West Seattle, Washington
09 Saturday
(Colman Pool, photographed in 2017 by Long Bach Nguyen)
With temperatures expected to set records – in the 80s – for the next few days, you might be thinking about swimming. If you don’t have a membership to one of the local fitness facilities with pools, here’s a reminder about changes at West Seattle’s two city-owned pools: Outdoor Colman Pool at Lincoln Park opens early this year, with this Saturday and Sunday (May 11-12) set as its first postseason weekend; here’s the backstory. Indoor Southwest Pool, though, is closed for maintenance and not expected to reopen until late May. P.S. There’s one more public option not too far away – Evergreen Pool in White Center (606 SW 116th).
Even if you’re not a track-and-field fan, if you live/work/travel through the Westwood area, this might be a helpful heads-up: Meets announcer David Feinberg emailed (thank you!) to say, “In case anybody may want to know, there are two big 2-day track and field meets scheduled for the Southwest Athletic Complex this week and next: Wednesday and Friday, 5/08 and 5/10 … Metro League Championship. Wednesday and Friday, 5/15 and 5/17 … SeaKing District 2 4A and 3A State Qualifier.” Competition is scheduled to start by mid-afternoon on all those dates and continue into the early evening. We’ll have daily reminders in our previews those days, too/
As noted in our daily highlights, three local high-school teams had Metro League playoff games today at Southwest Athletic Complex:
(WSB photos. Above, Sealth sophomore Leah Golan at bat)
SOFTBALL: Though Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School lost their respective games, both get second chances on Thursday. Sealth fell to Eastside Catholic, 11-1, while WSHS lost to Cleveland, 12-5.
(WSHS senior Calista Januto)
Both teams have 3 pm games Thursday at SWAC, the Wildcats vs. Ingraham, the Seahawks vs. Ballard.
(Sealth junior Jilmer Aquilar-Jeronimo)
SOCCER: The Chief Sealth IHS boys are out of postseason contention after their 4-0 loss to O’Dea tonight.
Just two weeks until the first – and usually the biggest – run/walk of the spring/summer season, the West Seattle 5K! Just after 9 am on Sunday, May 19th, Alki Avenue (which closes to motorized traffic for the 5K) will fill with people of all ages, enjoying a run/walk along the shore, raising money for West Seattle High School via its PTSA, which has been presenting this for more than a decade now (with community co-sponsors including WSB). If you’re not registered for the run/walk yet, you can do it right now online – go here! We’ll see you at the start/finish line (near 61st/Alki) on May 19th.
(WSB photos)
For the second consecutive day, a local high-school baseball team’s Metro League postseason run ended with a shutout loss at Steve Cox Memorial Park. Today, it was West Seattle High School, which faced Eastside Catholic.
The Wildcats were down 7-0 after the first inning and held the Crusaders reasonably in check for the rest of the game, but the damage was done, and the final score was 10-0.
(WSB photos. Above, CSIHS junior Nestor German)
Friday night at Steve Cox Memorial Field in White Center, the Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks faced Bainbridge in the Metro League playoffs.
(CSIHS sophomore Marcel Jones)
It was a must-win game, but Bainbridge shut out Sealth, 4-0, and that was a season-ender for head coach Ernest Policarpio‘s Seahawks.
It was an intense game from the early going and turned out to be a long night for the West Seattle High School Wildcats in their third game of the Metro League playoffs.
Their game at Southwest Athletic Complex against Ballard HS ran 14 innings and the Beavers went home with the win, 8-7.
Head coach Bryan Tupper‘s Wildcats play again Saturday, taking the field at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center (1321 SW 102nd) at 10 am against Eastside Catholic.
The Wildcats continue to roar into college athletics. The latest examples gathered Wednesday afternoon at West Seattle High School to ceremonially sign letters of intent: Above, from left, cheerleader Jake Webley is going to Gonzaga University, basketball player Jayla Wilson is going to Multnomah University, her basketball teammate Jasmine Gayles is going to the University of Northern Colorado, and volleyball player Tyler Donlan is headed for Bellevue College. Family members and coaches were of course there to cheer them on:
You can cheer for them and their classmates at 8 pm June 13th – that’s the WSHS commencement ceremony at Southwest Athletic Complex.
