Nick Streubel, a 2014 graduate of Coupeville High School who plays football for Central Washington University, capped an outstanding career this fall, highlighting the efforts of local graduates competing in fall sports at the collegiate level.
Football
Streubel was a four-year starter on the offensive line and a team captain for the Central Washington (5-1,7-4), which won its third straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference title. Streubel, 6’3” and 305 pounds, was named Co-GNAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, helping the Wildcats lead the league in total offense (504.7 yards per game). For the third consecutive year, Streubel earned first-team, all-GNAC honors. He was named to the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association All-Super Region 4 football team for the second time.
Brothers Taeson and Dorian Hardin played defensive back this fall for the 11-1 College of Idaho (Caldwell) football team, the Cascade Collegiate Conference champions. The Yotes’ lone setback came in a 14-6 loss to Grand View (Iowa) in the NAIA national quarterfinals. The Oak Harbor grads were the only College of Idaho DBs to record a pass breakup in the game.
Sophomore Taeson recorded a 47-yard pick-6 in a 70-23 win over Ottawa University (Arizona) in the first round of the playoffs Nov. 23. Freshman Dorian also had an interception in the game.
For the season, Taeson had a team-high four interceptions and was sixth in tackles (49). He also recorded a half sack, recovered a fumble and returned a kickoff 18 yards.
Dorian had 39 tackles, a sack and seven pass breakups, third among Yotes.
Senior Taylor Kolste was the leading receiver on the Whitworth University (Spokane) football team, snaring 43 passes this fall for 439 yards and five touchdowns. His top performance came Sept. 21 when he caught eight passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-30 loss to Chapman. The Oak Harbor grad finished his career with 57 receptions, 549 yards and five touchdowns.
Coupeville’s Jacob Martin played for Iowa Wesleyan (Mount Pleasant) this fall, and the junior running back appeared in two games and received two carries, one good for 17 yards, for the Tigers (0-10).
Volleyball
Claire Anderson, a senior on the University of Bridgeport (Conn.) volleyball team, appeared in 78 sets and recorded two kills, 10 assists and 105 digs for the 26-8 Purple Knights, who reached the NCAA II East Region finals. In the regional championship game, a 3-1 loss to Molloy Dec. 7, The Oak Harbor grad collected two assists and six digs.
Janae Payne plays volleyball for Western Washington University with Kayleigh Harper (see the Whidbey News-Times, 12-25-19). The Oak Harbor red-shirt junior appeared in 52 sets, recording one kill, six aces and 17 digs.
Former Oak Harbor High School teammates sophomores Hailee Blau and Samantha Hines played volleyball for Whatcom Community College. The Orca won the North Region Division with an 11-1 record and finished the year with a 21-10 mark. Blau led the team in kills (383), blocks (62) and points (438.5); was fourth in digs (170); and fifth in aces (11). Hines was third in points (128.5), fourth in kills (116), fifth in assists (9) and digs (148) and sixth in aces (10). Hines was also on the Northwest Athletic Conference academic excellence list.
Oak Harbor’s Ceirra Dean competed for the Edmonds Community College volleyball team, which was 9-3 in conference play and 28-14 overall. The freshman defensive specialist was second on the team in digs (233) and aces (25) and fourth in assists (30).
Soccer
Oak Harbor graduates Mary Johnston and Caylie Etherington played on two of the country’s best soccer programs in their respective divisions.
Johnston, a junior, plays for the University of Washington (13-6-2); the Huskies reached the second round of the Division I playoffs before falling 2-0 to the University of Southern Florida. Johnston played in the first four matches, scoring a goal against second-ranked North Carolina Aug. 29, before a knee injury ended her season.
Etherington, a sophomore, plays for Western Washington University (23-3), which finished second in the Division II national playoffs and won their fifth GNAC crown in eight years. The Vikings, which are coached by Oak Harbor grad Travis Connell, lost the title game 1-0 in double overtime to Grand Valley State despite out-shooting the Lakers 26-8.
Etherington appeared in eight matches and recorded seven shots, one on goal. Four of the shots came in a 6-0 win over St. Martin’s Oct. 15.
Oak Harbor’s Jennifer Turnek is a junior forward on the D-I Boise State University women’s soccer team. She registered three goals on six shots while playing in 21 matches for the 18-5 Broncos, winners of the Mountain West Conference. Turnek’s .500 shooting percentage was a team best, and her three goals were fourth most for BSU. Her final goal was a game winner in a 2-1 victory over San Diego State Oct. 11.
Caley Powers, a senior from Oak Harbor, earned third-team, All-PacWest honors playing soccer for D-II Concordia University Irvine (California). Powers started 17 matches and led the Eagles (10-7) in shots on goal (37) and points (21), registering a team-high eight goals and five assists. Among his goals were game winners against Fresno Pacific Oct. 5 and Hawaii Pacific Oct. 31.
Coupeville’s Nick Streubel plays football for Central Washington University and was named the conference’s Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year. (Photo by Jacob Thompson/Thompson Sports)
University of Washington’s Mary Johnston (second from right), an Oak Harbor graduate, celebrates her goal against second-ranked North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of UW Athletics)
Oak Harbor’s Claire Anderson, left, plays volleyball for the University of Bridgeport. (Photo courtesy of UB Athletics).
Hailee Blau (center), an Oak Harbor grad, plays volleyball for Whatcom Community College. (Photo by John Fisken)
Ceirra Dean (18) plays volleyball for Edmonds Community College. (Photo by John Fisken)
Oak Harbor graduate Dorian Hardin (25) plays football for the College of Idaho. (Photo by Inside the Lines Photography)
Oak Harbor’s Caylie Etherington (24) plays soccer for Western Washington University. (Photo courtesy of WWU Athletics)
Samantha Hines of Oak Harbor plays volleyball for Whatcom Community College. (Photo by John Fisken)
Oak Harbor’s Janae Payne plays volleyball for Western Washington University. (Photo courtesy of WWU Athletics).
Oak Harbor’s Taylor Kolste (87) makes a diving catch for Whitworth University. (Photo courtesy of WU Athletics)
Jennifer Turnek, right, plays soccer for Boise State University. (Photo by Diego Casillas)
Coupeville’s Jacob Martin (44) plays football for Iowa Wesleyan. (Photo courtesy of IW Athletics)
Oak Harbor’s Caley Powers (7) plays soccer for Concordia University Irvine. (Photo by Troy Makalena/CUI Athletics)
