West Seattle, Washington
04 Monday
2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking, 26.2 miles of running, in under 17 hours: – A little over two months ago, we reported on 17-year-old Herman Meyer‘s accomplishment, and now his friend, filmmaker Riley Nachtrieb, has released her nine-minute film about it. Here’s the announcement and video:
Back in September, West Seattle High School senior Herman Meyer completed a solo Ironman-length triathlon, going back and forth along Alki Beach.
You can now watch his Ironman journey with the film ‘Tri-ing To Solo’, by WSHS alumni and award-winning filmmaker Riley Nachtrieb, available on YouTube.
Thank you to the West Seattle community for supporting Herman on that Saturday from 8am to 1am. So many people came out and offered so much. Some include: Ryan Connolly, Wes & KT Meyer, Grant Howard, Brendan & Jodi Connolly, Lily & Jac Howard, Mykenna Ikehara, and Rose Feliciano.
Herman had never done a triathlon before his “solo Ironman.”
We’re just back from the Edgewater Hotel on the downtown waterfront, where the owner of the former Highline Bears summer collegiate baseball team (a WSB sponsor) chose a maritime setting for the ceremonial reveal of the team’s new name: Dub Sea Fish Sticks. Back in October, we reported that the team had narrowed a field of 200+ suggestions down to two finalists. 5,400+ votes later, Dub Sea Fish Sticks emerged victorious (not surprising, given the reaction to the other finalist, Dub Sea Seal Slingers). Here’s our video of the announcement event hosted by team owner Justin Moser:
The slicker-clad fisherman is just a temporary mascot, Moser says – there’ll be a naming contest soon for the permanent mascot, too.
But the new nickname for the team’s home field, Mel Olson Stadium at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, will, well, stick.
And Moser promised fish sticks will be offered at the concession stand.
The team usually plays home and away games June, July, and early August, but missed the past two summers because of the pandemic. Opening day for next summer is set for June 4th. If you want to be notified when tickets go on sale, join the list at the team’s new website, GoFishSticks.com.
SIDE NOTE: This isn’t just about sports – the team says it’s helped local groups and nonprofits raise $10,000 over the past five years, and the players are required to do volunteer work every week during the season.
On Friday we showed you the sendoff for West Seattle High School cross-country athletes who qualified for the state championships. Here’s how they did in the events held Saturday at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. The boys – the first WSHS cross-country team ever to make it to state – placed 12th; team members are Elliott A., Asher M., Tao N., Ewan K., Dylan W., Elliott B., and Ethan K.. Two WSHS girls competed individually; the results list shows Anika P. finished 91st, Sylvie G. finished 95th in a field of nearly 200. Congratulations to them all!
Thanks to Eric Odegard for sending this report on a West Seattle student/athlete’s accomplishment:
Brigit O’Rourke of West Seattle realized a long-held ambition when she made the rowing team at the University of Washington this past week.
As one of approximately 40 “walk-ons” trying to make the crew, O’Rourke was evaluated through a series of tests that involved the rowing machine, long runs, and on-water rows, and was over the moon when she was told that she had made the prestigious squad, which is consistently at or near the top of US college rowing.
“Since the first time I walked into a boathouse when I was 13 years old, I realized rowing is my passion. I’m overjoyed and grateful to have earned this opportunity to continue living my dreams,” said O’Rourke, who is studying pre-med.
O’Rourke rowed as an 8th grader and then took a few years away from the sport. But she found she really missed rowing, and was drawn back to it in 12th grade when she joined the Burton Beach Rowing Club (BBRC) on Vashon Island. Unfortunately, Covid prevented any official racing in her senior year, but Brigit dedicated herself to training, taking a very early ferry to Vashon from her West Seattle home six mornings per week to be on the water under the guidance of BBRC coach Richard Parr.
“Brigit’s work ethic has always been amazing, and throughout Covid she actually dug deeper every day, even though there was no racing for her. She is incredibly driven, and a great teammate. Brigit may well be the smallest Husky rower, but she’s just so easy to coach and there is always 100% commitment from her, which is why her selection at UW doesn’t surprise me at all,” said Parr.
