My 1st Time Watching Lacrosse

I sat down on the cold bleachers for the first time this spring, if you can even call it that yet, wrapped in blankets and hoping my first time watching lacrosse would be easy to understand, move quickly, and would be entertaining. At least it was entertaining.

Going into this game only knowing that lacrosse involved sticks, I was not prepared for the mash up of multiple different sports that it ended up being. With a penalty box like hockey, clock stopping like football, constant ball movement like soccer, but with a stick and a lot of body checking, I got a lot more than I planned for by going to lacrosse. But it was definitely fun to watch.

Entertaining is seriously the best word I can think of to describe lacrosse. The physicality of the defensive play, the quickness of the offense, and the crazy trick shots kept me watching throughout the entire game. Of course, it was made even more entertaining by the 3-man heckle squad made up of seniors Riley Quinton, Aleks Hansen, and Ben Harasek.

I was completely blown away by the performances of seniors Bennett Duffy and Joseph Doyle; the pair were the sole scorers in the Wildcat victory. Duffy scored 5 goals and Doyle netted the other 3, ending the game 8-5 over Bellingham. Other amazing performances, particularly defensively, were put on by seniors Will Doud and Hayden Smith. I’d also like to shout out freshman Cece Vaughn; that girl is awesome for playing on a guys team and still rocking it.

Check the AMHS calendar and come out to watch the Wildcat Lacrosse team play before the season is over!

Player Profile: Bennett Duffy

In 6th grade, AMHS senior Will Doud brought his lacrosse gear with him to school and asked classmate Bennett Duffy if he was interested in playing. Previously only playing basketball and soccer, Duffy then began to transition to the sport that would later become his passion. This season, as seniors on the AMHS lacrosse team, Duffy and Doud are shoe-ins to be co-captains, hoping to lead the mere 3 year old team to the state tournament.

Technically only a club at Archbishop Murphy due to the Title IX rule,  Duffy says it’s sometimes difficult because the lacrosse team isn’t always viewed in the same light as other sports. However, this is the least of the challenges Duffy has faced in his lacrosse career. “The head coach for Jackson High School, Coach Hess, once told me I wasn’t good enough to play on the top line,” he said. This moment of criticism prompted Duffy to work harder and has helped him to become the player he is today.

His favorite memory of his high school lacrosse career is beating Friday Harbor his sophomore year, the first win in the program’s history.

Duffy has committed to play at Notre Dame de Namur University in the fall of this year. There he looks forward to competing at a national, collegiate level. Along with the competition, he hopes he’ll have the opportunity to play on national television.

Although I’ve yet to go to an AMHS lacrosse game, or any lacrosse game, I look forward to seeing Duffy take the field with Doud and his other teammates in the coming weeks.

 

Player Profile: Chase Whittaker

Senior Chase Whittaker started playing soccer when he was just 5 years old. Although he followed for many years in his father’s footsteps, focusing his athletic career on baseball, Whittaker let his love for soccer take over in the 7th grade. He hasn’t stopped loving it since, and this year marks his 4th and final year with the Archbishop Murphy Wildcats’ varsity boys soccer team.

Under head coach Mike Bartley, Whittaker is utilized across the field. “In high school I end up playing all across the board,” he commented, “a little defensive mid, outside mid, and sometimes even forward.” It was for his role as outside back on his Rush club team however, that he got recruited to play soccer at the collegiate level by Linfield College.

“My mom always told me to pick a school I would want to stay at if for some reason I had to stop playing soccer,” Whittaker said of his decision to commit to Linfield. The team at Linfield is currently restructuring after losing a big senior class, and Whittaker saw this as an opportunity to hopefully play some freshman minutes. He says he’s always looked forward to the intensity and speed of collegiate ball.

Although winning 2 state championships with the AMHS team ranks pretty high on Whittaker’s list of favorite soccer memories, his biggest inspiration comes from two different sources. “I think the game we played against Shorecrest after Kristi had passed away  was probably the most inspirational moment of my soccer career. I’ll never forget the magic and the passion on the field that night,” he told me. Kristi Bartz, a captain of the girls soccer team and a prominent member of the AMHS community, was killed in a tragic accident in May 2015. Whittaker’s other source of inspiration is his late aunt, who he said was a,”born athlete and always challenging [him] to step out of [his] comfort zone.” She passed away from ovarian cancer just a few years ago.

