JULIAN-BLAKE COWAN, Auburn Riverside
Cowan, a fleet-footed junior, ran better than ever this year. Last fall, he ran to a fifth-place finish in the Class 3A state cross country meet, covering the 3.1-mile course in 16:21. This spring, Cowan got onto the state podium in both distance events, placing seventh in the 1,600 meters with a time of 4:21.53, and eighth in the 3,200 with a 9:26.94.
JEFF GOUVEIA, Auburn
The talented was a hard-to-bring-down running back, rushing for 1,033 yards and 19 touchdowns on 121 carries, helping Auburn to a second-place finish in SPSL 3A and a spot in the state playoffs. He was a first-team all-league choice at running back, linebacker, and was the SPSL 3A Linebacker of the Year. On the basketball court, Gouveia averaged 7.9 points as the Trojans put together a 20-0 regular-season record and went to the state tournament. Gouveia earned second-team All-SPSL 3A status for hoops.
ERIC JONES, Auburn Riverside
The Ravens senior wrapped up his high school wrestling career in impressive fashion. He went 40-0 last winter, capped by a 6-0 decision against Shelton’s Alex Cannon in the 152-pound Class 3A finals at Mat Classic. Not only was that Jones’ second straight state title, it was his 63rd consecutive victory, the first 23 of which came during his junior season.
MATT MALKOWICZ, Auburn Mountainview
Malkowicz was a solid two-sporter for the Lions. During the fall, the 5-foot-8 senior was an All-SPSL 3A second-team choice at defensive back. This spring, he was on the baseball diamond, earning all-league honorable mention status at second base.
MICHAEL MANGRUM, Riverside
The senior, whose trademarks are talent, titles, and postmatch backflips put all three on display once again during the Mat Classic state meet in February. Mangrum, who’s heading to Oregon State University for wrestling, powered to the 145-pound title, rolling past Nick Gautreaux of West Valley-Yakima in the 3A final, 23-7. That gave him three consecutive state championships, a 30-0 record for his senior year and a 130-2 mark for his four-year career.
MATT SENCENBAUGH, Auburn
Sencenbaugh, seeking to add to the 119-pound state crown he won as a junior, made it to the 125-pound title bout at Mat Classic, but fell barely short against Enumclaw’s Jason Gray, 6-5. Sencenbaugh placed all four years at state. In the spring, he traded a singlet for a soccer jersey, and earned All-SPSL 3A second-team honors at forward for Auburn.
JAKE SWARTZ, Auburn
Swartz, a junior, put his second straight state title into the books this past February, scoring an 8-3 decision against Sedro-Woolley’s Cody Pohren in the 171-pound finals of the Class 3A Mat Classic state tournament. Swartz went 40-1 for the year and will enter his senior season with a 112-11 overall record.
TYSON SYKES, Auburn Riverside
Sykes, a junior, excelled in football and futbol for the Ravens. On the gridiron, he completed 53 of 129 passes for 1,090 yards and eight touchdowns, and ran for two more TDs, helping the Ravens to a 5-5 overall record and a spot in the regional round of the Class 3A state playoffs. This spring on the soccer field, he helped anchor Auburn Riverside’s back line as the Ravens won the SPSL 3A title and went to the state tournament. He was a second-team all-league choice.
