Cothren crowned state champion in golf

The Wahkiakum High School golf team capped off another remarkable season with standout performances at both the district and state championships, highlighted by sophomore Brie Cothren's individual state title victory.

Following a state team title last year, the Mules entered the 2025 postseason with strong momentum and a lineup of talented young athletes. Representing the girls' team were Cothren, junior Jessie Lefever, and freshman Payton Mendez, while freshman Jamie Heston and junior Cooper Carlson competed for the boys.

Strong Showing at Districts

At the District Championship held last month at Mint Valley Golf Course in Longview, Wahkiakum's golfers delivered top-tier performances to qualify for the state tournament in Liberty Lake.

Cothren led Mules on day one with a score of 89, positioning herself in second place for the girls. Lefever followed closely with a 91 to land in third. Mendez fought her way over the cut line with a 131 to advance to day two.

On the boys' side, Carlson dominated with an opening score of 86, taking a commanding nine-stroke lead. Heston narrowly missed the day two cut by just a few strokes.

On day two, Cothren held steady with a final score of 179, finishing second overall behind Rainier's Lily Peralta. Lefever finished fourth with a 193, just behind Mary M. Knight's Maelynn Nygaard. Mendez improved on day two to finish in 12th place with a final score of 260, securing her first state appearance.

Carlson continued his strong form, finishing with a total score of 176-outpacing the nearest competitor by eight strokes-and qualifying for his first state championship. With their collective efforts, the Wahkiakum girls also clinched another district team title and advanced three golfers to state.

State Championships at Liberty Lake

At the MeadowWood Golf Course in Liberty Lake, the state tournament brought fierce competition. Cothren came out swinging, shooting an 85 on the first day to finish tied for third-just one stroke behind the leaders. Lefever pushed through a tough round with a 104 to make the second day cut, while Mendez, despite improving by 10 strokes from her district performance, missed the cut with a 119. Carlson encountered difficult course situations ending day one with a 92-just one stroke shy of making the boys' cut.

On the final day, Cothren was paired with Coach Cody Olson and delivered a phenomenal performance. Together, they strategized to perfection, shaving 14 strokes off her previous round. Her final score of 71, an impressive one under par, brought her tournament total to 156-securing the individual 1B/2B state championship by a commanding 10-stroke margin.

Lefever also improved, finishing with an overall score of 204. Both athletes' efforts contributed to Wahkiakum's second-place finish as a team, edged out by Freeman High School, which had recently dropped from the 1A classification and fielded six competitors.

Though they didn't repeat as team champions, the Mules celebrated their runner-up finish and individual accolades with pride. With all golfers returning next season, Wahkiakum looks poised for continued success.

The coaching staff and athletes extended heartfelt thanks to their families, school faculty, and the community for unwavering support throughout another unforgettable season.