O’Rourke said, “Through rowing at Burton Beach, I learned the importance of dedication, integrity, and teamwork. These ideals and Richard’s unconditional support are what inspire me to grow as a rower. At UW I will continue to push myself to become faster and stronger every day, and I know I can always count on the support of my teammates and coaches, both at UW and at Burton Beach.”
The only downside to O’Rourke’s selection is that her planned race as a Burton Beach crew this weekend at UW’s Head of the Lake regatta in the Parent/Child double sculls with her dad Shawn now has to be withdrawn.
But both father and daughter wouldn’t have it any other way.
As that traffic-camera image from mid-afternoon shows, it’s already snowing in the mountain, and skiers are looking ahead – including organizers of the West Seattle High School ski bus, which is open for registration:
WSHS parents & students, ski/snowboard enthusiasts: The WSHS ski bus will be back this winter. This is primarily for WSHS students, but if we don’t fill the bus, others can join! We have a few changes coming this year, as SPS’s risk management team will not allow the buses to pick up from HS parking lots, due to social distancing, nor will they allow equipment to be stored in the school. The bus will stop on Walnut or California, in front of WSHS, & gear will have to be stored in cars or dropped off after school. Ski bus will run on Fridays, Jan 28th-March 11th 3:45-11 PM.
Bus only is $350. More info & registration can be found at>
skimohan.com/school-program/seattle-public-schools/west-seattle-snowsportsCovid protocols in place. Bus has new ventilation system & masks must be worn at all times. Temp & health questionnaire done daily.
Scholarships available at 25-100% off registration fee.Reach out to fridaynightskibus@gmail.com w/ any questions.
As reported here last weekend, West Seattle High School‘s cross-country athletes are making history this year – the first time an entire WSHS cross-country team has qualified for the state championships. The boys’ team, and two individual girls, will compete at state. So this morning, before heading to the Tri-Cities for the championships, they led a parade – with cheerleaders and the marching band – in the school hallway:
The championships are tomorrow (Saturday, November 6th) at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.
The photo and report are from Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Ernest Policarpio:
Congrats to the Volleyball team for a huge upset win vs #3 Lincoln 3-1 in the first round of the Metro Championships. They play Seattle Prep on Thursday at Prep, 7 PM.
The team’s head coach is Desiree Johnson.
Seattle’s newest pro-sports team, the Kraken, play again at 6 pm tonight. If you’re not going to Climate Pledge Arena for the game, perhaps you’d be interested to know West Seattle has an official Kraken-watching bar. The Admiral Pub tells WSB that the pub is the first West Seattle venue in the Kraken Anchor Alliance: “We will have all games on the big screen with sound.” Tonight the new NHL team (3-4-1) is hosting the New York Rangers (5-2-1). Admiral Pub is at 2306 California SW.
The photo and report are from Erin, after West Seattle High School cross-country athletes – the boys’ varsity team and three varsity girls who qualified individually – competed in the district meet today at Lake Sammamish State Park:
West Seattle HS XC boys’ Varsity team and 3 individually placed varsity girls ran AMAZING races today at Sea-King District 2 Championships at Lake Sammamish State Park!
Here’s the team members’ names:
Boys: Elliot A, Asher, Tao, Ewan, Dylan, Elliot B, Ethan
Girls: Anika, Sylvie, Jhana.So proud of all these runners! They all did amazing.
The varsity boys’ team moves on to the state championship meet next Saturday in Pasco, as well as 2 of our girls who qualified (Anika & Sylvie)
Here’s the Team & individual Statistics at links below:
Important to note: this is the first time EVER that WSHS varsity cross-country has made it to state championship as a TEAM !!!
Huge thank you to coaches Shelley, Will, Greg, Ralph, and Joe. Thanks to all the athletes, students, parents, friends, and family members who showed up to cheer on these amazing athletes today!
