Category: Sports

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News

Seventeen wrestlers from Marysville Pilchuck High School stepped into the Tacoma Dome to compete at the Washington State Wrestling Tournament, known statewide as Mat Classic. The two-day event tested the Tomahawks’ conditioning and composure. The wrestlers experienced the emotional highs and lows that only the highly competitive 2A division tournament can deliver.  From overtime thrillers to narrow defeats and hard-fought podium finishes, when the final matches concluded, Marysville Pilchuck walked away with a 5^th-place team finish in the state.

Head coach Marcus Haughian said upperclassmen showed up long before the season officially started in February. They were talking about goals, asking questions, and building anticipation. That excitement, he explained, created a ripple effect throughout the program.

 “All my wrestlers would come into my classroom throughout September and October and talk about how excited they were for the season. When you have seniors and upperclassmen excited to work hard and get in the room, that creates its own positive impact,” Haughian said. 

That early mindset translated into results throughout the year. The Tomahawks broke the school record with 18 dual wins, placed third at the Pac Coast Tournament in Vancouver, captured their league dual title, and won the district championship on their home mats. By the time they reached Tacoma, Haughian said his team didn’t feel overwhelmed; they felt prepared.

“To us, going into Mat Classic really felt like any other tournament,” he explained. “We weren’t nervous. We were confident and anxious to go prove what we could do on the mat.”

“Not giving up,” senior Aiden Eagle said. “There were multiple matches all year where I was down, and I had to make sure that I didn’t stop and was able to push through.”

Aiden Eagle carried that confidence into the 190-pound bracket. After placing 8th at state last season, Eagle made the decision to drop from 215 pounds to 190 for his senior year, believing the change would put him in a better position to compete at the highest level. Standing on the podium again, this time finishing 4^th, felt like validation of that choice and the work that followed.

His path through the bracket was emotional, particularly when he had to face teammate and fellow senior Steven Morales. The two had switched between 190 and 215 all season and met multiple times in high-pressure matches, including overtime battles at districts and again at state. Eagle admitted that competing against someone you train beside every day adds another layer of difficulty.

“It was nothing against my teammate,” Eagle said, “but I was glad to beat him and move on to the last rounds.”

“My brother pushed me the hardest,” Eagle said. “Every day we were yelling at each other and getting on each other to go harder. He helped me get better and didn’t let me get easy shots on him.”

Eagle was one of five Tomahawks to finish on the podium. Senior tribal member Garrett Turner began his tournament at 126 pounds with momentum, going 2–0 on the first day and looking poised for a deep run. After dropping his next two matches, he narrowly missed placing, a reminder of how thin the margins are at state. His brother senior Dylan Turner, wrestling at 132 pounds, won one of his matches on Friday and added another victory on Saturday before closing out his senior season.

At 165 pounds, senior tribal member and Cole Jones Longstreet (σξ̌ʷυʔξ̌ʷυʔ) started strong on Friday and advanced confidently into day two. After losing his first match Saturday morning, he battled through the consolation bracket with determination, winning two matches before falling in a close contest that ultimately left him 8th in the state. His ability to regroup after a setback embodied the resilience the team preached all year.

Senior Gunner Janes followed a similar pattern. After going 2–0 on Friday, he faced adversity early Saturday but fought back to secure 8th place on the podium. Steven Morales also finished 8th at 190 pounds after enduring multiple overtime matches against top-level competition. Senior Maxwell Woodall delivered one of the team’s top performances, finishing 4th in his bracket and contributing key points to the team’s overall standing.

Marysville Pilchuck’s state representation extended beyond the podium. Tribal member Cheylah Moses, who wrestles for Marysville Pilchuck, earned her spot at the state tournament and competed inside the Tacoma Dome. While she did not place, qualifying for Mat Classic is an accomplishment that reflects months of discipline, preparation, and resilience. Competing at the state level requires earning that opportunity through districts and league competition, and Moses’s presence at the tournament enhances the growing strength and visibility of Marysville’s wrestling program. 

