West Seattle, Washington
15 Friday
Last week, Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Ernest Policarpio told us about Seahawk wrestlers on their way to the state tournament at the Tacoma Dome. Today, he shares a photo and update:
Congrats to a great postseason for our wrestling team! We had 7 wrestlers make it to state and four of them placed in the top 8!
Senior Delaney Graves – 140 lbs – 2nd in State
Junior Saleen Kelly – 155 lbs – 6th in State
Freshman Micah Policarpio – 170 lbs – 7th in State
Senior Ethan Heathershaw – 195 lbs – 5th in StateWith the wrestlers in the photo from left are Coach Joey Richards, Daron Camacho, Sergio Lopez, AD Policarpio, Maurice Dolberry, and kneeling is Coach Alexia Ramos.
One local team is still in the postseason playoffs – the West Seattle High School girls’ basketball team. They have a must-win regional-playoff game Tuesday night, and they get to play it at home, 7 pm vs. Liberty High School from Issaquah. If you’re interested in going, here’s the ticket link.
Updates on the West Seattle High School basketball teams’ games at district playoffs:
GIRLS: They lost their past two games – Lake Washington today, 69-41; top-ranked Garfield on Thursday, 76-50 – but still have at least one more game to go, at regionals. That matchup is TBA.
BOYS: After two losses – 65-54 vs. Seattle Prep last night, 68-56 vs. Lake Washington on Tuesday – they’re out.
Another local high-school athlete made it to the state championships!
Giovanni Slye is representing West Seattle High School at the statewide High School diving championship! The event started today at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. Giovanni has been training hard with the support and guidance of his coach, Metro League Coach of the Year Stephanie Hunt.
This is Giovanni’s first time in state competition.
From Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Ernest Policarpio:
Congrats to our Chief Sealth Wrestlers advancing to the Mat Classic tomorrow at the Tacoma Dome.
From left to right in the picture:
132 lbs Senior Mason Vaughn-Thomas
140 lbs Senior Delaney Graves
138 lbs Senior Jason Hoang
170 lbs Freshman Micah Policarpio
155 lbs Junior Saleen Kelly
125 lbs Sophomore Sophia Andreini
195 lbs Senior Ethan Heathershaw
Tournament info can be found here.
Thanks to Rob Wright for the highlight reel from the West Seattle High School girls’ district-playoffs victory over Holy Names on Tuesday at Bellevue College, 50-40. Next up, the Wildcat girls face top-seeded Garfield for the third time in less than three weeks; that game is also at Bellevue College, 3:30 pm tomorrow (Thursday, February 17th).
St. Patrick’s Day is one month from tomorrow. Since it’s on a Thursday this year, many celebrations will be held on the preceding weekend – like this one for which West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) invites you to register now:
We are doing something cool and partnering with Good Society Brewing on Sunday, March 13th at 9 am!
Join us for Group Run to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Meet at West Seattle Runner for 5k route around the ‘hood. Finish at Good Society Brewing
We ask that you sign up to take part (so Good Society can plan; they are opening early for us! And so we can decide if we need to arrange waves and an outside gathering). Please note that you need to mask up in the shop. You will have the option to be outside or indoors at Good Society. And of course, the run takes place outdoors, so this can be something to participate in a COVID-safe way.
Sign up by stopping by West Seattle Runner [2743 California SW] and purchasing an entry for $1.The dollar is to hold your place (if you choose to not attend after registering, please let us know, so your spot can go to someone on the waitlist). Each dollar will be given to Good Society staff as a tip. Soon, we will post a link to purchase on our web store. But we want first dibs to go to our customers before the public can sign up remotely. There will be a cap on the number of participants.
Good Society will donate part of proceeds to The West Seattle Food Bank or Social Justice Fund.
Wear your green or risk being pinched! There will be a raffle drawing to boot!!
