The Mirror takes a look at the fall sports programs going on around the city.

GIRLS SOCCER

Todd Beamer Titans

2015 record: 14-3, 11-1, 1st in 4A SPSLN

2015 result: 1-0 loss in the first round of the state tournament to Gonzaga Prep

Key departures: Kenzie Palmer (MF), Alyssa Nordman (FB), Jourdin Hering (MF)

Key returners: Ameera Hussen (F), Maddie Landreth (MF), Courtney Cecil (GK)

At a glance: The Todd Beamer Titans are primed to make yet another deep run into the post-season. The team graduated one of its best senior classes last year, but Beamer coach Joel Lindberg said the 2016 class is just as strong. Jillian Ory will likely anchor an impressive back four for the Titans with Kensi Nestor right by her side.

Lindberg will have an even mix of new players and playoff-experienced veterans, a combination Lindberg is very happy to have.

“We will have a good mix of veterans and young players,” he said. “I expect to see a wide range of skill and experience levels from day one as well.

“The learning curve will be steep for some, but my returning players are good leaders and very strong players and I think the younger players will be accepted and will catch right up.”

Cecil has been the starting keeper for the Titans the last two seasons, both of which ended in playoff appearances.

“You wouldn’t expect it when you look at her, at 5’3″, but she plays huge and owns the box better than any keeper in our league,” he said.

Beamer started its season in early September, and it wasn’t until the 29th that it suffered its first loss. Despite losing many of its playoff-caliber players of the last two seasons, Lindberg said he’s confident his new class of seniors is equally as talented.

“We graduated a very strong group of seniors,” he said. “But our new senior class is looking great.”

The Titans begin the 2016 season at home at 11 a.m. Sept. 3 against Roosevelt.

Federal Way Eagles

2015 record: 5-5-1, 4-4-1, 2nd in 4A SPSLN

2015 result: No postseason appearance

Key departures: Cayla Ward (F), Kayla Peterson (D), Julian Johnson (F, MF)

Key returners: Kayley Cruz (D), Karina Provo (D), Brynn Ward (MF)

At a glance: The Federal Way Eagles will be deep with veteran talent that will look to produce better results than last season. The Eagles’ back four will be comprised of all seniors, which should make scoring goals against Federal Way a challenge in 2016. Many of last season’s sophomores should see more playing time as well.

Federal Way starts 2016 on the road with a 3:30 p.m. match Sept. 9 at Seattle Christian.

Thomas Jefferson Raiders

2015 record: 6-6-1, 6-5-1, 3rd in 4A SPSLN

2015 result: No postseason appearance

Key departures: Cassidy Lane (MF), Kyleigh Carbon (D), Lizette Carpenter (MF)

Key returners: Kiersten Madsen (MF), Addy Velarde (MF), Makaylie Moore (F)

At a glance: Jefferson should be on the upswing of its rebuilding year. After a 10-2 season in 2014, last year was an adjustment for the Raiders. This year, Jefferson looks experienced and deep enough to compete with Beamer for a league title. It’s packed with solid veterans in all four positions on the pitch.

The Raiders kick off their season at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6 at Highline.

Decatur Golden Gators

2015 record: 2-11, 0-11, 4th in 4A SPSLN

2015 result: No postseason appearance

At a glance: The Decatur Golden Gators opened the 2015 season strong with back-to-back wins against non-league opponents, but it struggled the rest of the way. With veterans in the back and the midfield, the Golden Gators should see improvement in 2016.

Decatur leads off the new season at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at Mount Rainier.

Ameera Hussen controls a loose ball in front of Tahoma’s Zoe Milburn. File photo

GOLF

The Federal Way Eagles are going all out for the 2016 season, bringing in veteran professional golfer and Federal Way alum Bart Turchin to coach the team. Turchin is a 1981 graduate who also starred for the Eagles’ golf team. He played at Washington State then moved onto the PGA Tour, where he competed for 23 years. While the program is currently going through a rebuilding period, Turchin said he’s excited to jump in and turn the program in the right direction.

“I am looking forward to building a strong golf program over the coming years,” he said.

The Eagles’ girls team will be a sight to watch this year. They are a roster filled with experienced veterans rounded out by four seniors. Federal Way will play two lead-in tournaments beginning Sept. 7 before starting the district tournament on Sept. 21.

Thomas Jefferson dominates the golf course, plain and simple. It ran the table last year with an 8-0 record, taking care of opponents by at least 20 points.

Decatur will feature two senior leaders in Kimberly Brainard and Lyla Klein. The girls will start the 2016 season on their home links Sept. 8 against Hazen. The boys will travel to face the Highlanders Sept. 8 at Maplewood Golf Course.

Beamer will make its 2016 debut on Sept. 8 against Mount Rainier at the Twin Lakes Golf Course.

CROSS COUNTRY

The Federal Way Eagles have a wide variety of talent returning in 2016 on both the boys and girls side. Colton Low returns for the Eagles for his sophomore season, posting the fourth-best 2.23-mile run time on the boys side at 13 minutes 38 seconds. In the 5-kilometer run, Jesse Goldstone returns for his senior year. He posted the top time in the run on the boys side last year at 16:31. The girls all-round best runner, Olivia Chong, will return for her junior season. She posted times of 15:30 in the 2.23-mile run and 19:55 in the 5K.