In addition to the success seen in the 2A division, the Tulalip Community was also represented in the 1A bracket by tribal member Jacoby Tait, who wrestles for Cashmere High School. Competing at 190 pounds, Tait earned a 4^th-place finish in the 1A division, marking his second straight year qualifying for and placing at the state tournament. His continued presence on the podium highlights not only his individual dedication but also the growing impact of Tulalip athletes competing across classifications throughout Washington State. 

Haughian said what impressed him most was not simply the medals, but the way his wrestlers handled both success and disappointment in the same arena.

“They left it all out on the mat. Whether they won or lost, I feel like every single one of our kids tried their absolute best. I don’t think I can think of one kid that didn’t go out there and give everything they had,” he said. “This was not an accident. This was hard work, dedication, effort, attitude, and mindset all mixed into one. We became a family. I loved every minute of it.”

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

After earning a 2^nd place finish at Tri-Districts, the (20-5) Heritage Hawks earned a much-appreciated opening round bye in the WIAA State Tournament. The Tulalip boys were awarded the #3 overall seed and as such were designated the home team for their round two matchup with the (23-2) Liberty Christian Patriots. The game was played at a neutral site, Mount Vernon High School, on Saturday, February 28.

Prior to tipoff, Heritage head coach Shawn Sanchey said, “Getting the first-round bye gave us time to watch a lot of film. We’ve been preaching to the boys all year about the importance of ball movement and player movement. Not getting stagnant and not finding ourselves standing around, not moving. Now, we’ve decided to tweak our offense a little bit to emphasize that movement even more. The goal is to maximize our team’s strengths and catch our opponent’s off guard with plays they aren’t prepared for.”

Junior guard J.J. Gray scored the first bucket of the game after a strong take saw him blow by multiple defenders caught flatfooted. A couple of possessions later, the Hawks showcased ball movement at its finest. Senior forward Davis Bachand came up with a steal and found a streaking Tayari Archibald in the open court. Instead of taking the layup, Yari waited a beat and then lobbed a perfectly placed alley-oop to Ziggy Myles-Gilford who threw down a thunderous two-handed dunk. Tulalip only led 4-0, but the boys were setting the tone early that this was statement game.

Davis would connect on back-to-back corner 3s to secure a 14-9 advantage after one quarter of play. The shooting prowess of the Hawks would continue in the 2^nd quarter. Senior Davien Parks and sophomore Yari would both catch fire from the floor and make four buckets a piece to pace their team. Ziggy would again make another highlight play late in the 2^nd when he went air born to collect an offensive rebound and jammed it over multiple Patriots defenders. 

Tulalip led 37-21 when chants of “Tulalip Power!” rang out from the Mount Vernon bleachers with a minute to play before halftime. Heritage’s defense came up back-to-back stops and suddenly Yari found himself with the ball and only seconds until halftime. As is his style, he casually dribbled into a step back 3-pointer. Never appearing rushed, the six-foot guard hit nothing but nylon as the buzzer sounded. Tulalip led 40-21 at the half.

“Once our boys settled down and locked into the game plan, you could see how effective all our players became,” said coach Shawn during the intermission. “Offensively, it comes down to staying patient, making good passes, and attacking their weak spots. Defensively, we want to make their lead guards work every time they touch the ball and to continue helping each other. We know they have a size advantage, but we have the speed and shooting advantage. As long as we continue to play for each other and see the bigger picture, we’re going to be a problem for anyone waiting for us in Spokane.”

The game tightened up in the 2^nd half, but nearly doubling up their opponent gave the Hawks a big cushion to play with. Sophomore Peyton Hatch and junior Jaedynn Zackuse both got in the scoring column with well-timed rebounds and positioning. They contributions kept Tulalip comfortably in the lead, 52-38, at the end of the 3^rd quarter.

