North Thurston High School senior earns sports star award, other nominees honored 

Sadie McKune, a North Thurston High School senior, won the 2025 High School Sports Star of the Year - Girl's Sports award from the Olympia & Beyond Sports Commission. 

McKune is a gymnast and scholar, holding several league and district titles, one of which was being named Athlete of the Week by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.  

Nominees for the award were required to be full-time students in a Thurston County high school, have participated for at least one season in at least one organized sport, and exemplify strong leadership, dedication and sportsmanship with excellent academics. 

The district honored McKune and other district nominees in a social media post on June 6. 

Other nominees from the district include River Ridge High School’s Breanne Brooks, Timberline High School’s Hannah Jackson, North Thurston High School’s Ashley Yourkoski, River Ridge High School’s Josh Lie and Timberline High School’s Kenyon Simmons. 

Longtime Timberline High School track coach Bob Atwell also won the Thurston County Sports Legend Award. 

The award honors individuals who have had a significant impact on the Thurston County sports community. 

Atwell has served the district as a coach and mentor for 40 years. 

The Olympia & Beyond Sports Commission presented a total of seven awards at its annual Sports Awards banquet on June 4, 2025.