As noted in our daily highlights, both Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle HS had postseason games today at Southwest Athletic Complex. Scores are in – WSHS beat Roosevelt 5-1 tonight, Sealth lost to Garfield 10-0 this afternoon. The Wildcats play Ballard next, 7 pm Thursday at SWAC (2801 SW Thistle); the Seahawks play Bainbridge next, 4 pm Friday at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd)
Exactly two months from today, it’s the last day of classes at Seattle Public Schools. Some schools are out sooner. And it’s never too soon to finalize summer plans. West Seattle High School volleyball coach Abby West has an invitation again this year for interested tweens/teens:
West Seattle High School Volleyball is hosting their annual Wildcat Volleyball Camp for all rising 5th-9th graders. The camp will be held in West Seattle High School’s gym from 9 am-1 pm July 22nd-25th. The cost is $150. Please email abby.west1@gmail.com for registration information.
(WSB photos. Above, head coaches Ernest Policarpio of CSIHS and Bryan Tupper of WSHS)
In the late-Friday drizzle at Hiawatha, West Seattle High School hosted Chief Sealth International High School to see who would take this year’s baseball bragging rights as “Best in the West.”
Wildcats junior Jackson Sullivan got the win on the mound, a 4-0 shutout. And that meant WSHS got the trophy – at least until next year’s game.
Tonight (Saturday) you can see the Wildcats play at T-Mobile Park, 6:30 pm vs. Ballard, free! The next game for the Seahawks, meantime, is Monday (April 22nd) at 4 pm at Southwest Athletic Complex vs. Bainbridge Island.
(WSB photo from May 2018)
With so many big spring/summer events getting closer, it’s reminder season! So today, we’re reminding you that the West Seattle 5K is now exactly one month away – Sunday, May 19th. As our photo from last year shows, all ages are welcome in this morning run/walk along Alki, which benefits and is organized by the West Seattle High School PTSA (with community co-sponsors including WSB). Online registration is open – you can do it right here, right now.
(WSB photo from March 4, 2017, after WSHS boys took 3rd place at state – Coach Fazio, 2nd from right)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“So many great memories.”
After 10 years at West Seattle High School, that’s what boys-basketball head coach Keffrey Fazio will be leaving with.
He has just announced that after this school year is over, he will be taking a new position, coaching men’s basketball at Seattle Pacific University under head coach Grant Leep.
WSHS athletic director Corey Sorenson is not surprised. “I realized during my first year at West Seattle that Keff should be coaching at the college level.”
Fazio has been head coach of the Wildcats for six years, with a 92-64 record, after four years as an assistant coach. He’s a two-time Metro League Coach of the Year (2017 and 2018); 2017 was the year the WSHS boys finished 3rd place at state – their highest finish ever. The team also went to state this past season, and appeared in the district tournament six times during Fazio’s tenure.
(WSB photo from 2019 state tournament)
“It has been a true honor to coach for the community that I grew up in,” Fazio told WSB. “I have had many family members attend WSHS and I hope we made you all and the community proud. Coaching in the Metro League was an amazing experience, and helped shape the man I am today. I enjoyed competing against all the great players and coaches our league has to offer. Our focus at WSHS during my time was a philosophy on preparation and belief. I think we accomplished that, but you don’t win many games without great players, and I have been fortunate to coach some really good ones.” He adds, “I will always cherish the players and the memories,” especially daily interactions at practice.
AD Sorenson says the search for Fazio’s successor will start immediately. And it’ll be a challenge: “Coach Keffrey has been the heart and soul of our basketball program and an irreplaceable leader within our school. This opportunity could not have gone to a more deserving person. It has been a blessing to have him lead our basketball program these past 6 years. Seattle Pacific University is getting a phenomenal coach. I look forward to following his career for years to come.”
And Coach Fazio’s parting words: “I would like to thank the West Seattle community for your support. So many people helped me get our program to where it is today. West Seattle is truly a unique place. I am forever grateful to you all. To the families, thank you for putting up with me. The players, thank you for believing in me, and my coaches, thank you for supporting me. Last, but certainly not least my family for encouraging me to pursue my dreams and supporting me, and my wife Janelle for being a constant source of support and love through the good and tough times. I would not have been able to give my all to WSHS without her being by my side.
