It was a banner year for Cheney High School athletics, which saw several athletes head to state and even more named to All-League GNL teams. The Blackhawk spirit was in full force this year, with fall teams breaking long-held school and team records.
Girls swim makes splash at state
The Cheney girls swim team gave an impressive performance at the state championships in Federal Way in November, bringing home 12th place overall and smashing a 28-year-old school record in the process.
The team earned their spot out of 30 schools competing, and their ninth-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay broke a Cheney record dating back to 1990. The relay team, comprised of freshman Janie Richards, freshman Jade Gere, junior Echo Mecklenburg and senior Courtney Hansen, completed the swim in 1 minute, 58:53 seconds.
Richards broke the team record for the 100-backstroke twice in one season, the first time at an Oct. 9 meet against Selah in 1:03:24 and the second at state in 1:00:84. Richards shaved nearly 4 full seconds off of the team record in that event over the course of the season.
Senior Juliette Richards had what head coach Jennifer Hochwalt called a “huge, huge swim,” getting into the 500-freestyle on a wild card and swimming it in 5:43:87. She placed 14th, but dropped a full 10 seconds off the team record for that event.
Girls soccer earns place in championship match
Cheney’s varsity girls soccer team finished their regular season second in the Great Northern League, securing their spot in the postseason with a 4-0 victory over West Valley on Oct. 18 in one of their best games of the season.
The Lady Blackhawks dominated both Pullman and Clarkton in the District 7 2A playoffs, making their way to the championship match under the lights on Oct. 30. It was a back and forth battle in the first half, but Cheney eventually succumbed to the East Valley Knights powerful defense.
More than two dozen athletes named to All-league GNL
Twenty-seven Cheney High School athletes were named to various fall sports all-league teams. Nineteen were All-Great Northern League selections, with eight swimmers being named to All-GNL/Central Washington Athletic Conference first and second teams.
Girls soccer
First team: Kaitlin Teeters (junior), Carla Thorson (senior)
Second team: Sydney Eaton (senior), Mackenzie Huotari (junior), Katarina Smith (junior)
Girls swimming
First team: Janie Richards (100 backstroke, 200 medley relay), Jade Gere (100 breastroke, 200 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay), Echo Mecklenberg (200 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay), Courtney Hanson (200 medley relay), Juliette Richards (400 freestyle relay), Izzy Williams (400 freestyle relay)
Second team: Jade Gere (100 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay), Izzy Williams (200 individual medley, 200 freestyle), Courtney Hanson (50 freestyle), Janie Richards (200 freestyle relay), Abby Wood (200 freestyle relay)
Volleyball
First team: Shelby Draper (junior, middle blocker)
Second team: Avery Stark (sophomore, outside hitter)
Shannen Talbot can be reached at [email protected].
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