FOOTBALL
2020 Season
Due to COVID-19, the season was pushed out to early 2021, and was minimized to just six games and no playoffs.
As a sophomore, Petz served as the kicker and punter for the Lions.
In his varsity debut he made three extra points in a 27-13 win at Mount Vernon.
He made another extra point the next week against Ferndale, and then booted his first varsity field goal in a 9-6 win over Squalicum.
He finished up with a season-high five extra points made in a blowout 47-0 win over Sedro-Woolley, another extra point in a 28-21 loss to Lynden Christian and three more extra points against Sehome in a 27-13 win.
Lynden finished with a 4-2 record.
He finished the season with 13 extra points made (fifth in the county) and a punting average of 36.3 (the third best in the county).
He was named #92 on the Whatcom Preps Top 100 list, and although coaches did not select All-Conference Teams due to the shortened season, Whatcom Preps named him All-County 2nd Team as both a kicker and a punter.
2021 Season
As a junior, he began to show other skills than kicking a football. His speed was on display as well.
Right out of the gate, Petz nailed a 34-yard field goal at home which ended up as the game-winner as Lynden defeated Hockinson 24-21.
He did a little bit of everything the following week at home against Ferndale. He booted a 63-yard punt, he hit an extra point, and he returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Golden Eagles came out on top 35-25.
He followed with an extra point against Squalicum in a 15-12 win in a rain storm, but another big moment was on the horizon.
The following week at Burlington-Edison he hit all five of his extra point attempts, and finished the game with an 18-yard field goal with five seconds left in the game to give the Lions a 38-35 win over the Tigers.
After scoring eight points at Burlington-Edison, he scored nine more at Cedarcrest the next week with six extra points and a 28-yard field goal in a 51-21 win.
He hit four more extra points at home against Lakewood, and he connected on two more extra points, as well as a 24-yard field goal, at Sehome.
It was another big game, this time at home against Archbishop Murphy, as Petz hit all five of his extra points, along with a 36-yards field goal, all in the first half.
He hit two more extra points at Sedro-Woolley to help seal the NWC 2A Championship.
In the state playoffs, Petz made 11-of-13 extra points before getting to the state championship game, in which he hit his 38th extra point of the season as Lynden beat Tumwater 21-7 for the state title.
Lynden finished 12-1, and Petz was named All-Conference 1st Team at both kicker and punter, and was named All-State at punter. He led Whatcom County in extra points, field goals, touchbacks and punting average, while averaging over 30 yards per kickoff return. He was also named #47 on the Whatcom Preps Top 100 list.
2022 Season
As a senior, he was the ultimate weapon. Kicking off, punting, place kicking, returning kicks, catching passes, as well as playing the secondary.
He rarely left the field.
In week one he scored on a 64-yard run after deciding to take off on a punt play. In the following quarter he nailed a 40-yard field goal. He also hit a pair of extra points as the Lions beat Ferndale 24-7.
He crushed another 40-yard field goal a week later at W.F. West in a 33-7 victory, while also grabbing his first varsity interception.
He displayed his big-play ability at wide receiver in the conference opener at Squalicum where he caught a pair of touchdown passes in the first quarter. He also hit on four extra points as the Lions cruised to a 41-13 win.
In one of the toughest games of the year, Petz intercepted a pass and booted a 43-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference in a 24-21 road win against Sedro-Woolley.
He hit all three of his extra point attempts a week later, and needed them all, as Lynden narrowly defeated Sehome 21-19.
Petz caught two more long touchdown passes in the following week against Archbishop Murphy, while also nailing all seven of his extra point attempts.
He caught three passes for 31 yards and hit all five of his extra point attempts at Burlington-Edison in a 35-23 win.
Petz caught a 43-yard touchdown pass and booted six extra points a week later in a 48-3 win over Lakewood.
It was two extra points, a 25-yard field goal, an interception which he returned 27 yards and a 38-yard reception the following week at Anacortes as Lynden picked up the 23-13 victory to secure another conference championship.
The Lions steamrolled through the playoffs once again with blowout wins in their first three games, and Lynden was once again going to play for a state title, this time against North Kitsap.
Petz had saved his best for last.
His first big play was when he took a blocked field goal and returned it 67 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter to give Lynden a lead.
He then hit a 23-yard field goal in the second quarter to extend the lead, as well as a pair of extra points.
