Editor’s note: This list was compiled using last year’s results, current rosters and most notably questionnaires filled out by coaches. If a school, team or athlete is not listed here, it may be because the Democrat-Herald and Gazette-Times did not receive a completed questionnaire prior to publication.
The fall sports season has begun, and already teams are starting to stand out, and athletes are proving that they should be ones to watch.
Across soccer, volleyball and cross country, there should be plenty of local teams and performers that could compete for conference and state titles over the next few months.
Here’s a look at 70 local athletes that are poised for big 2024 seasons, listed in alphabetical order.
MB Taelyn Bentley (South Albany volleyball)
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Taelyn Bentley gets ready to serve during South Albany’s match against Crescent Valley on Thursday, September 12, 2024
One of the biggest storylines of the fall is the transfer of Taelyn Bentley from Crescent Valley to South Albany. That has made the RedHawks one of the top teams in the state.
The all-conference first teamer from a season ago has led South Albany to a 5-0 start, including a 3-0 sweep against Bentley’s former team and two-time defending 5A state champ Crescent Valley.
Zander Campbell (South Albany cross-country)
Campbell is coming off a 10th-place finish last year at the OSAA 5A state championships, and has gotten off to a strong start in 2024. He earned a third-place finish at the Silver Falls Oktoberfest Invitational on Wednesday.
Cole Fiegener (Corvallis cross-country)
Fiegener finished 17th in the state championships last year, but he is finding an extra gear to start this season. Speaking of the Silver Falls Oktoberfest Invitational, it was the senior from Corvallis who earned the win, breaking his own school record with a time of 15 minutes, 25 seconds.
F Jonah Lasselle (West Albany boys soccer)
It’s been an impressive start for the Bulldogs, and Lasselle has been at the forefront of that success. The junior has scored in each of West Albany’s first two games, a 3-1 win over Willamette and a 5-0 win over Thurston, a game in which he also added an assist.
Lasselle is coming off a great 2023 campaign where he was named to the Mid-Willamette Conference’s second team.
M Carlo Uscanga Lopez, D/M Ravi Pankaj, M Sam Tom, and D/M Dylan Vingelen (Corvallis boys soccer)
The Spartans’ four captains have lead Corvallis to a stellar start to 2024. Corvallis has won its first three games, outscoring its opponents 10-1 in the process.
The Spartans sit atop the 5A power rankings early in the season.
S Kamden Mitchell (Crescent Valley volleyball)
It was a setback against South Albany on Thursday, but the Raiders are still a force in 5A, and Mitchell is a big reason for that.
The senior is the defending MWC co-player of the year and is hoping to lead Crescent Valley to a third straight state title.
Lillian Weiss and Emily Wisniewski (Crescent Valley cross-country)
Wisniewski is the defending 5A state champion and it seems that she’s picked up right where she left off. The senior has claimed wins at the Ultimook Race and the Country Fair Classic this week. She won the Ultimook nearly two minutes ahead of the second-place finisher.
Weiss, who finished sixth in state a year ago, has been right near the top to start this season. The senior finished in second in the Country Fair Classic and fourth at the Ultimook.
Here’s a rundown of other athletes to keep an eye on during the 2024 fall sports season:
Boys
Alex Westberry attacks the ball during Crescent Valley’s game against Gladstone on Thursday, September 12, 2024
- M/F Brandon Fernandez Almazan (Corvallis soccer)
- M/F Faisal Alsharif (Corvallis soccer)
- D Ulises Arredondo-Sanchez (Corvallis soccer)
- Miles Betts (Corvallis cross-country)
- F/M Chris Estrada (South Albany soccer)
- Dylan Fiegener (Corvallis cross-country)
- Chase Fulleton (South Albany cross-country)
- M Jaden Gamboa (South Albany soccer)
- GK Kai Hoogesteger (Crescent Valley soccer)
- M Patrick Hower (Crescent Valley soccer)
- GK Ryland King (South Albany soccer)
- D Denilson Josiel Lopez (West Albany soccer)
- M Aldo Ramirez (South Albany soccer)
- M Alan Rodriguez (West Albany soccer)
- M Julian Romero (West Albany soccer)
- D Cruz Salcido (Corvallis soccer)
- Colin Saville (South Albany cross-country)
- M Josh Shenk (West Albany soccer)
- D Yahir Tenorio (West Albany soccer)
- Nikolas Tokarczyk (Crescent Valley cross-country)
- William Van Tress (Crescent Valley cross-country)
- Josiah Velez (Crescent Valley cross-country)
- M Hudson Waddell (Crescent Valley soccer)
- Jack Weisel (Corvallis cross-country)
- F Alex Westberry (Crescent Valley soccer)
Girls
Bella Jacobson prepares for a serve during Crescent Valley’s match against South Albany on Thursday, September 12, 2024
- L Maddie Angel (South Albany volleyball)
- S Klaire Bitter (South Albany volleyball)
- OH Mylee Blake (West Albany volleyball)
- D Haley Bland (Crescent Valley soccer)
- Emma Buzzard (Corvallis cross-country)
- OH Daisy Collins (Corvallis volleyball)
- MH Addie Copeland (Corvallis volleyball)
- OH Kaylee Cordle (South Albany volleyball)
- Bethany Doggett (West Albany cross-country)
- OH Taylor Donaldson (South Albany volleyball)
- Jocilynn Durgeloh (Lebanon cross-country)
- D Yazmin Estrada (Corvallis soccer)
- L Ellie Grace (West Albany volleyball)
- Eva Hall (Corvallis cross-country)
- OH Bella Jacobson (Crescent Valley volleyball)
- Sasha Kelly (Crescent Valley cross-country)
- Kristin Krug (West Albany soccer)
- Zyon Moevao (West Albany volleyball)
- Zoe Montgomery (Crescent Valley cross-country)
- S Sophie Riggs (Corvallis volleyball)
- Ella Romer (Crescent Valley soccer)
- Ella Rosling (Crescent Valley cross-country)
- S Alexa Schnell (Corvallis volleyball)
- Calla Shaff (Corvallis cross-country)
- Kalea Smith (Crescent Valley soccer)
- RS Malique Sweet (Corvallis volleyball)
- Ryleigh Tarr (West Albany soccer)
- Junior Emily Tschida (South Albany cross-country)
- OH Georgia Vawter (Crescent Valley volleyball)
- Sidney Velez (West Albany cross-country)
- OH Audrey Webb (South Albany volleyball)
- L Naiya Whitinger (Corvallis volleyball)
- Lucia Williams (Corvallis cross-country)
- MB Emma Yenchick (Crescent Valley volleyball)
Dylan Jacobs covers Oregon State men’s basketball, baseball and high school sports. Follow him on X at @DylJacobs.
