It’s been a pretty dry fall, all things considered. Generally, early November spells doom for clothing lacking water resistance.
The lack of precipitation, however, doesn’t make fans any less ready to escape to the refuge of local gymnasiums — all of which are impervious to plummeting outdoor temperatures.
Yes, the 2023–24 winter season has arrived. A year ago, local prep teams captured six state titles (three basketball, two swim and one wrestling). It also marked the second straight season that three area basketball teams emerged as champions.
The bowling season began first, with matches that started on Nov. 7. All other sports — boys and girls basketball, wrestling and boys swim — kicked off between Nov. 27 and Dec. 2.
Here’s what you should be watching as the winter season gets going in Whatcom County prep sports.
Boys basketball
Lynden and Lynden Christian enter the season attempting to, once again, defend their state titles.
Both teams are already back-to-back champions, with Lynden winning the Class 2A title a year ago and LC securing yet another Class 1A championship.
Lynden lost six seniors at the end of last season — three of whom were starters on last year’s title-winning team. Luckily for the Lions, they retain arguably their best player from a season ago in now-senior Anthony Canales.
Canales, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, may be the best player in the county after winning his second straight 2A state tournament MVP award last year. Entering his final season, he is already a two-time All-Northwest Conference First Team selection.
Junior Brant Heppner is Lynden’s other returning starter, and the 6-foot-6 forward adds the size in the post the Lions will need for consistent offense and defense.
LC lost three starters and six total seniors after winning its second straight 1A state title last season. The Lyncs’ most impactful departure is senior point guard Tyler Sipma, a ball-dominant orchestrator of the team’s offense on every possession.
Returning are senior forward Jeremiah Wright, senior guard Dawson Bouma and junior guard Gannon Dykstra — all of whom were pivotal in the team’s title run.
Wright is a do-everything guy in the paint, Bouma is a hustle player who prides himself on defense, and Dykstra can shoot the lights out on any given night.
Blaine, which placed third in the 1A state tournament last season, will be depleted this season. The Borderites lost seven seniors, who made up nearly their entire starting lineup.
Seniors Noah Tavis and Conner Dalry will look to shoulder the load this season while elevating the younger players around them.
Sehome also lost nearly its entire roster after reaching the first round of the 2A state tournament a season ago. Only three players are returning, led by senior center Braddock Duckworth.
Nooksack Valley and Meridian could make some noise this season as well, each returning a handful of crucial players this season.
Girls basketball
Nooksack Valley is coming off its first-ever 1A state championship, and the Pioneers have the tools to make a run at another title this season.
The Pioneers lost just three seniors — albeit good ones — after last year’s championship. Senior guards Devin Coppinger and Lainey Kimball are back, and that pair is the most important duo NV could hope to return.
Coppinger is the No. 35-ranked player in the nation for the 2024 recruiting class via the ESPNW Top 100 Rankings, and she is a two-time NWC Player of the Year entering her senior season.
Kimball is the gritty hustle player every high school team wants but doesn’t have. She impacts the game far more than the box score displays on a nightly basis.
Lynden Christian, which lost the 1A state championship to NV last season, may have a down year after junior star Grace Hintz has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury.
The Lyncs graduated six seniors and will rely on senior post Tabby DeJong and sophomore guard Ella Fritts to carry over last season’s success.
Lynden was knocked out of the 2A state tournament in the first round last season, but the Lions are primed for a big season with an experienced roster. Four starters are back, and Lynden also adds potential start freshman Finley Parcher.
Other returners of note: Senior Haylee Koetje is the team’s best player, and sophomore post Payton Mills had a monster season in her first year of high school basketball.
Sehome had its best season since 2014–15 last year, and the Mariners are returning three of their five starters from last season ahead of what could be another good year for the team.
Ferndale also had a nice campaign in Class 3A a year ago, but the Golden Eagles lost four critical seniors. The return of seniors Mallory Butenschoen and Maleah Singson should keep them competitive.
Boys wrestling
Four local wrestlers who finished top 8 at the Mat Classic XXXIV state wrestling tournament are returning this year.
Blaine’s Victor Gervol leads the group, as he finished second in the 285-pound weight class in the 1A bracket a season ago.
Mount Baker’s Daniel Washburn and Vance Lawrence are both returning after top-4 finishes, and each are heading into their senior seasons. Washburn took third in Class 1A in the 145-pound weight class, and Lawrence captured fourth in the 170-pound weight class.
In Class 3A, Ferndale’s Jacob Gandy finished fifth in the 145-pound weight class and is returning for his junior season.
Mount Baker also finished second as a team last season behind only Toppenish — a 1A wrestling powerhouse.
Whatcom County schools sent a total of 31 boys wrestlers to state last season, so there’s bound to be a handful of new top-8 finishers in 2023–24.
Girls wrestling
Three returning girls wrestlers medaled last season, led by Squalicum’s Bella Phillips and Lynden’s Belen Lopez.
Phillips, who earned an All-American honor at a national wrestling tournament over the summer, finished second in the 1B/2B/1A/2A 190-pound bracket last season. Lopez took second in the 155-pound weight class.
Blaine’s Lucyanna Dahl also returns after finishing fourth in the 145-pound weight class as a junior a season ago.
Seventeen total girls wrestlers advanced to state last season, so plenty will be back at the Mat Classic this season.
Boys swim and dive
Bellingham senior Miles Cratsenberg can put another stamp on his already legendary career, as the swimmer captured two individual titles last season and a 2A state meet record in the 200-yard freestyle.
Cratsenberg’s two titles were part of Whatcom County’s 13 total top-5 finishes — four of which came from other Bayhawks swimmers. Junior Derek Jones returns after finishing fourth in the 500-yard freestyle.
Squalicum sophomore Dylan Fisk finished one place behind Cratsenberg in the 500-yard freestyle and fourth in the 200-yard freestyle. He was also a part of the Storm’s 200-yard medley relay team that took fourth overall.
Senior Jackson Legan took fourth in the 1-meter dive for Sehome last year, and he’s back for another run.
Girls bowling
Ferndale junior Haylee Ochoa is the only Whatcom County bowler returning who reached the state meet last season.
Ochoa finished 56th overall at the 3A state meet with a six-game score of 772, placing just outside the top half.