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(Photo by Sam Seumae)
9:35 PM: In a downpour at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex tonight, West Seattle High School took back the Huling Bowl trophy with a 42-0 win over Chief Sealth International High School. The Seahawks had won the past four editions of the crosstown-rivalry game.
(WSB photos from here down)
11:11 PM: WSHS’s tally included three 2-point conversions. The Wildcats were up 28-0 at halftime.
Despite the miserable playing conditions, the victory gave WSHS head coach Jeff Scott a reason to smile.
Game’s end was major photo-op time.
And though the game was devoid of pre-pandemic-style festivities, the traditional trophy hoist went on:
It was West Seattle’s first Huling Bowl win since 2016. The Wildcats are now 5-3 on the year; the Seahawks are 1-7.
Maybe you’ve seen Alisha Timm out running in her orange shirt. She is in training for this year’s New York City Marathon, just a week and a half away, and wants to explain why:
Hi There! My name is Alisha Timm and I am a proud five-year West Seattle resident – I’m also the girl running around in the orange ‘Imagine a World Without Cancer’ shirt. It’s been so fun to run around all of the neighborhoods in West Seattle and fall even more in love with this beautiful community
.
Growing up I played competitive soccer and ran cross country, but after a terrible knee injury and a horrific car accident found myself being told I shouldn’t run any more. Well, twelve half-marathons later, I’ve found myself training for my first marathon, the 50th New York City Marathon. After being postponed last year, it is officially happening on November 7th this year.When I started on the pursuit of completing the NYC Marathon, it was a check off the bucket list for me – but, I couldn’t bring myself to a place where I could imagine not taking the opportunity to raise awareness and do good for something bigger than myself. Joining Fred’s Team was a no-brainer for me as every single person in this world has been impacted by cancer; driving awareness and funding research is critical to making a change. Fred’s Team is affiliated with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NY, the largest and oldest private cancer center in the world. As part of the team, you can select if you’d like to contribute to a certain type of cancer – I went with childhood.
Raising awareness for childhood cancer was my choice for several reasons, but the largest being that these kids have their whole life ahead of them and are starting out with this unfathomable battle, I cannot even begin to imagine being the child or family in that situation. Below are some statistics that really surprised me when I started digging in:
-#1 cause of death in children
-Only 4% of research dollars spent annually are on childhood cancer
-95% of survivors have significant health-related issues due to treatment options
-43 kids per day in the US are diagnosed with cancerStatistics are based on US only; imagine adding in the rest of the world.
Should you decide to learn more, my page is here.
Thank you for your interest in reading about this, it means a ton and is such a large part of my life!
While covering the Chief Sealth International High School softball-championship game on Tuesday, we learned a new date has finally been set for the annual CSIHS-West Seattle HS football game, aka the Huling Bowl. It was originally scheduled for September 17th, but canceled in the wake of a tumultuous day on the Sealth campus. The game is now set for Thursday, October 28th, 7 pm, at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle); both teams play home games at the stadium, but WSHS will be the home team for this one. (Before then, the teams each have games this week – WSHS plays Roosevelt at NW Athletic Complex, 7:30 pm this Thursday; CSIHS has a road trip up to Anacortes for a 1 pm game this Saturday.)
That’s the Chief Sealth International High School slow-pitch softball team, which played for the Metro League championship this afternoon at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.
The Seahawks’ game against Cleveland was a battle, and they were leading in the final inning, but a late rally won it for the Eagles, 10-5. Chief Sealth’s season isn’t over yet, though – CSIHS athletic director Ernest Policarpio tells us they’ll be playing a TBD opponent Friday, 4 pm at NCSWAC, to see who advances in the postseason. All welcome to be there to cheer them on.
Sent this afternoon by Amy:
Our neighbor and friend Joe Drake is running the six major marathons this fall. He has completed in person Berlin, London, Chicago, and Boston. He is running the Tokyo marathon virtually today with his route taking him along beach drive, Lincoln Park, back to Don Armeni. If you see a runner with long pink socks, cheer on his virtual Tokyo!