Down the home stretch of the 4^th quarter, Heritage’s offense was most effective being played through the stone cold shooter, Yari. Tulalip’s perimeter shooting had completely disappeared in the 2^nd half before Yari drained two 3-pointers midway through the final frame. He also drained five clutch free-throws in closing minutes to seal Tulalip’s 70-63 win over the Patriots and propel his team to Spokane with a dub.

Yari led all Hawks scorers with 21 points, while Davien and Ziggy added 14 points each.

After the game, Yari shared, “I’ve been playing this game my whole life. Whether its just shooting around or at practice, I’m shooting like the game is on the line. When the game got close there late, I was hoping to get the ball because I want to take those big shots.”

In attendance for this game was Yari’s big brother, professional basketball player and Tulalip icon RaeQuan Battle. “It feels great for me to be home right now and be able to watch these guys play playoff basketball,” he said. “I know what my brother is capable of on the basketball court and to see him show out today like he did is amazing. I’m excited for this Heritage team. Making it to Spokane two years in a row is tough to do, and they did it. They are looking to put their names in the history books, for sure.”

Next up, the Heritage Hawks will soar to Spokane where they will play under the bright lights of Numerica Veterans Arena in search of defensive stops, offensive buckets, and the best kind of hardwood glory – a State championship.

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

The Tulalip Heritage girls basketball team hit the road for another loser-out game in the District 1B playoff tournament. This time, they would play all the way up in Lummi. Their opponent was the Grace Academy Eagles led by Tulalip tribal members Catherine Velasquez and Tashina Cortez. A trip to Tri-Districts on the line.

The cross-town rivals split their two regular season matchups. In the first, back on January 6, Tulalip won 36-24 at Grace. In the second, played January 30, it was Grace Academy who prevailed 36-34 at Heritage in thrilling fashion thanks, in large part, to Tashina’s late-game heroics.

Prior to the playoff game, assistant coach Deandra Grant admitted, “I can’t even lie, the girls’ energy at practice has been flat. They’ve just been going through the motions, not really fired up for this game at all, but we’re hopeful once the game begins, that competitive spirit will take hold. Especially since we’re playing Grace, a team we’re very familiar with, they know there’s a lot on the line. If I’m predicting an x-factor today, I’m saying the team energy. Not from one player either, the entire team.” 

If nothing else, Round 3 between Tulalip and Grace would be memorable. That honest reflection coach Deandra shared regarding a lack of energy was evident in the early going. Even though the girls only trailed by a single point, 3-4, after one quarter of play, they just appeared to be lagging. Shooting air balls, hitting the bottom of the rim, and even the side of the backboard on jumpers further demonstrated the energy being off from the usually high-spirited Lady Hawks.

Tulalip’s coaches routinely called for “more hustle, ladies!” as the 2^nd quarter played out. A midrange jump shot by Lilly Jefferson and a putback layup by Raylee Lewis kept the Lady Hawks in the game, even though they were doubled up, 7-14, at halftime.

Coming out of halftime, several Lady Hawks players shared that their coaches gave them the verbal fuel they needed to ignite their competitive spirits. And, boy, did it show.

It was a completely different level of intensity in the 3^rd quarter. The girls were playing light on their feet, jumping passing lanes to come up with steals, and crashing the glass to secure rebounds. Their defense sparked the offense, too. Raylee scored again, Madison Sheldon knocked down two buckets, Janeisha Zackuse scored in the paint, and Aylani Lewis got on the board with a bank shot.

For the entirety of the 3^rd quarter, the remarkable turnaround in effort and energy showed on the scoreboard. The Lady Hawks defense only gave up 3 points to Grace, while the Lady Hawks offense was humming. The result was a 17-17 tie entering the 4^th quarter. 

On Tulalip’s opening possession in the 4^th, the freshman shooter Madison casually knocked down an elbow jumper to put the Lady Hawks up 19-17. Moments later, Grace Academy senior forward and Tulalip tribal member, Catherine, knocked down a baseline jumper to notch the game at 19-19. 

