MIKE MAYNARD

Washington College athletes earn GNAC honors

MOSES LAKE — Several Washington college athletes received special awards from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Friday. According to a press release by the GNAC, eight awards were announced, with Maurice Woodring, Colton Magruder and Ben Stensland bringing home individual accolades.

Huskies Luis Farias signs to Columbia Basin College

OTHELLO — Luis Farias from the Othello Huskies boys’ soccer team signed his letter of intent Thursday to join the men's soccer program at Columbia Basin College. While he was excited to make it official, Farias also felt it went deeper than that. “I feel like a signing like this may give other kids hope to see and look up to me and be a role model in a way, instead of all the other bad things out in the world,” he said. “I just want them to think of me and see a role model, and someone they could follow, and something they could do too, and even achieve more beyond what I have achieved.”

Wahluke finishes fourth in state tournament

FEDERAL WAY — The Wahluke Warriors finished their season Saturday with a 3-0 loss to Cedar Park Christian, which means they finish fourth in the 1A/2B state tournament. This came after a deep tournament run to the semifinals where they suffered a 1-0 loss to Meridian Friday. “It's really simple, the winner is going to be the one that puts (the goals) in, and we didn’t, they had one good opportunity and they finished. We paid the consequences,” Head Coach Cele Lopez said.

Bayley named CWAC MVP as Ephrata, Othello land multiple selections

MOSES LAKE — The Central Washington Athletic Conference announced the boys and girls golf All-League teams Wednesday. On the girls’ side, the Ephrata Tigers and Othello Huskies were well represented.

Three Knights sign to play collegiate soccer

ROYAL CITY — Positive energy filled the Royal High School commons Wednesday as Cristian Nieto, Ernesto Deras and Anderson Brown signed their letters of intent to play soccer at the college level. For Head Coach Jens Jensen, it’s always great to see players excel and advance to the next level. “It's good for them. Obviously happy for them, that's what they want to do, and they have an opportunity to do that,” Jensen said.

CWAC announces All-League honors for golf

MOSES LAKE — The Central Washington Athletic Conference announced its boys and girls golf All-League teams Wednesday. See below which local Basin student athletes made the list. Full coverage of these honors will be in a future edition of the Columbia Basin Herald.

Freewind Martial Arts enters new era under Guertin family

MOSES LAKE — Freewind Martial Arts is under new ownership with Brandi and Jacob Guertin taking over as they announced Saturday at Spring Fest while producing a demonstration for the community. According to Brandi, this has been in the works for a few years, but the announcement was the final stamp on the acquisition. “There were a lot of qualified candidates when it came down to it, and it was really quite an honor for us to have been chosen,” Brandi said.

Wahluke’s Cinderella season continues as team advances to state semifinals

MATTAWA — The 16-seed Wahluke Warriors (17-6-2) are moving on to the 1A state soccer semifinals after defeating the Cascade Kodiaks 4-0 Friday and Fort Vancouver Trappers 5-1 Saturday. “Every coach would be proud of a team playing with everything they got,” Head Coach Cele Lopez said. “I think the kids are learning their hard work makes a difference, and they're actually believing now. They’re paying attention; everybody looks engaged.”

Huskies baseball season concludes at home

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies (22-4) concluded their season after suffering an 8-7 loss to the Selah Vikings in the quarterfinals of the 2A state baseball tournament Saturday.

Knights season concludes at tournament

RICHLAND — The Royal Knights’ (20-9) season concluded Friday after suffering back-to-back losses to Montesano and College Place in the 1A state softball tournament. Despite the result, Head Coach Lisa Lawrence was proud of her team’s fight to the very end. “The girls just never gave up, but we didn’t string it together to make it go our way,” she said. “But this team all season has just kept the energy up all the way through, and even in the last inning getting hits and base runners (they) just never gave up.”

Knights defeated in state quarterfinals

RICHLAND — The Royal Knights (20-8) fell to the Montesano Bulldogs 20-4 in the quarterfinals of the 1A state softball tournament Friday afternoon.

Knights advance after going to eight innings

RICHLAND — The Royal Knights (20-7) defeated the Klahowya Eagles 10-9 after a walk-off line drive in the bottom of the eighth inning of the opening round of the 1A state softball tournament Thursday.

GALLERY: Spring sports highlights

MOSES LAKE — Though the spring sports season is not over yet, there have been many highlight moments from this season across the Basin. See below some of the highlight moments captured by the Columbia Basin Herald this season.

Wahluke advances in the 1A state tourney

MATTAWA — The Wahluke Warriors (11-5-1) defeated Eastside Preparatory 2-0 in the opening round of the 1A state tournament Tuesday. Head Coach Cele Lopez was proud of how his team showed up. “(They had a) different intensity,” he said. “I always believe that we're capable of doing whatever we setup as the goal, and they showed it today, they showed the hunger, they showed the intensity.”

