JOSH KRAGHT

School: Lynden

Year: Junior

Football: Helped guide Lynden to the Class 2A state championship. ... Equally dangerous running the ball as he is throwing it. ... Passed for 2,201 yards and 25 touchdowns against only five interceptions. ... Rushed for 601 yards and 17 touchdowns. ... Rushed for 254 yards and nine TDs in the first two rounds of the state playoffs. ... Also a standout in Lions' defensive backfield. ... Selected the Northwest Conference 2A/3A Most Valuable Player for the second straight year and was a first-team pick at quarterback and defensive back. ... Selected first-team all-state at quarterback by the Associated Press.

Basketball:

Baseball: A steadying presence behind the plate with an outstanding arm and showed great ability to come up with the big hit near the top of Lynden's lineup ... Batted .309 (26 for 84) with 20 RBI, 10 extra-base hits, including two homers, and scored 16 runs ... A second-team All-Northwest Conference selection as a position player ... Helped Lynden reach the 2A state championship game for the first time in the program's history.

PATRICK GIBSON

School: Squalicum

Year: Junior

Cross country: Won the individual title at the Class 2A State Championships in Pasco - his second straight top-10 finish at state - with a personal-best time of 15 minutes, 28.8 seconds and helped the Storm finish sixth. ... Also won the titles at the 2A Northwest District Meet (16:03.73) and Northwest Conference Championships (15:31.57). ... Won every race he competed in this fall except for the Sept. 17 South Whidbey Invitational, when he placed second. ... Selected the All-Northwest Conference MVP.

Track: Won the 2A state title in the 3,200 meters with a personal-best time of 9 minutes, 1.86 seconds. ... Also placed second in the 1,600 meters at state in a personal-best 4:11.29. ... Won the 2A Northwest District titles in both events in 9:07.00 and 4:21.52 and claimed the 1,600 at the Northwest Conference Championships. ... Was unbeaten in the 3,200 this year and won all but two times he entered the 1,600.

MATT MEYER

School: Lynden

Year: Junior

Football: A big, physical presence on the left side of Lynden's offensive line that teamed up with guard Taylor Witman to form probably the best tandem in Whatcom County. ... Helped the Lions win a Class 2A state title. ... Part of a line that helped Lynden amass 5,276 yards of total offense and 73 touchdowns this year. ... Lynden also started to lean on him more as a defensive end as the season progressed. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A second team.

Basketball: The strong, athletic big man that became a force in the paint for the Lions this season. ... Led the Lions in rebounds and shot almost 60 percent from the floor. ... Finished third on the team with 9.5 points per game. ... Helped lead the Lions to the Northwest Conference championship with a 12-1 conference mark, advance to state and win the Class 2A state championship. ... Selected first-team all-NWC.

Baseball: Amazing flexibility and athleticism for a player his size made him a vacuum cleaner at first and always a threat at the plate ... Batted .329 (27 for 82) and walked 15 times ... Also scored 19 runs, drove in 11 and belted a homer ... A first-team All-Northwest Conference selection as a position player ... Helped Lynden reach the 2A state championship game for the first time in the program's history.

CALEB NEWMAN

School: Lynden

Year: Junior

Football: A physical beast at defensive end for Lynden with his 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame and a motor that never quit. ... Great athleticism allowed him to rush the quarterback, stuff the run or drop into coverage. ... Part of the Lions defense that held opponents to 12.1 points per game this season and helped win the Class 2A state title. ... Also used on the offensive line and at running back, where he rushed for four short-yardage touchdowns. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A first team. ... Selected first-team all-state by the Associated Press.

Wrestling: Despite limited wrestling experience, advanced to the 2A State Tournament but did not place after losing in OT in the second round and losing in a 2-1 decision in the consolation bracket. ... Earned a record of 21-6 with 19 pins. ... Got hot toward the end of the season and won tournament titles at the Northwest Conference Tournament, sub-regionals and 2A Northwest regionals. ... Will be one of Lynden's top returners next year.

Track: Finished 10th in the 400 at the 2A State Championships with a time of 51.44 seconds. ... Won the 2A Northwest District title in the event with a personal-best time of 50.72 seconds and placed fourth at the Northwest Conference Championships (52.30 seconds). ... Also was part of Lynden's third-place 4x400 relay at state and ran on the 4x100 relay.

DENVER VANDER YACHT

School: Meridian

Year: Senior

Football: Played a big role in Meridian holding opponents to 3.0 yards per rush this year despite battling the effects of a knee injury he suffered late last year. ... Developed such a strong reputation for stopping the run that opponents game-planned to the other side of the field. ... Also caught 12 passes for 184 yards and helped Meridian pile up 4,587 yards of total offense and score 54 touchdowns as a tight end. ... Helped Meridian reach the first round of the Class 1A State Playoffs. ... Selected first-team All-Northwest Conference at tight end and on the defensive line.

Basketball:

Track: Placed third in the javelin at the 1A State Championships with a throw of 183 feet, 11 inches. ... Also placed seventh in the shot put at state with a throw of 48-1 and competed in the discus at state. ... Won all three throwing events at the 1A tri-district meet, claiming the javelin (179-9), discus (personal-best 149-6) and shot put (personal-best 48-43/4). ... Won the Northwest Conference title in the javelin (136-4).

LEVI WIGG

School: Mount Baker

Year: Senior

Football: Finished third in the Northwest Conference with 1,413 yards this season and scored 21 touchdowns. ... Led all NWC backs with at least 25 carries with his 9.1 yards per attempt. ... Helped the Mountaineers reach the Class 2A Northwest District Playoffs and post a 7-3 record this year. ... Has rushed for 3,209 yards and 44 touchdowns the past two years. ... Selected to the All-Northwest Conference 2A/3A first team as a running back and defensive back. ... Selected first-team all-state by the Associated Press.

Wrestling: Qualified for the 2A State Tournament for the second year in a row but did not place after going 0-2. ... Had a record of 27-8 with 18 pins. ... Finished second at the Vashon Invite and fourth at 2A Northwest regionals. ... Won tournament titles at the Sky Valley Classic, Lynden Invitational, Mount Baker/Gus Compton Invite, sub-regionals and Northwest Conference Tournament. ... Also a standout on the Mount Baker football team.

Baseball:

Honorable mention

Athlete School Sports

Luke Christianson Lynden Football, baseball

Tyrel Cronk Mount Baker Football, wrestling, baseball

Jarek Jensen Squalicum Football, track

Johnny Murphy Meridian Football, baseball

Alec Postlewait Mount Baker Football, wrestling

Zach Vis Lynden Football, basketball, baseball

Reach DAVID RASBACH at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2271.