The Lady Hawks immediately countered when Janeisha collected an offensive board and managed to shake off contact to score in the paint. She was also fouled on the play, which meant a trip to the free-throw line for a possible and-1. She calmly made the free throw attempt and put the Lady Hawks up 22-19 with six and a half minutes to go. 

With the defense turned up to the max and the pressure of a playoff W weighing in heavily, neither team mustered any points over the next five minutes. It wasn’t until the 90 second mark that Grace managed to end the scoreless drought when they hit a 3-pointer. Tied again, at 22-22, it was Raylee who collected an offensive rebound and, with a slight pump fake, managed to draw contact and earn a trip to the free throw line. Under a minute to go, Raylee showed major poise and made both free throws. Her Lady Hawks led 24-22.

Thirty seconds on the game clock and with the ball and the lead, Tulalip looked to have the playoff game secured. However, Grace Academy guard and Tulalip tribal member, Tashina, begged to differ. She refused to accept defeat and instead of hanging her head, she came up with a career highlight. Tashina pressed Heritage’s ballhandlers, anticipated a pass perfectly, got a steal, and, with seconds remaining, finished over and around contact by two Lady Hawks. Bucket and the foul. Tashina tied the game at 24-24 with her jumper, then gave Grace a 25-24 lead with a made free throw. Game. Set. Match.

For the Heritage Lady Hawks, it was a devastating loss as their season came to an abrupt end. For Grace’s two Tulalip hoopers, it was a moment of absolute elation. Tashina and Catherine literally jumped for joy when the game clock sounded.

“I couldn’t believe I came up with the steal, but in that moment I knew I had to shoot it as quickly as possible, and fortunately it went in,” said Tashina.
“Tashina’s been clutch for us so many times this season, and to be on the court with her and witness her do it again, it’s amazing,” added Catherine. “I feel bad for the Heritage seniors because this is their final game, but I’m also excited that my senior season isn’t over yet. I’m not done.”

A quick look was shared between her and Tashina. The pair are more like sisters than teammates. Then Catherine corrected herself, “We’re not done!”

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

After falling to Lopez Island in the opening round of the District 1B playoffs, the (7-12) Tulalip Heritage girls basketball team found themselves in high stakes matchup with Shoreline Christian. How high were the stakes? Loser-out high.

Fortunately, the pivotal game was played at home, at Francy J. Sheldon gymnasium, on Saturday, February 7. With the home crowd cheering them on, the Lady Hawks took to court eager to extend their season.

“We’ve been working hard at practice in anticipation of this game. Our top priority has been getting everyone on the same page defensively,” explained head coach Katia Brown. “Our defense, especially in transition, hasn’t been good enough lately. So, we’ve decided to implement a 1-3-1 defense in the hopes of filling those holes. It’s a work in progress, but the girls have been adapting to it well.”

There’s nothing quite like the pressure of a playoff game to motivate a team to buy in. And that’s exactly what that Lady Hawks did in an impressive showing against Shoreline. For starters, the new defensive strategy caught their opponents completely off guard. Shoreline only mustered a single point, from the free-throw line, in the 1^st quarter. The Lady Hawks led 8-1 after one quarter and 16-6 at halftime. 

In the 3^rd quarter, the Lady Hawks offense got going. Timely buckets by Aylani and Raylee Lewis, Janeisha Zackuse, and Omelia Frazier put Tulalip ahead 28-10 with mere minutes remaining. They’d go on to win the game 35-17, earning not just the W but an additional game in these playoffs. 

Aylani led all scorers with 11 points, while Madison added 9 points. Multiple Lady Hawks had 3+ steals. Omelia had an astounding 8 steals by herself, which punctuated how effective a properly played 1-3-1 defense can be.

“I know I’m not that great at offense, so I make up for it with defense. My coaches trust my instincts to go for the ball and it paid off big today,” said Omelia postgame. “We knew this was a loser-out game and we didn’t want to be out. We said we were going to win this game and we did.”

Her fellow Lady Hawk, Janeisha, added, “This win really means a lot. We didn’t want the season to end, especially not with a loss here at home. We played all out. I’m really proud of our team.”

