Before last year Squalicum gymnast Kylie Garrison had never competed in gymnastics before, but based on her performance this season, it would be hard to tell the Storm senior is relatively new to the sport.
A talent on the soccer pitch, where Garrison was a top-five goal scorer in the NWC last fall, Garrison has been steadily proving to Bellingham School District gymnastics coach Doriane Gunnels that she is a natural athlete.
Most recently, Garrison qualified for the district meet in all four disciplines - bars, floor exercise, beam and vault.
"Kylie is an outstanding student athlete," Gunnels wrote in an email. "She started gymnastics last year and was new to the sport. Her hard work and determination paid off, and (she) shows her natural talent and ability."
PLAYOFF SCENERIOS SHAPING UP FOR A WILD MONDAY
With several girls' and boys' basketball teams locked in tight races for coveted playoff spots, the slate of 14 games for Monday, Feb. 6, should provide quite a bit of intrigue.
While the majority of the Northwest Conference teams in the upper half of the standings will be celebrating their postseason berths, at least a couple teams will end Monday broken hearted.
The boys' side is much more settled than the girls'.
In fact, Lynden (15-3, 11-1 NWC), Anacortes (14-5, 10-2), Squalicum (16-3, 9-3), Sehome (17-7, 8-4) and Burlington-Edison (13-5, 6-5) have already locked up spots in the 2A Northwest District Tournament tournament. Monday is all about seeding for those teams.
Burlington-Edison will be the NWC No. 5 seed and will travel to Sultan at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, to play for a spot in the main bracket and a first-round date with Lynden on Saturday, Feb. 11.
Anacortes has locked up at least the No. 2 seed and will likely host Archbishop Murphy at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Monday's Sehome-Squalicum game will determine the Nos. 3 and 4 seeds into the district tournament. The No. 3 seed will travel to play Granite Falls, while the No. 4 seed will travel to play Cedarcrest.
Lynden Christian (16-3, 9-3) is already set to play King's at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Mount Vernon High School in the Class 1A Northwest District Playoffs. Meridian (6-13, 3-9) hosts Coupeville, and Nooksack Valley (1-18, 1-11) will be at Friday Harbor that same night. The winner of those three games moves on to the 1A tri-district tournament.
In Class 3A, the Golden Eagles (14-6, 6-6) are in danger of missing the district tournament, as Mount Vernon already has grabbed one of the two NWC seeds. Ferndale needs a win against Mount Baker and for Sedro-Woolley to lose to Lynden on Monday to get the last playoff spot.
The girls' side is a whole lot messier.
Burlington-Edison (17-2, 11-1) has won the NWC and has earned the No. 1 NWC seed to the 2A District Tournament. Sehome (14-5, 9-3) has also ensured itself a spot in the district tournament. With Blaine's win over Sehome on Saturday, Feb. 4, the Borderites (14-5. 9-3) also have locked up a spot. That leaves Mount Baker (14-5, 8-4), Lynden (13-6, 8-4) and Anacortes (11-8, 8-4) vying for the final two spots.
In Class 1A, Lynden Christian (11-8, 7-5) is set to host Meridian (5-13, 2-10) at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the 1A District Playoffs, while Nooksack Valley (7-12, 5-7 NWC) is slated to play at Coupeville at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
In Class 3A, Ferndale (12-7, 6-6) is a lock for the 3A Northwest District Tournament, but Monday's game at Mount Baker could decide what seed the Golden Eagles will receive.
Freshman basketball: The Ferndale boys' 'C' team wrapped up a 16-0 season last week.