The standard-setter on the boys’ side for the Todd Beamer Titans is Alonzo Banuelos – and he’s just a sophomore. After senior Lorenzo Pickens, Banuelos had the second-best 3-kilometer time at 12:13, while incoming junior AJ Chopra leads the 5K at 16:45. The girls will be led by their junior class of Abby Carmel, Daisy Muneton, Julena Jasso and Lizelle Martinez.

Quinten Donavon stands at the head of the pack for the Decatur Golden Gators. He was the top underclassmen last year, finishing fourth on the team overall in the 2-mile run and fifth in the 5K. Trinity Fox will be the underclassman standout on the girls side for the Golden Gators. She finished third on the team in the 2-mile and second in the 5K with times of 13:32 and 23:18.

Austin Miller is the one to watch for Jefferson’s boys cross country team. As a sophomore in 2015, he was the top underclassman in all three runs. Miller posted times of 12:50, 13:67 and 16:37 in the events. The senior leader will be Rajesh Gill, who posted times of 12:53, 16:48 and 16:43. The girls will be led by standout sophomore Ally Peterson. Senior leader Lydia Wolfman led the team in all categories in 2015, but no matter the run, Peterson was always right behind her with times of 15:01, 19:56 and 19:36 in the three runs.

SWIMMING

The Jefferson Raiders had a bit of a down season in 2015. The team won three of its nine meets, but it displayed moments of dominance throughout the wins. Beamer finished with an identical record, but it too showed it has quality swimmers. Decatur had a rough season in 2015, finishing the season 0-9, but the the Golden Gators are a team primed to win soon. Decatur was a team comprised of nine freshmen of its 14 members. It graduated three seniors, including its captain, Tatiana Jones. The Golden Gators start their season Sept. 15 against Todd Beamer. Federal Way could be the team to beat in 2016, with the Eagles returning all but five members of last year’s team and will be comprised of another five-senior core.

The Decatur Golden Gators look to turn over a new leaf this year. Sam Hunt enters his first year in charge of the program. Like its coach, most of the Decatur swimmers will be new this year as the program has just two swimmers returning from last year. Jewell Springer and Evie Tucker both enter their sophomore seasons. They both competed in the District meet last year and will be the go-to swimmers for the Gators.

“We are a very young team,” Decatur assistant coach Russ Neal said. “We are excited for the season and for what’s in store.”

BOYS TENNIS

The Todd Beamer Titans saw major improvements a season ago. They finished the season 5-3, second in the SPSLN behind Curtis. Jefferson coach Patrick Nam returns a team full of veterans this year, including the phenom doubles duo of Jake Kim and Andy Lee who return for their senior year. In 2015, Kim and Lee qualified for the West Central District Tournament and were a match away from making it to the state tournament before suffering a season-ending loss. Nam also has an impressive group of underclassmen coming into this season: Tae San Nguyen, now a sophomore, impressed his freshman year with a winning record. Nam said he sees freshmen with the potential to reach the WCD Tournament this year.

“This year should be an exciting year for our program,” Nam said. “The expectations are high as we have a lot of players we hope to qualify for the WCD this year.”

The Decatur Golden Gators will be loaded with talent this season as well. Coach John Cassens returns 10 members of his team of 16 from a year ago. Decatur produced four crucial wins against divisional opponents, including a rematch win over Thomas Jefferson. The two will clash again in 2016, with the first meeting coming Sept. 12 at Jefferson.

Last year was a forgettable one for Thomas Jefferson, but this season is going to be one to watch. The Raiders return all but one player from last year after losing 12 the year before.

Raiders coach Andrew Buchan said Jefferson is in a good place with so many returners and a wide-open league.

“We are much improved this year with all but one player returning. That’s really going to help,” Buchan said. “Last year was a complete rebuilding year for us. But we’re in a brand new league this year that is completely up for grabs. All eight teams will definitely be in it.”

Jefferson will likely lean on senior Andrew Lim, the Raiders’ lone district player, who is entering his junior season. Jefferson will start the season on the road Sept. 7 at Enumclaw.

Volleyball

The Todd Beamer Titans were an impressive group a year ago. Though it struggled in the second half of the season, the Titans got out to an 8-1 start before finishing 9-5. The experience and talent should transfer over to this season. Beamer begins 2016 on the road Sept. 15 at Rogers.

The Federal Way Eagles are going to bring a wide variety of veteran experience to the court this season. The Eagles lose just five of their 12-player team. Federal Way got off to a tear in 2015, starting out 4-1 in SPSLN before finishing 6-8 in league play. The Eagles will start the season on the road Sept. 6 at Chief Sealth.

The Decatur Golden Gators struggled and did not produce any wins in 2015. This year’s team will bring back a majority of its players from a year ago and will be led by its lone senior, Valencia Cardona-Belgarde.

Thomas Jefferson, which produced three league wins last season, will be the deepest team in the league in 2016. It returns seven seniors this year and will begin the year Sept. 8 at Sumner.

File photo