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SHS PREVIEWS 10A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015 Seaside boys could be most improved team By GARY HENLEY The Daily Astorian The record in league play last year may not have been impressive (one win, three losses, four ties). But in soccer, it was good enough for third place in the league standings and a trip to the playoffs for the Seaside boys soccer team. And with five all-league returners, the Gulls, for one, believe they could be on the verge of a league title. Why not them? “We finished third last year with mainly sopho- mores and freshmen,” said head coach John Chapman. “So we’re a year older and we haven’t really lost any- thing. We expect to compete with anybody.” The Gulls played Henley in the recent Astoria sum- mer tournament, and lost to the 4A semifinalist Hornets, 2-1. “And (the Hornets) had their full squad there,” Chapman said. “We’re op- timistic, for sure. We get to play the state champi- ons again in the preseason, North Marion, so that’s go- ing to be a good marker for where we’re at.” THE SEAGULLS The lineup is pretty much set, Chapman said. Here’s how most of it shakes out: Colton Carter (So,), Hunter Thompson (Jr.) and Taylor Barnes (Sr.) in the middle, with Will Garvin (Jr.), Raidon Bowles (Sr.), Ju- neau Meyer (Jr.) and Rafi Sibony (So.) on the back line and like- ly Jarrett Coughlin (Sr.) in goal. In addition, Brent Walsh (Jr.), Henry Chapman (So.), Irving Contreras (Fr.) and Dylan Wallis (Jr.) will be on the field, as well. Barnes, Bowles, Carter, Garvin and Thompson were all selected all-league last season. “Once we get every- body there, we’re looking at a good squad of 14 or 15 guys,” Chapman said. “Where is our strength? We’re pretty strong, all over. We’ve built and developed more into our attacking play. We’re a running and passing team.” THE COWAPA “You never know what Valley Catholic’s going to bring aboard,” Chapman said. “Tillamook I think we can handle, Astoria we’re going to handle … but no- body is being taken lightly. You can’t take Scappoose lightly, but they lost some good players, too. They lost their goalkeeper and three of their main guys in the mid- dle of the field.” The Cowapa itself, mean- while, is down to five teams, as Banks dropped its varsity schedule for 2015. Seaside has picked up replacement nonleague games with Gladstone and Molalla. Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian Seaside’s Colton Carter practices a free kick during soccer practice. SEASIDE BOYS SOCCER Coach: John Chapman, 3rd year 2014: 4-7-7 (1-3-4 Cowapa) Playoffs: Lost Regional Play-in at Phoenix (1-3) All-League Loss: Marshall Ferre All-League Returners: Taylor Barnes, Sr.; Raiden Bowles, Sr.; Colton Carter, So.; William Garvin, Jr.; Hunter Thompson, Jr. Even with nine seniors, Seaside cross country Lady Gulls rebuilding fully loaded for 2015 By GARY HENLEY The Daily Astorian By GARY HENLEY The Daily Astorian Girls soccer was just one of several sports that end- ed with a Cowapa League school winning a state cham- pionship last season. The “Conference of Champions” dominated 4A girls soccer, with three teams advancing to the quar- terfinals (Banks, Scappoose and Valley Catholic), with the Valiants winning the state title. The same three teams will likely battle for a state title this season, making it dif- ficult for the rest (Astoria, Seaside, Tillamook) to have much success in league play. Despite the unexpected loss of a couple all-league players, Seaside — which was one penalty kick away from making the state play- offs a year ago — will still be a challenger for a top three spot in the Cowapa League. “We’ve got a ways to go,” said Matt Johnson, in his second year as coach. “We have some big problems to solve. We lost a lot of se- niors, and they were good leaders, too.” They were young last year, and Seaside cross country is back with more youth this season, as the Gulls line up at the starting line of the 2015 season. The Seaside boys, at least, have a little expe- rience on the roster, with eight seniors, but only three with prior experi- ence. Seaside’s top run- ners last year were soph- omore Jackson Januik (sixth place in the Cowa- pa League Championship meet), freshman Rafi Si- bony (eighth) and sopho- more Bradley Rznewnicki (ninth). The trio helped the Gulls to a fourth place fin- ish in the team standings. All three return, along with seniors Colin Van- Nortwick and Jack Whittle. “Jack Whittle will give us everything he has,” said Seaside coach Neil Bran- son. “We have great lead- ership with Jack and Colin. “As far as the boys, there’s some horsepower there, with Hunter, Colin, Rafi and Jackson.” For the 2015 Seaside girls: Six seniors, but none with prior varsity experi- ence. Branson isn’t worried. “Josie (Smith) and Ka- tie Zagata will get after THE GULLS The Gulls currently have nine seniors on the varsity roster, to go with two ju- niors, two sophomores and four freshmen. Seaside lost three all- league players to gradua- tion: