By Bill Reynolds
La Conner Community News
It was a La Conner High School homecoming game like no other at Whittaker Field on Friday.
The band played. Cheerleaders cheered. And the school’s royal court, led by queen Aurora Cayou and king Kaleb Otis, was honored at halftime.
Homecoming royalty, from left: Freshmen Emmit Alvord, Lily Stewart; juniors Yandel Rojas, Nora McCormick; king and queen Kaleb Otis, Aurora Cayou; seniors Ayona Cayou, Sam Moore; and sophomores Claire Avery and Faith Jenkins.
But that’s where similarities to a traditional homecoming matchup ended because this year, boys soccer, and not football, was the featured Friday Night Lights event.
The Braves’ football team had officially won its homecoming clash earlier in the week when Muckleshoot Tribal School, reeling from injuries and illness, forfeited the scheduled Friday contest here.
Christine Tripp, La Conner Middle and High School principal/director of athletics, tried in vain to find a football replacement for Muckleshoot. When those efforts proved unsuccessful, it was decided to shift the La Conner vs. Providence Classical Christian boys soccer matchup from a matinee start to the 6 p.m. prime time slot.
Providence, a perennial small school soccer power, prevailed with a very football-like 7-0 decision.
The La Conner Braves boys soccer squad got a defensive workout during the Friday night game against Providence Classical Christian. Here freshman Nolan Elde, right, tries to stave off the forward progress of Providence.
The hosts kept it close in the first half, trailing just 2-0, thanks to several key saves by La Conner keeper Wyatt Stevens.
The Braves’ best scoring threat came in the first half when team scoring leader Kale Navarette-Higgins took aim from about 30 yards out. But his strong boot soared over the crossbar.
The relentless visitors wore down La Conner after the break with five insurance scores.
The Braves (6-6-1) were scheduled this week at home with Lopez Island (Tuesday, 4 p.m.) and at Evangel Classical (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.).
The La Conner footballers, meanwhile, are scheduled to put their 6-2 mark on the line this Friday in a 6 p.m. kickoff at Vashon Island.
Volleyball
The La Conner volleyball team got homecoming week off on solid footing by producing perhaps its most inspiring win of the season, a 3-1 comeback victory at home over NW2B/1B foe Coupeville.
After dropping the first set 25-13, the Braves rebounded to claim the next three frames 25-18, 25-23, 25-13.
La Conner’s Nora McCormick (No. 1), recently selected as Skagit Valley Herald player of the week, unleashes a successful spike against Coupeville.
“I’m so proud of my players,” La Conner head coach Pam Keller, whose club improved to 10-7, said afterward.
“They’re trusting the process,” Keller stressed, noting that the Braves have no seniors on their roster, “and they’re putting it in action.”
Rory Bird, who enjoyed a superb all-around match, paced the La Conner attack with 15 kills. Reese Bird and Nora McCormick added seven and six spikes, respectively.
Nellie Mueller finished in double digits in both assists (23) and digs (15) for the Braves. McCormick accounted for the Braves’ two blocks while Isla Jones served a team-high five aces.
After four straight road matches between Oct. 22 and Oct. 28, the Braves return to Landy James Gym on Friday (6:30 p.m.) to face league opponent Mount Vernon Christian.
Girls soccer
The La Conner girls soccer team, coming off a clutch 2-1 NW2B/1B win at Orcas Island on Oct. 22, hosts Providence Classical Christian at 4 p.m. Thursday at Whittaker Field.
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