Huskies shine in CWAC honors, ahead of state tournament

OTHELLO — The Central Washington Athletic Conference announced its All-League awards Monday, with the Othello Huskies earning several. Head Coach Sonny Garza and Xzyyvn Martinez took home coach of the year and most valuable player awards, respectively. “It means a lot; the CWAC is a great league with a bunch of great coaches,” Garza said. “They all work hard, they all put in the long hours, so to be able to get that is pretty cool.” In his 10th year as the Huskies head coach, Garza earns his second coach of the year award. It’s something he believes couldn’t have happened with the support system around him in the Huskies baseball program, he said.

Multiple Basin athletes named to All-Region team

MOSES LAKE — The Northwest Athletic Conference announced their softball All-Region awards for the North, South and East regions. In the East, several local athletes from the Basin earned these honors. See below which players were rewarded for their contributions on the field this season.

Several Basin teams clinch state berth

MOSES LAKE — With district tournaments wrapping up over the weekend, the brackets for several WIAA state tournaments have been set for baseball and softball. See below which of your favorite teams are in and where they’re heading.

Mavs suffer loss in districts, conclude season

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (16-4) fell 11-1 to the West Valley Rams Saturday, bringing an end to their season.

Eight Tigers sign letters of intent

EPHRATA — Eight Tiger student athletes signed their letters of intent to play at the college level next year, on Friday. “It's a great tribute to all their hard work and dedication they've had over the years,” Athletic Director Bryan Johnson said. “It's just cool to see them go to the next level and continue to play sports... very small percentage get to (go), we got eight seniors up here today, and we probably had 175 seniors do sports, so not very many get to go.”

Mavs erupt for 24 runs behind three homers by Mya Martinez

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (16-3) defeated the Wenatchee Panthers 24-4 Thursday behind a three home run and nine RBI performance by Mya Martinez. “I think I performed really well,” Mya said. “I was really just focusing on my fundamentals and Coach Bob (Richardson) helping me in the cages. That was a really good breakthrough for me, because the last few games have been rough, so I just think I really needed that.”

Carlstrom brings experience, energy to Tigers hoops

EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District announced Ryan Carlstrom as the new head coach of boys basketball Thursday. With excitement in his voice, Carlstrom said he feels like the pressure is on now. “It kind of feels like now I've got to get to work... summer basketball starts July 1, and so I'm kind of just getting ready and getting excited and learning about Ephrata and the community and program that's in place, and all those types of things,” he said.

Mavericks clinch co-league, district titles in playoff finish

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks boys golf team secured a Co-league and district championship at Apple Tree Golf Course in a playoff on their way to qualifying for state. “It was nip and tuck all the way,” said Head Coach Terry Melbye. “We were in second for a little while, and then first place for up until the very last match there, and we ended up taking second to West Valley... so that was really exciting.”

Knights sweep district doubleheader, earns shot at state berth

ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights (18-7) defeated Kiona-Benton 6-1 and Chelan 10-0 Wednesday to advance to the play-in games in the 1A district 5 tournament. These key wins set them up to earn their shot at punching their ticket to the state tournament. “Our first game was single elimination, so we knew we had to get that one done in order to move forward,” Head Coach Lisa Lawrence said. “The girls just came together (and) played as a team, played well, hit the ball well, and played good defense. Everything was clicking, and we got that one done, and followed it up with a great game against Chelan... Jill (Allred) pitched a great game, and we pulled it off.”

Ephrata names Carlstrom head basketball coach

EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District has named Ryan Carlstrom its new head coach of boys basketball. According to a press release, Carlstroms’ hire will be made official following school board action on May 18. “I’m excited to be part of the Ephrata community and to get to know the student-athletes,” said Carlstrom in the press release. “As a teacher first and foremost, I see coaching and teaching as closely connected. I’m looking forward to challenging the athletes and myself as we build on this program together. Summer ball is coming up, and I can’t wait to get to work and help motivate these students to do their best.”

Mavs’ Jeremiah Baker turns setbacks into opportunity

MOSES LAKE — Long before signing his letter of intent to play football for Pacific Northwest Christian College on April 29, Jeremiah Baker from the Moses Lake Mavericks almost called it quits. “I hurt my foot; I lost a little bit of muscle and that contributed,” Baker said. “I didn't get much playing time at all. I was just on the bench, watching the team do really well.”

Mavs shutout Sunnyside in district tournament

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (15-3) defeated the Sunnyside Grizzlies 16-0 in five innings of the play-in round of the 4A District 5 tournament Tuesday. For Head Coach Mike Hofheins and the Mavs, they couldn’t ask for a better start to the postseason. “It's great, you got to win to play again at this point, and we got the job done. We get to play again on Thursday, and that’s what we were after,” Hofheins said.

