Author: Shea, Kristin S.

ECEA
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR BIOS
Jessica Finicle ~ Cascade
Jessica lettered in basketball, track & field and volleyball. As a basketball player she was awarded Most Improved and Highest Player GPA. In track & field, Jessica competed in high jump, triple jump, javelin and hurdles and was named team captain her junior and senior year. She placed first in high jump her junior year at the All City Meet and went on to compete at districts. In volleyball, Jessica was team captain her senior year and accumulated numerous accolades including second team All-Wesco, two time team MVP and the Captains Award.
Noah Henderson ~ Cascade
Noah is a four year lettermen in swim & dive and was team captain his junior and senior year. He has been named to the All-Wesco 3A north first team seven times. He is a three time team MVP and holds the CHS record for the 100 yard breaststroke. In post season competition, Noah captained CHS’s first state qualifying relay since 2007 and was a four time Wesco 3A district champion and WIAA state finalist.
Abby Surowiec ~ Cascade
Abby lettered in band, basketball, soccer and softball. As softball captain her sophomore through senior year, Abby was named to the second and first All-Wesco teams and second team All-District. She helped her team earn a top eight finish at State for the first time since the 90’s. Abby is a four year varsity basketball player, awarded twice as the Hardest Worker. Abby also played varsity soccer her junior and senior year and was voted Offensive MVP.
Julian Thomas ~ Cascade
Julian lettered in football and track & field. As a running back, Julian rushed for an average of over 1,600 yards per season. Captain his senior year, Julian was also Offensive Player of the Year, Player of the Game for Everett’s Battle of Broadway and made first team All-Wesco 3A. In track & field, Julian competed in the 100, 200, 4x100 & 4x400 relays as well as the long jump.
Jase Caveny-Marty ~ Everett
Jase lettered in football, soccer and wrestling. As a football player, Jase was a two time captain, won Special Teams Player of the Year and was named to the second team All-Wesco. In soccer, Jase played varsity for three years was team captain his senior year. As a wrestler, Jase went to the district tournament as a freshman where he placed third and then sixth in regionals. He was a state alternate his junior year and was a two time team captain.
Rachael Dowdell ~ Everett
Rachael lettered in soccer, tennis and wrestling. As a soccer player, Rachael helped her team reach districts her junior and senior year. Senior year she was team captain and voted Most Inspirational. On the wrestling team, Rachael went to districts her freshman year. In tennis, Rachael made the first team All-Wesco for tennis doubles her sophomore, junior and senior year and made it to districts her junior and senior year. She was team captain and again voted Most Inspirational.

ECEA
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR BIOS
Peyton Lust ~ Everett
Peyton lettered in track & field and volleyball. As a member of the track team, Peyton lettered all four years and competed in the 100, the 4x100 relay, long jump and triple jump. In 2022, Peyton made it to districts as a triple jumper and was voted Field Athlete of the Year. As a volleyball player, Peyton was an All-Wesco Honorable Mention her senior year as well as team captain. She also received the Coaches Award.
Derek Olson ~ Everett
Derek lettered in football, swim & dive and track & field. In football, Derek received the Academic Award in 2019 & 2022 and the Outstanding Scholastic Athlete in 2021. Derek is a two year captain for the swim team and made it to districts three out of four years with a state appearance in 2020. In track & field, Derek competed in the 100, the 200, the 400, the 800, the 1600 and the 4x400 relay and was captain his senior year.
Payton Huber ~ Jackson
Payton lettered her junior and senior year in soccer. She was selected to the first team All-Wesco in 2022 as well as voted Most Inspirational Player. She played both goal keeper and defender and was team captain her senior year. Payton also participated in track & field her freshman through junior years, competing in the 100, the 4x400 relay, the high jump and the triple jump.
Braden O’Donnell ~ Jackson
Braden lettered in baseball and football. In football, Braden earned several accolades including Special Teams Player of the Year and the Athlete Champion of Character Award. He was also name to the second team All-Wesco three times. As a baseball player, Braden helped his team become Wesco Champions three years in a row. He won the Distinguished Scholastic Award his junior year and was team captain his senior year.
Lauren Wierschke ~ Jackson
Lauren is a four year letterwoman in swim & dive, competing in the 1m dive, the 3m dive and tower events. Since starting dive just prior to her freshman year, she has enjoyed remarkable success. She placed second in the District One Championship her freshman year and helped her team place eighth overall at state. She followed up her rookie season with multiple top three District One Championship finishes. Her team won third in state in 2021-22 and placed sixth in 2022-23. Lauren is also an accomplished gymnast.
Sylas Williams ~ Jackson
Sylas is a three year letterman in basketball. As a sophomore, he was named to the second team All-Wesco and followed that up with first team All-Wesco honors his junior and senior year. Captain of the team his senior year, Sylas was recognized as the Wesco 4A MVP, the Everett Herald All-Area Player of the Year, the Snohomish County Basketball Officials Player of the Year among other honors. He averaged 22.8 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game in his senior season.