La Conner alum Sarah Cook soars in two sports at Skagit Valley College

The two-sport college athlete is a rare bird these days.

But Skagit Valley College boasts one in Sarah Cook, who has excelled at both volleyball and basketball in her first year as a Lady Cardinal.

An All-State selection in both sports at La Conner High School, where she graduated in 2022, Cook has seamlessly transitioned to collegiate athletics.

At 5'-8", Cook was versatile enough to be listed as both an outside hitter and libero for the SVC volleyball program last fall.

Her season highlights included a nine-kill effort in a Skagit triumph over Olympic in September and an 11-kill, 12-dig, one service ace performance in the Lady Cards' tough five-set conference tournament quarterfinal loss to Columbia Basin in Tacoma Nov. 18.

After two dozen matches, Cook immediately joined the SVC women's basketball squad, whose ranks include her La Conner teammate Aubrie Sloniker.

Cook's impact has been immediate.

She scored 25 points and grabbed six rebounds in a Skagit victory over Tacoma Community College in early December. Cook matched that point total last Saturday in a 66-61 setback to South Puget Sound Community College in the SVC Holiday Classic at DuVall Pavilion.

Cook did pretty much everything for the Lady Cards Saturday. She jumped center on the opening tip-off, scored Skagit's first points on a press break bucket, did damage inside on post-up moves, drained her trademark baseline jumper and was strong on the glass.

"I wish we had her for another year," La Conner girls' basketball coach Joe Harper, part of a large local fan contingent attending the game, said afterward.

Through much of the contest, when Cook was on the floor, SVC flourished. She meshed successive baskets midway through the second quarter to give the hosts a 26-17 lead.

But with Cook getting a rest on the bench, South Puget Sound closed to within 30-28.

Cook started the second half with two field goals and three free throws to extend the margin to 42-32.

Again, with Cook taking a break, South Puget Sound cut into the SVC lead. The Clippers pulled even at 48-48 with 7:45 to play.

Cook, who was the game's high scorer, gave Skagit its final lead at 56-54 with a short jumper in the paint. South Puget Sound, however, closed with a 12-5 run to secure the win.

Despite the final score, there was little disappointment among Cook's friends and family after the buzzer. They met with her courtside and in the bleachers to congratulate her on having played an outstanding game.

SVC head coach Deb Castle has not been surprised by Cook's success in her first season.

"It's always a pleasure to get local talent to stay home and play for SVC," Castle said when Cook announced her intent to enroll and play two sports at Skagit. "We'll share her with the volleyball team. We're both lucky to get a player with her talent."

As a senior, Cook was a first unit All-State selection for a Lady Braves volleyball team that won the 2021 Washington 2B championship and didn't drop a single set at the state tournament under Hall of Fame coach Suzanne Marble.

Cook followed up by averaging 17 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists per contest as the girls' hoops team placed fourth at the 2B Girls' Hardwood Classic in Spokane.

Her tournament appearance featured a 25 point, three steal and three assist outing in a 69-61 triumph over Lake Roosevelt.

Among Cook's many post-season honors were All-State accolades, recognition as the Skagit Valley area's top high school girls' basketball player and being named one of the state's top shooters across all enrollment classifications.

She also proved herself to be a good decision maker on the court – in volleyball and basketball.

And perhaps her best decision was to not choose between which sport to pursue in college, but to play both.