He also returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, but it was called back due to a block in the back.
His third extra point of the game was the icing on the cake of the game-winning touchdown. He also caught three passes for 66 yards, and deflected two passes on defense in the championship game.
Lynden finished the season with an undefeated 13-0 record.
He averaged almost 32 yards every time he touched the ball. He averaged even more every time he kicked the ball. A walking touchback that also averaged nearly 40 yards per punt.
He finished second on the team with 16 catches for 452 yards (28.3 average) and a team-high six receiving touchdowns.
He also finished with 194 kick return yards, 36 punt return yards, three interceptions, six pass deflections, 48 extra points, five field goals made and averaged 39.9 yards per punt. All of which led his team.
He was named All-Conference 1st Team at kicker, and he was named All-Conference 2nd Team at punter, while again being named All-State 1st Team at punter. He was also ranked #12 on the Whatcom Preps Top 100 list.
Football Career
One of the most unique players in Whatcom County history, and a true winner. When he played, Lynden’s overall record was 29-3. He finished with 99 career extra points made (4th in school history), 11 field goals made (4th in school history) and 132 kicking points (4th in school history). He also averaged 31.9 yards per kickoff return in his career, which is the school record, and his career punting average of 39.4 yards is the second highest in school history. He went on to the University of Washington as a punter.
TRACK AND FIELD
2021 Season
As a sophomore, the track season was shortened due to the lingering COVID-19 effects.
Petz was only able to compete in seven events the entire season, but took home first place in five of them.
He won the 100 meters with a time of 11.37 seconds in an early meet at Lynden Christian. In the same meet he won the long jump (20’8″) and was a part of the winning 4×100 relay team (46.67) with Cade Westrich, Zach Welch and Houston Henderson.
There would be no postseason, but in the final meet of the season, he finished first in the long jump (21’4″) and again first on the 4×100 relay team (45.11) with Westrich, Henderson and Caleb Wheeler.
2022 Season
Back to regular, full-time action as a junior, Petz dominated multiple events throughout the entire season.
He took first place in the 100 meters three times, with his best time of 11.31.
He also won the 200 meters in late March in a meet with Blaine and Ferndale, with a time of 24.37.
In late April he was a part of a 4×100 relay team that took place, with a time of 45.4 seconds as he teamed up with Jesse Stewart, Joel Bode and Luke Scarlett.
At the same meet he also won the 4×400 relay with Scarlett, Nicholas Briscoe and Porter Wilhite with a time of 3:29.86.
Despite being one of the fastest athletes in the county, he also participated in the shot put, and his throw of 43’8.5″ was good enough for second place against Bellingham and Lynden Christian in a home meet.
However, it was the long jump that was his specialty. He competed in that event in seven regular season meets, and took first place in six of them.
At the sub-districts he jumped 22’9.5″, a new personal record, which was good enough for first place.
A week later at the district meet he jumped 22’8.75″ for the district championship and a berth at state.
He then kept his hot streak alive by jumping over 22 feet again and claiming the state championship in the long jump.
2023 Season
As a senior, all eyes were on him. He competed in all the same events, while also adding the triple jump.
He twice won the 100 meter dash, including with a time of 11.30 at Mount Vernon, which ended up being his personal record.
He had another PR, this time in the 200 meter dash in Cashmere, with a time of 23.11.
He also took first place in a 4×100 relay race at Blaine along with Max Assink, Dani Bowler and Porter Wilhite. At the same meet he claimed the top prize in the shot put with a personal best throw of 43’9.5″.
During the regular season, he took first place in every meet in both the long jump and the triple jump.
At the sub-district meet he again took first place in the long jump, triple jump and in the 4×400 relay along with Ethan Williams, Charlie Ayres and Danie Bowler.
It was on to the district meet, and he again took first place in both the long jump and triple jump. His distance of 23’0.5″ on the long jump was the longest of his amazing career.
He also took third place in the 4×400 relay team, and thus earned a spot in the state championship meet with a third event.
During the state championships, the gold medal eluded Petz, but he would take second place in all three events, including the triple jump which saw a personal best jump of 44’9.25″.
Track and Field Career
An amazingly unique athlete that was able to compete in a multitude of events. He has the second longest long jump and triple jump in school history, while posting amazing numbers in relays, sprints and throws.
