Peninsula High School senior Elektra Higgins this month continued to cement her place as the most decorated runner in school history. Higgins capped her high school cross country career with a stellar performance at the 19th Annual Nike Cross Nationals in Portland Dec. 7, finishing the 5K run 13th in 17:37.5 and earning second-team All-American honors.
Her showing at the national stage was part of another banner year for Washington runners, as the state placed three athletes in the top 15 in the national race. Higgins finished just behind Mercer Island’s Victoria Rodriguez, a familiar competitor whom she edged out in November for second place at the 3A State Cross Country Championships. Rodriguez’s younger sister, two-time Washington state champion Sophia Rodriguez, placed 8th in Portland.
Higgins consistently delivered top performances throughout her four-year high school career, finishing in the top 10 at every state meet: 7th as a freshman, 9th as a sophomore, 3rd as a junior, and 2nd as a senior. She also claimed back-to-back Washington Interscholastic Activities Association District 3/4 Girls Cross Country titles in 2023 and 2024.
She holds Peninsula High School records in cross country (16:58.5), the mile (4:53.17), and two-mile (10:29.46) events in track. Her success on the running courses this year earned her recognition as the Puget Sound League (Nisqually Division) MVP and the Tacoma-Pierce Athletic Commission Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year. Higgins will run for Southern Methodist University in Dallas next year.
Higgins’ teammates senior Hailey Howard (second team), sophomore Isabella Easley and freshman Ascher Lascheck (honorable mention) were also named to the all-conference team. For the boys, seniors Tesfa Hoff (second team) and Josh Cashion (honorable mention) were recognized.
Higgins wasn’t the only MVP for the Seahawks this fall. Junior forward Nora Sutherland was named Nisqually Division MVP after leading Peninsula with 15 goals and finishing third in assists (6). She was joined on the first team by fellow juniors Ella Coates, Maya Rogers, and Ada Labowitz. Second-team selections included junior goalkeeper Brooklyn Finch and sophomores Alex Cichanski and Maya Kalahiki, while sophomore midfielder Kayla Adams earned honorable mention.
Despite guiding the Seahawks to league and district championship games in his first year, head coach Jose Brambila was not named Nisqually Division Coach of the Year.
Boys Water Polo
Senior Henry Moore earned first-team honors in Division 2, while teammates Garrett Sale and Tyler Givot were named to the second team. Henry’s younger brother, Owen, a freshman, received honorable mention. The Seahawks finished the season 8-5. Water polo is a club sport and not included as part of the Puget Sound League.
Sophomore sprinter Lee Gjertson and junior diver Jordan Givot earned individual honorable mentions on the PSL all-conference team. Gjertson, along with Kate Henkel, Reis Every and Reis Miller, were all honorable mentions for the Seahawks 200 freestyle relay team. As a team, the girls took second in the league and finished 15th at the 3A Girls State Swim and Dive Championships in November.
Volleyball
Washington State-bound senior middle blocker Ziah Sneva was named to the PSL first team after recording 181 kills, 40 blocks and 29 aces. Junior libero Kate Cardinal earned second-team honors and senior outside hitter Sarah Hurn received honorable mention. The Seahawks finished the season 9-12 overall and 5-10 in league play.
Boys Tennis
Senior Corey Wisner made the PSL first team for singles, while fellow senior Adam Massry was named to the second team.
Football
There were 12 Peninsula football players who earned All-PSL honors this fall (See “Five Seahawks Named to All-PSL Football First Team” Dec. 2024).
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