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Opening Round vs. Grace

The (16-4) Heritage Hawks entered the District 1B playoffs as the #2 seed. After a chaotic regular season that saw multiple game postponements and a rash of injuries that sidelined several players, the coaching staff is hopeful the turbulence is finally behind them. Leaving nothing but smooth sailing as they hope to peak in the playoffs. 

“Between the weather and flooding in December and the players we had in and out of the lineup due to injuries, the first half the season was chaotic, to say the least,” shared head coach Shawn Sanchey. “We finally have a roster at full health and have been able to get our reps in at practice. I feel like we’re just now getting into our flow. We want to keep that momentum going now that it’s playoff time, and hopefully everything will peak for us as we officially begin our march to State.”

Their opening round opponent was Grace Academy. The game was played at Francy J. Sheldon gymnasium on Thursday, February 5. 

From the opening tip it was all Hawks, all the time. Offensively, seven Hawks scored in the 1^st quarter. Everyone being a willing passer and giving up a good shot for a great one made it impossible for Grace Academy to play effective defense. Heritage jumped out to a 22-6 lead, which they extended to 52-12 at halftime. 

Sophomore shooting guard Tayari Archibald led all scorers at halftime with 13 points. He had the home crowd oohing and awing with his long-range shooting. He even splashed a 3-pointer from well behind the arc, nearly Steph Curry range, right before intermission. 

“I didn’t even know I was that far back, to be honest,” said Yari. “I was feeling good against their zone and knew I could get my shot anytime because they’re slow to recover.”

The sophomore shooter remained hot in the second half and went on to lead his team with 20 points, including four made 3-pointers, in a 102-24 route of Grace Academy. It’s worth noting that all eleven varsity boys scored a bucket in the game and six players scored in double figures. 

Second Round vs. Darrington

After picking up their first playoff win and 17^th overall W of the year, the Heritage Hawks earned the right to host another home game. This time it was against Darrington. Game played on Saturday, February 7.

In the early going, it appeared Heritage would get some actual competition. Darrington connected on their first two 3-point attempts and held a 6-4 lead. That lead would be short-lived. Unlike the last game, where Heritage thrived from behind the 3-point line, this game they found great success attacking the basket. One Hawk after another got into the painted area and found themselves with an uncontested basket. Of their 11 made field goals in the opening quarter, 10 were 2-pointers. Tulalip was up 22-9 after one.

Meanwhile, Heritage’s man defense was wreaking havoc on Darrington’s ballhandlers all night long. Steal after steal resulted in uncontested, fast break points for the Hawks. Tulalip went up by 20 points midway through the 2^nd quarter, 33-13, when Darrington called a timeout. 

Even after the timeout, Darrington was unable to execute their plays vs. the speedy hands of Hawks defenders who routinely anticipated the pass before it was made. With their defense igniting the offense, and the boys remaining in attack mode, Heritage took a commanding 49-16 lead into halftime. 

Junior guard J.J. Gray led all scorers at halftime with 13 points. As the shortest player on the team, his buckets seemed to be the loudest. With a full head of steam, he penetrated the heart of Darrington’s defense at will. More often than not, he’d convert an acrobatic layup just outside the reach of would-be defenders. 

“I’m just playing my game,” said J.J. who is nearing his 1,000^th high school point. “It’s a team game, too, so I’m sharing the ball and hitting my teammates when they are open. I know I’ll get that 1,000^th point soon enough. Right now, I just want to keep stacking these wins.”

Heritage went on to dispatch Darrington with another emphatic win. This time by the score of 81-45. Sophomore Tayari again led all scorers with 22 points. Davien scored 15 points and J.J. added 14 points. 

Head coach Shawn Sanchey said, “It’s been a long season. These latest wins feel like we’re nearing our peak and playing our best version of team ball. Now is the time for all the hard work to show, and if we can keep this up then we’ll be at the top of mountain, right where we want to be.”

