“I love the unique position that swim team offers where people get to swim as families,” Watkins said. “We are a team. We compete together as a big team.”

Ellie and Asher Peterson represent one of the sibling duos on this season’s team as Ellie is returning as a 10-year old and Asher is in his first season with the Sharks at 8-years old.

“It is really fun,” Asher said. “Getting to watch my sister and getting to race.”

The big sister, although she had her brother do this interview first because she pointed that he’s taller, has enjoyed helping her brother learn the ropes with the Sharks this season and find success.

“I love watching him swim,” Ellie said. “It is pretty funny because he is one of the older (ones in his division), but it is his first year. It is really fun because you get to see him do it. He’s pretty hilarious at dives. … This is my third year and this is his first year. He is doing pretty good for a first starter.”

Ellie has found her share of success this season as well as the fastest backstroke in her 9-10 age group among the boys and the girls. She took second on Wednesday behind Clarinda’ Ali Ann Fuxa.

“My favorite thing about swim team is getting to have fun with my friends in the water and swim fast,” Ellie said. “It is fun to be the older kids. … It’s pretty fun.”

She also likes the team aspect of the relays where she teamed with Izzy Silvers, Millie Stark and Hadlee Mayfield to win the medley relay. She was second with Stevie Behrens, Olivia Jennings and Leah Thrower in the freestyle relay behind their teammates Addison Cass, Silvers, Mayfield and Stark.

Asher says he has enjoyed his first season with the Sharks as well. He teamed with Hudson Scofield, Liam Strickland and Hatcher Hamilton to win the medley relay on Wednesday while the same group took second in the freestyle relay to teammates Svetozar Forest, Henry Cass, Brevin Prosser and Leo Rhodes.

“It’s been pretty fun … getting to do swim meets with my friends,” Asher said.

As a whole, the 8-and-under boys swept their events with Cass winning the backstroke, Forest winning the breaststroke and butterfly, and Rhodes winning the short freestyle and long freestyle.

For the 8-and-under girls, Cora Kramer continued her success by winning the breaststroke, butterfly, short freestyle and long freestyle. Lily Siemer made it a sweep by winning the backstroke, and the duo teamed with Sawyer Weiss and Gabby Silvers to win both relays.

“They are developing skills that we didn’t used to even talk about until 9-10, 11-12,” Watkins said. “They are doing flip turns, getting good dives. The 8-and-unders are extremely out-performing expectations every time.”

Aside from the relay success for the 9-10 girls, Izzy Silvers was able to win the breaststroke. For the boys, Samuel Green, Josiah Green, Drake Peterson and Camden Prosser won both relays while Drake Peterson won the backstroke, Samuel Green won the breaststroke, Josiah Green won the butterfly and long freestyle, and Henry Barber won the short freestyle.

“Our team is pushing each other to a point where they are all getting amazing,” Watkins said. “That is what it is all about.”

The 11-12 girls won both relays with Stella Siemer, Ava Peterson, Elara Chase, Daden Finndley and Isla Borey contributing. Findley won the backstroke and Chase won the long freestyle to add individual titles.

Maddox Wells, Wesley Scofield and Ryan Baker teamed up to win the 11-12 boys medley relay. Wells won the backstroke, breaststroke and long freestyle while Scofield won the short freestyle.

“I’m seeing them try out new skills,” Watkins said of the 11-12 group. “They are gaining confidence to try new events and push themselves a little harder.”

Cora Feick got her name on the record board for a second-straight week on Wednesday. After breaking the backstroke record last Saturday, she broke the 50-meter freestyle record — set in 2004 by Jenny Zweifel.

Feick also picked up wins in the backstroke, butterfly and long freestyle. She teamed with Malexa Aley, Rebecca Thrower and Audrey Lance to win the freestyle relay and with Sophia Peterson, Thrower and Aley to win the medley relay.

In the boys 13-14 division, Colton Prosser won the backstroke, butterfly, short freestyle and long freestyle.

“We have one of the biggest groups of 13-14s that we’ve ever had,” Watkins said. “That is usually the age where people start to cut off. They decide what they want to do with their time and it is not always swim team, so to see so many kids come back and choose swim team, that is so awesome.”

Lola Alvarez, Sofia Lynn, Claire Walter and Mariah Dirks swept the girls 15-and-up division. They won both relays, Dirks won the backstroke, butterfly, short freestyle and long freestyle while Walter won the breaststroke.

“They show up and they practice hard,” Watkins said.

For the boys, Bo Dirks and Colton Prosser swam up a division to join Cooper Lynn and Will Michaelsen to win both relays while Lynn won the short freestyle. Asher Brunnert swam the 200-meter freestyle and won that race.

Maryville’s home finale is Wednesday at home against Savannah.

The renovation project, which includes replacing the existing grass surface with synthetic turf, resurfacing the track and making several auxiliary improvements, is scheduled to begin in March or April of next year, pending weather conditions. It’s scheduled to wrap up in time for the start of fall sports later that summer.

“We’re planning for it to be completed by the end of July or early August 2026,” head football coach Craig Bartl said.

