Athletics

Kimmy Courneya

Kimmy Courneya
Softball
#4, Short Stop, Second Base, Center Field

Age: 20

Hometown: Auburn

Nickname: Nana

Hidden Talent: Milk Chugging. I can beat anyone in a milk chugging contest!

Pre-Game Ritual: Tape my wrists, put on eye black, and listen to music.

Most Wanted Superhero Power: Teleport, because I could take a vacation whenever and wherever I wanted without paying for a plane ticket, gas, or food along the way!

Plans after Pierce: I want to move out of state and go to a two-year program to study Diagnostic Medical Sonography and become an Ultrasound Technician.

Honors and Accolades: I was named to four all-conference teams in high school, and nominated for the all-state team as a senior.

Coach says:  “Kimmy Courneya is hitting over .400, her on base is .494, and she is on pace to break the school record for stolen bases.  She is a great teammate and student, and Kimmy is doing a great job all over the field.”

Josh Potter
Baseball
#29, First Base

Age: 19

Hometown:  Des Moines, Wash.

Nickname: Potter

Hidden Talent: I like to sing in the shower, although I’m not very good.

Pre-Game Ritual: Listen to country music.

Favorite Food: Cheeseburgers

Most Wanted Superhero Power:  To fly, so I can go all around the world.

Plans after Pierce: To play baseball at a four-year university and get a psychology degree.

Honors and Accolades: West Region All Star in 2011

Coach Nadeau says:  “Josh has led the Raider offense this season with a .373 average with 24 RBIs.  He has also become the closer for the pitching staff and has recorded two saves during the 12-game win streak.  Josh has become a great leader for the 2012 Raiders and has signed a Letter of Intent to attend Campbellsville University in Kentucky for next season.”

Josh Potter

Josh Potter
Baseball
#29, First Base

Age: 19

Hometown:  Des Moines, Wash.

Nickname: Potter

Hidden Talent: I like to sing in the shower, although I’m not very good.

Pre-Game Ritual: Listen to country music.

Favorite Food: Cheeseburgers

Most Wanted Superhero Power:  To fly, so I can go all around the world.

Plans after Pierce: To play baseball at a four-year university and get a psychology degree.

Honors and Accolades: West Region All Star in 2011

Coach Nadeau says:  “Josh is leading the team this spring with a .390 batting average and has been a big spark early in the season for us.  Josh has worked very hard this spring to become a leader for us and help push our younger players.  Josh is our starting first baseman and hits third in the batting order.”

Aryn Knutsen

Aryn Knutsen
Softball
#22, Outfield

Age: 20

Hometown: University Place

Nickname: AK 22

Hidden Talent:  I can do Donald Duck voices.

Pre-Game Ritual: I like to listen to music.

Most Wanted Superpower:  I would want the ability to create force fields.

Plans after Pierce: I want to transfer to a four-year university.

Honors and Accolades: West Region All Star-First Team, Outfield 2010/2011

Coach says:  “Aryn is a very solid student and a permanent member of the leadership counsel.  Academically she is ahead of pace for graduation.  Aryn has played absolutely stellar defense and, when we lost our lead against Chemeketa in our opener in Richland, Aryn stepped to the plate and hit a homerun to even the game. We went on to win.”

Aryn Knutsen

Aryn Knutsen
Softball
#22, Outfield

Age: 20

Hometown: University Place

Nickname: AK 22

Hidden Talent:  I can do Donald Duck voices.

Pre-Game Ritual: I like to listen to music.

Most Wanted Superpower:  I would want the ability to create force fields.

Plans after Pierce: I want to transfer to a four-year university.

Honors and Accolades: West Region All Star-First Team, Outfield 2010/2011

Coach says:  “Aryn was a key ingredient to the success of the 2010/2011 sophomore-heavy softball team that earned a fifth place finish at the NWAACC Tournament.  She earned Western Region First Team All Star recognition for her work in left field.  We expect to see continued success and outstanding leadership from Aryn this season as she helps guide her team to what we hope to be a sixth consecutive Western Division title and another run at the NWAACC Championship Tournament.”

