Sequim Gazette staff
They aren’t wearing purple and gold any longer, but several Sequim High School grads were making an impact in for their college teams this spring, highlighted by big efforts from former Wolves Lea Hopson, Frank Catelli and Jayson Brocklesby.
• Makayla Bentz (freshman, Pacific Lutheran University; softball)
Bentz, a 2014 SHS graduate and Olympic League MVP in her senior season, played sparingly in her first season with the Lutes. Bentz appeared in nine games — all in relief — with a 1-1 record, eight strikeouts and a 7.44 earned-run-average in 16 innings.
PLU went 23-17 on the spring season.
• Jayson Brocklesby (sophomore, Olympic College; track and field)
Brocklesby, a 2013 Sequim High graduate and former state 2A high jump champion, was the men’s high-point scorer at the 2015 NWAC Track & Field Championships May 18-19 in Spokane. He also was named the meet’s Outstanding Male Track Athlete after winning the decathlon with a 235-point lead over the runner-up and earning All-American honors in the 400-meter dash (49.68) and high jump (6-6.25) events. The Olympic men finished fifth.
• Demiree Briones (junior, North Carolina Central; softball)
Briones, a 2012 Sequim High graduate and former all-Olympic League first team pitcher, hit .253 with four home runs and 13 RBIs for the NCCU Eagles this spring.
She started 34 of 39 games, mostly at first base, with 47 putouts and just one error.
The Eagles finishes 18-27 this spring.
• Frank Catelli (junior, University of Washington; track and field)
Catelli, a 2012 Sequim High graduate and former state 2A shot put champ, qualified for the NCA West Regionals in Austin, Texas, May 28-30. He finished 36th overall in the shot put (56 feet, 10.25 inches) and discus (no mark). Catelli was one of the top throwers in Division II for Western Washington University in 2013-2014, capping his sophomore year with a third-place finish in the shot put at the 2014 NCAA D-II championships.
• Dylan Chatters (freshman, Westminster College/Salt Lake City, Utah; track and field)
Chatters, a 2014 Sequim High grad and standout on Sequim cross country and track teams, competed for the Griffins on the track. He was part of Westminster’s 4×400 relay team that set a school record in that event at the BYU Robison Invitational and the school’s 4×100 relay at the Mark Faldmo Invitational, both in April.
• Adrian Clifford (sophomore, Linfield College; track and field)
Clifford, a 2013 Sequim High grad and standout runner on SHS cross country and track teams, competed in events ranging from the 800 meters to the 10,000 meters for Linfield. He took 13th in the 10,000-meter race with a 34:36 finish at the Northwest Conference Track & Field Championships in Oregon in late May.
• Lea Hopson (senior, Texas Tech; softball)
Hopson, a 2011 Sequim High graduate and former two-time Olympic League MVP, was named to the NFCA All-Region third team after hitting .326 as a senior at Texas Tech, belting a team-leading 11 home runs and driving in 37 runs. Hopson was among Tech’s leaders during Big 12 play as she hit .333 with two home runs and 10 RBIs while reaching at a .452 on-base percentage. Hopson, who also earned All-Big 12 second team honors, wrapped up her career ranked among the top 10 in school history for home runs (18) and stolen bases (31). Her 11 home runs this spring finished tied for 10th all-time in Tech single-season history.
• Hannah Hudson (freshman, Olympic College; track and field)
Hudson, a 2014 Sequim High graduate and former track and field and volleyball standout, competed in several racing events for the Olympic Rangers on the track this season. She helped Olympic place fourth in the 4×100 relay (48.90) and fourth in the 4×400 relay (4:01.80) at the NWAACC championships in Spokane May 18-19.
• Sarah Hutchison (freshman, Linfield College; track and field)
Hutchison, a 2014 graduate of Sequim High and all-league soccer and track athlete at SHS, competed in the pole vault for the Wildcats this spring. She took fifth place at the George Fox NCAA Final Qualifier May 13-14 with a 9-foot 9-inch mark and set a season best with 10-2.5 at the Pacific Twilight Meet in early May.
• Nick Johnston (freshman, Edmonds Community College; baseball)
Johnston, a 2014 Sequim High graduate and former all-Olympic League first team pitcher, threw mostly in relief for the Tritons this spring. He was 1-0 with a 2.59 earned-run-average in 10 games. He had six strikeouts and gave up 14 hits in 17-and-a-third innings, and won his lone start against Centralia on March 8. Edmonds finished 34-12 on the season, finishing third in the NWAC tourney.
• Madison Zbaraschuk (senior, University of Missouri-St. Louis; softball)
Zbaraschuk, a 2011 Sequim High grad and former all-Olympic League first team catcher, capped her collegiate career this spring, helping the Tritons to a No. 9 ranking in the final National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 poll. Zbaraschuk hit .313 with nine home runs, 36 RBIs and a .564 slugging average. She handled 472 chances at catcher with just one error, a .998 fielding percentage, and was named to the NFCA All-Midwest Region’s second team. The Tritons finished their 2015 campaign with a 48-8 record and advancing to the NCAA Midwest Super Regional.
• Rylleigh Zbaraschuk (sophomore, Concordia College; softball)
Zbaraschuk, 2013 Sequim High grad and former Olympic League co-MVP as a center fielder, played for the Cavaliers after transferring from the University of Washington. She hit .292 along with a .355 slugging average in 39 games this spring. She added six steals in seven attempts. Concordia (Ore.) went on a tear to move up to No. 6 in the 2015 NAIA Softball Coaches’ Postseason Top 25 Poll and finished 43-17 on the season. The Cavaliers wound up with a third-place finish at the NAIA World Series in late May.
