Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Friday, Jul. 03, 2009

PREP GIRLS' ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Benner marvels at Lions' success

From winning an improbable state basketball championship to capturing her second state doubles tennis title, Brandi Benner certainly led a charmed senior season.

So much so that the Lynden standout is still a little shocked when she looks back on all the success that she and her Lions teammates had over the last 10 months.

"When I think about all that happened our senior season it's all still incredible," Benner said in a phone interview. "It's just hard to believe."

Hard to believe might be the theme for Benner's amazing year. It started with a third-place finish at the Class 2A state volleyball tournament in November and only got better from there.

In a four-month span Benner won two state titles, was named the most valuable player of the Class 2A state girls' basketball tournament, and won Class 2A state girls' basketball player of the year honors from the Associated Press.

She's also the Bellingham Herald's All-Whatcom County Girls' Athlete of the Year.

"I think the thing that stands out for me the most about this year is winning the state basketball title," Benner said. "That was something nobody expected us to do. We were such big underdogs against Archbishop Murphy."

Benner went from being the underdog in basketball to the favorite in girls' tennis and handled each equally well. She and teammate Jill Toronchuk won their second consecutive doubles titles in May.

"They did more damage in tennis than any other sport," Lynden coach Trey Ballard said. "It's hard as seniors when they get senioritis in the spring, but those girls were focused all the way through."

Benner has plans to continue being a multi-sport athlete at the college level. She has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Skagit Valley College, and also plans to walk-on to the tennis team.

"I signed for basketball and that's my No. 1 sport, but I just wasn't ready to give up tennis yet," Benner said.

A LITTE MORE ABOUT BENNER

Favorite movie: Love and Basketball. It's sort of a love story and it's about basketball.

Favorite thing to do: Beside sports I enjoy hanging out with friends and family.

Favorite type of music: Country. I just grew up with it my whole life. I guess my favorites would be Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley

Athletic idol: Dwayne Wade

Favorite Lynden athletic memory: I've played too many sports for too many years to have just one. I guess if I had to pick it would just be time spent with my teammates. We've all been together for so many years.

BRANDI BENNER

School: Lynden

Year: Senior

Sports: Volleyball, basketball, tennis

Next step: Playing basketball and tennis at Skagit Valley College

Volleyball: Benner helped the Lions to a third-place finish at the Class 2A state tournament as a standout back row player and libero. She set a school record for most digs in a match when she collected 48 against Mount Vernon and averaged 4.4 per game. She was a second-team all-Northwest Conference pick and a three-year starter. Lynden finished the regular season undefeated.

Basketball: She was named the Associated Press Class 2A state girls' basketball player of the year after leading Lynden to a state championship. Benner scored 19 points in the Lions' 48-41 win over Archbishop Murphy in the title game and earned a first-team nod on the All-State tournament team. She was also an All-NWC first team pick after averaging 13.3 points, 3.7 assists, and just under three steals a game.

Tennis: Benner and teammate Jill Toronchuck won their second consecutive Class 2A state doubles tennis title with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Squalicum's Anne and Andrea d'Aquino. She was named to the All-Northwest Conference first team after she and Toronchuk completed the season 23-0 as the Lions' top doubles team. The duo also won the Northwest District championship and helped Lynden finish fourth at state in the team standings.

KENZIE DE BOER

School: Lynden Christian

Year: Senior

Sports: Soccer, basketball

Next step: Playing basketball at the University of Montana

Soccer: De Boer had a season to remember in her second sport, leading the Northwest Conference in scoring with 27 goals and adding seven assists. She was a first-team All-NWC pick and accounted for more than half of her team's goals. Though the Lyncs didn't have a stellar record, that didn't keep the opposition from trying to stop De Boer. She was always marked by the best defender and it still didn't seem to matter.

Basketball: She was named the Class 1A girls' state player of the year by the Associated Press after leading the Lyncs to a fourth-place finish at the state tournament. The four-year starter averaged 17.7 points per game in her final season and was named the Northwest Conference's Most Valuable Player. She graduates as Lynden Christian's all-time leading scorer and will continue her career at the University of Montana next season. The Lyncs finished first, second, third and fourth at the state tournament during her years at the school.

