Softball fundraiser tourney set for March 23
The Sequim High School fastpitch softball squad hosts its annual Golf for Softball fundraiser golf tournament on Saturday, March 23, at SkyRidge Golf Course, 7015 Old Olympic Highway.
Funds raised help pay for lodging, travel and other miscellaneous expenses not covered by the school district.
Call 360-683-3673 for more information or to register.
Olympic Paddlers’ guest to talk orcas guest
The Olympic Peninsula Paddlers Club hosts a general membership meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, at the Solana Clubhouse, 135 Solana Parkway.
Guest speaker Cindy Hansen will present “Preventing Extinction – the Story of Southern Resident Orcas.”
Attendees will learn about the fascinating biology, social structure and culture of local orcas and the juxtaposition between two ecotypes: the Bigg’s orcas, who are thriving, and the Southern Residents who are endangered. Find out how to get involved and help the ongoing efforts to prevent icons of the Salish Sea.
Hansen earned a degree in zoology from the University of Washington and has worked as a naturalist and educator for more than 20 years. After volunteering for Orca Network for much of that time, she joined the staff as the education and advocacy coordinator in 2016, working from her home on San Juan Island in addition to doing education, outreach and advocacy throughout the region. She also migrated with the gray whales to San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja, Mexico, for several years, where she worked as a naturalist/guide.
SHS grad Bernsten wrestles to national tourney
Petra Bernsten, a 2022 Sequim high School graduate and former Olympic League MVP, took first place at the Northwest NCWA regional tourney in Hoquiam earlier this month.
Bernsten, a sophomore at Washington State University, won both of her matches at the 170-pound weight class in the tourney at Hoquiam High School, and has qualified for the National Collegiate Wrestling Championships, set for March 14-16 in Bossier City, Louisiana.
At the regional tourney, Bernsten pinned Nancy Frayle of Grays Harbor College in 3:17 and Georgia Ustazewski, also of Grays Harbor, in 38 seconds.
She is 13-6 this season, with 11 wins by pin.
Mooney racing at Washburn
Tyler Mooney, a 2022 Sequim High graduate, competes with the Washburn University (Topeka, Kansas) track and field squad.
A sophomore majoring in computer science at Washburn, Mooney earned the Ichabods three points by placing sixth in the 200 meters with a time of 21.72 at the MIAA Indoor Championships in Topeka on Feb. 25.
He also helped Washburn’s 4×400 relay team break the school record with a 3:20.05 finish, placing 11th.
Mooney recorded the 10th-best individual time in program history in the indoor 400 meters and the ninth-best individual performance in the outdoor 400. He was part of both the school-record holding squads in the outdoor 4×400 and the 4×100 relays teams, both set at the 2023 MIAA Outdoor Championships.
SHS grad Pyeatt races with Wildcats at WAC track finals
Riley Pyeatt, a 2022 Sequim High grad and 2A state track and field champion, helped the Abilene Christian University (Texas) Wildcats earn a sixth place finish at the WAC Indoor Championships in mid-February.
Pyeatt, an agribusiness major sophomore at Abilene, joined teammates Bella Evans, Savannah McCaleb and Jess Reyes to place fifth in the distance medley relay (12:22.98) at the conference championships held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Feb. 19-20.
Pyeatt also placed 14th in the 800 meter preliminaries (2:20.94) on Feb. 19.