All the more impressive is, he is living with Parkinson’s. His last of the majors (not the last of his running) will be New York in three weeks. You can follow him at his blog:. joesgottarun.medium.com/about
This all started with Berlin just three weeks ago! (Toward the end of that post, we found links for Parkinson’s research fundraising Joe’s doing while running, too.)
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Continuing our coverage of home football games at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex – West Seattle High School lost a close one Friday night, 11-10, to Ingraham. The game was relatively tepid – and scoreless – until late in the first half, when the Rams got a field goal. Not long thereafter, a fit over a call led Ingraham’s head coach to get ejected. Then the Wildcats got a field goal with :20 to halftime. It was a busy night for #20, sophomore kicker Kalei Scott:
So it was a 3-3 tie at halftime. The WSHS Band put on an impressive show during the break:
Back to the football: The third quarter, like the first quarter, was scoreless. Then things got lively in the final minutes of the game. #6, senior Jaxton Helmstetler, scored the first touchdown at 3:29:
Two minutes later, an Ingraham TD was followed by a 2-point conversion, giving the Rams the edge, 11-10. In the final half-minute, West Seattle got close but couldn’t get the ball in, so they tried a field goal and missed. Their chances, and the clock, ran out, and the Wildcats got the loss. Next Friday at 7:45 pm, they’re scheduled to face Roosevelt at Memorial Stadium downtown.
Here’s your chance to rename a baseball team! The White Center-based (former) Highline Bears announced earlier this year they were pursuing a new name. Now it’s down to the final two, and they’re inviting you to help choose. From today’s announcement:
Today the Highline Bears summer collegiate baseball team announced the final two possible new team names. The final names are the DubSea Seal Slingers and the DubSea Fish Sticks. The team will now let the community vote online for which name they want to see on the field next summer. Fans can vote online at RenameOurTeam.com, and they can also vote by pre-ordering merchandise of the logo and team name they like best. Voting will remain open for four weeks and the final team name will be announced on November 15th.
Back in June the team announced they would be renaming the team and ran a “Name the Team” contest for 2 weeks. After receiving more than 200 entries, they flew in the baseball-branding company Brandiose. The branding company has helped name dozens of teams in minor league baseball over the past fifteen years, including the Rocket City Trash Pandas and Armadillo Sod Poodles. While in town in July they canvassed the area, ran community focus groups, and brainstormed with the team about what direction they should go. Over the course of the past three months the team has been working on narrowing down all the fan entries, checking trademark statuses on potential names and developing the final two brands,
The team plays more than two dozen games during regular summers (not the past two years, though) with a 40-player roster of college players from around the country, who stay with host families during the season. Their home field is Mel Olson Stadium at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center.
(WSB photos. Above, #31, senior Casey Maxwell)
In the second of Friday night’s two home games at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, West Seattle High School emerged triumphant over Lakeside, 36-12.
(Above, #55, senior James Cecil)
Tonight was the night WSHS chose to honor its seniors. We caught some of the field festivities:
The Wildcats are now 4-1.
(#6, senior Jaxton Helmstetler)
Next Friday night they’re at home again, 7 pm vs. Ingraham.
(WSB photos)
In the first of tonight’s two home football games at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, Chief Sealth International High School battled Cleveland HS for an overtime win, 12-6. After a first-half Cleveland touchdown, the scoreboard didn’t change until Sealth #41, senior Ethan Heathershaw‘s fourth-quarter TD:
That tied the game 6-6, and it was on to overtime, where #5, Seahawk senior Messiah Alefaio, got the winning TD:
Next week, head coach Daron Camacho‘s team is on the road vs. Nathan Hale, 7 pm Friday.
… That jet noise this past half-hour was another flyover, second one in less than a month. Haven’t found an official description yet but enough witness accounts to verify. The Seahawks are home for Thursday night football vs. the Los Angeles Rams.
