West Seattle, Washington
03 Wednesday
(Photos by Colleen Huynh)
Heard about the White Center Warriors? It’s a new wrestling club that just started twice-weekly practices in West Seattle, and Joey Richards e-mailed to share the news:
Our club welcomes warriors of all ages, male and female, experienced or not.
The purpose of the club is to help introduce the sport of wrestling to the community, as well as train our youth self-control, respect, and discipline.
There is a 2-week free trial; after that, there is a one time $35 club fee. We practice from 6-8 pm every Tuesday and Thursday at Chief Sealth International High School.
No advance signup is required – if you’re interested, just show up for practice. The school is at 2600 SW Thistle; the gym is on the southeast side of the campus, north of the parking lot.
It’s baseball season! Chief Sealth International High School played its home opener this afternoon vs. Mariner HS at Southwest Athletic Complex, and won, 4-2. Nik Turcinec got the win for the Seahawks, coached by Ernest Policarpio, pitching 7 innings with four strikeouts, two walks, and one earned run; hitting highlights included Evan Moe going 1 for 3 with a double. Kyler Gaither was hit by a pitch and credited with 3 RBIs. Sealth plays another home game at noon tomorrow (Saturday), vs. Eisenhower at SWAC (2801 SW Thistle).
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
FIRST REPORT, 3:01 PM: A fourth-quarter comeback just won the West Seattle High School boys third place at the state 3A basketball championships – they beat Lincoln 66-54, as head coach Keffrey Fazio‘s team battled back from a 14-point deficit at halftime. Photos and details to come!
ADDED 8:48 PM: The magnitude of the comeback had to have alleviated a little of the sting from the buzzer-basket loss the night before. Read More
This is how it ended – WSHS basket and lead, then Garfield's buzzer basket. pic.twitter.com/cqEwoNdUIy
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 4, 2017
10:48 PM FRIDAY: Unbelievable ending here at the Tacoma Dome minutes ago – a buzzer basket at game’s end got Garfield the win over West Seattle and the trip to tomorrow’s state-championship game against Nathan Hale. Final score, Garfield 44, West Seattle 43. The Wildcats will play Lincoln for third place tomorrow here at the T-Dome at 1 pm.
This was overall a low-scoring, relatively slow-moving game that neither team dominated, though West Seattle led for much of the last quarter. Both teams were cold-shooting in the first half, neither much above 1-of-4 field-goal success, but Garfield ramped it up with a 64% field-goal percentage in the second half. West Seattle #1, senior Nate Pryor, got his team the lead briefly with their last basket – as shown in our video – and was the game’s top scorer with 19 points.
More to come.
7 AM SATURDAY: The game tipped off at 9:19 pm. Garfield scored first; West Seattle got on the board with a foul shot by Pryor at just over a minute in.
First West Seattle basket was by #5 Abdullahi Mohamed.
9:04 PM: Just in from the Tacoma Dome – the West Seattle High School boys won their first game at the state 3A basketball tournament, 62-54 over Wilson HS (Tacoma), and that means they’re in the semifinals! Tomorrow (Friday) night at 9 pm, head coach Keffrey Fazio and the Wildcats will face the winner of the game that’s just about to start, Rainier Beach vs. Garfield.
P.S. Thanks to Tami Denton for score updates (added – and a photo) from the Dome! Our photographer took ill at the last minute so we couldn’t go to Tacoma tonight, but we will be there for tomorrow night’s big game.
10:59 PM UPDATE: Garfield beat Rainier Beach, 59-58, so that’s who West Seattle plays Friday night in the semifinals.
FIRST REPORT, 9:39 PM WEDNESDAY: That’s the Roger Dahl Rifle Training Range at West Seattle Stadium. Tomorrow (Thursday) at 9:30 am, the City Council’s Parks, Seattle Center, Libraries, and Waterfront Committee will consider renewing the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club‘s long-running lease to operate it. (The photo is part of the item on the meeting agenda.)
The proposal is for a 12-year lease with an option for a five-year extension after that. The club would pay the city $1,000 a year, up from the $200 annual payment in the lease that’s expiring.
