Will Enumclaw softball, baseball make a return to state? Here’s a look at this year’s spring teams
Published 10:15 am Monday, March 16, 2026
The sounds of spring are upon us, both at Enumclaw and White River high schools. Athletes have been turning out since the afternoon of March 2 and early-season action is underway.
Despite less-than-perfect weather, baseball and softball players have been honing their hitting, pitching and defensive skills; soccer teams have been active on the pitch, tennis players have worked their serve-and-volley magic on prep courts and lacrosse teams have been polishing their ever-growing sport. Track and field athletes have been sprinting, hurdling and throwing the javelin, and fine-tuning all other facets of a spring meet. And, finally, water polo athletes have been splashing their way around the Enumclaw Aquatic Center.
Here’s a look at some of the local programs as they head into the spring season, their second year since jumping from the Class 2A ranks into the North Puget Sound League 3A.
ENUMCLAW BASEBALL
It’s a new world on the EHS diamond, where Jamey Ingersoll has taken the head coaching reins. He fills the void left by the retirement of Eric Fiedler.
A major task for Ingersoll is to fill the space left by Cooper Markham, who graduated and took his baseball skills to the collegiate level.
The Hornets were slated to open league play earlier this week at Kent-Meridian (Monday on the road, Tuesday at home) and continue NPSL 3A competition March 20 with a trip to Auburn Riverside.
Ingersoll had his first in-game look at this year’s team March 14 when his Hornets hit the road to take on Olympic High. The results was largely positive as the EHS crew returned home on the winning end of an 11-8 score.
The victory produced individual highlights from Kannius Alva, who had three hits, drove in four runs, scored a run and stole a base; Graham Wagner, who drove in a run and had three stolen bases; and Hunter Anderson, who reached base three times, scored twice and stole two bases.
Now a senior, Graham was a second team, all-league performer a season ago.
The Hornets are coming off an impressive 2025 season which ended with a 19-6 record, a 13-3 mark in league play and a quarterfinal appearance in the Class 3A state tournament.
WHITE RIVER BASEBALL
The word from the White River diamond is upbeat, with plenty of returning players with varsity experience and a proven starter on the mound.
Coach Nate Barnett reports he has “a solid group of kids returning in our infield from last year. Guys like Jaxson Whiting, Jackson Rock, Lucas Brazier, Kolton Jensen will contribute to our defense well.”
Pitching is always a prime consideration and the Hornets can turn to junior Kolton Jensen. A season ago he was a first team, all-NPSL 3A selection.
On the offensive side White River will be looking to manufacture runs from a “small ball” perspective.
“We will need to be scrappy as we don’t have a lot of big guys,” Barnett reported. “We work on hitting the ball the other way, moving runners, and being aggressive on the bases.”
What is the anticipated result?
“As always, we should put up a good fight in this league,” the coach said. “Tough to say where we will end up as the league has lost a lot of big arms on the mound since last season, but there are a few good pitchers floating around out there.”
White River will be looking to improve from last season’s 6-9 mark in league play (10-11 overall).
The spring started on a high note March 12 when the Hornets traveled to Fife and notched a 6-1, nonleague victory over the Trojans. Rock led the way by smacking a double, driving in a run and scoring once. The team was slated to open league play earlier this week against Thomas Jefferson (Monday at home, Tuesday on the road) before hitting the road Friday for a nonleague contest against Kentwood.
ENUMCLAW SOFTBALL
Quinn Haney, last season’s NPSL 3A Coach of the Year, headed into the 2026 campaign needing to rebuild a roster hit hard by graduation.
The defending league champions had their first look at this year’s league competition Monday when they hosted neighboring White River and will travel today (Wednesday) to challenge Thomas Jefferson High. Friday brings a 7 p.m. home game against Federal Way.
The Hornets are coming off a remarkable 2025 season that produced an undefeated run through the NPSL 3A season, a district championship, an appearance in the Class 3A state tournament and, in the end, a 23-4 record.
Returning from that dominant squad is senior Ava Lim, who was a first team, all-league selection a season ago.
WHITE RIVER SOFTBALL
Coach Brandon Walker and his Hornet squad kicked off the NPSL 3A campaign – weather permitting – with a Monday game at Enumclaw. The fastpitch version of the Battle of the Bridge followed a season-opening, 7-5 loss to Fife on March 12.
