Girls Soccer:

Since senior Gabby Waterman’s first goal of the season at the Wenatchee-Eastlake match on Sept. 6, the WHS girls soccer team has found itself struggling through the week to put any more balls in the goal, which puts them second to last in their league at 0-3 overall.

“The other team capitalized on their chances. We had as many or more chances and more shots to the goal, but it just didn’t happen for us,” Coach John Springer said after the team lost against Archbishop Murphy 3-0 on Sept. 13.

The match against Archbishop Murphy did mark a shift in the team’s momentum. In their previous two matches, losing 3-1 against Eastlake and 4-0 against Seattle Academy on Sept. 11, the Panthers struggled with fitness issues, letting the ball slip from their control in the second half of both games, but against Archbishop Murphy the team met them with enthusiasm, determination, and drive.

“Our effort was a lot better. We created more opportunities; we just need to work on finishing those opportunities,” freshman Gretta Wiersma said after the game.

With four freshmen on the varsity team, the team’s age has not stood in their way.

”We do have a large age gap on the team, but the skill level makes up for it. Each player is an asset and someone we need,” senior Sydney Wilkinson said.

The team looks forward to their rival match against Eastmont on Sept. 16, hoping to bring their momentum forward to a victorious match.

-Kiana Wilson, Opinion Editor

Girls Swim:

On Sept.12 the WHS swim team competed in a six-team invitational and won with a score of 72. Junior Kayli Elwyn, sophomore Isabelle Dressel, sophomore Jessica Wierzbicki, and junior Tori Peterson placed first in the 200-yard medley relay; freshman Hannah VanHeyningen won the 200 free; Wierzbicki won the 100 butterfly; Dressel won the 100 breaststroke; and Wierzbicki, VanHeyningen, Elwyn, and sophomore Rebecca Bay won the 400 free relay. Junior Ali Brandt won the one-meter dive with a score of 133.40.

The Panthers will continue their swim season with a meet on Tuesday, Sept. 16, as they battle West Valley at home.

-Lexi Rivera, Staff Reporter

Volleyball:

The Panthers are starting their season with a new coach, Emily McLean, and although they’re off to a bit of a rough start, the players have high hopes for this season.

“[McLean] is doing an amazing job at head coach. But since we have a lot of new players and a new coaching staff, our main problems are communication errors and chemistry,” senior Amira Chandler said.

On Sept. 13, the Panthers went to the Sundome Volleyball Invite, a 32-team tournament in Yakima. The winner was determined by the best-of-three games.

Wenatchee lost to Ellensburg  25-19 and 25-22; beat Elgin 25-13 and 25-18; beat Eisenhower  25-18 and 25-23, where they came back from a 22-13 deficit to get the win; lost to Chiawana 25-17 and 25-13; and lost to Hanford by winning one match 28-26 and losing two 25-22 and 15-9.

On Sept. 11, the Panthers lost in non-League match against last year’s 1A State runner-up Chelan. The winner was determined by the best-of-five games.

The Panthers lost their first match 25-15, won the second 25-23, and lost the third and fourth, 25-15 and 25-16, respectively.

Varsity plays Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. at home against Eastmont.

-Daniel Arndt, Staff Reporter

Cross Country:

With the first meet of the season, the boys and girls cross country teams really showed what potential they have at the Highlander Invitational in Spokane. The WHS senior boys took first place out of 16 teams.

Senior Cole Christman took first place with the time of 12 minutes, 32.10 seconds over the 2.5-mile course in his division out of 116 other senior boys. Senior Justin Pringle also took seventh in the same division with the time of 13:18.70.

As for juniors, junior Ethan Knutson and junior Carson Dillard tied for 25th place of out 127 boys with the time of 14:27.50. Wenatchee junior boys placed 10th out of 18 teams.

Sophomore Moses Lurbur placed sixth place with a time of 14:01.55. The sophomore boys placed 12th out of 13. Freshman Jackson Leeds lead the Wenatchee freshman boys who placed 65th out of 138 with a time of 16:44.48.

For the varsity girls, junior Sophie Marshall came in 36th place out of 116 girls with the time of 16:41.00. Senior Raquel Thody came in close behind Marshall in 42nd place with the time of 16:55.10. The girls varsity placed 11th out of 17 teams.

-Kirsten Walker, Staff Reporter