Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Sahara Tupua

By Ray Hamill — A multi-sport standout, a dominating cross country runner, and a girls soccer team that is enjoying a breakout season are honored this week.

St. Bernard’s junior Sahara Tupua has been impressing coaches, teammates and fans ever since she began competing in high school sports two years ago, and she is showing no signs of slowing down.

Tupua is enjoying an outstanding and busy fall competing in both soccer and volleyball for the Crusaders, and she continues to set the tone for her teammates in both sports.

Tupua has played a key role for both of her teams, anchoring the back line on the soccer field and playing libero on the volleyball court.

And despite playing in several games every week, Tupua is always one of the most energetic players in every game.

She also rarely plays without a smile on her face.

In cross country, meanwhile, Eureka sophomore Claire Gast also enjoyed a good week, winning for the second time in two league meets at Hiller Park in McKinleyville on Wednesday.

Two weeks ago at Arcata, Gast dominated the rest of the field and won by almost two minutes, and she followed that with an equally dominating run on Wednesday, beating the rest of the league runners by a minute.

Our team of the week, meanwhile, goes to the Del Norte girls soccer team, which is enjoying a breakout campaign and is closing in on a first-ever league title.

Under the guidance of first-year head coach Shawn Eckart, the Warriors are unbeaten in five league games and hold a sizable four-point lead over the rest of the conference teams with just four games remaining.

If they win at least two of their final four games they will be guaranteed at least a share of the Little 4 title.

Photo by Jennipher Willis

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Sahara Tupua

St. Bernard’s Volleyball and Soccer, Junior

Tupua is not just one of the best all-around athletes in the H-DNL this fall, but she’s also one of the most fun to watch competing.

The multi-sports standout is one of the most important players on both of her teams right now and she never seems to have an off day in either sport.

She brings incredible energy to every game and continues to get better and better in whatever sport she competes in.

Claire Gast

Eureka Cross Country, Sophomore

Few H-DNL runners have dominated through the early season in recent years the way Gast is dominating this year, and she looks like she will be difficult to stop in league competition this fall.

On Wednesday, she finished the 5K course at McKinleyville in a PR time of 21minutes, 8.78 seconds and appeared as fresh as ever as she crossed the finish line well ahead of the rest of the field.

Fo more on her big week, see Sophomores lead the way at third league race of the season … 

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Del Norte Girls Soccer

The Del Norte players worked hard to prepare for the girls soccer season this past summer and that dedication and determination is now paying off.

After a 2-0 win over Ferndale on Wednesday, the Warriors are unbeaten in five conference games, a run that has included four wins.

Several players have risen to the challenge for the team, including team captains KaLynn Schaad, Alexis Aguirre, Aurora Mitchell and Hollyn Wakefield, as well as goalkeeper Deja Payne, who has been a reliable last line of defense for the conference leaders, and th sin-form Lilly Franklin.

The Warriors have been one of the stories of the fall in H-DNL sports and are well on course to claim the league crown and host a North Coast Section playoff game for the first time ever.

Fo more on their big week, see Warriors keep rolling; Crusaders get first conference win …