On a busy weekend chock full of season-finales for “fall” sports teams, it was a major announcement about a local coaching legend that made the biggest news.

GIRLS SWIMMING

Aberdeen places second to Shelton; decorated head coach Simons announces retirement

The biggest news out of the weekend for the Aberdeen girls swimming program wasn’t what happened in the pool, but what happened out of it.

Longtime Aberdeen head coach Jan Simons, who build the program into one of the premiere swim programs in the state, announced her retirement on Friday after 29 years.

“It has been my greatest pleasure to have the opportunity to work with these young ladies. I will be forever grateful,” Simons said.

Aberdeen assistant coach Tiffany Montoure, who swam for Simons at Aberdeen, has been named head coach for the Fall 2021 season.

“The future of this team is bright,” Simons said. “Tiffany has the passion and enthusiasm to lead these girls to even greater success.”

A day after her announcement, Simons led the Bobcats one last time at a culminating league event in Shelton.

Aberdeen placed second as a team with 292 points behind the Highclimbers (314 points).

Tumwater (273) and Black Hills (223) placed third and fourth, respectively.

Aberdeen senior Anna Weber completed her decorated prep career with wins in both the 200 individual medley (2:30.04) and the 100-yard breast stroke (1:12.04).

Bobcats senior Tatum Heikkila placed third in the 1-meter diving competition with 152.55 points and eighth in the 50 freestyle (33.58).

Aberdeen senior Giselle Rojas placed fourth in the 100 butterfly (1:14.22) and sixth in the 200 IM (2:49.60).

FOOTBALL

Elma 34, Centralia 12

Elma completed an impressive season with a 34-12 come-from-behind victory over Centralia on Saturday in Centralia.

The Eagles (5-1) turned a back-and-forth contest in the first half into a second-half rout, outscoring the Tigers 27-0 in the final two quarters to pick up the season-ending victory.

“We had a little sluggish start, but the kids played really hard and it was a great defensive effort in the second half,” Elma head coach Ron Clark said, noting his defense caused five turnovers and had five sacks in the game. “Momentum is bigger than it has ever been in football, for whatever reason. And (causing turnovers) are kind of a two-for-one for us because we have not been coughing the ball up lately.”

With Elma leading 7-6 after a touchdown pass from quarterback René Duran to receiver Noah Huttula early in the second quarter, Centralia (1-4) took a 12-7 halftime lead on a touchdown pass with just under two minutes left in the first half.

But the second half was all Elma.

The Eagles regained the lead on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Duran to Baxter with 8:20 left in the third quarter followed by a 1-yard scoring run by Duran a little over three minutes later.

Baxter sealed the victory for the Eagles in the fourth quarter with touchdown runs of 10 and 16 yards over the final 12 minutes of the game.

Elma had 210 rushing yards and out gained Centralia 274-163.

Baxter carried the ball 18 times for 139 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Brody Rustemeyer ran for 44 yards on 11 carries for the Eagles.

Duran went 3-of-5 passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Eagles defense was led by Cobey Moore, who had two interceptions on the day, Noah Huttula (9.5 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Jarred Bailey (5 TKL, 2 Sacks, 3 tackles for loss).

In a season with only one loss — a 41-0 defeat to Montesano, the No. 3 team in the 1A classification according to maxpreps.com — Clark said he and his coaches enjoyed coaching the current group of Elma players.

”I think we really made progress after the Monte loss. I think we really started blocking and that’s when Baxter really started tearing it up,” he said. “It has been one of our favorite years. The kids have been great. … They did what we asked them to do, which was play Elma football. They are a close-knit group and they had fun doing it.”

Elma 0 7 14 13 — 34

Centralia 6 6 0 0 — 12

Passing Leaders: Elma — Duran (3-5-0, 64 yards, 2 TD).

Rushing Leaders: Elma — Baxter (18-139, 2 TD), Rustemeyer (11-44), Duran (6-15, TD).

Receiving Leaders: Elma — Baxter (1-53, TD), Huttula (1-9, TD).

Pe Ell-Willapa Valley 3, Adna 0

Less than a week after suffering a drubbing at the hands of the Adna Pirates, the Pe Ell-Willapa Valley Titans earned retribution in the form of a 3-0 overtime win over Adna in a 2B crossover game on Saturday in Montesano.

In a scoreless tie with time winding down in the fourth quarter, Adna had possession and looked to score on the final play of the game, but PWV senior defensive back Joe McCaulden intercepted a pass in the end zone on the final play of the game to send the contest into overtime.