(WSB photos)
Perfect afternoon for softball at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, where 15 members of the West Seattle High School softball team spent three hours mentoring younger players. The team organized a three-hour skills clinic for 7-to-13-year-olds to raise money for their program. Almost 40 kids showed up to learn. They rotated through three stations – including outfield (above) and infield (below):
The WSHS players also provided coaching in hitting:
Proceeds from the clinic fees will help buy new uniforms and equipment for the Wildcat girls. (They’re taking online donations, too.) Their season starts in about a month, with a home game against Lynnwood on March 14th (here’s the season schedule), under new head coach Rey Delgado.
Both of West Seattle High School‘s varsity basketball teams are in the district playoffs. First, an update on the girls, who just finished the Metro League playoffs:
Thanks to Rob Wright for the highlight reel from the WSHS girls’ Thursday night victory over Eastside Catholic, 49-46. That got the Wildcats third place in the Metro League tournament. Next up, they play Holy Names in district playoffs, 3:30 pm Tuesday at Bellevue College.
District play has already begun for the Wildcat boys. They won their first district game tonight, 66-47 over Franklin, and will also play on Tuesday, 8:15 pm at Lake Washington HS.
Thanks to Jodi Connolly for the photo and report:
Beautiful day for the WSHS vs Chief Sealth varsity Ultimate game at Magnuson Park. They had so much fun playing that they continued scrimmaging together long after the game was over and then posed for this impromptu celebration pic. The score was WSHS 15, CSIHS 2.
From Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Ernest Policarpio:
Congrats to our swim coach Stephanie Hunt for being Metro League Swim Coach of the Year!!! Her dedication and hard work in our community has improved our swim program, increased numbers, and opened opportunities for our student athletes.
(Sealth’s Stephanie Hunt with Cleveland coach Stephanie Wang)
Also: Congrats to swimmers Sam Macray and Nathan Tran for winning the Metro Scholar award for Chief Sealth.
Another youth-sports announcement this morning – spring-season signups are under way for the West Seattle Soccer Club, which also has opportunities for prospective coaches and board members. Here’s the announcement we received:
Registration for our 2022 spring season is during February (with late registration starting March 1). Teams are formed by school year registration so children can play with their classmates:
2022 HSA Champions League Spring Season
REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOWGo to westseattlesoccer.org or
clubs.bluesombrero.com/westseattlesoccerPlay begins Sunday, April 24 (for U8-U12) and Sunday, May 1 (for U6-U7)
FEE for U6 – U12 is $75Divisions by ACADEMIC YEAR (August 31st – July 31st)
NO PROMOTION FROM FALL (if your player was U9 in Fall, then U9 this Spring)
U13+ Divisions by BIRTH YEAR for play in Spring SSUL League. First games are April 23/24.
FEE for U13+ $110PLEASE HELP US FIELD MORE TEAMS BY VOLUNTEERING TO COACH
Would you consider serving on the WSSC Board? We have openings.
(WSB photo from 2018)
The youth-lacrosse season starts next week, so the Southwest Lacrosse Club has sent one last call for signups:
Are you looking for a fun and fast-paced team sport for your K-8th grader? Registration is currently open for the 2022 Seattle Metro Youth Lacrosse season. The season begins February 16th and runs through May 21st. Check out our website or contact us with any questions at swlctitans@gmail.com.
Founded in 2008, the Southwest Lacrosse Club (SWLC) is dedicated to the promotion, organization, and development of K-8 youth lacrosse from West Seattle to Federal Way. Our mission is to teach lacrosse fundamentals and good sportsmanship while emphasizing the importance of discipline, teamwork, and physical fitness. Players of all skill levels can develop their game, and we will prepare each athlete for the next level of play. No prior lacrosse experience is required, loaner equipment will be available for use. We offer full and partial scholarships based on need.
More info on the league, and the registration link, can be found here.
Time to look ahead to this year’s youth-sports seasons. Southwest Little League baseball is registering players for spring! You can sign up at southwestlittleleague.org or in person Saturday (February 12th(, noon-3 pm, at the Little Log Cabin in White Center’s Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd).
