If the Squalicum girls' swim team hopes to contend for another Class 2A state title this fall, coach Steve Gibb will certainly need swimmer Josephine Hegeberg to be in top form.

So far, she looks the part of a swimmer capable of leading the Storm into the King County Aquatic Center.

During Squalicum's dual meet against Burlington-Edison Thursday, Sept. 20, Hegeberg swam state qualifying times in the 200 and 500 freestyle. She swam the 200 in 2 minutes, 6.58 seconds and swam the 500 in 5:44.40 and won both events. She also helped the Storm win two relays.

Gibb said neither the 200 nor 500 are Hegeberg's strongest events.

"Josephine is a leader on this team, especially by example," Gibb wrote in an email. "(She is a) hard worker, of course, but will do anything to help her team. She has state goals and is one of my smartest natural swimmers. (She) just knows how to manage a race."

LUNDE TAKING CARE OF SCORING FOR MERIDIAN

With five seniors and one of the top goal scorers in the Northwest Conference, the Meridian girls' soccer team may be in the midst of a special season.

Midfielder Taylor Lunde tallied 17 goals and 12 assists during her sophomore season last year. With the way she's started her junior campaign, all signs point to coach Andrea Ames' standout having another stellar year.

On Tuesday, Sept. 12, Lunde scored a hat trick during a 5-0 win against Lynden. She added a goal and two assists during Meridian's 6-0 win against Nooksack Valley on Thursday, Sept. 13, and Lunde scored twice more and recorded an assist in a 6-0 win against Sedro-Woolley Tuesday, Sept. 18.

Lunde has accumulated seven goals and four assists through seven games. She's two goals behind league-scoring leader Emily Webster.

"Taylor is a great leader and player, but one of the things I really appreciate about her is that she is very humble," Ames wrote in an email. "She probably prefers that I not nominate her (for athlete of the week) or call attention to her strengths and is shy about having her name in the paper, which shows that it's not all about her but about the team and being successful. That's pretty neat for someone who is 16."

NORTH SETS THE TONE FOR BELLINGHAM

There are many reasons for the Bellingham girls' soccer team's 4-0-0 start in conference play.

Eight different Red Raiders have scored goals, Bellingham has outscored opponents 18-3 in its last four matches and its back line is forcing teams to work hard for scoring opportunities.

Another reason is the work rate of sophomore center mid/defender Hattie North.

Bellingham coach Mark Wright said North's energy during the Red Raiders' past three matches has created numerous opportunities at both ends of the field.

"Hattie North is like a beacon of light for our team," Wright wrote in an email. "Her shine guides us and helps us find the extra zip we need to fly around and battle. She is a ball winner, a great teammate and a leader with her consistency every day at practice. ... I marvel at her true grit every day and feel blessed to call her one of my players."

Reach ANDREW LANG at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call ext. 862.