Vote now for The News Tribune’s 2025-26 high school boys team of the year
Vote now for The News Tribune’s high school boys team of the year across all seasons from the 2025-26 school year. Voting will remain open until noon Monday, July 6.
The poll is located below. You can read about all of the candidates and their accomplishments below.
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Bellarmine Prep basketball — Even with a late-season injury to star guard Kade Price, Bellarmine posted a 24-4 record under second-year coach Bobby Moorehead and advanced to the Class 3A state tournament semifinals, beating Edmonds-Woodway in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Rainier Beach in the semifinals. Bellarmine beat Eastside Catholic in a consolation game and finished in third place.
Emerald Ridge basketball — Jaguars (25-7) knocked off No. 1 Mount Si in the Class 4A state quarterfinals and secured a fifth-place finish at the Tacoma Dome, the best in program history. Emerald Ridge won 14 straight games between December and February, led by TNT All-Area forward Jamaize McGriff (14 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2 SPG, 1.8 BPG).
Gig Harbor soccer — Tides (17-3-1) rolled to a third-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament, matching the best in program history. TNT All-Area selections Eli Hanson (23 goals, 18 assists) and Henry Blake (16 goals, nine assists) powered Gig Harbor over Silas in the 3A District 3 championship, 2-1, on May 16.
Kentlake baseball — Compiled a 23-5 record and saved the best for last, completing a dramatic comeback win against Eastside Catholic in the Class 3A state championship game in Everett. UW commit Christopher Moore and infielder Matthew Ledbetter were named first-team selections to The News Tribune’s All-Area team.
Lincoln basketball — Coached by Ryan Rogers, the Abes peaked at the right time, winning the Class 3A District 3/4 title, knocking off O’Dea in a state tournament regional round game and advancing all the way to the state championship game at the Tacoma Dome, where the Abes fell to top-seeded Rainier Beach. Sophomore guard Davion Shareef-Dulaney, whose heroics sent the Abes to the title game, was the TNT’s All-Area player of the year and an all-state selection, while promising forward Justus Holt was a second-team All-Area selection.
Mount Tahoma football — It looks like the T-Birds are here to stay. After showing signs of a resurgence under coach Keith Terry, Mount Tahoma put together its best season in 45 years, reaching the state championship game for the first time since 1980. Mount Tahoma posted a 13-1 record, winning the 3A Puget Sound League with a win over Lakes and two wins against rival Lincoln. Mount Tahoma fell to O’Dea, 21-14, in a thrilling 3A championship game at Husky Stadium, after beating Eastside Catholic in the semifinals, 21-6.
Orting wrestling — The dynasty was already cemented, but Orting continued their dominance with a fifth-straight 2A team state title at Mat Classic XXXVII in February. Five Cardinals captured individual titles: Nery Rivas (113), Arcadius Cruz (120), Trevor Anderson (126), Dakota Anderson (150), and Michael Fritz (165).
Stadium soccer — So close for the Tigers. Dino Basil’s squad was one of the state’s best all season, posting an 18-2-1 record, winning the 4A North Puget Sound League and taking the No. 1 seed into the Class 4A state tournament. Sumner, which Stadium had beaten once during the regular season and another time in the district tournament, knocked off the Tigers in the quarterfinals, ending Stadium’s storybook run. Forwards Abraham Cooper and Fisher Jarzynka and midfielder Jack Luxenberg were named to the first team of The News Tribune’s 2026 All-Area team.
Sumner baseball — Sumner posted a 23-4 record, won the 4A District 3/4 title and won the Class 4A state championship, beating Gonzaga Prep in the championship game, 7-0, after collecting wins over Moses Lake, Kennedy Catholic and Kamiakin.
Sumner football — Spartans compiled an 11-3 record and won back-to-back Class 4A titles in the fall, winning nine straight games to close out the season, including a 42-35 win over Puyallup in the semifinals and a 41-35 overtime win over Lake Stevens in the championship game at Husky Stadium. Six Sumner players — running back Lance McGee, receiver Braylon Pope, tight end Ashton Pillard, offensive tackle Elijah Thomas, defensive lineman Shaun Griffith and defensive back Israel Nabors — were named to The News Tribune’s All-Area team as first-team selections. Longtime coach Keith Ross was named the TNT’s co-coach of the year.
Sumner soccer — Coached by Craig Johnson, the Spartans posted a 16-5-1 record, won the Class 4A South Puget Sound League title and made a run all the way to the 4A state championship game, which included a 3-1 win over top-seeded Stadium in the quarterfinals. In its three state tournament wins, Sumner outscored opponents 9-3. The runner-up finish was the best in program history. Center back Lucas Morgan, a Seattle Pacific commit, was named The News Tribune’s All-Area player of the year; forward Gavin Murphy and midfielder Aiden Vannoy were named to the first team.
Tahoma wrestling — Bears rolled to their third-straight Class 4A team title at Mat Classic XXXVII inside the Tacoma Dome, boasting three individual state champions: Brycen Dawley (126), Owen Marshall (132), and Isac Deonigi (157).
Tumwater baseball — Coached by Lyle Overbay, the T-Birds compiled a 23-6 record, winning the 2A Evergreen Conference and advancing all the way to the Class 2A state championship game, where the T-Birds fell to top-seeded Bainbridge. Outfielder/pitcher Luke Overbay, a Michigan commit, was named to The News Tribune’s All-Area team.
Tumwater football — T-Birds rolled through most of their schedule, posting an 11-2 record and playing in the Class 2A state championship game, where Tumwater fell to a loaded Archbishop Murphy squad. Tumwater’s only other loss came to 4A state tournament semifinalist Puyallup.
