Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Saturday, Jun. 13, 2009

ALL-WHATCOM COUNTY GIRLS' TENNIS: First team

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

BRANDI BENNER AND

JILL TORONCHUK

School: Lynden

Year: Senior

What they did: Won back-to-back Class 2A state doubles titles ... Both named to the Northwest Conference first team ... Finished season 23-0 at No. 1 doubles ... Won Northwest District championship ... Led Lions to fourth-place team finish at state ... Helped Lions to a co-state championship in 2007 and an outright team title in 2008.

Coach's quote: "They're obviously very important to our team. They set new standards that just not too long ago we didn't think we could reach at Lynden. They put Lynden on the map as far as tennis goes." - Trey Ballard

COACH OF THE YEAR

STEVE CHRONISTER

School: Bellingham

What he did: Directed the Red Raiders to a program-best third-place finish at the Class 2A state tournament ... Bellingham won its first 2A Northwest District title this year ... Red Raiders went undefeated and clinched the Northwest Conference title for the third straight year, extending their dual match win streak to 49 ... Had four players selected to the All-Northwest Conference first and second team

Coach's quote: "He's a great teacher. He teaches the game of tennis. He takes an ordinary athlete and makes them a really great tennis player." - Sehome coach Bonna Giller

MOLLY BEAUMONT

School: Bellingham

Year: Senior

What she did: Took second in singles at the Class 2A Northwest District Tournament ... Advanced to her fourth 2A state tournament ... Entered state this year in the singles draw for the first time after winning a doubles state title in 2007... Earned first team All-Northwest Conference honors...Helped lead Red Raiders to NWC title, their first district title and a program-best third place at state ... Won 82 matches in prep career ... Finished season 21-4 ... Will continue tennis career at George Fox University in Oregon

Coach's quote: "Our team wouldn't have been the same without her. She was a good leader for us this year. She helped motivate other kids to play better. She's really coordinated and she's really quick, and that's a great athletic combination. We were lucky to have her on our team." - Steve Chronister

SHANNON GOWAN

School: Bellingham

Year: Senior

What she did: Teamed with Sarah Twiford to take third place in doubles at the Class 2A State Tournament ... Placed third at the 2A Northwest District Tournament ... Finished with a 20-3 doubles record ... Earned All-Northwest Conference first team honors ... Helped lead Red Raiders to conference title, their first district title and a program-best third place at state ... Headed to the University of Washington

Coach's quote: "Shannon has the greatest of athletic gifts. She has incredible speed, and it's useful in all sports. She also has a strong drive to win. She had a great season in three sports this year. She and Sarah put in extra time on a regular basis. I could see early on that they really wanted to do well." - Steve Chronister

SARAH TWIFORD

School: Bellingham

Year: Senior

What she did: With doubles partner Shannon Gowan, placed third at the Class 2A State Tournament ... Also took third at the 2A Northwest District Tournament ... Finished 20-4 ... Received All-NWC second team honors...Helped lead Red Raiders to conference title, their first district title and program-best third place in state ... Headed to Western Washington University where she might play club tennis

Coach's quote: "Some doubles teams just click as far as their personalities go. They clicked as freshmen right away. They've just been really good together. Sarah strikes the ball really well on her ground strokes. Their styles of play meshed really well." - Steve Chronister

ANDREA D'AQUINO

School: Squalicum

Year: Senior

What she did: With sister Anne d'Aqunio, the pair advanced to its first Class 2A state tournament, where it placed second to Lynden's Jill Toronchuk and Brandi Benner...Finished second at the 2A Northwest District Tournament ... Named to All-NWC first team ... Finished with 18-4 record ... Headed to Western Washington University

Coach's quote: "Andrea had a terrific season. She was always very committed to playing as well as she possibly could. She was real dedicated to working hard. She always played the outside really well, and she always had a great attitude about learning." - Joe O'Brien

