Fall Sports Wrap

Originally Published in the November 26th Print Publication

Football

The North Creek boys varsity football team moved to tier 4 this season, but with a record of 5-3 in the regular season, they made it to the playoffs. They went on to conquer Hazen in the first round of playoffs, but ultimately lost in the second round to the 10-1 Arlington Eagles.

“It was very exciting, especially to play this last year with people I’ve been playing with for the last four years,” said Miles Ledet, the senior cornerback. Despite being moved tiers the team still showed up for each other to create a memorable senior year for some players.

One of these memories will include the first playoff win against Hazen. The Jaguars defeated the Highlanders by a score of 21-14. “I think we really stayed in it. The first half was rough,” said Brody Madsen, the junior center. Even with the Jaguars putting up zero points in the first half and having multiple injuries, they battled back in the second half to get the win overall. “There are freshmen on varsity and they made big plays that definitely got everyone excited,” said Ledet.

In round 2 the Jaguars faced the Arlington Eagles. Ultimately resulting in a loss, the final score being 56-35. “We came in knowing we needed to play as hard as we can,” said Ledet. Arlington is the sixth ranked team in Washington State.

This was the seniors last high school game, some of them will be continuing their football career while others won’t. “It’s going to be our last time playing with each other, ” said Madsen.

Tennis

As the boys tennis season has come to an end, North Creek’s team has shined with an undefeated record in the KingCo league this year. The team’s success isn’t a surprise to anyone that remotely knows the team.

“We’ve won every game we’ve played so far, and we’re undefeated in KingCo,” said Aman Kolli, one of the JV captains. “We’ve bageled people quite a bit, which means we won 7-0,” said Kolli.

This year was not the only year the NCHS Boys Tennis team has remained undefeated. “We were undefeated last year and the year before that too,” Kolli added.

Lokesh Sanagapalli, another JV captain, shared a similar perspective on the team’s performance this year. “We haven’t lost a single game so far this season, and almost every game has been a blowout,” Sanagapalli said. Despite the legacy left behind by previous seniors, Sanagapalli does not feel that their absence has messed with the team’s game.

Ritvik Bansal, a varsity player, felt that the smaller size of this year’s tennis squad has actually helped the players bond more with each other. “Everyone’s getting to know each other, so it’s pretty good,” Bansal said.

While the North Creek boys tennis team has had success, almost all players recognized that there is always room for improvement. “While we are pretty technical players, learning more ways to attack in the game would be good for success,” Kaustubh Maheshwari, a senior on the varsity team, said.

While the North Creek boys tennis team has had success, almost all players recognized that there is always room for improvement. Kaustubh Maheshwari, a senior on the varsity team, said, “While we are pretty technical players, learning more ways to attack in the game would be good for success.” Kolli said, “We just have a really big team, so if we could cut it down, it would be nice,” while Ritvik gave more skillful feedback saying, “ We don’t have diversity in our shots, and that’s something the coach has been talking to us about recently.”

As the season has come to an end, it’s clear that North Creek’s boys’ tennis team isn’t just playing to win- they’re building a legacy of culture and excellence. A legacy of culture and excellence that we hope to see continue at NCHS. The future of NCHS Boys tennis is bright.

It’s not about who leaves, it’s about the legacy they leave behind with them.

Volleyball

With a record of 3-18, this year presented unique challenges for the girls varsity volleyball team. They navigated through the season without the seasoned leadership and skills of several now-graduated starting players. Through each practice and match, remaining athletes discovered the true essence of teamwork, resilience, and growth. “I think that we have realized that it is a team sport and we just need to have fun when we play, even though we haven’t won as many games this season, as long as we have fun and keep it positive, it’s worth it in the end,” senior Jocelyn Gresier said.

The girls emphasized their love for eachother to create better connections on and off the court “I love my teammates. They are so sweet, funny, and inspirational. They have inspired me to keep fighting no matter what,” sophomore Sydney Mitchell said.

Leaning on each other, celebrating small victories, and supporting one another during tough moments. “We found comfort in each other, practiced hard every day, and at the end, we found a rhythm,” sophomore Sydney Mitchell said.

Junior Emmy Summerford agrees. “You have to actually work as a team to be able to play,” she said.