10/01/2026
2 CHARGER ATHLETES MADE THE LIST!!! ❤️🖤❤️
Here is this week's Northeast Washington Top Athletes:
1. Malik Ortiz, Colville Cross Country
Once again, much like Springdale volleyball, we have a problem: somebody is making this look way too easy. Malik Ortiz won the Big Schools 5,000-meter race at the Lake Spokane XC Invite in 16:24.3. At this point, the rest of the field may want to start negotiating for a head start.
2. Natana Sloan, Colville Soccer
Colville lit up the scoreboard this week, and Sloan was right in the middle of it with two goals against Rogers and another against Omak. Three goals in soccer is roughly equivalent to 20 home runs in baseball, 11 touchdowns in football and owning three different Dairy Queens. We’re pretty sure that math checks out.
3a. Kaylin Gines, Springdale Volleyball
Gines continues to do just about everything for unbeaten Springdale. She had 16 kills, 14 digs and two aces against Valley Christian, then followed that with 10 kills, 13 digs, two aces and two block assists against Odessa. We’re starting to suspect she may also be driving the team bus home.
3b. Kate Beardslee, Northport Volleyball
Yes, we’re using baseball scoring rules for volleyball rankings now. Beardslee had a casual 35 kills last week, which is the kind of number that makes opposing blockers wake up at 3 a.m. wondering if she’s still swinging.
4a. Weston Hedrick, SelPort Football
Hedrick threw the ball just five times Friday. Three of those passes went for touchdowns. That is less “passing attack” and more “precision-guided airstrike.” He’s also a freshman and is already out here doing his best Joe Flacco impression in the NE1B. Elite? We’re not saying it. But we are thinking it very loudly.
4b. Derek Perez, Inchelium Football
Since we did it for volleyball players, we’re doing it for football players. Facing up against a loaded ACH team, quarterback Derek Perez still posted an impressive stat line with 187 passing yards and three touchdown passes.
5. Tyson Kane, Springdale Football
Kane made life miserable for Odessa, finishing with 10 tackles and five tackles for loss. Five. That means half the time he was apparently meeting the ball carrier before the play had fully introduced itself. Somewhere, Lawrence Taylor just looked up from whatever he was doing and gave a small, approving nod.