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FHS Spring 2024 Sports Preview
The Golden Eagles' spring sports season launches this Saturday with our baseball and softball teams' opening matches! Our other teams begin competitive play next week -- including the first true home track meet since 2013 on March 13. In celebration of the season, we interviewed one standout senior or junior from each team (as selected by their coaches) to talk about their goals for the season and why they love their sport.
BASEBALL
Last Season: The Golden Eagles reached the state playoffs for the first time since 2015 after a dominant regular season. Manager Donny Hennigs was named the all-conference Coach of the Year and pitcher/hitter Jake Mason was named all-conference MVP.
Senior 2B Dylan Moore
Q: What are you most looking forward to this season?
A: I'm excited to see how the team comes together. We've got a ton of young guys, and it'll be interesting to see what type of leaders we have.
Q: What’s your personal goal for this year?
A: I hope to get above a .300 batting average -- last year, I think it was around .280. I also want our team to succeed together, so hopefully we have a winning record.
Q: Why do you love baseball?
A: I love being able to compete all the time, and I love coming out here with the team.
Q: Who is your favorite baseball player?
A: Mike Trout, I like watching him. He hits the ball far and plays the game hard.
BOYS' GOLF
Last Season: Baylor Larrabee won the 2023 3A state championship. Four other golfers also reached the state match: Travis Brockie, Noah Cagey, Andrew Edwards, and Cole Gilday.
Senior Baylor Larrabee
Q: What are you most looking forward to this season?
A: Just hanging out with friends on the golf course and getting to spend time with them on the bus rides to matches.
Q: What’s your personal goal for this year?
A: I'm sticking with the process of getting better and focusing on the fundamental things that get me to the place where I want to be. Everything after that just happens.
Q: Why do you love golf?
A: I love everything about it -- I can't really say just one thing.
Q: What is your favorite course to play on?
A: Probably our home course, Loomis Trail. It does a really good job of putting hazards out there and preparing our team for what we see in matches, and the practice facilities are great.
GIRLS' GOLF
Last season: Four of our golfers made it to the district meet: Morgan Hayes, Hannah Mede, Sadie Rehmert and Nat Darr-Rehmert.
Junior Hannah Mede
Q: What are you most looking forward to this season?
A: We have a good team this year, with a lot of freshmen who have really strong potential. And I'm excited to be captain!
Q: What’s your personal goal for this year?
A: Just focus on having fun. I get in my head sometimes, so I'm trying to work on that.
Q: Why do you love golf?
A: It's pretty relaxing, and it's something that you can do for your whole life. You can play it with people of different ages -- I golf with my grandpa all the time.
Q: What is your favorite course to play on?
A:I really like Sudden Valley. It's right on the water, and there's always a bunch of ducks and planes landing in the lake. It's very scenic.
BOYS' SOCCER
Last season: The Golden Eagles finished the season with a 6-11-1 record and made the district tournament. The highlight of the season was a scrappy 3-2 road victory against our rivals, Lynden.
Senior center back Spencer Richins
Q: What are you most looking forward to this season?
A: I'm excited to get to play one more time with these boys, who I've been playing with since our freshman year. Also, I'm really looking forward to playing my final year with my little brother -- we've been playing together since we were little!
Q: What’s your personal goal for this year?
A: I'm just looking to be the best I can be, keeping my head high. Wins are important, but for me, showing responsibility is more important than anything else.
Q: Why do you love soccer?
A: I love the environment and the friendships I've made. Some of my closest friends are those I've made through the sport. Even the ones that aren't on this team, I've been able to keep in touch with them.
Q: Are you excited to play in the new Golden Eagle Stadium?
A: Oh, I'm so excited. It's totally different than playing on that grass field (at Phillips 66 Park) -- the pace of the game drastically changes when you don't have to worry about the bumps and skips of the grass.
UNIFIED SOCCER
Last season: The Unified Soccer team, where students of all genders and abilities share the field, had a blast competing against other local schools last spring. The highlight of the season was a multi-team jamboree, featuring some great teamwork and stellar goals.
SCHEDULE COMING SOON
Junior striker Aaron Guerra
Q: What are you most looking forward to this season?
A: I'm excited for the games and meeting new people. I think there are some new freshmen joining us from unified basketball.