While the range is part of a Seattle Parks facility, the Sportsmen’s Club has been involved with it for more than 50 years, since it was built in 1961, and, as the proposed ordinance going before the council says, “through a series of agreements with Parks and Recreation, has continuously maintained the facility at its own cost and expense ever since.” The new release would continue that arrangement; the city says that before the club signed its most recent lease in 2003, “the Club repaired their firing line and put in new HVAC improvements.” The slide deck for tomorrow’s meeting also notes that the club provides a number of other public benefits, including “reduced-fee access for youth programs regarding safe and proper recreational use of firearms and archery tackle,” low-cost hunter-education programs for up to 120 students a year, and several types of “community outreach” regarding firearms safety.
Tomorrow’s 9:30 am meeting at City Hall starts with a public-comment period; if you can’t be there but are interested in this item or anything else on the agenda, the meeting will be live on Seattle Channel, cable 21 or online.
ADDED 2:28 PM THURSDAY: This passed unanimously at today’s committee vote, and a final vote will be on next Monday afternoon’s City Council agenda (2 pm March 6th).
(WSB photo from first quarter)
10:27 AM: We’re at the Tacoma Dome, where the West Seattle High School girls’ second trip to the 3A state basketball tournament in three years has just ended after the first game, with a 65-54 loss to Lincoln HS. Congratulations to the Wildcats on this year’s success, including the district-tournament championship. Full story and more photos later.
ADDED 3:46 PM: Story and photos:
With the Lady Abes, the Wildcat girls faced an opponent skilled at the kind of game they themselves had been playing recently – smothering defense, rebound domination.
Thanks to Mike Jensen for the update from Spokane – the Seattle Lutheran High School boys’ trip to the 2B state basketball tournament is over after a first-game loss to St. George’s, 45-43. Congratulations to the Saints for their big season!
(WSB photo: Nate Pryor in 31-point game vs. Nathan Hale on February 16th)
One day after the West Seattle High School boys’ basketball team won big in regionals, on the way to their Thursday night game at state, their top player has won a statewide award: The Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association has named WSHS #1 Nate Pryor the 3A Player of the Year. Pryor, who’s signed to play college ball for Seattle University, also was chosen for the Metro All-League first team.
End of 1st Q, WSHS boys lead Timberline 16-12. Video includes Anthony Giomi three-pointer toward quarter's end pic.twitter.com/tpHHTCzBEq
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) February 25, 2017
(Video from first quarter, #1 Nate Pryor bringing the ball upcourt, #23 Anthony Giomi eventually scoring a 3-pointer)
FIRST REPORT, 3:30 PM: The last of this afternoon’s three regional-playoffs basketball games involving local teams has just ended in Bellevue, with the West Seattle High School boys defeating Timberline HS in the 3A Regionals, 60-38. The Wildcat boys were already set for state competition and now we know their first state game will be next Thursday night (March 2nd), 7:15 pm in Tacoma, opponent TBD (see the brackets here). Today’s photos and details after we get back to HQ.
ADDED 9:58 PM: Timberline opened the game with a 2-0 lead.
#1 Nate Pryor answered with the first WSHS basket, on his way to a 21-point afternoon.
Timberline scored again, but 4-2 was the last lead they had. Read More
Thanks to Mike Jensen for updates (including the tweeted photo above) from Chehalis, where the Seattle Lutheran High School boys were ahead at halftime against Napavine in 2B Regionals basketball, 31-28, but had a tough second half and just ended up with a 67-48 loss. The Saints are still on the way to state after their sterling season, and will play at 9 am Wednesday (March 1st) at Spokane, against the winner of tonight’s game between Kalama and St. George’s (see the brackets here).
63-41, West Seattle over Edmonds-Woodway. Wildcat girls to state! Here's how the game ended. #wabkbscores pic.twitter.com/Jz1mkRTIQA
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) February 25, 2017
(Video: How the game ended)
1:25 PM: We’re at Bellevue College, where the West Seattle High School girls have just beaten Edmonds-Woodway 63-41 in a must-win regionals game. This means they’re off to the state tournament next – their first game will be against Lincoln HS at 9 am Wednesday in the Tacoma Dome (here’s the bracket). In this afternoon’s game, the Wildcats led all the way; we’ll add photos and details later.
ADDED 7:45 PM: This is the second time in three years that the WSHS girls have made it to the state tournament, first time under head coach Darnell Taylor.
In this afternoon’s game, the Wildcats never trailed. #11 Jasmine Gayles was their top scorer today with 17 points; she drove in for the first basket of the game at just over one minute in, 2-0 WSHS over Edmonds-Woodway, who for most of the game played far less aggressively than West Seattle. Read More
Three local high-school teams are heading into the regional/state playoffs, and this morning we finally have the slate for the next games for all three.