The Buckley crew will look to build on the momentum created by last year’s team, which went 12-4 in league play, finished in third place, participated in the district tournament and fell one victory shy of making a state Class 3A appearance.
This year’s Hornets will take the field having lost two key players to graduation. Earning first team all-league honors a season ago were infielder Kennedy Selander and pitcher/infielder Elliotte Kajita.
Returning for her junior season is infielder McKenna Charlton, who picked up second team all-league accolades last year. Other familiar names include sophomores Laken Elvig and Emmery Thompson, who had two hits each during the team’s season opener against Fife. Newcomer Danika Scott made a splash during the first game of her freshman season, collecting three hits and driving in a run at Fife.
ENUMCLAW TRACK AND FIELD
“The Enumclaw Hornet track and field team is off to a great start! While we are in a rebuilding year we have about 95 athletes who are working hard and having fun.”
That’s the early-season report from coach Jenelle Murrell who will see her squad in action for the first time tomorrow (Thursday) when the team hosts Kentlake High. The NPSL 3A meet begins at 3:30 p.m.at Tim Tubbs Track on the EHS campus.
Among the track and field athletes returning and looking strong this spring, Murrell reported, are (on the boys side) Cole Olson, Spencer Ballard, Elliott Cheney, Kaden Kranz, Jacob Stutzman, Ellis Behrens, Teagin Clark, John Blair, Ian Burrow, JT Elliott, David Gaik, Titus Tuck and Sonny Borders.
On the girls squad, the coach points to Zoey Roth, Isabella Pohlman, Lillian Haas, Emily Haas, Avery Marecle, Senna Burt, Julia Michael, Lilia Cano, Stella Grant, Olivia Mavity, Lucy Kilcup and Sydney Poe.
Newcomers that can make an impact, she said, include Liam Harding and Hudson Kelsey.
Proven talent is provided by Olson, a senior, who was an all-NPSL 3A sprinter a season ago, earning honors in both the 200-meter and 100-meter races (first team and second team, respectively). Another first-team selection was now-junior Cheney who was a honored for his performances at 3,200 meters. Netting second-team honors a season ago was Behrens, senior, at 3,200 meters.
Among the girls, Burt was a first team, all-league high jumper last season and Lillian Haas was a second team pick at 800 meters.
WHITE RIVER TRACK AND FIELD
Longtime White River coach Dameon Marlow may have seen a lot of talent departing due to graduation, but there’s still a healthy crop of proven veterans ready for the spring season.
He’ll get a first look at his squad, both boys and girls, tomorrow (Thursday) when the Hornets travel to take on Thomas Jefferson High. The NPSL 3A dual meet begins at 3:30 p.m.
Among the key returnees on the boys team, the coach mentions Cannon Ross in distance events, Hunter Maris in the sprints, Kaden Pierce in the shot put and discus, Marcus Marlow in the pole vault and Jorden Goethals in the high jump.
Notable veterans on the girls side include senior hurdler Trista Turgeon, who last year set a school record in the 100-meter event. Also highlighted are Paeton Poelman and Naomi Carthum in the distance races, Belle Knauss in the pole vault, and Kaijah Young in the shot put, discus and javelin. Adding to the strength in the javelin, the coach has Addisyn Vanous, Jayna Vain and Hannah Dehnert.
Newcomers to watch for, Marlow said, include Lily Banks in the sprints and Maddi Larson and Zoie Klimkiewicz in the distance races.
“We have a lot of new faces out and we are looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish this year,” Marlow said.
ENUMCLAW BOYS SOCCER
With a solid group of returning players and a couple of promising newcomers, coach Shawn Tobius envisions a successful spring season.
“I expect us to build on top of what we did last year and also go further than we did,” the veteran coach said in the days before the launch of a new campaign.
Last year’s Hornets advanced as far as the district tournament where a loss to Gig Harbor left the team with a final season record of 9-7-3. That included an 8-5-3 tally in North Puget Sound League 3A play.
Key returnees from that squad include Diego Fregoso, Junior Gorobets and Nery Ruiz. Newcomers that could help the team are Mark Popovych and Ben Baker.
