Wesco's Best Begin Playoffs -- Volleyball, Soccer, Swim Teams Start Bids For State Berths

Playoff time is here for most of the fall varsity sports in the Western Conference.

The only fall sport not involved in playoffs this week is boys tennis, which holds its state tournament in the spring.

Here's a look at this week's playoff action for cross country, volleyball, girls soccer and girls swimming:

Cross country

The state cross country meets will be Saturday at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

The WesCo AAA will send the Snohomish boys and girls, Cascade girls and Edmonds-Woodway boys in the team competition. Snohomish's Laura Snipes and Edmonds-Woodway's Ryan Peters represent the WesCo as district champions.

The WesCo AA will send the South Whidbey girls and boys, Lynnwood boys, Stanwood girls and Lake Stevens boys in the team competition. South Whidbey's Megan Maynard is the Northwest AA District champion.

The Cascade League will be represented by the Lakewood boys and girls and the King's boys and girls in the team competition at the Class A-B meet. Lakewood's Justin Murray and King's Amy King represent the Cascade League as Northwest A District champions.

Volleyball

-- WesCo AAA: The Northwest AAA District tournament opens with pool play at two sites tomorrow. In Pool A, North Division champion Sehome (13-1) hosts Kamiak (6-10), Snohomish (9-5) and Shorecrest (11-3).

In Pool B at Edmonds-Woodway will be South Division champion Mountlake Terrace (13-1), Cascade (9-5), Mount Vernon (12-3) and Marysville-Pilchuck (6-8).

Pool play begins at 4 p.m. The top two teams from each pool advance to Saturday's competition at Marysville-Pilchuck, starting at 10 a.m. The top two teams from Saturday's play advance to next week's Class AAA state tournament in Spokane.

-- WesCo AA: The Northwest AA District tournament is Saturday at Lynden High School, starting at 10 a.m. Representing the WesCo will be league champion South Whidbey (14-0), Cedarcrest (11-3), Stanwood (10-4), Meadowdale (8-6) and Monroe (6-8). Completing the district field from the Northwest League are Lynden, Anacortes and Bellingham.

The top three teams from district advance to next week's Class AA state tournament in Tacoma.

Girls soccer

-- WesCo AAA: North Division champion Mount Vernon (10-3-1) hosts South Division champion Shorecrest (16-0) in a winner-to-state playoff game tomorrow at 7 p.m.

The winner hosts the No. 2 team from the St. Helens League in a first-round game of the Class AAA state tournament on Tuesday.

North Division runner-up Oak Harbor/Coupeville (8-4-2) plays South Division runner-up Kamiak (11-4-1) tomorrow at Oak Harbor High School at 7 p.m. in a loser-out playoff game.

The Oak Harbor/Coupeville-Kamiak winner will play the Mount Vernon-Shorecrest loser in a winner-to-state, loser-out game Saturday at 7 p.m., either at Shoreline Stadium or Mount Vernon High School.

The winner of Saturday's game plays at the St. Helens League champion in a first-round state playoff game on Tuesday.

-- WesCo AA: Monroe (13-0-3) wrapped up the league championship by beating Meadowdale 2-1 last night. The Bearcats advance to the Class AA state tournament and will host the No. 2 team from the Metro League (tonight's Lakeside/Blanchet loser) in a first-round game Tuesday at Edmonds Stadium.

Arlington (13-2) can earn the No. 2 playoff spot with a win or tie against Lake Stevens (12-2-1) today. The Vikings would earn the No. 2 spot by beating Arlington.

The WesCo No. 2 team plays the Metro League champion (Lakeside/Blanchet winner) Tuesday at a site to be determined, likely Seattle's Memorial Stadium.

Girls swimming

-- WesCo AAA: The 13 WesCo teams, led by league champion Snohomish, will compete at the Northwest AAA District meet tomorrow through Saturday at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.

Swimming prelims start at 5 p.m. tomorrow. Diving prelims start at 4 p.m. Friday. The swimming and diving finals start at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

The top three finishers in each event, as well as any other swimmers who surpass a state-qualifying standard, advance to the Class AAA state meet, which is next week at the King County Aquatic Center.

-- WesCo AA: The Northwest AA District meet is Friday and Saturday at Fidalgo Pool in Anacortes. Lake Stevens, Meadowdale, Lynnwood and WesCo champion Jackson will join the six teams from the Northwest League, plus Meridian of the Whatcom County League, at the district meet.

Swimming prelims start Friday at 5 p.m. Swimming and diving finals start Saturday at 4 p.m.

The top three finishers in each event, as well as any other swimmers who break a state-qualifying standard, advance to the Class AA state meet, which is next week at the King County Aquatic Center.

Notes

-- The Edmonds School District seeks a boys diving coach for the winter sports season, from Nov. 13 to Feb. 17. For information, contact the Edmonds School District Athletic Office at 670-7153.

-- Qualifying for the Class AAA state boys tennis tournament from WesCo AAA were Cascade's Geoff Mayes (district singles champion), Edmonds-Woodway's Joe Zavaglia and Rob Cunningham (district doubles champion) and Snohomish's Chris Jansen and Kristian Thordarson (doubles).

-- Qualifying for the Class AA state boys tennis tournament from WesCo AA were Jackson's Daniel Yoon (district singles champion), Lynnwood's John Huntsperger and Meadowdale's David Quick (singles), Jackson's Dave Oman and Nick Martin (district champion in doubles) and Lynnwood's Kyle Wright and Mitch Bourgault (doubles).