The final opponent to be filled in was for the West Seattle High School girls. Now we know they’ll play Edmonds-Woodway HS in regionals at noon Saturday (February 25th) at Bellevue College (3000 Landenholm Circle SE). It’s a must-win game for them to advance to state (here’s the bracket).
Right after the girls’ game, the West Seattle HS boys play a regionals game against Timberline HS, 2 pm at Bellevue College. They are guaranteed at least one game at the state tournament, however this one turns out (here’s the bracket).
Also at 2 pm Saturday, the Seattle Lutheran High School boys play Napavine HS in a regionals game at WF West HS (in Chehalis). They too are guaranteed at least one state-tournament game beyond this (here’s the bracket).
Another youth-sports league is getting ready for its 2017 season: The tryouts for Seattle Pride AAU boys’ basketball (explained here) are about to start, with 4th- through 8th-grade boys invited to try out this weekend:
Saturday, February 25th – 4th-6th Boys – 4-5:30 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High School
Saturday, February 25th – 7th-8th Boys – 5:30-7 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High SchoolSunday, February 26th – 4th-6th Boys – 4-5:30 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High School
Sunday, February 26th – 7th-8th Boys – 5:30-7 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High School
High-school boys’ tryouts start one week later:
Freshmen – 15U
Sunday, March 5th – Frosh/15U Boys – 4-6 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High School
Thursday, March 9th – Frosh/15U Boys – 5-6:45 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High School
Friday, March 10th – Freshman / 15U Boys – 5-6:45 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High SchoolSophomores/Juniors/Seniors – 16U, 17U, 18U
Monday, March 6th – Seniors, Juniors, & Sophomore Boys Only- 7-9 pm @ West Seattle High School (3 courts)
Thursday, March 9th – Soph/Juniors/Unsigned Seniors – 7-9 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High School
Friday, March 10th – Soph/Juniors/Unsigned Seniors – 7-9 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High School
To register early, sign up here. See the official tryouts flyer here. (Photo courtesy Seattle Pride Basketball)
(Photo courtesy Gil White)
Back in 2012, we brought you the story of Hudson White‘s BMX-racing achievements at the age of 5. Hudson is now 10 and not only still racing, but also continuing to succeed – dad Gil White just sent us the news that Hudson has qualified for international competition!
West Seattleite and Arbor Heights Elementary student Hudson White qualified to represent the United States in the 10 Challenge Boys class at the UCI World BMX Championships late this July.
Hudson competed last weekend at the UCI World’s Qualifier race in Phoenix. A long day of competitive laps against 35 other 10-year olds resulted in Hudson racing his way into the main event and an invitation to Team USA.
More than 3,300 riders from more than 40 countries are expected for the 2017 UCI World BMX Championships in Rock Hill, South Carolina.The last time this event was hosted in the United States was 2001.
Hudson and his family are excited to be a part of this event.
(Photo courtesy Tracy Holloway)
As youth-sports signup season continues, West Seattle Little League sends word that it has room for players ages 4 to 8 years old – registration is still open for T-Ball, Coach Pitch, and Rookie Division. “Getting as many kids started as we can, as early as possible, benefits the league for the many years that follow,” explains Tracy Holloway of WSLL. You can sign up through the WSLL website – look for the registration link at top right.
Imagine a sunny spring day … golfing to help local high-school athletes. Whatever happens from here, the West Seattle High School boys’ basketball team (headed next for regional/state play) has had a great year. Along with cheering them on in the stands as the playoffs continue, you’re invited to support them this spring via the third annual Wildcat Golf Fundraiser, April 8th at Riverbend Golf Complex in Kent.
This is a shotgun start, scramble tournament fundraiser for the West Seattle High School Boys Basketball Program. Handicaps will be used in addition with team final score to determine the champions, as well as the 2nd & 3rd place finishers. There will be a men’s and woman’s long-drive contest, plus a closest-to-the-pin contest. Also, the use of mulligans are strongly encouraged and can be purchased at the clubhouse before the tournament begins. With this fundraiser, we the basketball program hope to supply our athletes with quality basketball instruction, as well as equipment to perform at the highest level. We appreciate your support. Go Wildcats!
