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By PAUL DELANEY
Staff Reporter 

Medical Lake 2017-18 Winter All-NEA

Cardinal players, coach honored

 

Last updated 3/15/2018 at 10:54am

Medical Lake High School

Members of Medical Lake's winter 2017-18 All-Northeast A League teams included (L-R): Jun Figueredo and Josh Figueredo in wrestling, both second team. Lexi Redell was a second team pick in girls' basketball, joined by first-teamers Makayla Geiger and Jayda Noble. Derek Steege was a member of the NEA's second team in boys' basketball. In addition, girls coach Kyle Lundberg was named Coach-of-the-Year for a second consecutive season.

A winter's work that saw the continued rise of Medical Lake High School girls' basketball and the reemergence of the wrestling program earned individuals the honor of selection to a variety of Northeast A All-League teams.

Girls' basketball:

Three members of the Cardinals' fifth-place finishers at the recent state 1A tournament, plus their head coach, Kyle Lundberg, repeated as Coach-of-the-Year for the team that finished 23-2.

Senior Makayla Geiger was a repeat pick on the first team. Geiger was a four-year letter winner in basketball and has been one of the captains the last two years. "She was extremely valuable on our team, both as a player and a leader," Lundberg wrote in an email. Geiger averaged 11 points per game this season and finished her basketball career with 750 career points. "She will be greatly missed within our program," Lundberg added.

A repeat first-team choice was sophomore Jayda Noble. "Jayda stepped up for us both on the floor and her leadership this year," Lundberg said. She was one of the captains - a first for a sophomore - and provided great leadership. She averaged 13 points along with 11 rebounds this season. In addition, Noble also earned honors as a member of the all-tournament first team.


Lexie Redell, a sophomore, was a second-team pick for a second year in a row. "Lexie had another great year for us," Lundberg said. "She averaged 11 points and really improved on the defensive side," he added. "We were very impressed with how much she improved this year and is getting better each season."

Lundberg is in his fourth season as the Cardinals' head coach, having crafted an impressive 43-5 record over the past two campaigns and repeated as district champions. "He's a hard worker and dedicated to the kids," athletics director Justin Blayne wrote in an email. This was Medical Lake's first venture to the state tournament since 1991.


Boys' basketball:

Derek Steege was a second team All-NEA selection. "Derek was one of those players that always had the opposing coaches guessing who he was," head coach Noel Hachtel said. "He wasn't flashy, he wasn't remembered by opposing coaches, he wasn't big and wasn't very fast."

But he was extremely crafty and found ways to help his team be as successful. Steege, a senior, earned the respect of his teammates and was voted team captain and team MVP at season's end.

Wrestling:

Jun Figueredo and brother Josh were selected to second-team All-NEA teams. In addition, Jun Figueredo was a first-team all-academic choice. Josh earned second-team academic honors.

"Plus they both made the state tournament and Jun placed third," head coach Matt Leenhouts wrote in an email.

Josh Figueredo plans on attending Washington State University in the fall and Jun will be ready to go for a state title run next year as a sophomore.

Other awards:

In addition to athletic awards, Matteo Duran was placed on the NEA Academic first-team for a second year in a row. He possesses an outstanding GPA of 3.9 while attending Eastern Washington University and finishing his senior year in high school.

Duran was a three-year letterman in basketball and the team's most inspirational player which was voted on by his peers.

Medical Lake's Kyle Lundberg earned the nod of voters as the Northeast A League's girl's coach of the year for the second season in a row.

"He is such a mature young man and a huge mentor for the younger guys on our team," his coach, Noel Hachtel said. His end-of-season speech had everyone in tears.

"The messages he left for the younger guys will be one of my favorite memories from this season," Hachtel added.

Jordan Petersen was also placed on the NEA all academic second team with a 3.5 GPA. "That's incredible for a sophomore guard that also lettered for his first time," Hachtel said. "He was voted MVP on the JV team and was one of my "swing" players. He is a joy to be around."

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.

 

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