The 2026 season started on a high note the evening of March 11 when the Hornets took to the road and blanked NPSL 3A foe Federal Way High 4-0. Ruiz scored three goals during the victory, Fregoso added another, and Gavin Schneider posted the shutout in goal.
The EHS squad traveled last night (Tuesday) to take on Decatur High and sees its first home action Thursday against Auburn M ountainview. The NPSL 3A contest begins at 7 p.m. at the Enumclaw Expo Center.
WHITE RIVER BOYS SOCCER
Second-year coach Lee Sinkovich makes one thing perfectly clear: his squad appreciates last year’s accomplishments but is on the hunt for even more.
“Our goal every season is to challenge for the league title,” the coach said in a preseason report. “Last season was our first back in 3A and finishing in third place in league, three points out of second place and a Top 8 seed to districts was a great first step back.
“While finishing in third behind Kent-Meridian and eventual final four participant in state Auburn Mountainview was a great accomplishment, we know we can achieve more.”
Sinkovich has a solid group taking the pitch. Included are midfielder Max Argo, a first team all-league selection a season ago; goalkeeper Waylon Sinkovic, a second team pick; midfielder Bryan Rodriguez-Pena, a four-year member of the varsity and one of this season’s captains; and center back Fabian Contraeras, another team captain.
A new varsity addition is freshman Emmanuel Alvarez. “By the end of the season I believe he will be a contributor in our midfield,” the coach noted.
The Hornet strength this season, Sinkovich said, “will continue to be our ability to put teams under pressure with a high press which requires everyone on the field working together as one to be successful.” The good news, he added, is that the squad has proved adept at the system.
“We want to be able to link up play through our midfield with the help of Max Argo and Brohdy Bockness, two very intelligent, creative soccer players. Ivan Floyd and Coco Delores will lead our forwards group and offer two differing profiles as forwards and work great together.”
Next up on the White River schedule is a Thursday game against Thomas Jefferson High. The NPSL 3A contest begins at 7:30 p.m. at Federal Way Memorial Field.
ENUMCLAW GIRLS TENNIS
Veteran coach Will Stuenkel reports having “some great varsity returners this year.” That list includes seniors Haley Dumontet and Audrey Firnkoess; they teamed up in doubles play last year, advanced deep into the district tournament and fell just one victory shy of a berth in the Class 3A state championships. Other seniors on the 2026 roster include Marlene Hernandez, Molly MIchael and Ashley Diaz.
They will be joined by returning juniors Autumn Vogel (another district tourney veteran) and Lucy Means.
“We have had a great turnout this year and are hoping for a strong league season and to take some players to the district tournament,” Stuenkel reported. “With such an experienced team and great leadership it should be a fun season.”
Weather is always a factor during the spring season but, if the rain stays away, the Hornet squad will host a pair of North Puget Sound League 3A foes this week: Decatur High today (Wednesday) and Kentlake on Thursday. Both are set to begin at 3:30 p.m. on the EHS campus courts
WHITE RIVER GIRLS TENNIS
The Hornets immediately jump into North Puget Sound League 3A play, with matches slated for today (Wednesday) and Thursday.
If the weather cooperates, coach Brad Pratt and his troops will first travel to the Saghalie Middle School courts in Federal Way to take on Todd Beamer High, then return home for a Thursday match against Thomas Jefferson.
The team’s brightest spot continues to be Cydnee Chapin who has qualified for state tournament play during both of her high school seasons. As a freshman she placed sixth during the 2024 Class 2A tourney and she advanced to state again a year ago after White River jumped to the larger 3A ranks.
Other returning varsity veterans include seniors Elliott Courtney, Alexandra Dinger and Ella Stone, along with juniors Darby Miller and Charlotte Ringel.
ENUMCLAW LACROSSE
The EHS program launched its 2026 season Monday night with a home game against Rogers High of Puyallup and continues play with a Friday trip to Gig Harbor.
The squad will return to the familiar turf at the Enumclaw Expo Center on Monday, March 23. The contest against Emerald Ridge, another Puyallup high school, begins at 7 p.m.
Success is still a recent memory in Enumclaw lacrosse circles. The team, under coach David Pugh, captured the state Class 1A/2A championship in both 2023 and 2024.