Thanks to the Madison Middle School parent who forwarded this, suggesting “a shoutout for anyone in our community that would love to help some eager kids play Ultimate Frisbee ASAP”:
Madison had over 100 students turn out for Ultimate Frisbee last week. This is exciting news!
At this time we have two coaches and are seeking parent or community member volunteers to sign up and help on the field during practices and games. Practice days are Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00-5:30 pm and games are on Saturdays. Email Madison’s Athletic Director and Assistant Principal, Eric Marshall at ermarshall@seattleschools.org and sign up using the link below to be an Ultimate Frisbee volunteer.
Madison staff members will help supervise practice while we recruit and clear volunteers. No students will be cut at this time and we will continue to follow SPS health and safety guidelines.
Here’s how to become an athletic volunteer This is different than being a general volunteer. There are different health and safety requirements to be on the field with students: Copy and paste into your browser this link: schooljobs.com/careers/seattleschools/jobs/349379/athletics-volunteer-coach/apply
(WSB photos)
We’re continuing to cover local football teams’ home games each weekend. Friday night, Chief Sealth International High School played at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex for the first time in three weeks. The Seahawks hosted the Franklin Quakers, who got the win, 10-2. The only touchdown of the game was by Franklin’s #5, junior James Scott.
Lots of pink tonight, in honor of breast-cancer awareness:
Sealth’s band made their home debut for the season:
Next Friday, head coach Daron Camacho and the Seahawks are back at NCSWAC, but earlier in the evening.
They’re scheduled to play Cleveland at 5 pm.
As previewed here Friday, 17-year-old West Seattle High School senior Herman Meyer spent his Saturday swimming, biking, and running a “solo Ironman” triathlon. Family and friends posted as-it-happened updates and photos in the comment thread of the original report, but in case you weren’t following along, he finished in just over 16 and a half hours. Herman’s mom Katherine Meyer reported, “He started just after 8 am and finished strong at 12:40 am! He had to dig deep, and he did.” The day began with more than 2 miles of swimming off Alki:
Then 112 miles of bicycling (in loops around West Seattle):
And finally a marathon run:
That’s friend Riley Nachtrieb running with Herman, in a photo by Riley’s dad Erik Nachtrieb. In her preview of Herman’s “solo Ironman,’ published here Friday, Riley explained that Herman’s feat was simply out of personal motivation – “purely driven by his determination.”
The West Seattle High School Wildcats ran onto the field at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex tonight as an undefeated team, and that’s how they left it, with a 56-7 victory over the Kent Meridian HS Royals. #2, junior Elijah Brady, led the scoring tonight with four touchdowns.
His first one was less than a minute into the game.
WSHS first on the board, TD by #2 Elijah Brady. Then a 2-pt conversion, so 8-0 lead and game is less than a minute old. pic.twitter.com/2pVrzOUdRb
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) September 26, 2021
Just a minute after that, the Royals got their one and only TD, and the score was fleetingly close, 8-7. But less than a minute and a half later, the Wildcats started pulling away, first with another Brady TD, then with the first of two touchdowns by #8, junior Mason Kallinger:
Second-quarter scoring included point-after kicks by #20, sophomore Kalei Scott:
Also in the photo above is #3, sophomore Bo Gionet, who snagged an interception with 1:44 to go in the first half. Second-quarter TDs were by Brady, Kallinger, and #31, senior Casey Maxwell. At halftime, head coach Jeff Scott‘s team was up 42-7.
The WSHS Cheer Squad performed at halftime:
The second half opened a lot like the first – a TD by Brady, just a minute and a half in, after a pass by #9, junior Axel Johnson.
Shortly thereafter, an interception by #4, junior Roman Centioli, set the stage for the Wildcats’ last touchdown, by #7, senior Will Godwin. No scoring in the fourth quarter, so 56-7 is how it ended. WSHS is now 3-0, and on the road next week, at Bishop Blanchet, 7 pm Friday (October 1st).
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