You can see Chase Whittaker in action with the Wildcats for the last time this season as they chase a third consecutive state championship. So far this season the team is 1-0, beating East Valley this past Saturday 1-0.

Macho Volleyball

On one side of the court, Eat My Ace huddles anxiously during time out. Decked all out in their NBA jerseys, seniors Paul Schireman, Lucas Dini, Ben Harasek, Connor O’Brien, Riley Quinton, Will Doud, Chase Whittaker and Connor Johnson hope to take down Sets on a Beach for the championship. Across the court, wearing brightly colored swim shorts stand seniors Matt Williams, Jensen Crisler, Joseph Doyle, Keaton Weyers and juniors Trey Miller and Ben Hines.

Early in the match, Doud said, “Numbers don’t mean anything. Minor setback for a major comeback.” Although the game was close until the end, Eat My Ace pulled out the win over Sets at a Beach 25-23.

Throughout the evening there was never a lack of energy on the courts, even when teams weren’t doing so well. Between the decorated, ripped up t-shirts, breaking of rules, and lack of shorts, a fun night was had by all in support for Operation Rice Bowl, Archbishop Murphy’s Lenten fundraiser. Other events contributing the fundraiser later this month include the Mr. Murphy Pageant, bunco night, and powderpuff football.

Other competing teams:

 

Cabin Boyz 0-2, TBD 1-1, Brick Squad 1-1, Mongols 0-2

Emily’s Spring Sports Predictions

It’s already been a fantastic year for Archbishop Murphy sports. Girls soccer and volleyball both placed 3rd in state, football won the state title, girls basketball is playing for the district championship this week, and boys basketball needs 2 wins for a state berth. Individual sports, such as cross country, swimming, and wrestling, have all sent or are sending athletes to compete in state tournaments.

With tryouts for spring sports just over a week away, here are my predictions for how all the Wildcat sports teams will do in their 2017 season. (None of them are bad because, let’s face it, the Class of 2017 is a phenomenally talented and athletic class, and many of them play spring sports.)

Boy’s Soccer

Losing only one starting senior last year, the Wildcats will be fielding mostly all returning players this season as they look to take the state title for the 3rd year in a row. With powerhouse senior Matt Williams up top, assisted by Jensen Crisler (sr) and Isaac Feeney (jr), and a midfield and defensive front consisting of Sam Johnson (jr), Jake Snider (sr), Chase Whittaker (sr) and goalie Daniel Mycroft (sp), it doesn’t seem far fetched that the boys could bring home the state title again this season. Preseason games are still undecided, as many 3A and 4A teams don’t want to risk their RPI rankings by losing to the Wildcats, but make sure to find time to come out and support the boy’s soccer team. I know I’ll be at as many games as possible.

Girl’s Tennis

Last year, senior Lauren Braswell was the only AMHS tennis player to make districts, with 1st-alternate being Hannah Van Hollebeke. This year, Van Hollebeke is a junior and I’m prepared to see her kick some butt on the court and push through to the district tournament. Also, keep an eye out for seniors Natalie Sizelove and Maddy Williams either as a doubles pair or as singles this season.

Baseball

The Wildcat baseball team is another team poised to go far in districts and possibly state. Led by seniors Parker Sand, Connor O’Brien,  Aleks Hansen, and several others, the team has a good shot of returning to districts again this year and making a run at state. Catch them on Roman Miller Field this spring in their spiffy new uniforms.

Softball

Coaching changes this year have put assistant football coach Damien Holman and dean of students Jeff Latta in the position filled for many years by Stephanie Harmon. However, I don’t expect this to put a damper on the girls’ season. Although they lost several seniors last year, the team should be returning several strong players such as Yutanee Ryan and Mackenzie Treece, while also seeing the involvement of several new players. I’d keep my eye on the softball team this year; I’ve seen Latta coach powderpuff before, and if he can do half as well coaching this team, they’ll be in good shape.

Track & Field

AMHS boasts a large track & field team, consisting of many talented people. From cross country runners Josh Rauvola (jr), Teresa Barron (sr), and Mackenzie Ryan (jr) running the 3200m and 1600m, to football players Paul Schireman (sr), Martin Napeahi (jr), and Kobe Moorhead (jr) doing long jump, discus, and shotput, to soccer player Tia Asher (sp) running the 400m, make sure you look out for these guys throughout the season. I predict several of them will place in conference, at districts and possibly even at state. I’m definitely planning to make my way to a few meets this season because this team is star studded.

