Spudders beat league rival in semis before winning title; Plus results from more sports
The Ridgefield Spudders, the best team from the 2A Greater St. Helens League during the regular season, proved they are the best team in the state Saturday.
The Spudders took down Lynden to claim the Class 2A state championship, winning the title match 3-1 for the program’s first state title since 1990.
The Spudders were undefeated in the regular season before losing in the district tournament to Columbia River last week.
The Spudders got their revenge, topping the Chieftains in the state semifinals earlier on Saturday at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey.
Then it was time to finish the job.
Ridgefield topped Lynden 27-25, 15-25, 31-29, 25-16.
The final result reminded us of a quote from team captain Kohana Fukuchi. Earlier this season, she told ClarkCountyToday.com: “We’re super competitive and push each other to be better but there is no jealousy. We’re all happy for each other about our accomplishments. We play as one team. Not a single one of us plays as an individual.”
In fact, the Spudders do not describe their starters as starters and their reserves as reserves. They are all just one team, one family.
After finishing third in state last year, this family dedicated itself to improving. The Spudders proved it Saturday night in Lacey, winning the championship.
Columbia River, meanwhile, ended up fourth in the state. Woodland took sixth place. Those results mean all three teams from the 2A GSHL placed at state.
At the 1B state tournament in Yakima, Firm Foundation Christian of Battle Ground finished fifth. That is the first trophy for the program.
State soccer
Clark County girls soccer teams went 4-0 in quarterfinal matches Saturday, sending all four to the semifinals in their respective classifications.
Camas beat Bellarmine Prep 4-2 at Doc Harris Stadium in the 4A quarterfinals. The Papermakers, who are going to the final four for the fourth consecutive season, will take on Central Valley in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Friday at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup.
Prairie went on the road and beat defending state champion Mercer Island 2-1 in penalty kicks. The Falcons will take on Holy Names in the 3A semifinals, 4 p.m. Friday also at Sparks Stadium. It will be the second final four appearance for the program. The Falcons reached the semifinals in 2010.
In 2A, the Columbia River Chieftains continued their recent dominance, beating Fife 2-0 at Kiggins Bowl. The Chieftains will take on Sehome at 8 p.m. Friday at Shoreline Stadium. The Chieftains won the state title in 2016 and finished second last year.
And in 1A, King’s Way Christian beat King’s 3-1 in the quarters. The Knights will play Klahowya at 4 p.m. Friday at Shoreline. This will be the first semifinal appearance for the Knights.
More volleyball
The Mountain View Thunder won three consecutive elimination matches Saturday in the Class 3A bi-district tournament to qualify for next week’s state tournament. The Thunder will join Prairie at 3A state. The Falcons, who had already qualified, finished third at bi-district.
Meanwhile, Camas took fourth place in the 4A bi-district. The Papermakers qualified for state last week.
4A football
Skyview’s season came to an end Saturday.
Woodinville, the No. 2 seed in the Class 4A state playoffs, topped the 15th-seeded Storm 34-21.
Woodinville led 31-7 at the half, but the Storm scored two third-quarter touchdowns – Yaro Duvalko to Mason Wheeler for TD pases – to make it interesting.
That is as close as it got, though, and the Storm finished the year 6-5, but with a trip to the round of 16.
State swimming
La Center’s Hailey Grotte finished second in the Class 2A/1A state meet in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle. Teammate Bryanna Ungs finished second in the 100 breaststroke and third in the 200 IM.
