NWC Team Previews – 1A – Meridian HS & Mount Baker HS

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here I will be continuing a new series of articles, featuring team previews for each team in the Northwest Conference. Not every team will have their own article, as I will be combining those teams in which I don't have much information on, this is one of those! I will be dividing this up by class, then by team within the NWC. The final two 1A schools are the Mount Baker Mountaineers and Meridian Trojans.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Mount Baker</strong> <strong>Mountaineers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mountaineers struggled last year, finishing the year 0-16. They have a brand new coach coming in, which will help with the team environment and culture. They have a solid group of young players that will be returning better than they were last year. It is likely another growing year for Mount Baker, but I do think they will get some in the win column. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Graduated: </strong>Davin Beason, Jesse Sande, Caleb Horsman, Ryker Vanderveen, Draven Davis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning: </strong>Landon Smith ('23), Jesse Harward ('24), Griffon MacLachlan ('23), Jacob Wade ('23), Kaden Hill ('23), Tavian Powell ('23)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakout Player:</strong> Tavian Powell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_635a02ce5a621","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Tavian Powell","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mount Baker HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"I recently watched some highlights of the senior guard on the court over the summer and he looked solid. He is quick with the ball in his hands. Powell finds his open teammates, making very nice passes while doing so. He will likely facilitate the offense and I think he has the ability to do a good job as the leader for this team.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Meridian Trojans</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meridian showed some bright signs last year. They are a fairly young team, with many role players returning. They have one of the best 2025 players in the NWC with [player_tooltip player_id='1485653' first='Jaeger' last='Fyfe']. He has a great freshman year this year and will look to grow on it. The Trojans finished 7-12 last year, losing to Nooksack Valley HS 36-58 in district play. Coach Stacy is one of the best in the conference and has been for many years. He has the talent around him to have a solid season this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Graduated:</strong> Dane Beck, Tucker Harrison, Owen Hughes</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1485653' first='Jaeger' last='Fyfe'] ('25), Amrit Nagra ('23), Talon Jenkins ('25), [player_tooltip player_id='1417281' first='Hunter' last='Jones'] ('23), Taran Burks ('24), Landon James ('23), Tyrel Brooks ('23), Mason Apeles ('25), James Hedahl ('25)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakout Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1485653' first='Jaeger' last='Fyfe'] <strong>Other Breakout Players:</strong> Talon Jenkins, James Hedahl</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_635a050a5a622","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1485653"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Jaeger is ranked as a top 50 player in the class of 2025 within the entire state of Washington. 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