Boy’s Golf

The boy’s golf team also has several returning seniors, 3 of whom placed top 10 at districts last season. Steve Shih, Matthew Pabisz, and Jack McClincy, along with junior Fulton Brawner, should once again prove to be forces to reckon with on the course. Possibly the best dressed Murphy sport’s team, take some time to go watch golf this season.

Girl’s Golf

Coach Cassie Snyder is turning herself into a 3 sport coach this season by stepping up to coach golf. The team last year was small, but who knows, maybe there’ll be a bigger turnout this year.

Boy’s Lacrosse 

This should be a good year for the boy’s lacrosse team. The youngest Murphy sports team, only 3 years old, the lacrosse team is technically, because of Title IX, not a sanctioned AMHS team. However, led by seniors Bennett Duffy, Joseph Doyle, and Will Doud, lacrosse will definitely be a sport you should come out and watch this season. 

Player Profile: Barret Floyd

Barret Floyd

Class of 2018

Wrestling

 

Floyd started wrestling in 6th grade after failing to make the schools basketball team. “I was awful at basketball, but luckily wrestling stuck.” His favorite move is called the Cow Catcher, which involves a front headlock and an underhook, and can typically result in a pin. The move is his favorite because it was the first move he achieved a pin from and is the one he uses most often to pin his opponents.

“The biggest misconception about wrestling is how difficult it is. Wrestling practice, let alone a wrestling match, have been some of the most physically demanding moments of my life.” Floyd explained.

He also explained that he loves the sport because of his teammates. “I’m not good enough to be a state champ. I like wrestling because every day during practice, when I am sweating or sometimes bleeding, I look to the left and right and see my boys. I know that they’re going through the same thing.” Floyd also told me about some of his favorite memories with the team, including eating burgers late at night and pulling each other around in an old truck tire.

Floyd is also a leading member of the cross country team.

 

The Multi-Talented Members of Wildcat Basketball

Students at Archbishop Murphy are generally very involved in school activities. With the multitude of sports, electives, and extra-curricular activities at AMHS, it’s not hard to find one or more things you enjoy being involved in, or at least think would look good on your college transcript.

One place it’s easy to see the crop of multi-talented students Archbishop Murphy boasts is within it’s girls and boys basketball programs. Several players are multi-sport athletes with offers from colleges, and a few also participate in academic clubs and leadership roles. Let’s take a look at these players.

Megan Dorney (jr; F): Dorney ran varsity cross country this season, placing 7th in conference and 39th in districts. She was named 1st team all-conference. Dorney is also a member of AMHS Deca.

Chloe Morrison (sr): Morrison has been a member of the Wildcat Band for a few years at AMHS. She plays the clarinet.

Hannah Noceda (sr; G): Noceda has played soccer for the Wildcats all 4 of her years here. This year the team took 3rd in the state competition.

Jamie Cymbaluk (sr; F):  Cymbaluk, a forward for the Wildcat girls JV team, was starting outside hitter for the volleyball team this season as they led a 21-1 season and placed 3rd in the state. She was named 1st team all league for this season. Next fall, she has committed to play at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.

Abe Lucas (sr; C): Lucas is just as much as a powerhouse on the basketball court as he was this season on the football field, thanks in part to his height (6’8″). He’s a dominant point scorer for the basketball team, a much different role than he’s used to on the football field, where he plays outside tackle and defensive end. Lucas has committed to Washington State University to play football.

Sam Johnson (jr; G): Johnson’s main sport is soccer, which he plays at AMHS and for his Rush team. Last season he was named 1st team all conference and 2nd team all state as a defender while the team coasted to their second 2A state title in a row. Johnson has also been a class officer all three of his years so far at AMHS.

Kyler Gordon (jr; W): Gordon is best known for being a phenomenal talent on the football field. Already boasting offers from the University of Oregon, UCLA, and the University of Washington, he has one more year to play at Archbishop Murphy, where he is also famous for his celebratory back flips.

Connor Johnson (sr; F): Johnson was the starting varsity quarterback for the Wildcats his junior and senior seasons. Over those 2 seasons he passed for a total of 3,352 yards and had 44 passing TDs. He was a leader on and off the field this year, keeping the team lighthearted as they faced unforeseeable difficulties during the season. Johnson currently has 3 offers to play college ball.

Jackson Yost (sr; PF): Yost has played defensive tackle on the AMHS varsity team for 3 years. He currently has offers from multiple schools, including Columbia and Dartmouth. Yost is also an ASB officer this year.

