Championship Saturday Preview: Battles Loom in NPSL and 3A PSL
Championship season is heating up. Saturday will host two of the area's most competitive league meets, with the NPSL and 3A PSL/SPSL championships set to determine titles and build momentum for the district qualifiers. Here’s a look at the major storylines heading into the weekend.
NPSL Championship Preview: Tahoma and Stadium Set for Fort Steilacoom Showdown
The NPSL Championship showdown is set for Saturday morning at the beautiful Fort Steilacoom Park. This is the final test before the postseason gets underway, acting as the last major tune-up before the Westside Classic. From there, teams and individuals will look to punch their ticket from District 3 to the WIAA State Championship in Pasco.
Stadium will have to bring their a-game if they plan to take the title.
Coming into the league championship, Tahoma and Stadium sit atop the ranks. While the Tahoma Bears are the clear favorite statistically, the Stadium Tigers have the pack and the front-runners to turn this into a fight for every point.
Boys' Race: A Battle of Strategy
The boys' race is a classic cross country matchup of two different team strategies. Tahoma is led by their speedy frontrunner, Carson Stafford (15:14.2), who gives them a powerful low score right from the start. Their real strength, however, is the lethal 2-5 pack behind him. Caleb McDowell (15:49.7) and Thane Winters (16:02.3) anchor a group that finishes in an incredibly tight 12.6-second formation. The Bears will look to deploy this "shock and awe" strategy to dominate the top 10.
The Stadium boys will look to counter with their own impressive compression. Their entire scoring five finishes within a 29.02-second spread, led by the formidable 1-2 punch of Oskar Koontz (15:39.3) and Will Cramer (15:41.5). They will contribute low scores, but the race will be decided by their 3-5 runners. Axel Mildes, Connor Wade, and Otto Vaughn will need a stellar performance to break up Tahoma's pack and help the Tigers overcome the Bears.
Girls' Race: Can Anyone Stop the Tahoma Juggernaut?
On the girls' side, the story is one of pure powerhouse dominance. The Tahoma Bears are incredibly deep and look poised for a low score regardless of the opponent. This team is making a statement, and the most telling stat is this: Tahoma's #5 runner, Willa Heil (19:14.6), has a faster time than Stadium’s #1 runner, Izabella Quantz (19:40.8).
Tahoma puts their entire scoring five across the line before Stadium can even start their count, powered by an elite 26-second 1-5 spread. These two teams come in as the one and two in the NPSL, but on paper, it's a David vs. Goliath matchup. The Stadium girls, led by their solid 1-3 trio of Quantz, Catherine Harju, and Eva Stokes, will be fighting to disrupt Tahoma's perfect score and steal as many crucial spots as possible.
NPSL 3A Spotlight: White River's State Hopes Hinge on Closing the Gap
Also competing at the NPSL meet, the 3A White River Hornets, led by standout senior Paeton Poelman (18:17.7), are heading into the championship season with high expectations for Saturday's meet, the upcoming district championships, and a potential team berth at the state meet in Pasco.
The 1-2 Punch: Poelman and Blakley Lead the Charge
Paeton Poelman finishing 15th in a time of 18:48.8 at the HOKA 29th John Payne XC Invite
For Poelman and sophomore Victoria Blakley (19:33.4), their individual talent makes them strong contenders to advance to Pasco. The real question is whether they will be traveling with their entire team.
Victoria Blakley crossing the finish line at the 4th Annual Fall Classic Invitational with a PR of 19:33.4
The Future is Now: Freshmen Pack a Punch
The team's future looks bright, with two freshmen stepping up to varsity duties. Maddi Larson has had a breakout season, punctuated by a standout 19:35.4 PR at the HOKA John Payne Invitational. That performance, which placed her 38th out of 284 runners, also landed her second on White River’s all-time freshman records list. She is joined by fellow freshman Zoie Klimkiewicz (20:08.9), who will need to deliver a stellar performance on Saturday to help her team.
Zoie Klimkiewicz racing at the Olympia XC Classic
The 3:23 Problem: Can the Hornets Close the Gap?
Maddi Larson racing at the Olympia XC Classic
But the team's state hopes hinge on a single, glaring number: their 3:23.4 spread between their first and fifth runners. While the Hornets boast a formidable top four, the "big question mark" lies in the 1:32 gap between their #4 (Klimkiewicz) and their #5 scorer, Naomi Carthum (21:41.1).
The Path to Pasco: It's All About the #5 Spot
As the senior leader, Poelman will need to rally her squad at the league championships. If White River hopes to secure the low scores needed at districts to advance as a team, they must find a way to shrink that 4-5 gap. The Hornets know the path to Pasco, and they will undoubtedly give it their best shot.
Naomi Carthum racing at the Olympia XC Classic
Three-Way Battle Looms at the 3A PSL Championship
Can Bellarmine Prep stand in the way of Gig Harbor or Central Kitsaps hopes?
Saturday’s PSL 3A League Championship will field three powerhouse teams that all have a shot to win the title. While Gig Harbor looks the strongest of the bunch on paper, Central Kitsap and Bellarmine Prep are right behind them, ready to challenge for the top spot. The meet marks the last major test before district qualifiers, where a trip to the state meet in Pasco will be on the line.
The Favorite: Gig Harbor's Depth and Frontrunners
Lejla Carlsson and Ella Savage hope to fend off Audra Palmer and Lola Gartner from Central Kitsap.
The Gig Harbor Tides enter the meet as the statistical favorite, but their coaching staff knows that nothing is guaranteed in a championship race. When asked about the challenge from Bellarmine Prep and Central Kitsap, the Gig Harbor staff was quick to show respect for their rivals.
"All the teams you mentioned in our League and District, bring serious talent to the line, and we have tremendous respect for each program," said coaches Patty Ley and Meaghan McCluskey. "We know we need to be ready for anyone having their best race of the season. Championship meets have a way of bringing out performances that surprise everyone."
The Tides' strength comes from both their boys' and girls' squads. On the boys' side, their top five run as a tight pack, a strategy that will create major issues for opposing teams trying to break them up. The girls are led by standout frontrunner Lajla Carlsson, followed by sophomore Ella Savage, who is coming off a personal best at the PSL @ Back 40 meet and looking to make some waves.
The coaches' final thoughts underscore their focus on execution. "The truth is, cross country is unpredictable—that’s what makes it great. We have great respect for everyone that toes the line, and we know we’ll need to earn every place out there!"
The Challenger: Central Kitsap's Star Power
The Central Kitsap Cougars are poised to give Gig Harbor a serious run for the title. Their strategy relies on low scores from their top runners. Boys' frontrunner Zach Voss will aim to keep his contribution to the team score at a minimum, while second runner David McLain will look to work his way up high in the running order. The duo of Kyler Atendido and Ethan Huff hope to disrupt Gig Harbor's pack and steal valuable spots.
Gig Harbor and Central Kitsap both have a strong 1-2 punch leading the charge for their team.
The Wild Card: Bellarmine Prep's Chance to Prove It
Bellarmine Prep will have to bring their A-game if they plan to unseat the Tides or Cougars. On paper, the Lions look highly competitive, but a deeper dive shows their raw numbers received a significant boost from the notoriously fast Mook Invitational. While that may water down the statistics slightly, it doesn't diminish their chances. Saturday is their opportunity to turn heads and prove that their impressive numbers are no fluke.
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