to be ashamed of this year, our cross country team was definitely the one of our best contributors to the school history books this year, as well as bringing in all the hardware.
The girls soccer team fought hard this year, earning a fourth place spot in the division with a 4-6-2 record, 4-10-2 overall.
The girls had plenty of tough matchups, competing against some of the top teams in the state, but evidently the close calls just couldn’t fall their way. They just missed the district playoffs this year, in a fight to the finish with Glacier Peak High school.
“We wanted to go a little further, but it didn’t work out that way sadly” said Finley Walker (’28), a MID for the girls varsity team. “But I think everyone was pretty happy with just how the whole team came together and supported each other” Walker said.
Forward Haley Wagester (‘27), MID Peach Hunter (‘27), and Defender Delaney Henry (‘26) all contributed to 15 of their 29 points scored all year, with five a piece. Hunter also led in assists with 4, but a three way tie for second between MID Kinley Koontz (‘29), MID Finley Walker, and Forward Mikayla Ventura (‘28) with 3 assists each.
Our Goalkeeper Elllie Reed (‘29) had 3 shut outs defending the net as well. Henry earned 1st Team All-WESCO at defender, with Isabel Behrman (‘26) and Hunter getting 2nd Team All-WESCO at their respective positions.
A tough way to end the season right on the cusp of the playoffs, but evidently it was not one to be ashamed of.
That’s all for this year’s fall sports, and one that did not disappoint. Thank you to our seniors for one last dance in their Autumn sports, thank you to the town of Arlington for showing up and supporting our athletes, and thank you Eagle students for packing the student section as much as possible. This was one to put in the history books, as another great fall season.