While the total cost of the renovation hasn’t been finalized, the funding model is already taking shape. A state grant totaling $1.2 million has been secured, and community-led fundraising efforts—coordinated in part by the Bellingham Foundation—are underway to raise the remaining estimated $1 million needed. 

The push for a new field began more than a year ago when the school applied for the grant. Conversations about moving to a turf surface had circulated even earlier.

“It’s been kind of a dream for the last few years,” Bartl said. “And when we got the grant, that accelerated the conversation.”

A primary motivation for the renovation is the poor condition of the current grass field, especially late in the fall season after repeated use by multiple teams.

“We don’t get a quality field at the end of the season,” Bartl said. “And those are important because that’s when we’re fighting for playoff spots—not just us, but soccer and everything.”

Bartl added that spring sports suffer as well, as the field comes out of winter in a damaged state from football and weather wear.

The turf field is expected to expand usage opportunities for both school and community groups significantly. Currently, the high school’s soccer teams must travel to Nooksack Elementary School for games due to inadequate field conditions. The new surface will allow all soccer and football teams—from varsity to middle school—to play at the high school.

“The push to get a turf field will bring sports back to the high school,” Bartl said. “Girls soccer can now play all their home games at the high school. Football, we’ll obviously play all our home games. But then all the sub-varsity games will be played there, middle school, JV and C teams for soccer and football.”

He added that youth football, lacrosse and community events such as graduation ceremonies will also benefit from the more durable and consistent surface.

The current field has seen decades of wear. Bartl estimated that it has been more than 20 years since any significant upgrades were made. The wear is particularly evident during high-use weeks and extreme weather.

Bartl recalled a game against Meridian last season that was played in roughly two inches of rain.

“We were standing on the sidelines in about a half-inch of water,” he said.

Although there were no safety concerns during the game, the damage to the field made it difficult to maintain, especially with more home games scheduled late in the season.

“You don’t want to be playing on a field where footing—like a missed play due to footing—can make a difference,” Bartl said.

The new field will include additional upgrades, including improved drainage, a resurfaced track, and the relocation of the long jump pits. Currently, the long jump pits are positioned along the side of the field, limiting the available width for soccer and forcing the school to play on the shortest legal field allowed by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

Those pits will be moved to one end zone, allowing for more space along the sidelines. The resurfaced track will benefit the school’s track and field teams, and new stadium lighting is also being considered, depending on the success of fundraising efforts.

Bartl said the decision on which turf product will be installed is still in progress. The district is exploring different infill options, including traditional black rubber and more environmentally friendly alternatives that have been used in Seattle and King County parks. Final specifications will depend on cost, durability and long-term performance.

Feedback from students and the broader community has been overwhelmingly positive.

“I think they’re excited,” Bartl said. “For football, we practice on a field that’s only 80 yards right now. So for us to be able to practice on a full-size field daily will be nice. And the track team is really excited about the improvements.”

Girls and boys soccer players who currently have to commute to the elementary school will benefit from a consistent and convenient training surface on campus.

“The concept of having a turf field is still like, ‘Oh yeah, cool, we’ll get that,’” Bartl said. “But once we get on the field and they’re like, ‘Hey, this is—we can do a lot more stuff’… we’ll have a nice surface that’s consistent.”

Athletic director Tom Harmon echoed those sentiments in a prepared comment.

“Having a turf field in the Valley will greatly boost our facilities and community,” Harmon said. “School, youth sports and community events will all be able to share the use of this wonderful addition to NVHS.

“Our community takes great pride in our programs and facilities. A turf stadium will be a tremendous upgrade for all our programs, just as our state-of-the-art fitness center has been.”

The project is expected to strengthen both school spirit and community pride.

“This is one of those things where we have a strong community to begin with,” Bartl said. “It’s going to even more bring our community together… when we start raising the funds, hopefully it becomes a centerpiece for our school and our area.”

While no official unveiling has been planned, Bartl said a community event to celebrate the completion of the project is expected once construction wraps up.

Girls and boys soccer players, who currently have to commute to the elementary school, will benefit from a consistent and convenient training surface on campus.

“The concept of having a turf field is still like, ‘Oh yeah, cool, we’ll get that,’” Bartl said. “But once we get on the field and they’re like, ‘Hey, this is—we can do a lot more stuff’… we’ll have a nice surface that’s consistent.”

Athletic director Tom Harmon echoed those sentiments in a prepared comment.

“Having a turf field in the Valley will give a huge boost to our facilities and community,” Harmon said. “School, youth sports and community events will all be able to share the use of this wonderful addition to NVHS.

“Our community takes great pride in our programs and facilities. A turf stadium will be a tremendous upgrade for all our programs, just as our state-of-the-art fitness center has been.”

The project is expected to strengthen both school spirit and community pride.

“This is one of those things where we have a strong community to begin with,” Bartl said. “It’s going to even more bring our community together… when we start raising the funds, hopefully it becomes a centerpiece for our school and our area.”

While no official unveiling has been planned, Bartl said a community event to celebrate the completion of the project is expected once construction wraps up.