NICOLA FOLLIS

School: Squalicum

Year: Senior

Sports: Volleyball, basketball, softball

Next step: Attending the University of Washington

Volleyball: Follis was one of the most powerful hitters in the conference and also put up a nice block. She was selected to the All-Northwest Conference honorable mention team after helping the Storm to a 5-9 overall record. Her unselfish attitude and natural athleticism helped her excel.

Basketball: Follis was one of the top rebounders in the Northwest Conference and proved to be a very capable scorer. The senior post averaged 10.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, and was named to the All-Northwest Conference first team. Her consistency also set her apart. She had 12 double-doubles in 24 games and set a team record for rebounds in a season with 272. She also set Squalicum's single game mark for rebounds this season when she grabbed 22 against Semiahmoo Secondary. All of that led to an invitation to the All-State game.

Softball: Follis was a second-team all-Northwest Conference selection at shortstop after leading Squalicum with a .390 batting average. While her success at the plate was certainly impressive she might have been even more remarkable once she reached base. Follis stole 20 bases this season and had a .556 on-base percentage. The four-year starter was also able to make a difference with her glove. After earning an all-NWC nod at first base as a junior, she transitioned to shortstop and committed just eight errors in 101 attempts.

JILL TORONCHUK

School: Lynden

Year: Senior

Sports: Volleyball, basketball, tennis

Next step: Playing volleyball at Millersville University in Pennsylvania

Volleyball: As a second-team all-Northwest Conference selection, Toronchuk helped Lynden to an undefeated regular season record and a third-place finish at the state tournament. She was able to use her athleticism as a middle blocker to be effective on the attack and at the block. She also proved to be adept at serving, recording five aces in the Lions' opening-round win at state. She'll be playing volleyball next season for Millersville University in Pennsylvania.

Basketball: Toronchuk emerged as one of the most versatile players in the Northwest Conference this season in helping Lynden to a Class 2A state championship. She averaged 9.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game and was a first-team all-NWC selection. Toronchuk could play guard, post or wing, and was athletic enough to be a very capable defender. At the state tournament she averaged 6.3 points per game and was named to the all-tournament team.

Tennis: Toronchuck and teammate Brandi Benner won their second consecutive Class 2A state doubles tennis title with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Squalicum's Anne and Andrea d'Aquino. She was named to the All-Northwest Conference first team after she and Benner completed the season 23-0 as the Lions' top doubles team. The duo also won the Northwest District championship and helped Lynden finish fourth at state in the team standings.

ERIKA RAMSTEAD

School: Nooksack Valley

Year: Senior

Sports: Volleyball, basketball, softball

Next step: Playing basketball at Western Washington University

Volleyball: Ramstead did a little bit of everything for Nooksack Valley on the volleyball court this season. Whether that was attacking, blocking, serving or digging the ball, she knew how to fill a stat sheet. She was the only Class 1A player voted to the All-Northwest Conference first team and helped the Pioneers to a 10-6 overall record. Twenty-seven kills and six aces in a win over Lynden Christian and 28 digs and 17 kills against Mount Baker were highlights.

Basketball: Ramstead led the Pioneers in scoring, rebounding and assists this season, proving that she was one of the most multitalented players in the Northwest Conference. The two-time All-NWC first team player averaged 13.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game this season and finished her career with 1,365 points. Her performance was good enough to catch the eye of Western Washington University. She signed a national letter of intent to play for the Vikings next season.

Softball: While college softball might not be in Ramstead's future, it certainly could have been. Ramstead wrapped up her softball career as arguably the most dominant player in Whatcom County. As a pitcher she finished with a 17-7 record and 201 strikeouts. As a batter she hit .524 with six home runs and 19 runs batted in. This first-team All-Northwest Conference selection helped the Pioneers reach the state tournament for a fourth consecutive year and leaves with 79 career wins, the most in school history.