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

The thumping of bouncing basketballs and squeaking of sneakers against polished hardwood are familiar sounds inside Grace Academy’s gymnasium, but for two Tulalip tribal members, those sounds carry a deeper meaning. Catherine Velasquez, 18, and Tashina Cortez, 16, have walked the halls of the Marysville private school together since kindergarten. Now, years later, they stand side-by-side as teammates on Grace’s girls basketball team. They are bonded not only by years of friendship, but by culture, identity, and a shared responsibility to represent their Tribe.

For Catherine and Tashina, their shared school journey is bigger than academics or athletics. As the only Tulalip tribal members on Grace’s basketball roster, and often the only Native students in their classrooms, their mere presence carries a quiet form of leadership. They are visible reminders that representation matters.

On the court, their roles are distinct but complementary. Tashina, the team’s starting point guard, is widely regarded as Grace Academy’s best overall player. She controls the tempo of the game with confidence, directing the offense, creating opportunities for her teammates, and anchoring the team with steady composure. 

“Tashina is just an outstanding athlete and, really, our strongest ballhandler,” described Elizabeth Callaghan, Grace Academy vice-principal and girls basketball coach. “Her strongest quality is probably her ability to take ownership of the ball whenever we need her to. If we need her to score, then she’ll find a way, be it a 3-pointer, 2-pointer or from the free-throw line. If we need her to set up her teammates, then she becomes a very willing passer. She’s more than capable of getting her teammates the ball in spots where they are most comfortable shooting it. She’s so humble in her abilities and, for me, that is the best part of coaching her.” 

Catherine, playing more of a forward role, brings physicality and presence around the key by rebounding, battling in the paint, and knocking down the occasional outside jumper.

“Catherine is our only senior on the team,” explained coach Callaghan. “She’s a really good, natural leader. She’s made it her mission to be faithful, be a good communicator, and to be a true role model for her younger teammates. I’d say the aspect of her game that’s grown the most since her freshman year is her ability to process and handle the game mentally. It’s been a true pleasure to watch her grow as a player over the past four years.”

Together, two Tulalip young women form a natural rhythm that can only come from years of shared experience. There is an unspoken understanding between them. Something as simple as a look or nod conveys a particular movement that the other understands without words ever being vocalized. Yes, it’s basketball chemistry, but it’s also indicative of a lifelong connection.

“We’ve known each other since we were really little. We may not be actual sisters, but we definitely have that sisterly bond,” Tashina shared. “We trust each other, push each other to be better, and support each other no matter what. And on the court, we just get one another.”

Their bond and togetherness extends beyond the hardwood, too.

Despite attending an off-reservation school, Catherine and Tashina have remained connected to their culture and community. From a young age, both girls were highly active in Tulalip’s annual Art Festival, contributing their creativity and developing their own unique methods for imbedding cultural significance into each piece of art. Those early experiences grounded them in Tulalip identity, and pride. Values they continue to carry with them.

Both have also participated in the Tulalip Youth Council, gaining leadership experience and a deeper understanding of service, responsibility, and community involvement. Through that youth-drive initiative, they learned that being Tulalip is not just about where you come from, but how you carry yourself and how you give back.

That sense of responsibility shapes how they’ve navigated Grace Academy since Kindergarten.

“In classrooms where we’re not just the only Tulalip students, but the only Native students as well, we try to always be aware of how we represent our people,” Catherine said. “It’s something we’re definitely proud of, not something we hide.”

Tashina echoed that feeling, noting that being together makes the experience easier. “When you’re the only ones on the team, it can feel isolating sometimes. But we always have each other, so we don’t feel alone.”

Their presence challenges stereotypes of who attends Marysville’s private Christian academy and builds bridges of understanding. Through their excellence in academics, leadership in school activities, and performance in athletics, they show classmates and teachers alike what it means to carry Tulalip culture with dignity.

On the basketball court, they represent Grace Academy with pride. Off the court, they represent Tulalip with purpose.

