Sumner, Bonney Lake athletes spring into winter season

The Panthers wrestling team is looking to be the top school in the Tacoma Dome this year.

SUMNER

• Girls Gymnastics

The Spartans will open the 2018-19 season Dec. 13 with a four-team meet at Puyallup High School. Aside from the host Vikings, Sumner will compete against district rival Bonney Lake and the Rogers Rams.

Leading the way are returning veterans of the state meet Madison Blanco, Lindsy Hatch, Morgan Devine, Emma Potts and Taylor Holmes.

• Boys Wrestling

The Spartans are coming off successes of a season ago when two Sumner grapplers advanced to the Mat Classic finals and the team eventually took 13-place honors.

Competing a year ago and making their way to the state finals were CJ Richmond and Marcus. Taking sixth at state last year was Austin Cleland and Nathan Carnicle also earned a state berth. All were members of the junior class when they experienced the big Tacoma Dome meet.

The Spartans jump into league action tonight, Wednesday, when they head to Puyallup’s South Hill and challenge the Rogers Rams. That’s followed by a weekend road trip to Oregon; Sumner will participate in the Rose City Championships.

BONNEY LAKE

• Boys swim and dive

The team’s top returnee is Nicholas Schwendeman, who finished 13th in the 50-yard freestyle at last year’s Class 3A state championships.

The team kicked off the 2018-19 season will a loss at the hands of the always-tough Wilson High team. The Panthers return to action Thursday afternoon, traveling to Tacoma to take on Stadium.

• Girls Gymnastics

Coach Helen Balabanis has welcomed a roster of 19 athletes to the Panther program.

Turning out are seniors Brady Hagen, Samantha Mitchell and Madison Webley; juniors Angelina Borrelli, Madelyn Mitchell, Owen Rice, Wendy Roush and Jessica Snyder; sophomores Serena Chun, Lindsey Lewis and Lily Loiacono; and freshmen Emily Beaty, Emma Dittman, Kayleigh Dorman, Jordan Eldredge, Kiersten Jones, Madison Strong, McKenzie Valdez and Journey Wilcoxsin.

A year ago, Chun was an all-around competitor at the state meet, tying for ninth place in the vault.

The Panthers begin the season Dec. 13 with a four-team meet at Puyallup High School. Aside from the host Vikings, they will compete against district rival Sumner and the Rogers Rams

• Boys Wrestling

The Panthers are looking for continued success, now one season removed from a second-placing showing at the Class 3A state championships.

A year ago, in the Tacoma Dome, the Bonney Lake team trailed only Mount Spokane in the team standings.

Bonney Lake received state championship efforts from freshman Yusief Lillie and junior Brenden Chaowanapibool and each is now a year older and boasts even greater experience.

Cody Coffee took third place as a junior and also earning a state trip last year as a junior was Orrin Brateng.

A major missing piece is Brandon Kaylor who graduated after joining an elite club of four-time state champions.

The Panthers jump into action this Thursday, hosting Pierce County League 3A foes Lincoln, Bethel and Wilson. Saturday, the team hosts a tournament on their home mats.