Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

Ryan O’Neil, Brianna Allen, Ethan Wilford and Kayla Ralston were honored as Peninsula College’s top athletes for 2007-2008, as announced by the athletic department recently.

Peninsula College annually honors one athlete from each sport who exemplifies leadership, sportsmanship, citizenship, academic achievement and athletic ability. The four awards are named after people who were instrumental in the history of those sports.

Ryan O’Neil, of Salem, Ore., is this season’s Wally Sigmar Soccer Award winner. He was a sophomore defender and captain of the team that won the college’s first-ever NWAACC West Division championship, posted a 14-5-2 record and earned a fourth-place finish in the NWAACC tournament.

The Art Feiro Award for women’s basketball went to Brianna Allen. The Port Angeles High graduate was a three-point sharpshooter and a floor leader for the Pirates for two seasons. Her team finished 11-14, just missing the NWAACC playoffs.

Sophomore forward Ethan Wilford of Star Valley, Wyo., received the Art Feiro Award for men’s basketball. He played an instrumental role in the team’s third NWAACC North Division championship as the Pirates went 25-8 and placed fourth in the NWAACC basketball finals. Wilford, college officials said, is best known for his relentless work ethic and his leadership on and off the floor.

Kayla Ralston of Port Angeles was named the 2008 Jim Lunt Award recipient. The sophomore shortstop played a lead role in two very different seasons for the Pirates. She helped a team to a school-record 27 wins and a top-10 NWAACC finish in 2007, and then she provided leadership through a challenging campaign in 2008 that saw the team record just five wins.

The four Pirates were honored at the year-end board of trustees meeting.