Fall sports previews: Ellefson, Bloomenrader to pace SHS cross country teams in ‘22

The Riley Pyeatt era at Sequim High is over, but the Wolves are bringing back two state qualifiers from last fall seeking a return to the prep cross country 2A finals.

Juniors Kaitlyn Bloomenrader and Colby Ellefson help lead the pack of Wolves in 2022 following up strong finishes in 2021.

Assistant coach BJ Schade said SHS’s boys team looks stronger than in 2021, with the biggest turnout (33 runners) since he and head coach Paul Brinkman took on the program in 2019.

“It definitely rebounded from the COVID and the coaching charge,” Schade said. “We’re hoping to get a few more with school starting.

“I’m pretty excited; this is probably the most athletic group we’ve had,” Schade said of the SHS boys team.

“There are soccer players, wrestlers, kids who maybe cross country is not their first thing … but they’re fast and athletic, and working hard.

Ellefson, whose battled some health problems in his two prep years, raced to a third place finish at the Olympic League finals, seventh at districts and finally a 51st place finish (17:26) at state finals in Pasco.

“[Colby] is feeling better than in years past and did a lot of swimming [in the offseason],” Schade said.

While Ellefson leads the Wolfpack in top times, senior Mirek Skov is the team’s vocal leader. Skov, who is dealing a bit with an ankle issue early on, placed 69th at districts — third-best on the team — in 2021.

Also returning for Sequim’s boys is senior Owen Randall, who placed 52nd at districts last fall.

“It’s obvious he put in a lot of time over the summer,” Schade said of Randall.

Schade also has high hopes for ninth-grader Collin Feik, who placed second in the Olympic League middle school championships last fall.

Photo courtesy of Caleb Gentry Sequim’s Colin Feik competes at an Olympic League meet at Lincoln Park in Port Angeles in 2021.

“Nobody can hang with Colby — he’s just too fit — but Colin does the workouts with him. He’s very strong for a freshman.”

Senior Calem Klinger, also looks strong in early practices, Schade said, while Sean Southard, also a district meet competitor in 2021, had a strong track season this past spring and “he’s definitely got a lot more confidence,” the Sequim coach said.

“It’s going to be very competitive for those varsity spots,” Schade said.

Sequim’s girls team is a little down in numbers — with just 10 on the roster as of late last week — but features a number of strong returning runners and newcomers.

Pacing the SHS girls is Bloomenrader, who, in her first season in cross country, earned seventh at the league finals, eighth at districts and 20th at the state 2A finals.

“She’s looking really good as well [early on],” Schade said. “We definitely expect big things from her. She should be a good team leader.”

Sequim’s Kaitlin Bloomenrader, then a sophomore, races at the 2A state cross country championship meet in Pasco in November 2021. In her first state meet, Bloomenrader placed 20th.

Also back for Sequim’s girls are 2021 district meet competitor sisters Nikoline and Anastasia Updike —now a sophomore and senior, respectively — as well as sophomores Mia Kirner and Aspen Goldner.

The Wolves get a boost with Liberty and Sadie Mavy, siblings of Eve Mavy who helped SHS win a national 4×400 track title.

“Liberty looks like she could be close to Kaitlin,” Schade said, in terms of times. “They’re a running family.”

Besides Pyeatt, a three-time state meet qualifier, Sequim lost district qualifier Aiden Shingleton to graduation.

Meet previews

As with last season, the 2022 Olympic league slate sees each school invited to each league meet leading up to the league final on Oct. 20.

Sequim opens the season on Sept. 14 at Olympic, followed by the annual Salt Creek Invitational just west of Port Angeles on Sept. 17.

“Everyone seems to enjoy Salt Creek; it’s the first chance to compete in a three-mile race,” Schade said.

Also on the schedule is the Nike Hole-In-The-Wall Invite, set in Lakewood in early October.

“To see that level of competition … it’s just an eye-opening meet,” Schade said.

The Wolves host their only Olympic League meet on Oct. 12, and host the league finals at The Cedars at Dungeness golf course on Oct. 20.

Fall sports preview:

Cross Country

Head coach: Paul Brinkman (fourth year)

Assistant: B.J. Schade

2021 record: Girls fourth at Olympic League final, sixth at districts; two athletes to state 2A final; boys fifth at Olympic League final, 11th at districts; on athlete to state 2A final

Returning athletes: Girls — Kaitlyn Bloomenrader (jr.), Anastasia Updike (sr.), Aspen Goldner (so.), Mia Kirner (so.), Nikoline Updike (so.). Boys — Colby Ellefson (jr.), Calem Klinger (sr.), Ayden Humphries (sr.), Mirek Skov (sr.), Ari Skov (jr.), Owen Tjemsland (jr.), Connor Goff (so.), Sean Southard (so.)

Newcomers: Girls — Ahrya Klinger, Emma Bergman, Lilly Despain, Liberty Mavy, Sadie Mavy. Boys — Brody Anderson, Cayden Beauregard, Collin Feik, Cooper Farley, Dean Rynearson, Easton Sisemore, Finn Marlow, Jackson Imholt, James Mason, Jobe Kirner, Kaiden Tosland, Keith Lake, Malachi Byrne, Matthew Lake

2022 SHS cross country schedule

Date Opponent/meet time

Sept. 14 at Olympic (Silverdale)* 4 p.m.

Sept. 17 at Salt Creek Invite, Port Angeles 10:30 a.m.

Sept. 21 at Bremerton* 4 p.m.

Sept. 28 at Bainbridge* 4 p.m.

Oct. 1 John Payne/Curtis Invite, University Place 11:05 a.m.

Oct. 5 at North Mason (Belfair)* 4 p.m.

Oct. 7-8 Nike Hole-In-The-Wall Invite, Lakewood TBA

Oct. 12 Home league meet*, Voice of America Park 4 p.m.

Oct. 20 Olympic League meet, Sequim 4 p.m.

Oct. 29 District 3 meet, University Place TBA