Pioneers fill all-league, state selections

State and all-league selections were done through finishing position of the district championship at the Okanogan Valley Golf Course with the top five finishers qualifying for state and the sixth acting as an alternate. Omak claimed seven of the ten available slots.

Halle Richter and Coley and Kinsey Christoph qualified for state on the girls side while Blake Sam, Josaya Sloan, Grizz Moore, and Jovan Mercado took four of the qualifying positions on the boys side.

The May 20 competition in Okanogan for districts was nearly halted by thunderstorms, but was able to finish all of their competition and awards before they came into town.

Omak finished with the lowest team score on both the girls (418) and boys (372) sides.

“On a side note, I want to send out some appreciation for the time and effort that so many people contributed,” Omak coach Nick Popelier said. “Todd Gjesvold, Ryan Vance, and crew at the golf course spent so much time and energy prepping the course to play as well as it did yesterday.”

Popelier finished with acknowledging other members of the local course who helped with scoring, along with the families of the golfers and the greater community for their support of the program.

For 2B play, Okanogan would take on a tough field at the Rock Island Golf Course, so tough in fact that only one Bulldogs golfer would qualify through to state play.

Golfers were competing on May 15 for one of six slots to make it to state play. Darton Wood would end up qualifying for Okanogan in the sixth position after shooting a 105 on the 18-hole course.

Teammate Ryder Freel was just outside of qualifying with a 112 which landed him in 8th position. Trey Hopkin shot a 129 while Zander Freel and Hayden Chilmonik tied at 132 apiece. Caleb Craddock rounded out the boys scores for Okanogan with a 135, coach Ron Cate said.

“Unfortunately, only five girls from District 6 were invited to the state tournament,” Cate said.

That means unlike Wood, who qualified through for the boys in sixth, Sophie Marchand would be just outside the needed bubble in sixth place for the girls with a 140.

“Sophie, Caleb, and Austin Nelson will be graduating and moving on towards their future goals,” Cate said. “But I am looking forward to an even better next year with our returners.

“It has been a real joy to coach these golfers this year.”

CTL district results are below.

Caribou Trail League District Championship

Girls team scores – 1, Omak, 418; 2, Cascade, 515; T3, Chelan, Quincy, no score.

Boys team scores – 1, Omak, 372; 2, Chelan, 392; 3, Cascade, 435; 4, Quincy, no score.

Girls – 1, Arabelle Finch, Chelan, 98; 2, Halle Richter, Omak, 100; 3, Coley Christoph, Omak, 103; 4, Kinsey Christoph, Omak, 105; 5, Kira Sandoval, Chelan, 106; 6, Rayen Blue, Cascade, 108; 7, Callie Christoph, Omak, 110; 8, Delaney McNeil, Omak, 114; 9, Zoe Boggs, Cascade, 115; 10, Malie Benson, Chelan, 128; 11, Johana Gonzalez, Quincy, 130; T12, Blessby Alvarez, Quincy, Baylee Unger, Cascade, 141; 14, Jourdan Ferguson, Quincy, 146; 15, Maddy Black, Cascade, 151.

Boys – 1, Carson Clinton, Chelan, 74; 2, Blake Sam, Omak, 83; T3, Josaya Sloan, Omak, Grizz Moore, Omak, 96; 5, Jovan Mercado, Omak, 97; 6, Jaxson Ferguson, Quincy, 101; 7, Rocco Domser, Chelan, 102; T8, Braeden Parton, Cascade, Hunter Stutzman, Cascade, Chase Woodley, Chelan, 106; T11, Cannon Christoph, Omak, Ashton Lapinski, Cascade, 108; 13, Grant Coonrod, Chelan, 110; 14, Jones Duncan, Cascade, 115; 15, Gavin Pulse, Cascade, 118; 16, Scott Lindsay, Cascade, 124; 17, John Ludwig, Chelan, 128; T18, Mason Fletcher, Omak, Cooper Neff, Chelan, 129; 20, Lane LeSure, Quincy, 137.

CTL All-League Selections

Girls Player of the Year – Arabelle Finch, Chelan, junior.

Boys Player of the Year – Carson Clinton, Chelan, freshman.

Girls first team all-league – Arabelle Finch, Chelan; Halle Richter, Omak; Coley Christoph, Omak; Kinsey Christoph, Omak; Kira Sandoval, Chelan.

Girls second team all-league – Rayen Blue, Cascade; Callie Christoph, Omak; Delaney McNeil, Omak.

Boys first team all-league – Carson Clinton, Chelan; Blake Sam, Omak; Josaya Sloan, Omak; Grizz Moore, Omak; Jovan Mercado, Omak.

Boys second team all-league – Jaxson Ferguson, Quincy; Rocco Domser, Chelan; Braeden Parton, Cascade; Hunter Stutzman, Cascade; Chase Woodley, Chelan.