Q: What’s your personal goal for this year?
A: I'm hoping to have an awesome season, just like we did last year. Let's keep it up!
Q: Why do you love soccer?
A: It's fun and you get to meet new people.
Q: Are you excited to play in the new Golden Eagle Stadium?
A: Definitely. I'm mostly excited for how many people are going to be there, watching.
SOFTBALL
Last season: The Golden Eagles finished the season with a 6-14 record, capping off the season with a dominant 11-1 victory over Meridian.
Senior 1B Talia Locker
Q: What are you most looking forward to this season?
A: Getting the chance to redeem ourselves at districts. Hopefully, we can make it to districts this year, and possibly win state -- that would be really cool.
Q: What’s your personal goal for this year?
A: I would like to hit a home run. That's my goal for this year -- at least hit one!
Q: Why do you love softball?
A: Now that I have the hang of it, I feel like it’s a really nice escape. I also like being around my friends and my teammates; I’ve built so many great bonds with so many different girls over the past four years.
Q: Is there any player you model your game after?
A: My dad, Marcus Locker, played baseball and he was really good at it. My dad is who I’d want my A-game to be like. He played for Ferndale – one time, he hit a ball over the train (behind the FHS campus).
GIRLS' TENNIS
Last season: Five Golden Eagles made the sub-districts tournament in 2023, all of whom are returning this season. Aubrey Lynch was named to the all-conference second-team.
Senior Shanti Thapa
Q: What are you most looking forward to this season?
A: Probably playing with my friends again. I just love this team environment.
Q: What’s your personal goal for this year?
A: Definitely winning more matches, and going to districts. Last year, I was one match away.
Q: Why do you love tennis?
A: I love the people I play with -- they're so supportive. No one's mean; it's not toxic.
Q: What else should people know about FHS girls' tennis this year?
A: A lot of people should come join the team. It's really fun!
BOYS' TRACK AND FIELD
Last season: Three members of the Golden Eagles reached the state meet in Tacoma. Andrew and Adrian Finsrud placed 4th and 8th in the pole vault, respectively, and Ellie Ochoa placed 12th in the javelin throw. More than 30 other athletes joined those three at the district meet.
Senior sprinter Kyler Bowen (100m, 200m, 4x100 and 4x400 relays)
Q: What are you most looking forward to this year?
A: Our team's a lot bigger this year, so we have a lot more talent and more people to meet.
Q: What is your personal goal for this year?
A: This year, I'm looking forward to PR'ing in all of my events. (Editor's note: a "PR" is a personal record, or best personal time.)
Q: Why do you love sprinting?
A: I love the attention to detail. The little things can change a lot, so I'm always working on my form and trying to get just a little bit better every time I run.
Q: Are you excited to compete in the new stadium?
A: I think it's a big moment for me and our team. There hasn't been a home Ferndale track meet for a long time.
GIRLS' TRACK AND FIELD
Last season: Three members of the Golden Eagles reached the state meet in Tacoma. Andrew and Adrian Finsrud placed 4th and 8th in the pole vault, respectively, and Ellie Ochoa placed 12th in the javelin throw. More than 30 other athletes joined those three at the district meet.
Senior jumper Birgit Milton (long jump, triple jump, high jump)
Q: What are you most looking forward to this year?
A: The new facility. It's so great to have our own track again, and we'll get to use our entire practice time for practice. The past couple years, going up to Blaine took a good chunk out of our practice time.
Q: What is your personal goal for this year?
A: I just want to make it as far as I can, do the best that I can, and improve upon what I did last season. Last year, I PR'd by maybe a foot, and I just want to continue that progression.
Q: Why do you love jumping?
A: I love that we have a tight-knit group of people that I get to see everyday, and we're all pushing each other. Even as a freshman, it was very welcoming and the seniors were teaching me. I quickly found my place there.
Q: Are you excited to compete in the new stadium?
A: We haven't had a home meet for years and years. So it's really exciting that we'll have so many this year, and we're hosting sub-districts too. It's going to be really cool!
FALL CHEER INTEREST MEETING: MARCH 11, 6 pm, FHS COMMONS
TRYOUTS TAKE PLACE APRIL 9-12