Brian Corliss

Brian Corliss
Baseball
#6, 2B/Pitcher

Age: 21

Hometown: Tacoma

Nickname: BC

Hidden Talent: I make mean fajitas.

Pre-Game Ritual: I always put my left cleat on first.

Favorite Food: Fajitas

Most Wanted Superpower:  Time travel so I could experience, first hand, all of history’s greatest feats.

Plans after Pierce: I will be attending Lewis-Clark State College (Lewiston, Idaho) to continue my baseball career.

Honors and Accolades:  NWAACC Western Region MVP, NWAACC All-Tournament Team honors, and an All-American award, which honors the best of the best in college baseball.

Coach Nadeau says:  “Coming off an all- American season in which Brian hit .410 for the Raiders, we look for big things from him in 2012.  Brian will be our number one pitcher starting the season and our starting second basemen.  One of the team’s leaders this season, Brian should have a solid year and anchor a team that had a very successful year in 2011. The Raiders have big shoes to follow after a 32 – 9 season last year.”

Unique Taufa’asau

Unique Taufa’asau
Women’s Basketball
#22, Guard

Age: 20

Hometown: Kent

Nickname: Neeky

Hidden Talent: “I cannot think of one off the top of my head.”

Pre-Game Ritual: “Eat, sleep and usually I wake up and eat again, then listen to music.”

Most Wanted Superhero Power:  ”I would read people’s minds so I wouldn’t have to assume.”

Plans after Pierce: “I want to transfer to a four year, I really want to  live in Seattle so we will see.”

Honors and Accolades:  Unique was the only Lady Raider who received all-league honors last year by earning a spot on the West Region All Star team.  Her numbers so far this season are starting to suggest a possible repeat of that accomplishment this year.

Coach says: “Unique is currently our most consistent player and, although she is not as tall as some of her opponents, she has proven to be a reliable source down low.  Her strength and aggressive play are both major contributors for her success so far and have helped give her an edge on the court.  She is currently the fifth leading scorer in the Western Division, averaging 15.39 points per game and shooting 43 percent from the field.  She has been very productive for the Lady Raiders this season and we look forward to her accomplishments for the second half of this league season leading up to the NWAACC Championship Tournament.”

Taylor Riley

Taylor Riley
Women’s Basketball
#24, Guard

Age: 19
Hometown: Renton
Nickname: Tay-Tay

Hidden Talent: Uhh, I can play the piano.

Pre-Game Ritual: Listen to music and eat Subway

Favorite Food: Spaghetti

Most Wanted Superhero Power: Speed, so I can save gas and be on time.

Plans after Pierce: Go to a school with sun, I have to work on my tan!! Ha ha!!

Honors and Accolades:  Ranked sixth overall in the conference for rebounding, (first in the Western Division), named to the all-tournament team at the Clackamas Thanksgiving Invitational, and has earned a total of six double-doubles already this season

Coach Purugganan says: “Taylor has an unparalleled combination of finesse and athletic ability. She has really flourished over the pre-season and continues to work hard and improve daily. She will be a force to reckon with as she continues to help lead us to a successful season!”

John Palmer

John Palmer
Men’s Basketball
#13, Guard

Age: 20
Hometown: Palmer, Alaska
Nickname: JP
Hidden Talent: Skateboarding

Pre-Game Ritual: Listen to music

Favorite Food: Any type of breakfast food.

Most Wanted Superhero Power: To fly, because who wouldn’t want to fly?

Plans after Pierce: To advance my education and career as a basketball player at a four-year university.

Honors and Accolades:  All-Tournament Team at the Battle in Seattle NWAACC Crossover Tournament.

Coach Mendy says: “John Palmer is our athlete in the news for January. John was a first team all-state selection in Alaska two years ago and accepted a scholarship to Texas A&M International, where he red shirted last season. John is a great, hustling, scoring point guard for the Raiders and one of our two captains. The Raiders will be looking for this heady guard to get them off to a great start as league games begin. Best of luck to John Palmer and the rest of the Raiders as they begin their quest back to the NWAACC Championships.”