Sequim Gazette staff

Not all of the pieces are in place, but several Sequim High School squads are seeing changes in leadership in the coming 2016-2017 school year.

SHS athletic director Dave Ditlefsen said the school will be interviewing soon after school is back in session (Aug. 31) for two open positions: girls basketball and fastpitch.

Justine Wagner headed up the girls basketball squad for the 2015-2016 season, compiling a 6-13 overall record and 2-10 in Olympic league play. (Wagner also coaches SHS’s boys tennis team in the fall and the girls tennis team in the spring.)

The Wolves see turnout for both boys and girls basketball teams on Nov. 16, with the season starting Dec. 7.

The school also is seeking a new fastpitch coach after head coach Mike McFarlen stepped down.

“(During the season) I miss a lot of work,” McFarlen said. “It seemed like the right time.”

McFarlen took over the team in 2012 and led the Wolves to five consecutive Class 2A state berths, placing fourth in 2012 and seventh in 2016.

“(I’ll miss) their competitive nature,” he said. “They always seemed to step it up in the playoffs.”

Under McFarlen, SHS fastpitch was 99-30 overall, with a 61-10 record in the Olympic League and 23-17 in the postseason.

“We had a good run,” he said.

In the fall, Derek VanderVelde — a special education teacher at SHS — takes over the head coaching spot for the varsity girls soccer team. First-year coach Brittany Murdach led the Wolves last fall, with the squad finishing 3-11-1 overall and 1-10 in league play.

Longtime SHS cross country head coach Harold Huff is taking a one-year leave.

Assistant Michael Cobb takes over the boys and girls squads for 2016, with Debbie Crane as assistant.

Huff led SHS’s running crew to undefeated league seasons in 2015, with

Sequim’s boys placing third and girls 12th at the Class 2A state meet. Coach of the Wolves since 2001, Huff was named class 2A Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2014.