Thanks to Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Ernest Policarpio for sending the photos and report tonight:
Big shoutout to our girls bowling team, who missed state by just a few pins! Elsa Chao and Katie Kaisaki are Chief Sealth’s first individual bowlers to go to state and represent our school!!
Big shout-out to our girls wrestling team, who have won back-to-back-to-back Metro Championships!!! They are headed to Kent Meridian for sub-regionals on Saturday while we host the boys Metro Championships this weekend. Congratulate the athletes when you see them tomorrow.
Individual Metro Champs – Eden Lopez, Alyssa Reyes, Sophia Andreini, Delaney Graves, Miriam Faust, Saleen Kelly, Puna Faga
2nd Place – Jenny Brown and Elyse Ledger
3rd Place – Amelia Wright
Thanks to West Seattle High School activities coordinator Angela Ferda for sending the photo and report:
Both our competition Cheer Squad and Ladies Bowling will be competing in state competitions.
Bowling will be traveling today to Narrows Plaza Bowl in Tacoma for the WIAA 3A state competition. Bowling is coming off a 13-0 undefeated season and this will be their 2nd time competing at the state level.
Cheer will be traveling on Friday to Battle Ground High School to compete in the WIAA High School State Championships in the no-tumbling co-ed category. This will be their third time visiting state since starting their competition squad.
Best of luck to all!
With balloons and banners, West Seattle High School celebrated National Signing Day, with two student athletes signing with colleges. At left is Reuben Leiataua, who will be playing football at Central Washington University. He’s planning to major in business or sports medicine. At right is Maddox Brent, who will be playing baseball at Wenatchee Valley College, and plans to major in business. Thanks to WSHS athletic director Corey Sorenson for the photo and info, and congratulations to the student athletes!
Two weeks from today, West Seattle High School softball players will spend part of the day mentoring younger players. If someone in your family would be interested, here’s the announcement:
West Seattle High School’s softball team is putting on a one-day 3-hour clinic from 12 pm-3 pm on Sunday, February 13th for girls ages 7-13 at SWAC upper field, for $30. Each age group will be split into groups of 5, according to their age. The clinic will cover beginner to intermediate skills in the infield, outfield, and hitting. No pitching and catching instruction. Proceedings from this fundraiser will go toward new uniforms and equipment for the WSHS Softball team. Please come with a signed waiver (link to be sent out in an email) and payment if you are paying in cash or check.
The steps we’re taking to minimize COVID:
*Masks will be required between taking sips and bites
*Each group will have their own bucket of balls to use
*Each high-school player will have hand sanitizer for the girls to be able to use
*There will not be a lunch break; snack and water breaks are given and a snack will be providedIf you cannot make it but would like to make a donation, scan the separate QR code to make a contribution size of your choice. Thank you so much! Here are direct links to sign up and to the donation page as well:
docs.google.com/forms/d/1jvFksepT8cahSpfG5XSfKm-dcuL0NeabWJMSu_G3vcw/edit#responses
With the regular season almost over for high-school basketball, this weekend’s games had each local high school facing a crosstown competitor:
(Chief Sealth #10, Delaney Sipila)
CHIEF SEALTH IHS @ WEST SEATTLE HS: Friday night, the Seahawks visited the Wildcats. West Seattle’s varsity teams won both games. The WSHS girls, coached by Darnell Taylor, are 9-3 after the 59-24 win. The CSIHS girls, coached by Mario Martinez, are 5-8.
(West Seattle #10, Kaydinse Piersol)
The West Seattle boys, coached by Dan Kriley, are 9-3 after their 72-39 victory over the Chief Sealth boys, coached by Colin Slingsby, who are 4-9.
(WSHS #23, Max Holliman, & CSIHS #1, Messiah Alefaio)
Both schools have home games on Wednesday – West Seattle teams host Garfield, Chief Sealth teams host Franklin.