‘I’m a hope dealer’

Ryan Leaf speaks of addiction, failure and recovery

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Community Court hosted an event Thursday headlined by guest speaker and former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf. When introducing Leaf, Judge Brian Gwinn spoke about the purpose of community court. “The reason we call it community court is because we don't discriminate who comes in. We'll take veterans, people who are suffering from substance use disorders, people who are suffering from mental health, and that's what we do, is help people out,” he said.

‘Young gun’ Jacob Guertin victorious in MMA bout

MOSES LAKE — Jacob ‘Young Gun’ Guertin from Freewind Martial Arts was victorious via submission in the second round Saturday over Brody Case at the Conquest of the Cage MMA event in Spokane. With this win, his record improved to 4-3. Guertin was happy with the result, he said. “Pretty good, pretty clean, not hurt too much. Face is a little bruised, but that's about it,” he said.

Coach Garza reflects on Jacks season

QUINCY — The Quincy Jacks (7-16) were defeated 10-0 Saturday by the Ellensburg Bulldogs in the quarterfinals of the District 5 2A tournament. The loss brings an end to their 2026 campaign. “Saturday's game was a tough one,” Head Coach David Garza said. “It hurts a little bit because if we were back and forth, ‘Hey, this is a very low scoring game because it's really good defense, really good pitching, etc,’ then it's a little bit easier to accept.”

Huskies suffer loss in district tournament

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies (19-4) suffered a 5-1 loss at home to the Ellensburg Bulldogs in the semifinals of the District 5 2A tournament Saturday. “We got to be more aggressive at the plate and put the ball in play,” Head Coach Sonny Garza said. “That's ultimately what it comes down to... put the ball in play and make plays.”

‘A roller coaster of a season’

Jacks season ends after district tourney loss

QUINCY — The Quincy Jacks (6-8) fell to the Grandview Greyhounds 2-1 Tuesday in the 2A District 5 tournament, bringing an end to their season. “In my perspective, I feel like we dominated the game. We went up one zero pretty early, like almost within the first five minutes of the game,” Head Coach Hector Vaca said. “Credit to Grandview, a very respectable opponent. They are really good and it came down to basically one of my players getting a double yellow and having to play a man down for the last 20 minutes of the game, that's the thing that hurt us, and they were able to get two goals in.”

Basin soccer roundup, April 30 – May 7

MOSES LAKE — District tournament play is well underway for Basin boys soccer. See below how your favorite teams have fared so far.

Knights advance to districts quarterfinals

ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights (12-2-1) earned a swift win over the Oroville Hornets 6-0 Tuesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the 1A district tournament. Though the win is great, Head Coach Jens Jensen felt the team could have been sharper. “Obviously we win, and that's great,” Jensen said. “Honestly, we didn't look like ourselves for large stretches. You have to maintain your level (of play). When you have a team that's just going to pack 10 guys in front of the ball, right down the center, and swarm the ball, then you have to move the ball quickly, and we've got to use the width (of the field) and try to spread them out... and it took us a little while to get that sorted out.”

Jill Allred signs to Vikings softball

ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights’ Jill Allred has signed her letter of intent Tuesday to play softball at Big Bend Community College this fall. “I'm so proud of myself for getting to this point, and I'm so thankful for all the coaches and teammates that have been by my side throughout my whole career. I'm super thankful,” Allred said.

Basin diamond roundup, April 28 – May 5

MOSES LAKE — The regular season for baseball and softball has now concluded, with many teams gearing up for district tournament play. See below how your favorite teams fared last week and their final record.

Trevino: Tigers ‘Can compete with anyone’ despite Ellensburg sweep

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers (10-11) concluded their regular season on the road Saturday after dropping back-to-back games to the Ellensburg Bulldogs. Despite the loss, Tigers Head Coach Lesa Trevino said her team's adjustments from game one to game two showed how competitive they really are. “The second game showed that we can compete with anyone when we decide to play our game. It just comes down to eliminating mistakes and continuing to attack,” Trevino said. “I feel like when we are a little bit more reserved, that's when games kind of get out of control. But when, when we're locked in, and the girls are doing their thing, they can compete with anyone.”

Mavericks host Big 9 meet

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks hosted the second Columbia Basin Big 9 league meet Thursday which saw them compete against Davis, Sunnyside and Wenatchee. Head Coach Mark Ward was pleased with his team’s effort.