In every bucket, every assist, every classroom presentation, and every cultural activity, Catherine Velasquez and Tashina Cortez are representing. Representing their families. Representing their Tribe. Representing a future where young Native women move confidently between worlds without losing themselves in the process.

For Tulalip, their story is a reminder that representation does not always come in loud declarations. Sometimes it comes quietly in dedication, in friendship, and in two young women who carry their culture proudly, wherever they go.

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News  

The Marysville Pilchuck wrestling team continued its strong season on January 14 with a 55–14 victory over Stanwood High School, improving to 17–1 on the year and matching last season’s win total. Although the score reflected another dominant performance, coach Tony Hatch said the match was more challenging than it appeared, as his team had to respond after a slow start and adjust to an opponent that came in ready to compete.

“Stanwood, we weren’t sure what they were going to bring to us,” Hatch said. “When you’re winning every match like we’ve been doing lately, everybody’s gaming up for you, and I think some of the guys might’ve looked past these guys a little bit and weren’t ready to step on out.” 

Hatch explained that despite falling behind early, the team’s composure and experience showed late in the dual. “They came at us and really tested us. I think it shows the character of our guys that we can change gears and come back to get the win after falling behind.” 

After finishing 17–0 a year ago, this season’s group has once again put itself in position for a deep postseason run. Hatch said the only blemish on the record, a close loss to Arlington earlier in the season, continues to motivate the team as it balances success with the physical demands of a long schedule. 

“That loss still haunts us a little bit,” Hatch said. “These guys have really been hitting it hard, and we’ve got a lot of guys that are beat up and need a little time to heal,” he added, noting that managing health will be important as districts and states approach.

The roster features eight Native American wrestlers, including five senior Tulalip tribal members, Garrett Turner, Dylon Turner, Martell Monger, Marcus Smith, and Cole Jones-Offstreet, whose leadership has played a key role throughout the season. 

Looking ahead to the postseason, Hatch believes hunger and consistency will define how far this team can go. “We’ve got some really hungry guys,” he said. “A handful should place top eight at the state tournament, and then a couple guys who could sneak in and get on the podium.”

Hatch also emphasized the importance of mental preparation as the pressure increases. “Try to keep them smiling and keep them happy, make sure they’re actually wrestling their best. They know they’ve outworked everybody.” At the same time, he said the program’s future remains bright. “We’ve got a lot of young guys coming up, some young tribal members and some young guys from the community, and they’re and learning a lot from the older guys. I’m really excited about it.” 

Senior Cole Jones-Offstreet provided one of the night’s highlights with a 30-second pin. He said staying focused has been a priority for him this season, especially on nights when the team faces adversity. “Even though we were struggling tonight, you never want to give up on your opponent, so I made sure I went out there and put up a strong performance.” He added that he has worked to expand his offense. “I try to go for more leg attacks,” he said, before crediting the team’s discipline as the postseason nears. “Everybody is practicing hard, there’s a good support system, and even when we’re tired and injured, we’re pushing through.” 

When asked about the team’s ultimate goal, Jones-Offstreet did not hesitate. “State championship,” he said.

Another milestone came from senior captain Garrett Turner, who reached the 100-career-win mark, continuing a recent trend for the program. With his achievement, Marysville Pilchuck has now produced a 100-win senior in back-to-back seasons, underscoring the program’s consistency and development. Turner said pacing himself has been a key adjustment as the season has gone on. “I’m putting too much pressure on these guys sometimes and working my gas tank a little too much.” 

He added that focusing on details has made the difference. “I’ve been working on pressure, not trying to force scrambles, and getting better with my hand fight. Working on the little details helps a lot.” 

As a senior leader, Turner said his role is to keep the team focused and energized heading into Districts and State. “Just keep them confident, keep our boys hyped, and ready to explode.” Reflecting on earlier matches, he said controlling his pace will be critical. “I’ve had a couple matches where I went too fast and got too excited, so I’m going to try to calm down a little before districts,” he said, before sharing his postseason goal. “I want to be a state finalist.”

