With Yelm High School’s first 3A State Championship football team still on the mind of most locals, it could be easy to forget other storylines from the area sports scene in 2022 — and even the road to the football championship by the Tornados.
Here’s a roundup of some of the most impressive accomplishments of local teams and athletes this year:
Feb. 24
Logan Platt Wins State Wrestling Championship as Numerous Yelm, Rainier Grappler Place in Tournament
For the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mat Classic returned and champions were crowned during the two-day tournament at the Tacoma Dome. The Tornados once again showed they are one of the premier wrestling programs in the 3A classification as one of its grapplers was named a state champion.
Logan Platt, a senior, won the 3A State Championship in the 195 weight class. Platt was dominant throughout the tournament as he pinned every opponent he faced leading up to the championship match. In the 195 finale, Platt won by a score of 14-4, becoming the first wrestler from the boys team since 2019 to win a state championship. And who won the last state championship for the Yelm boys before Platt? It was his older brother Derrick, who is now a linebacker at Whitworth University.
March 3
Yelm Senior Details His Journey to Becoming a State Wrestling Champion
Logan Platt, a four-year varsity wrestler under coach Gaylord Strand at Yelm High School, competed in the 195-pound weight class during the 2022 season. Entering this year’s Mat Classic in Tacoma, there was one thing left for Platt to achieve: a state championship victory.
Leading up to the state tournament, Platt had an impressive regular season, as well as being dominant in postseason play. The senior finished the season with a 20-1 record. During the regular season, Platt also dominated in tournament play. He placed first at the Viking Classic at Lake Stevens High School and first in the Bearcat Invitational in Chehalis.
March 24
Nubbe Leads the Nation with PR Discus Throw
Rainier’s Jeremiah Nubbe is now on top of the high school discus mountain after launching a personal-record toss during the Mountaineers’ season-opening home meet on Thursday, March 17.
The 18-year-old senior broke his previous PR by three feet with a toss of 205 feet two inches – putting him easily above the nation’s number two thrower, Cristion Davis, of Vandegrift High School in Texas.
Nubbe, who is coming off a national discus title that he won at the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships in August, was ranked as high as second in the nation as a junior last year.
March 31
Yelm Fastpitch Enters SSC Play After Notching Several Wins
Following a 10-1 victory over the North Thurston Rams in their home opener, the Lady Tornados fastpitch team was set for a busy week that featured seven games in locations throughout Western Washington.
The Tornados then traveled to Bellevue College on Friday, March 25 and took on both Ellensburg High School and East Valley High School in back-to-back contests.
In the first matchup at Bellevue College against Ellensburg, the Tornados got off to a fast start as senior second baseman Molly Embrey hit an inside-the-park homerun. The Tornados were able to put several runs on the board early in the contest, but Ellensburg responded with some scoring of their own.
Eventually, the game was tied 3-3 before Yelm transitioned its focus into small ball as they tried to reach base through bunts and advance the runners through steals. That strategy seemed to pay off for the Tornados.
Yelm defeated Ellensburg 10-3 behind strong batting and solid pitching from sophomore Madisyn Erickson.
June 14
Yelm’s Brayden Platt Invited to 2024 All-American Bowl
Yelm High School linebacker Brayden Platt has received an invite to the 2024 All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, following the conclusion of his senior season.
Platt, a sophomore, has started for the Tornados since he was a freshman. He is the first football player from Thurston County to receive All-American recognition since Timberline High School’s Jonathan Stewart in 2004. He is also the first Tornado in the history of the school to receive an All-American Bowl invite.
“It’s an amazing feeling being able to watch the All-American Bowl on TV growing up, and then be a part of it,” Platt said. “Being a part of the FSP program and seeing some of the older guys be invited to the All-American Bowl, and being the first All-American from Yelm is truly an amazing honor.”
Each year, the top ranked 100 football players in each graduating class are invited to the All-American Bowl to compete against the nation’s elite and celebrate their high school careers. Since the All-American Bowl started in 2000, alumni from the game have been selected to nearly 200 NFL pro bowls.
Sept. 8
Tornados Football Returns With Blowout Victory Over 4A Camas
There was plenty of off-season buzz about this year’s Yelm football team leading up to the start of the season, and the Tornados proved their believers right with a 44-14 victory over 4A Camas High School.
Students, family members and Tornado football fans filled the Yelm High School stadium on Friday, Sept. 2 in a matchup featuring the two heavyweight programs.
The Tornados three-heading monster rushing attack of Platt, Carreto and Wright put on a show for fans and family throughout the evening. The three combined for 280 rush yards and five rushing touchdowns, and another 93 receiving yards.
Nov. 10
Tornados Bound for State 3A Playoffs as No. 1 Seed
Fans, students and family gathered and cheered for athletes on the field on Friday, Nov. 4 as Yelm secured a 50-7 win against Bishop Blanchet, propelling them to the State 3A Playoffs.
The team sports an undefeated record of 10-0. The Tornados will face off against Southridge at home on Saturday, Nov. 12.
Nov. 17
South Sound Conference Football Awards Announced
With the conclusion of the 2022-23 South Sound Conference regular season, coaches from around the league gathered on Tuesday, Nov. 8 to cast votes for all league honors.
The results are as follows:
SSC MVP: Brayden Platt, junior, Yelm; Lineman of the Year: Landen Barger, junior, Yelm; Offensive MVP: Kyler Ronquillo, senior, Yelm; Defensive MVP: Ray Wright, senior, Yelm; Coaching Staff of the Year: Yelm.
Yelm’s William Carreto, Kolby Henry, William Snodgrass, Onyx Carter, Isaiah Patterson, and Ronquillo each were named to the first team all-SSC.
Dec. 1
Tornados Advance to 3A State Championship After Thrilling Victory Over Bellevue
The Tornados football team punched its ticket to the 3A state championship game after a 28-27 victory over Bellevue.
Junior quarterback Damian Aalona scored on a QB sneak to give Yelm a last second lead during the game on Saturday, Nov. 26.
“It just doesn’t feel real. I feel like a little kid right now,” junior Brayden Platt said following the game. “It feels so surreal. After seeing all of my brothers (Austin, Derrick, and Logan Platt) all come up through the program and help get Yelm closer and closer each year, it’s an amazing feeling.”
Dec. 8
Answered Prayer in Puyallup: Yelm Wins 3A State Title on Miracle Touchdown
PUYALLUP – Damian Aalona said that when he threw the ball from the Yelm 45-yard line down the left side, and saw Eastside Catholic’s Tyson Weaver step up to pick the ball off easily with 52 seconds left, he knew that everything was lost.
The Tornados – bearing the No. 1 seed in the 3A state tournament but still very much new blood at the top of the ranks – had gone toe-to-toe with No. 2 Eastside Catholic for four quarters, fought the Crusaders to a standstill in the trenches, and scratched out offense when they could, but the perennial power had taken back the lead with a long touchdown on a screen pass late, had stolen momentum, and now, had the ball with less than a minute left.
Until they didn’t, because Kyler Ronquillo wasn’t done yet.
The senior, committed to play for Portland State next fall, kept going on his wheel route, and hit Weaver — himself a three-star recruit — square in the chest. Weaver went to the ground, and Ronquillo kept going — and after a step, everyone at a packed Carl Sparks Stadium realized he had the ball, going untouched into the end zone on a minor miracle of a touchdown.