ANNE D'AQUINO

School: Squalicum

Year: Senior

What she did: Advanced to first Class 2A state tournament as doubles team with sister Andrea d'Aquino ... Finished runner-up at state to Lynden's Jill Toronchuk and Brandi Benner ... Took second at 2A Northwest District Tournament ... Named to All-NWC second team ... Finished with 18-4 record ... Headed to Western Washington University

Coach's quote: "Anne has a terrific return of serve. She can attack the net really well, and that seems to put pressure on the opponents. She's up there immediately all the time. They played real well together." - Joe O'Brien

CHLOE TULL

School: Sehome

Year: Junior

What she did: Became the first Sehome player in seven years to advance to the 2A state tournament ... Defeated Bellingham's Grace Moore at the 2A Northwest District Tournament in a winner-to-state match ... Finished with a 16-6 record ... Garnered All-NWC first team honors ... No. 1 singles player for Mariners.

Coach's quote: "In my years of coaching with the girls, she is one of the most dedicated, hardest-working players I've ever coached. When practice is over she's ready to go for another two hours. Chloe dedicated herself last year to getting better. I could not believe how much she developed from last year ... She got a taste (of state). Next year it's a goal to qualify and win some matches when she gets there." - Bonna Giller

MADDIE PEARCE

School: Bellingham

Year: Junior

What she did: The only junior to be selected to All-Northwest Conference first team ... Helped lead Red Raiders to conference title and their first 2A district title ... Suffered ankle injury at Northwest District tournament but still played through ... Lost a winner-to-state match in three sets ... Finished 19-2 at No. 2 singles

Coach's quote: "She's a No. 1 caliber player that we got to play at No. 2. Maddie can hit any kind of shot, and I felt what she really improved on was her volleys and her finesse shots. She's always been able to strike the ball well. I'm proud of what she did at district." - Steve Chronister

HANNAH SWANSON

School: Lynden

Year: Senior

What she did: Led the Lions at No. 1 singles this season ... Named to the All-Northwest Conference second team ... Won in the first round, but lost the second of the 2A Northwest District Tournament to end season with a 9-5 record ... Headed to the University of Washington

Coach's quote: "She was amazing on the court. She never, ever went on to a match thinking she was going to get beat. She had a real positive attitude. Her attitude and mental game out there was really phenomenal. I think she upset a lot of players that thought they were going to beat her." - Trey Ballard

GRACE MOORE

School: Bellingham

Year: Senior

What she did: Fell one win short of a Class 2A state tournament appearance ... Earned All-Northwest Conference honorable mention recognition ... Helped lead the Red Raiders to conference title and their first district title ... Finished 16-0 during the regular season ... Headed to Western Washington University, where she might play club tennis

Coach's quote: "She is just a tremendous athlete. A lot of time you're looking for holes in an opponent's game, but with Grace you really can't find that thing that she's not good at. She's tough. She's fast. She has touch. She just does everything pretty well." - Steve Chronister

LONI HINTON

School: Squalicum

Year: Senior

What she did: Played No. 1 and No. 2 singles for the Storm...An All-Northwest Conference honorable mention selection ... Team captain ... Was two matches shy of reaching Class 2A state tournament berth ... Lost a three-set match to Bellingham's Maddie Pearce to be eliminated from the 2A Northwest District Tournament ... Headed to the University of Washington

Coach's quote: "She hits the ball big. When she's playing she puts her heart in it. She's dominant on the court. She was more than willing to help our team be successful. She knew for our team she had to commit to singles." - Joe O'Brien

HONORABLE MENTION

Player School

Josie Christner Bellingham

Janelle Paxton Bellingham

Chloe Reid Bellingham

Alex Dolk Blaine

Bailey Richardson Blaine

Nicki Scheck Ferndale

Emily Webb Lynden

Danielle Grant Squalicum

Marissa Klees Squalicum

Robyn Morris Squalicum

Leah Strickling Squalicum

Amy Wilson Squalicum