PWV (1-4) received the ball first and had a 35-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Garrett Keeton called back due to an offsides penalty.

The extra yardage turned out to be no problem for Keeton, who split the uprights on a 40-yard attempt to give the Titans a 3-0 lead.

“He thumped it and it went right though. You don’t see 40-yard field goals at the class 2B level that often,” PWV assistant coach John Peterson said. “For a 10th grader, that is pretty good.”

The PWV defense held firm, giving a young Titans team that had been depleted with injuries this season a much-deserved victory.

“They run a bunch set and like to run sweeps. … Defensively, our front four was outstanding.”

Keeton had three sacks for minus-34 yards and seven tackles and freshman Blake Howard had an interception for the Titans.

PWV junior linebacker Kaden Ritzman had 11 tackles and a sack.

“I’m so happy for our kids because it’s been a hard season for us. They got smoked on Wednesday and it would have been real easy to tuck your tail between your legs and run home and they didn’t,” Peterson said. “It was a heck of a game and an emotional game for our program. It’s been a real good rivalry over the years and anytime you can beat them, it’s a great day for us.”

Adna 0 0 0 0 0 — 0

PWV 0 0 0 0 3 — 3

Passing Leaders: PWV — Tyler Adkins (1-8-0, 8 yds.)

Rushing Leaders: PWV — Howard (15-73), Wil Clements (5-25).

Receiving Leaders: PWV — McCaulden (1-8).

VOLLEYBALL

Hoquiam 3, Elma 0

Hoquiam defeated Elma in straight-sets to claim victory in the 4th place game of the 1A District 4 Tournament on Saturday in Hoquiam.

With both teams picking up consolation bracket victories on Thursday — Elma 3-2 over Montesano and Hoquiam 3-0 over Tenino — the two teams faced off for the third and final time on Saturday, with Hoquiam winning 25-22, 28-26 and 25-23.

Hoquiam (6-7) was led by senior Hailey Lawrence (18 digs, 14-14 service), Ella Folkers (21 assists, 10 digs, 12-12 service, 4 aces), Sharaya Brydon (7 kills, 10 digs) and Chloe Kennedy (13 kills).

“Overall, every single girl contributed in our win,” Hoquiam head coach Heather Bozich said. “I wish we could have had a full season because with the improvement in each player, we really came together as a team and I love how we were playing at the end. We peaked at the right time and I could not be prouder of these girls.”

Elma (8-5) was led by Torrey Thompson (14 kills, block), Ella Moore (7 kills, 24 assists, 14 digs), Kayla Aho (30 digs) and Sarah Bridge (5 kills, 2 blocks).

“We did not get the outcome we wanted today but I am very proud of the team,” Elma head coach Kendra Dunn said. “It was a very close match. Hoquiam played great today and was very scrappy on defense. Even though it was a short season, our team has many things to be proud of. I am especially proud of the seniors this year and for the legacy they have left for Elma volleyball.”

Elma 22 26 23 — 0

Hoquiam 25 28 25 — 3

Ocosta’s Dylan Todd heads to the finish line of the 2B District 4 Cross Country Championship Race on Saturday in Rainier. (Submitted photo)

CROSS COUNTRY

Ocosta boys place fourth in district meet

Led by a top five finish from junior Dylan Todd, the Ocosta boys cross country team placed fourth overall at the 2B District 4 meet on Saturday in Rainier.

Todd placed fifth overall with a time of 15:34.6 to lead the Wildcats, who were also bolstered by top 15 finishes from juniors Matthew Idso (15:56.7, 8th) and William Idso (16:14, 13th).

Orlando Guevara (19:03.09, 47th), Billy Jones (21:32.59, 62nd) and Ivan Viloria (22:55.5, 66th) rounded out the rest of the Wildcats team.

Other top finishers for Twin Harbors athletes in the 2.66 mile race included an impressive 11th place finish for Willapa Valley senior Nathan Franks, who posted a time of 16:01.89.

Natalie Cain was the top local runner to place in the girls race. The Ocosta senior crossed the finish line of the 5K race with a time of 24:36.

North Beach junior Skyler Langston placed 17th with a time of 24:42 with Raymond’s Genevieve Sarich finishing 21st with a time of 25:31.

For full race results, visit athletic.net/CrossCountry/Results/Meet.aspx?Meet=188477&show=all.