Marysville Pilchuck now turns its attention to the postseason schedule, beginning with Dual State on January 31 at Orting High School at 9 a.m., followed by the district tournament on February 6 and 7 at a site to be determined, and the Mat Classic state tournament on February 20 and 21 at the Tacoma Dome.

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

The Tulalip Heritage girls basketball team hosted Providence Classical Christian in a mid-season battle of northwest divisional foes. Prior to tip-off at Francy J. Sheldon gymnasium, the Lady Hawks coaching staff shared what the points of emphasis have been at practice.

Head coach Katia Brown said, “We’re hoping to see our girls come out and set a good tone early, like they’ve done the past few games. Just trying to keep our pace up and keep that speed of the game consistent is what I’m hoping to see most.”

Added assistant coach Deandra Grant, “I’d like to see a lot more effort from all five girls on the court to rebound. We know, as a generally undersized team, that rebounding is that much more important to us. In our last few practices, we’ve done more rebounding drills and developed a real emphasis on going for boards as a team, not just standing in place and hoping the rebound falls to you. We also worked a lot on post-entry passes. Getting our guards more comfortable passing to our posts without turning the ball over is something I’ll be watching for.”

The pace was good in the early going, but then stalled out quickly after both Heritage guards, Aylani Lewis and Madison Sheldon, found themselves in early foul trouble and on the bench. The Lady Hawks scored their first bucket six minutes into the 1^st quarter, after Lilly Jeferson went iso and splashed a much-needed jumper. Her bucket made it a 3-6 game. Several possessions later, senior forward Raylee Lewis collected an offensive board and scored a putback to make it a 5-7 game.

Because the points were tough to come by, the Lady Hawks leaned on their tenacious defense to keep them in it. No one embodied that spirit more than junior forward Omelia Frazier. With the foul trouble plaguing Heritage’s starting backcourt, Omelia got all the run she could handle. She responded by playing lockdown defense and coming up with several well-timed steals.

Senior center Molly Jones Charles also got an extended run in this game. She made a highlight play midway through the 2^nd quarter when her team trailed 6-10. Molly dove on the court to grab a loose ball and, from her backside, passed it perfectly into the shooting pocket of Madison, who stood outside the 3-point line. Madison splashed in the 3-pointer, and both girls celebrated the play as they ran back on defense, now trailing by just a single point. On the next possession, Madison snagged an offensive board and scored on a putback to put the Lady Hawks up 11-10. Janeisha joined the party soon after with an offensive board of her own and quick putback. Lady Hawks led 13-10 at halftime.

In the 2^nd half, the game was tied at 17-17 with two minutes to go in the 3^rd quarter. Aylani nabbed a board and then quickly threw it forward to Raylee, who managed to avoid multiple defenders and score a transition bucket. That bucket lit the fuse for the offensive explosion that followed.

Entering the 4^th quarter, Tulalip led 21-19. Raylee would make her home in the paint and warmly welcomed any would-be defender to her domicile with buckets. Over the right shoulder, over the left shoulder, it didn’t matter. She scored 10 points in the final frame to secure Tulalip’s 36-31 victory.

Following the game, Raylee shared, “It’s difficult to explain, but in the beginning of the game I just felt off. Then, later, I just got really upset and suddenly felt like I couldn’t miss. There was even one play where it felt like I pulled off Jordan’s signature shimmy. I’m just really happy I could score when my team needed me to and that we go this W.”

While Raylee’s heroics came on the offensive side of the ball, Omelia’s came on the defense side. She admitted, “Watching my teammates get into foul trouble fired me up to get in the game and play hard for them. I was trying to take that orange ball from [Providence] whenever I could. I just kept thinking, ‘it doesn’t matter, we are going to win this game, ’ and we did. Right now, our spirits couldn’t be higher.”

Reminder to Heritage’s loyal fan base that Senior Night will be celebrated on Thursday, January 29. Celebration begins at 5:00 pm sharp for the Lady Hawks.