SEATTLE LUTHERAN VS. SUMMIT ATLAS: The other crosstown-competitor basketball battle happened this afternoon, as Seattle Lutheran High School‘s boys team (no girls team this year) hosted Summit Atlas.
(Summit Atlas #3 Rafael Vazquez & Seattle Lutheran #20 Julian Nevan-Mazetti)
The Summit Atlas Orcas went home to Arbor Heights with the win, 41-38 over the SeaLu Saints.
Top scorer was SLHS #5, Khalil Joseph-Taylor (above), with 23 points – followed by SAHS #14, Yahya Ahmed, with 19.
While out looking around this morning, we noticed runners with bibs, and found out it’s a a big day for dozens of hardy runners. They’re on the Tukwila to Alki Half-Marathon, which this year is offering a full-marathon round trip too. We stopped to talk with the crew at the turnaround near the Alki Bathhouse. No big banners or canopies – just a cone:
This is a volunteer-led, free run, from the same people behind the Green River Marathon. More than 60 runners signed up this year, about two-thirds of them for the half-marathon, the others for the full.
Teams at both local public high schools have just been announced as recipients of $5,000 grants from the Mariners Care program, explained by the team as “part of On BASE (Baseball And Softball Everywhere), a strategic effort by the Mariners to leverage new and existing partnerships to break down barriers that may prevent some children from participating in baseball and softball, whether that is because of high registration fees, lack of equipment or access to playable fields.” From the Mariners’ announcement:
Chief Sealth High School Baseball & Softball
The students who make up Chief Sealth’s six baseball and softball teams are among the most ethnically and economically diverse in Seattle Public Schools. Head coach Ernest Policarpio says, “We never want the financial burden of baseball to be a reason a kid doesn’t play,” so coaches take it upon themselves to buy supplies and equipment with their own money. The grant will allow Chief Sealth to purchase shoes, gloves, bats, balls as well as pay for needed repairs to the scorekeeping system and provide nets and other safety equipment for practices.
West Seattle High School Softball
The West Seattle softball program does not receive any funding from the school or Associated Student Body and, because of COVID-19, they have not been able to independently fundraise for two years. The grant will help purchase basic equipment like bats, balls, gloves, socks and pants, that will be available to any player who needs them, as well as training equipment like weighted balls for hitting and a safety screen for batting practice.
The two local schools are among 10 schools around the region receiving the grants. The Mariners created the program in 2017.
(Reader photo, 2021)
Pickleball just might be the hottest sport right now. The city’s wondering how best to support it, and hitting a few questions your way:
Seattle Parks and Recreation is seeking input from tennis and pickleball players on how we can best support the growth of pickleball. Everyone is encouraged to participate in a short survey, whether you play pickleball or not – your thoughts are invaluable as we plan for the future of this sport in Seattle.
Your answers to the survey questions will inform how we:
-Approach immediate improvements such as dual striping existing tennis courts for pickleball (for which some funding is available now);
-Add pickleball lines to tennis courts during programmatic resurfacing and renovation projects; and
-Develop options for future dedicated pickleball courts (yet to be funded).
This survey is part of the 2021-2022 Pickleball Study funded by the Seattle Park District. An advisory committee is meeting throughout the study and additional community engagement will include two public meetings. Dates and venues for the meetings will be posted on the project page.
High-school sports continue this winter, though with reduced schedules in some cases. Seattle Lutheran High School north of The Junction has four home boys-basketball games ahead this week, and notes that fans are welcome (masks required). The schedule:
Saturday, January 22: Saints vs Fellowship Christian School @ 3:00 pm
Tuesday, January 25: Saints vs. Northwest Yeshiva High School @ 6:30 pm
Thursday, January 27: Saints vs. Evergreen Lutheran High School @ 6:30 pm
Saturday, January 29: Saints vs. Summit Atlas @ 3 pm
The SLHS gym is at 4100 SW Genesee.
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