PHOTO: New Roughrider basketball coach Kevin Ruble brings six years of Division I college coaching experience — including two NCAA Tournament appearances — to Port Angeles.
By Oly Archibald
PORT ANGELES — The basketball angels have blessed the returning Roughrider basketball team with a new head coach whose résumé is tough to top.
The Port Angeles athletic department has hired Kevin Ruble, who comes from the University of Portland Pilots women’s basketball program — a team that has made multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.
Ruble has served as an assistant coach with the Pilots, a member of the West Coast Conference, since 2019. During his six-year tenure, Portland went 95–38, earning two NCAA Tournament berths. Before that, Ruble spent four years as an assistant coach at George Fox University.
A native of small-town Iowa, Ruble holds a biology degree from Drake University and served 14 years in the United States Air Force before moving into coaching.
TENNIS — The Roughrider tennis team wrapped up a strong Olympic League season, finishing as league runner-up after falling 5–2 to champion Bainbridge.
Singles results:
Sky Gelder lost 1–6, 0–6
Owen Leitz won 6–0, 6–3
Teig Carlson lost 1–6, 1–6
Doubles results:
Alik Ross & Abe Brenkman lost 0–6, 3–6
Brett Manson & Gagan Seera lost 4–6, 2–6
Jacob Oberly & Khyler Fowler won 7–6, 7–5, 10–8
Liam Miller & Jensen Wolfe lost 1–6, 0–6
The Olympic League Tournament begins at 8 a.m. Friday at North Kitsap High School, with both Port Angeles and Sequim competing.
SOCCER — The talking is over, and the stage is set for tonight’s KONP Newsradio broadcast of Port Angeles at Sequim girls soccer.
The Roughriders (8–3 in league) sit just one game behind North Kitsap for second place. The Wolves (5–6) are battling Kingston for the fourth and final playoff spot.
Sequim’s defense will look to contain the Roughriders’ “Green M&M” scoring duo — freshman Emma Desjardins (17 goals) and sophomore Mariah Traband (7 goals). The school record is held by former Roughrider Millie Long, who scored 33 goals in a season.
The Roughriders will need big performances tonight from #11 Morgan Politika, #9 Allison Fricker, and #16 Cayleigh Alward.
Sequim counters with its own “Dungeness Goal Rush,” led by senior Kiley Winter (7 goals) and sophomore Ruby Horgan-Moxley (6 goals). Senior Raimey Brewer has added 4 goals and 7 assists, while junior goalkeeper Lillian Anderson has 57 saves and 2 shutouts.
Kickoff was moved up to 6:00 p.m. by the Sequim School District. The KONP pregame show begins at 5:30 p.m., featuring the Wolves Locker Room Show with interim head coach Vianey Cadenas, seniors Violet Ollerman, Kiley Winter, Hailey Wagoner, and junior Lillian Anderson.
Wolves soccer players Violet Ollerman, Hailey Wagoner, Kiley Winter, and Lillian Anderson will be featured on tonight’s Wolves Locker Room Show.
The Roughriders Locker Room Show follows, with head coach Dan Horton, senior Allison Fricker, sophomore Mariah Traband, and freshman Emma Desjardins.
Oly Archibald and Scott Moseley, Roughrider assistant boys coach, will have the play-by-play call.
Meanwhile, the Roughrider volleyball team will also face Sequim tonight with a 6:30 start.