Prep sports: Vaara (MVP, DPOY) leads Wolves on all-league lists

By Michael Dashiell • March 6, 2024 1:30 am
Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Jolene Vaara (3) and Gracie Chartraw (4) defend the basket at Enumclaw’s Kalee Swanson passes to teammate Ava Smith in a bi-district tournament game on Feb. 14 in Sequim. Vaara was selected the Olympic League’s Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year while Chartraw was named to the all-league first team.
Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Jolene Vaara (3) and Gracie Chartraw (4) defend the basket at Enumclaw’s Kalee Swanson passes to teammate Ava Smith in a bi-district tournament game on Feb. 14 in Sequim. Vaara was selected the Olympic League’s Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year while Chartraw was named to the all-league first team.

Jolene Vaara made quite the impression on Olympic League coaches in 2023-23, earning a rare double honor of Most Valuable Player and the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.

This past season, she made it a rare double-double, earning the league’s MVP and top defensive award for the second consecutive campaign.

The Sequim High senior wrapped up her 2023-24 season leading the Wolves (13-7) in steals (4.6 per game) and assists (3.8) per game and total rebounds (138), and placed second on the squad in scoring (14.8 per game) and rebounds per contest (6.9).

It’s the first back-to-back Olympic League MVP for a North Olympic Peninsula player since Port Angeles’ Jessica Madison won three straight league MVPs for the Roughriders from 2008-2010.

Vaara was one of three SHS players named to the all-league team, along with guard Gracie Chartraw, who was picked for the league’s first team in her freshman season, and junior guard Bobbi Mixon, selected an honorable mention.

Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash / Sequim’s Jolene Vaara, pictured here defending Olympic’s Sophia Brown, was named the Olympic League’s Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. Looking on is SHS teammate Gracie Chartraw, who was named to the all-league first team.

Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash / Sequim’s Jolene Vaara, pictured here defending Olympic’s Sophia Brown, was named the Olympic League’s Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. Looking on is SHS teammate Gracie Chartraw, who was named to the all-league first team.

Chartraw led the team in points (17.5 points per contest) and sank 49 3-pointers in 20 games, also a team-high. The Wolves’ top free throw shooter, she also had 3.9 steals, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest.

Mixon was the team’s top 3-point threat, drilling 40.2% of her long-range tries and was third on the team in scoring with 11.9 points per game.

Boys basketball

Sequim’s Keenan Green was a threat to score any place past the halfcourt stripe and made teams pay with deft passing for a Wolves team that earned a spot in the West Central District bi-district tourney.

Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Keenan Green, center, pictured here driving past North Mason’s Cameron Revelez in an early January contest, was named to the all-Olympic League second team.

Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Keenan Green, center, pictured here driving past North Mason’s Cameron Revelez in an early January contest, was named to the all-Olympic League second team.

For his efforts, the SHS senior was named to the all-Olympic League second team as voted on by league coaches. He was joined on the team by teammate Solomon Sheppard, who was selected an honorable mention.

Green led the Wolves in scoring 13 times and topped the 20-point mark nine times, including a 27-point outburst against Bellingham on Dec. 30 and 24 in a win over Olympic on Jan. 9.

Sheppard, a sophomore, was a key player on the 10-win Wolves squad on both sides of the court. He led Sequim in scoring four times, including 20 points against rival Port Angeles on Feb. 6.

Cade Orness of league-champion North Kitsap, which is playing in the state 2A tournament this week, was named Olympic League MVP and defensive player of the year.

Port Angeles’ Parker Nickerson and Isaiah Shamp were named to the all-Olympic League first team.

Wrestling

Sequim’s Cayden Beauregard capped his fine prep career at the MatClassic wrestling state finals in February with a fifth place finish, and the 113-pounder earned a spot on the all-Olympic League first team for his efforts.

Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell Sequim’s Cayden Beauregard, right, pictured here squaring off against Khailan Chan of Camas at the Battle of the Axe tournament in Port Angeles on Jan. 6, was named to the all-Olympic League first team at 113 pounds.

Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell Sequim’s Cayden Beauregard, right, pictured here squaring off against Khailan Chan of Camas at the Battle of the Axe tournament in Port Angeles on Jan. 6, was named to the all-Olympic League first team at 113 pounds.

Beauregard, a senior, went 37-7 with 22 pins as he earned his third berth (and best placing) at the state finals.

Teammate brothers Jayms and Johnny Vilona as well as Ryan Spelker were named to the all-league second team. Jayms Vilona, a junior wrestling at 144 pounds, was 26-11 and placed fifth at regionals, missing the cut for state by one place. Johnny Vilona, a sophomore, was 24-14 at 126 pounds and qualified for regionals. Spelker, a sophomore and another regional qualifier, earned 11 wins at the 120-pound weight class.

File photo by Keith Thorpe/Olympic Peninsula News Group / Sequim’s Jayms Vilona, top, pictured bringing down Olympic’s Gabriel Eriz in the 144-pound weight class at the Battle of the Axe in Port Angeles in January, was named to the all-Olympic League second team.

File photo by Keith Thorpe/Olympic Peninsula News Group / Sequim’s Jayms Vilona, top, pictured bringing down Olympic’s Gabriel Eriz in the 144-pound weight class at the Battle of the Axe in Port Angeles in January, was named to the all-Olympic League second team.

Sequim’s James Mason (150-pound weight class) and Ari Skov (175) were named all-league honorable mentions. Skov, a senior, earned a 26-12 season record while Mason, a junior, racked up a 17-16 mark for 2023-24.