PORT ANGELES — Area sports are in a precarious position as 2022 begins, the pandemic prolonged further by a more transmissible variant causing case rates to climb higher than ever.

Basketball and wrestling matches already have been postponed or cancelled and athletes and coaches are now subject to an increase in testing. This all comes while skepticism increases about the state being able to host large indoor sporting events, such as Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome in February.

Peninsula College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will delay the beginning of their North Division slate, part of an NWAC-bid to quell potential transmission as athletes return from the holiday break.

The lesson is to be flexible as plans can and will frequently change with little notice.

And while we have the time, here’s the second in a two-part series, looking back at our area’s top stories from 2021.

Peninsula powerhouse

Peninsula College’s march to its fifth NWAC women’s soccer championship and 10th straight North Division title was powered by three high performing homegrown athletes.

Nordland’s Grace Johnson, the all-time leading scorer in Chimacum girls soccer history, led the team in scoring with nine goals and five assists this fall. She signed to continue her college career at NCAA Division II Humboldt State along with Pirate teammate Miya Clarke.

Impact newcomer Millie Long, Port Angeles’ all-time leading goal scorer with 86, knocked in eight goals with two assists in her freshman season.

Kyrsten McGuffey, Long’s former Roughriders’ teammate, tied for third on Peninsula in scoring with five goals.

Quilcene second at state

Quilcene capped it’s fifth straight SeaTac League championship with a run through the Quad District and state playoffs to become the fourth North Olympic Peninsula 1B school to advance to the eight-man football state championship game.

The Rangers joined Clallam Bay, Neah Bay and Crescent in advancing to the championship game, a 50-20 defeat at the hands of powerhouse Almira/Coulee-Hartline.

Quilcene had been eyeing the fall of 2020 as perhaps the program’s best shot at a state championship appearance in recent years before those plans were put on ice due to a pandemic-related delay.

But the Rangers rallied, controlling league play before earning some revenge against an early season loss to Lummi with a Quad District playoff victory.

Quilcene added state tournament wins over Winlock and defending champ Odessa in the state semifinals to advance further than any team in school history.

Cross country success

Area cross country runners chased down league and district championships and earned state tournament success while trimming times this fall.

Sequim’s Riley Pyeatt won a host of regular season meets along with the Olympic League and the West Central District 3/4 Championship before earning her best state championship finish, fifth, at state in November.

She signed to compete at Abilene Christian University in November.

Port Angeles’ boys won Olympic League and district crowns and finished fifth overall at Class 2A state.

East Jefferson’s boys won Nisqually and West Central District titles and were fifth at the 1A state meet, while the Rivals’ girls ran down an eighth-place team finish.

Peninsula passings

The Peninsula sports community mourned some significant passings in 2021.

Forks paraeducator and Spartans sports public address announcer Pete Haubrick died of heat stroke in late June when temperatures rose to as high as 110 degrees during that strange heat wave.

“He had the biggest heart for kids and Forks and for our athletic programs,” Quillayute Valley School District Superintendent Diana Reaume said.

Clallam Bay girls basketball coach Mike Maines died after a bout with cancer.

Maines was dedicated to seeing his players improve and enjoy the game and the Bruins flourished under his leadership.

Curt Rodocker, a committed Port Angeles and Peninsula fan and former youth sports coach who had moved to Federal Way, also died after suffering a heart attack.

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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or mcarman@peninsuladaily news.com.