“I would also like to thank the WSHS admin team and teachers for their support.”
He’ll start at SPU in July.
As the M’s return home tonight, the West Seattle High School baseball team is looking ahead to its annual chance to play at what’s now T-Mobile Park – which is paired with their annual sale of tickets to an M’s game. Thanks to Sheree for the two-part announcement (and photo):
West Seattle HS vs Ballard HS
in the High School Baseball Classic at T-Mobile Park
6:30 pm, Saturday, April 20th, 2019
Free!
******
Get your tickets to the hottest team in the MLB – The Mariners!
The WSHS Baseball team is selling tickets to the Mariners game on July 2nd at 7:10 pm vs the St Louis Cardinals at T-Mobile Park.
100 level tickets – $40 each (down the first base line)
300 level tickets – $20 each (behind home plate)To buy tickets, contact Sheree at WSHSMarinerstickets@gmail.com
Sorry we hadn’t heard about this in advance! The University of Washington beach-volleyball team just wrapped up a doubleheader with Arizona at Alki. Only home appearance of the year, per this preview. Arizona took both matches – here’s a clip the Huskies tweeted from the end of the first:
A win at the 2️⃣ for Kara and Shayne! That makes the final score 3-2 for Arizona. We will try to reverse that score in a rematch here shortly!#PointHuskies pic.twitter.com/Ady1RcBWHY
— Washington Beach Volleyball (@UW_BeachVB) March 29, 2019
While UW now has beach-volleyball courts on campus, they’re used for practice – Alki is still their home-game venue.
Baseball season is here, from youth to pros. Among the youth leagues starting play soon is the one-of-a-kind Champions League. Here’s the registration invitation, from Michelle Riggen-Ransom (who also shared the photos):
For the third season, Champions Baseball League invites players with differing abilities to come and play baseball in a fun, supportive team environment. Sign-ups are open for the upcoming Spring season, and all the details are here. There’s no charge for players to join, and players even get free team hats and shirts, thanks to our sponsors.
More details:
– Participants can be any gender and between the ages of 4 and 23 years-old, or those who remain in a school setting, with disabilities that would prevent them from playing in a traditional baseball or softball program.
– We will play Saturdays for four weeks starting on Saturday, May 4th. All events will be at our Pee Wee fields in West Seattle, but team is open to players from all over Seattle.
– No previous baseball experience needed! Players can do t-ball or coach pitch, and have a buddy from one of the West Seattle Pony teams work with them if they want or need it. The goal is to enjoy baseball in a supportive team environment!
Last year we had a lot of great players, as well as parents, siblings, grandparents and friends and fans in the stands cheering them on. Come be a part of it and see what makes the baseball community so fun and special.
Here’s the official sign-up form and info.
Still have questions? Send them to Michelle Riggen-Ransom, mriggen@gmail.com. We hope to see you on the fields this spring!
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
“If you can swim in Puget Sound, you can swim anywhere.”
That was a comment by open-water swimmer Heidi Skrzypek, one of the panelists at the Women in the Open Water: Awakening the Dolphin Within event in downtown Seattle on Thursday night, featuring swimmers with impressive accomplishments who happen to regularly train at Alki Beach.
The women on the panel shared their experiences and advice about open-water swimming, and answered questions from attendees during the 2-hour event (see a slideshow video on YouTube, which was shown prior to the event).
Congratulations to West Seattle BMX racer Hudson White, who’s qualified – again! – for the world championships! The report, photos, and video are from his dad Gil White, who’s been updating us on Hudson’s accomplishments now and then for a long time:
Hudson White – recently back from a qualifying race in Albuquerque, NM – punched his ticket to represent Team USA at the 2019 UCI World BMX Championships in Belgium this summer. He will compete in the 12 boys Challenge Class against 100+ other 12-year-old boys representing their respective countries.