Brianna Babbitt, Alli Utti and goalkeeper Allison Bussert. All-leaguers Maddi Utti and Sydney Villegas would have been returning juniors, but Utti is playing volley- ball, and Villegas is running cross country. “I’ll miss ’em, whether they graduated or they’re trying another sport,” John- son said. The more immediate con- cern: “We have to solve the keeper problem,” he said. “When you have someone Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian With teammate Tania Martinez trailing, Seaside’s Corrie Falleur delivers a shot during soccer practice. SEASIDE GIRLS SOCCER Coach: Matt Johnson, 2nd year 2014: 5-6-4 (3-4-3 Cowapa) Playoffs: Lost Regional Play-in at North Bend, 1-2 (3-4 PK’s) All-League Losses: Brianna Babbitt, Allison Bussert (GK), Alli Utti; Maddi Utti, Jr. (volleyball); Sydney Ville- gas, Jr. (cross country). All-League Returner: Whitney Westerholm, Sr. like Allison, it was fun to have coaches come up to you after a game and say ‘Wow, what a keeper!’” To help find and devel- op a goalkeeper, Johnson has brought two coaches on staff to help, including for- mer coach Dave Rouse and former Seaside keeper Bec- ca Lent. Former Gull Josh Garhofer is also assisting Johnson. One definite bright spot is senior Whitney Westerholm, who “can play anywhere,” Johnson said. “She’s a hard-working kid. Bren- da Lopez (Sr.) is vocal and willing to take on challenges and lead by example; Alie Zagata (Sr.) has had a strong camp; Sophie Trevino (Sr.) will be a good player for us; and Morgan Brown is a re- turning junior.” Elsewhere, “Lizzy Barnes (Jr.) is experienced. She will have to be more vocal and get the younger kids where they need to be.” Sophomore Bryre Babbitt started as a freshman, and is “having a great camp,” Johnson said. “We have some freshmen who look like they’re going to step right in. I’m just getting to know the names and faces.” THE COWAPA Johnson expects Scap- poose and Valley Catholic to be strong — so strong that the rest of the Cowapa League benefits in the RPI rankings by playing the In- dians and the Valiants, who have both won state cham- pionships over the last two years. “They both have a good tradition,” he said. “The Astoria girls have been working hard and they look good. They’ll have a good team and I expect them to be tough.” Girls Lizzy Barnes, Jr. Gabby Bergman, Fr. Brittany Carino, So. Caydn Carr, Jr. Clarisse Coventry, Sr. Paige Forrest, Jr. Kimber Hill, So. Kara Ipson, Jr. Sarah Jacobs, Jr., Faythe Koontz, So. Caroline Kotson, Jr. Bridgette Malone, Sr. Morgan Matthews, Sr. Mikayla Montez, Sr. Claire Ogilvie, Sr. Alison Rodriguez, Fr. Ana Maria Rojas-Mora, Fr. Haley Rollins, Fr. Myranda Schultz, So. Anesha Smart, So. Josie Smith, Jr. Ryanne Sunnell, So. Lucy Swenson, Sr. xSam Thornton, So. Sydney Villegas, Jr. Ariana Watson, Jr. Maggie Wilski, Jr. it, and Sydney Villegas (played soccer last season) is a worker,” he said. “The beauty of having Katie there is that she will make Josie a better runner and competitor. Lucy Swenson can also have an impact.” A large turnout could also make a difference, come October. “We’re gunning for 40 runners,” Branson said in the preseason. “We’ve got numbers, talent, and the Katie Zagata, Fr. Boys Attikin Babb, Jr. Jacob Bassett, Sr. Matthew Carpenter, Fr. Colton Carter, So. Bay Cartier, Sr. Isaiah Collins, So. Sam Henderson, Fr. Mizack Jantes, Fr. Jackson Januik, Jr. Will Kautz, So. Brannon Kenne, Jr. Ben Koch, Sr. Danny Kuszmaul, Sr. Conner Merrell, Fr. Juneau Meyer, Jr. Adam Morse, Jr. Giovanni Ortega, Fr. Scott Plampin, Jr. Bradley Rzewnicki, Jr. David Schwinof, So. Rafi Sibony, So. Josh Strozzi, Sr. Samuel Sunnell, Sr. Hunter Thompson, Jr. Colin Van Nortwick, Sr. Jack Whittle, Sr. Dakota Young, Fr. kids are willing to work.” League-wise, the Valley Catholic boys are the de- fending state champions, after just one year at the 4A level. “They’re really well- coached, and they have that winning atmosphere,” Branson said of the Val- iants.” For the girls, Scappoose returns sophomore Linnaea Kavulich, last year’s indi- vidual league champion. Gary Henley/The Daily Astorian Members of the Seaside cross country team cool down with some tasty donuts fol- lowing a preseason workout in Cannon Beach. BOOK W AREHOUS E • BRUCE’S CAN DY K ITCHEN • CARTER’S • CHRIS TOPHER & BAN K S • CL AIRE’S • DAIS Y M AY’S S AN DW ICH S HOP • DRES S BARN & DRES S BARN W OM EN • EDDIE BAUER • FAM OUS FOOTW EAR OUTL ET • GN C • HEL L Y HAN S EN • K ITCHEN COL L ECTION • L ’EGGS HAN S BAL I PL AYTEX EX PRES S • N IK E FACTORY S TORE • OS H K OS H B’GOS H • PEN DL ETON • PERFECT L OOK • RACK ROOM S HOES • RUE 21 • S EAS IDE S HIPPIN G CEN TER • THE W IN E & BEER HAUS • TOK YO TERIAK I • TOYS “ R” US • V AN HEUS EN • ZUM IEZ APRIL -DECEM BER M ON DAY-S ATURDAY: 10 A.M .-8 P.M . S UN DAY: 10 A.M .-6 P.M . WWW.SEASIDEOUTLETS.COM THE RUNNERS JAN UARY-M ARCH S UN DAY-THURS DAY: 10 A.M .-6 P.M . FRIDAY-S ATURDAY: 10 A.M .-8 P.M . H w y 1 0 1 & 1 2 t h Av e . , S e a s i d e , O r e g o n • 5 0 3 . 7 1 7 . 1 6 0 3