Mavs split with West Valley, tied for first in Big 9

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (13-2) split their doubleheader against West Valley Friday 0-4 and 10-4 on senior night, setting up a tight race for first place in the Big 9 conference. “Obviously a sweep would have been great, but Ainsley (Johnson, West Valley) is a great pitcher, and she was definitely on her game,” Head Coach Mike Hofheins said.

Basin soccer roundup, April 23-30

MOSES LAKE — As the regular season nears it’s close for boys soccer, several teams are making their final pushes for postseason positioning. See below how your favorite teams fared in the last week and their current record.

Three Mavericks sign their letter of intent

MOSES LAKE — On Wednesday, Brady Jay, Carter Anderson and Jeremiah Baker each signed letters of intent to play football at the college level next season. For Brett Jay, the 2025 Moses Lake Mavericks head football coach, seeing his players reach this achievement meant a lot, he said. “I just get flashbacks of all the workouts and practices over the past four to five years, those three committed to the process year-round. It's just neat to see them go to the next level and represent us across the state,” he said.

Tigers topple Jacks on senior night

EPHRATA — On senior night where three seniors were recognized, the Ephrata Tigers (4-15) defeated the Quincy Jacks (7-14) 10-0 Tuesday evening. In addition to the win and seniors, the Tigers also took an opportunity to recognize former player Jett Johnson, who passed away two years ago in a car accident. Tigers Head Coach David Tempel was thrilled for his team following the win.

Basin diamond roundup, April 21-27

MOSES LAKE — As we approach the final week of regular season baseball and softball, many teams have been working diligently to make their pushes for the postseason. See below how your favorite team has fared and their current record.

Records broken by Washington schools at Cougar Classic

PULLMAN — The Washington State Cougars hosted the Cougar Classic Friday that saw fellow Washington colleges like the Eastern Washington Eagles and Central Washington Wildcats compete. “It's an honor to compete at WSU. Our athletes have a deep respect for the program's rich history, and it brings meaning to every event for us,” Wildcats Head Coach Jonathan Hill said in a statement by CWU Athletics.

Mavericks shut out Cheney on the road

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (11-1) defeated the Cheney Blackhawks 8-0 Monday to earn their 10th consecutive win. “Cheney is a good team,” Head Coach Mike Hofheins said. “For us to get some good competition this week before we have West Valley (Friday) was super beneficial for us. They had two outstanding pitchers and a really outstanding catcher, so a good challenge for us to go up there and face off against them.”

Reload, not rebuild

Haneberg eager to lead Mavericks football

MOSES LAKE — On Friday, Moses Lake Athletics Director Loren Sandhop announced Kyler Haneberg as the new head football coach for the Mavericks program, pending school board approval, according to a press release. Haneberg is fired up to represent the Moses Lake community, he said. “I'm so excited, it hit me today like a whirlwind. I just love this community so much, and I'm glad that I get to help lead it and help be a great example for these kids coming up. I hear all the time about how people hate on Moses Lake, and I'm about to make that change,” Haneberg said.

Basin tennis roundup, April 20-27

MOSES LAKE — Basin tennis has been busy in the last week as the regular season is getting closer to its finale with each passing day. See below how your favorite team has fared and their current record.

Wildcats sweep competition in final home series

ELLENSBURG — The Central Washington Wildcats (12-29) earned key wins over Montana State University-Billings Saturday, 13-3 and 10-9 in a doubleheader matchup, according to a statement by CWU Athletics. “It came down to doing the little things right all weekend, and this team showed up for it. Mia Flores (was) absolutely clutch. A senior weekend to remember, they fought for every inch, every out, every moment ... never backing down when it got tough,” CWU Head Coach Ronnie Ladines said.

Knights tested in tough Saturday slate

ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights (11-6) fell short to the Lynden Christian Lyncs 1-4 and Cedar Park Christian Eagles 3-6 Saturday. Despite the losses, Head Coach Lisa Lawrence said these games were meant to challenge her players. “We really try hard to build tough games into our schedule. This (past) weekend was an example of that. Lynden Christian and Cedar Park Christian are both really solid teams in the 1A, so we knew we'd go into some tough games with some good pitching, which we really need to see to help prepare us for the postseason,” she said.

Kyler Haneberg named Mavericks head football coach

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Athletics announced Friday that Kyler Haneberg will be the new head coach of the Mavericks football program this fall – pending school board approval, according to a press release. This announcement comes just a few months after the winningest season (11-1) in program history under former Head Coach Brett Jay.

Huskies defeat Cougars on senior night

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies (8-5) defended their home field with a 2-0 win over the Warden Cougars (6-7) Thursday. Assistant Coach Kevin Hensley was happy with the Huskies performance. “I thought we passed the ball well, it's good to see our defense organized and get the shutout. It's good to get everybody playing time, that was really important for us today, was get everybody some playing time (and we) got to start all of our seniors,” Hensley said.