Hudson has qualified for the BMX World Championships in each of the past three years – attending
Rock Hill, SC in 2017 and passing on Baku, Azerbaijan in 2018.
If this looks fun, grab a bike and come join Hudson at the North SeaTac BMX track.
Thanks to Special Olympics Washington for sharing that photo of West Seattle-residing athlete Simon Van Giesen, who is returning home tomorrow with a World Games medal. You’re invited to a rally for him and other returning athletes. Here’s the announcement from SOWA:
Special Olympics Washington soccer and swimming athletes are bringing home hardware from this year’s Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi!
Simon Van Giesen, 25, of West Seattle, won the bronze medal in the 50 meter backstroke.
The US men’s Unified soccer team, which is made up of Washington athletes with and without intellectual disabilities, beat India 5-0 to take the bronze medal. The team is the first soccer team to ever represent the US in a World Games competition.
In all, more than 200 athletes from across the nation represented Special Olympics USA in Abu Dhabi, earning 72 gold, 61 silver and 70 bronze medals over the course of the seven day event.
Special Olympics supporters and media are invited to welcome the team home when they arrive back in Washington this Saturday. The Washington delegation’s flight is expected to land at approximately 1:00 p.m.: Sea-Tac International Airport, baggage claim area for United Airlines
The Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi were the largest sports and social inclusion event in the world. More than 7,500 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing 200 nations competed in 24 Olympic-style sports.
Read more about Simon here.
The West Seattle Little League season is about to begin! From WSLL’s Kathy Powers:
West Seattle Little League will kick off our season with our annual Jamboree this weekend. 6425 SW Admiral Way,
Our schedule will have all divisions including T-Ball (4-5 years old), Coach Pitch (6-7 years old), Rookies (8 years old), Minors (9-10 years old), and Majors (11-12 year old). Games will occur between 9 and 6 Saturday and Sunday the 23rd and 24th.
Come cheer on our kids, learn about WSLL, and buy something from our snack shack.
At Southwest Athletic Complex this afternoon, Chief Sealth International High School hosted West Seattle High School in their first of two scheduled baseball games this season. It was a close one!
On an almost-warm Friday evening, the visiting Wildcats took the win, 9-8.
Ernest Policarpio is back as head coach for Sealth, while Bryan Tupper again leads West Seattle. The two teams meet again April 19th at Hiawatha. Meantime, WSHS has a doubleheader at Liberty tomorrow, while Sealth has another home game at SWAC, 2 pm Saturday vs. Othello.
9:04 PM: Tomorrow at Denny International Middle School, it’s playoff time for girls’ basketball teams from middle schools around the district. Thanks to Byron for the tip! He says Madison Middle School is undefeated and the #1 seed, with Denny, 6-1, the #2 seed. The Dolphins play Eckstein at 8:30 am; the Bulldogs play McClure at 10 am, and the winners of those two games play for the district title at 4 pm. Here’s the full day’s schedule. As Byron said in his note, “Exciting times for both the girls’ teams!” Denny is at 2601 SW Kenyon.
ADDED 2:20 AM: Denny principal Jeff Clark points out the boys’ middle-school playoffs are next door at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle) concurrently; here’s the schedule. Denny plays Mercer at 8:30 am, and Madison plays Jane Addams at 1 pm.
ADDED 10:33 AM: Update from the principal:
Update: Our boys played hard in a close, back-and-forth, game with Mercer, with Mercer winning in the end. Our girls’ game was also a battle, with the Dolphins prevailing! Girls are in the city-wide championship at 4:00 today here at home!
1:08 PM UPDATE: Updates in comments – the girls’ championship game is Denny vs. Madison at 4!
Two more West Seattle High School student athletes have signed letters of intent. We were invited to a short celebration in the WSHS gym this afternoon as seniors Kai Osaka and Reuben Gut signed their college commitments in front of their Wildcat baseball teammates:
Reuben is going to Everett Community College, and Kai is going to Chapman University in Southern California. WSHS athletic director Corey Sorenson lauded both for their hard work on academics as well as athletics.
After the signing, it was practice time over at Hiawatha. The WSHS baseball team plays their first regular-season game at 4 pm Friday vs. Chief Sealth IHS at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
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