Anfernee Gurley (sr; G): Gurley dominated the football field this season, helping to lead the Wildcats to their first 2A state title despite the teams tumultuous season. This year he had a total of 1,432 rushing yards and 1,501 receiving yards. Recently, he committed to play football at Eastern Washington University.

Both the girls and boys varsity teams are currently 5-2, with games and tournaments scheduled over the break before resuming conference games in January. I’ve heard from several players that they are confident in this season, both the boys and the girls, their teammates, and their coaches. Make sure to get out and watch them before the season is over.

*F,G,C,PF and W denote players basketball position

**stats have been taken from maxpreps.com

Girls Soccer Overcomes Burlington-Edison in OT

It’s halftime. 

We stand as a team on the field, shivering and angry. We are losing 2-0 to a team we have been told we should beat. A team we know we can beat. But something just isn’t right. 

“Sometimes it takes a little while for us to get the hang of things; the emotion everyone is feeling, the surface we are playing on, these are the things that make each game different,” senior captain Caroline Adams commented. 

The team takes the field for the second half, with some slight adjustments. But those adjustments make all the difference; it’s like watching a different team play. Even so, we still aren’t  quite at our potential, that maximum we know we can reach. 

Until sophomore left wing Lexie Klaudt found the back of the net. “Once that first goal went in, everyone realized we had an awesome opportunity to pull off a major upset.” her teammate, Emily Schwartz, said. 

Klaudt herself also added, “The momentum of the game changed. I knew that we were still in it and all we would have to do was give 110% and play our game.” The sophomore has suffered multiple injuries in the previous two games but when asked about them she merely said, “Pain is a mentality. I was hesitant about playing, but I wanted to give all that I had for this team.”

The tieing goal came from Adams, and the Wildcats held it out to end regulation 2-2. 

And there we were again, standing on the field, shivering, basically in a 0-0 game, needing a golden goal to live another day. For the seniors on the team, motivation came from the fact that this could’ve been their last game as Wildcats. 

Building off the momentum gained in the second half, the Wildcats took the field again, playing the way we had been waiting for them to: fast, aggressive, and disciplined. All we needed was one goal. 

With only a couple minutes left in the first overtime session, Klaudtt hit the net off a ball from Adams to end the game, 3-2. Everyone jumped from the bench, screaming, crying, and laughing as we hugged each other, knowing we survived to see another day. 

Girls soccer lives on Thursday at Liberty High School, 5pm vs Sehome. 

We are Archbishop Murphy High School.

To those who read this,

We’d like to introduce ourselves. We are honor students, robotics team members, volleyball players, and singers. We are runners, student council officers, mock trial team members, and regular old teenagers. We come to school every morning, go to our classes, participate in extracurricular activities, and perform community service. We are 505 kids who attend a private Catholic school in Everett, WA.

We attended Middle School Murphy Nights, shadowed upperclassmen, and toured at Open Houses. We had to apply to go to our school, a process most other kids don’t go through until college. Once we were accepted, we talked with our parents and decided that Archbishop Murphy was the right high school for us. This decision wasn’t hasty or uninformed, and was based off of more than one factor.

During the school day, we learn of course, but we also do more than that. We talk with teachers, laugh with our classmates, and interact with people from different backgrounds. We smile at people we don’t know in the hallway, hold open doors for visitors, and help others out when we can. This is why we are so close. This is why we are a family.

As a family we’ve been through a lot together. In 2015, we lost one of our family members in a tragic accident. We’ve lost other family members and friends through the years and have only grown closer because of it. We’ve united around a family member with leukemia. We’ve moved campuses, built new buildings, and had to raise a tremendous amount of funds to do so. Our clubs and activities have had highs and lows; our sports teams have had losing seasons and championship ones. There’s not a lot our family hasn’t been through; we’ve learned to stand tall during all types of adversity.

We are loyal to our family. Each and every one of us is a Wildcat and deep down, we all love each other no matter what. That’s not to say we don’t have the everyday quarrels most high school kids have, but we’ve learned to overlook them when it matters. When we come together during assemblies, games, and even in community service, we do it in immense pride for our school. There isn’t a single one of us who doesn’t feel the excitement when we are all together and full of Wildcat spirit.

We are a deeply interwoven community made up of people from all different life experiences. We are high school kids having typical high school experiences in a unique environment. We are a family, supporting one another and our school.

We are Archbishop Murphy High School. 

Sincerely,

The Students of Archbishop Murphy High School