All of the offseason training and elite invitationals this fall ended up paying off in a big way for the Selah High boys cross country team, which finished a stellar season with a second-place team trophy at the Nov. 5 state meet in Pasco.

Senior stalwart Cooper Quigley outran the entire field to win the Class 2A race in a time of 15 minutes, 38 seconds — a full 18 seconds better than the second-place finisher. 

Cooper Quigley

Along the way, the University of Arizona-bound standout became the Yakima Valley’s first individual state champion since 2008 and helped the Vikings earn their highest state finish since 1990, when they also finished second.

Quigley, who finished sixth at the 2019 state meet, posted the best 5,000-meter time of any runner in the Valley and became Selah’s fifth cross country state champion (James Currell, 2008; Mike Heidt, 2000; Shawn Bernier, 1980; and Chip Pierce, 1976 and ’77). 

Junior Eric Swedin also finished strong, earning eighth place overall with a time of 16:18. He was followed by sophomore Nathan Shipley (17:01, 27th); senior Sam Anderson (17:23, 45th); senior Jonathan Orozco (17:41, 69th); senior Jared Briggs (17:54, 83rd); and junior Moon Thompson (18:53, 138th).

Squalicum won the boys team title with 77 points, followed by Selah with 99 and Sehome with 124.

On the girls side, the Vikings placed 14th as a team, with junior Kieryann Mattson leading the way in 21:36, good for 66thoverall. She was followed by sophomore Abby Huri (22:00, 84th); junior Avery Sarett (22:07, 91st); sophomore Phoebe Topper (22:18, 104th); sophomore Yobi Ruark (22:24, 109th); sophomore Isabella Escamilla (22:54, 122nd); and senior Kahila Lopez (22:57, 124th).

Sehome won the 2A girls title, followed by Anacortes and Washougal. Ellensburg placed fifth.

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Girls Soccer

The Selah High girls soccer team got on a roll late in the season, winning the CWAC district championship and qualifying for the 2A state tournament before falling 3-2 to Tumwater in the first round on Nov. 10.

The Viks won six of their final seven regular season matches, including a 3-2 district semifinal win over Othello and a 2-1 victory over rival Ellensburg in the championship game on Nov. 2. 

A late goal by Kennedy Cobb capped the comeback and ended Ellensburg’s 15-game winning streak. Adley Franklin also scored in the win, which was Selah’s second over the Bulldogs this fall. Ellensburg’s only other loss this season came in the first round of state, when they fell to West Valley-Spokane 3-2 in penalty kicks.

Selah was primed to make another deep postseason run when Tumwater came to town on Nov. 10. The Thunderbirds scored three goals in the first 15 minutes, but the Vikings battled back on a pair of goals from Allison Moultray, including one in stoppage time.

The Vikings finished the season 13-6 overall and will say goodbye to four seniors: Alexia Rodriguez-Burdeaux, Brooke Hovsepian, Maya Hall and Ashlyn Morford. 

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Volleyball

The Selah High volleyball team earned a series of key wins over the final two weeks to put itself in a position to qualify for the 2A state tournament.

The Vikings knocked off East Valley, Othello, Prosser and Grandview down the stretch to earn the No. 4 district seed, before knocking off Prosser 3-2 in the first round. 

A 3-1 loss to co-league champion Ephrata in the next round set up a loser-out match against East Valley on Nov. 11, but the Viks were swept 25-22, 25-14, 25-21 to end their season.

Selah finished 9-10 overall and 7-5 in CWAC play. The Viks will return most of their roster next season, graduating just two seniors: Ryenne Howell and Mackenzie Pelson.

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Girls Swimming

The Selah High girls swim team won the CWAC championship in late October, winning three relays and three individual titles.

Katie Ramos, Izzy Vick and Gabi Young each won their signature events and also swam on two of the winning relays. 

Ramos won the 200 individual medley in 2:23.83 and teammate Elise Ozanich was second in 2:43.32. Ramos also claimed second place in the 100 back in 1:05.20, while Ozanich was runner-up in the 500 free in 6:17.73.

Vick won the 50 free in 26.04 and took second in the 100 free at 57.35, and Young won the 100 breast in 1:22.33. The 200 medley relay won with a time of 2:01.89; the 200 free relay was first in 2:00.26; and the 400 free relay prevailed in 4:10.63.

The state championships were held Nov. 12-13.