Tee time is 7:30 am, after check-in starting at 6:45 am, with entry including green fees, power cart, range balls, prize fund, and meal ticket. You can buy your ticket(s) now by going here.
P.S. The boys’ next game is set – a regional match vs. Timberline, at Bellevue College, 2 pm Saturday (February 25th)
(UPDATED 11:55 PM with photos, video, details)
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
FIRST REPORT, 9:45 PM: We’re at Bellevue College, where the West Seattle High School girls have just won the SeaKing district basketball championship, 58-50 over Mercer Island. The Wildcats were never behind, but it got close in a few spots. Photos, video, and game details to come.
ADDED 11:55 PM: Here’s how it happened. The Wildcats started off with a roar – for WSHS fans, it was an electrifying first quarter.
West Seattle scored first, Mercer answered quickly, and the 2-2 tie half a minute into the game was the only point at which WSHS did not lead.
#10 Jenna McPhee‘s three-pointer at 7:15 was the first of three 3’s for her in the quarter, six for the team overall – two by #4 Kelsie Lenzie – representing 18 of their 22 first-quarter points. But hot outside shooting, enabling them to literally get over the Mercer Island defense, was just part of what had them ahead 22-8 at the end of the first quarter. They dominated the boards and guarded MI closely.
In the second quarter, Mercer Island fought harder. They racked up eight unanswered points to get to 22-16 before WSHS #3 Izzy Turk hit a three-pointer midway through the quarter. Within a minute, #20 Grace Sarver got her first basket of the game:
End of 1st half, West Seattle girls 36, Mercer Is 25. (VIDEO: Sarver basket in 2nd Q) pic.twitter.com/pCLocV12hP
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) February 19, 2017
The Wildcats controlled the last few minutes of the half and went into the locker room ahead 36-25.
#11 Jasmine Gayles added to that near the start of the second half; a basket by #32 Meghan Fiso, top Wildcat scorer on the night with 15, widened the lead two minutes later to 40-26.
And that’s when Mercer Island stepped up their game again. After six unanswered points, they were just eight back, at 40-32. The Wildcats’ Lenzie was knocked down and had to be helped off the court. Shortly thereafter, the ball got stuck on the rim of the Mercer Island basket. And in the ensuing moments, MI went on another run, particularly their senior star Anna Luce. At the end of the third quarter, West Seattle’s lead had been slashed to three, 46-43.
But the Wildcats weren’t going to let this one get away. Rilcy Newsome added two in the first minute of the fourth quarter. Gayles – second-leading scorer for WSHS tonight with 12 – and Sarver followed, with MI picking up only two points along the way, and midway through the quarter, WSHS was ahead 52-45.
That wasn’t enough of a pad to get complacent, though, as demonstrated by a Mercer Island three-pointer taking almost half of it away. But they didn’t get any closer than four points back – and 54-50, with about 1:30 to go, was the last time they saw that margin. A Gayles basket on an assist from Fiso put West Seattle up 56-50 with 1:12 to go; on MI’s next possession, Luce had a rare miss. Fiso pulled down the rebound, and MI started fouling in last-minute desperation. Izzy Turk got both ends of a 1-and-1 and that brought things to the final score, 58-50 – leading to this jubilation:
We’ll find out later this weekend who and when head coach Darnell Taylor and the district-champion Wildcats play next.
(Here’s the link for the regional and state brackets, once they’re set).
Thanks to Mike Jensen for first word from Sedro-Woolley, where the Seattle Lutheran High School boys have finished the district playoffs with second place, after tonight’s win over Friday Harbor HS, 64-42. Next, it’s off to regional/state playoffs in Spokane, starting next Friday; we’ll find out later this weekend who, and when, the Saints play next.
(WSB photo from 2016 cleat exchange @ Second Gear Sports)
Baseball season gets under way soon for hundreds of local players, and again this year, Second Gear Sports (WSB sponsor) is hosting a cleat exchange. This year, it’s in partnership with West Seattle Baseball, West Seattle Girls’ Softball, and West Seattle Little League. The dates are 4-7 pm Saturday, March 4th, and 9 am-noon Sunday, March 12th, but starting TODAY, you can drop off the cleats that will qualify your player(s) for the exchange. SGS explains how it works:
Before the Cleat Exchange:
-Bring your clean and gently used baseball cleats to Second Gear Sports anytime for drop-off between February 18th and February 28th.
-If you have other related gear you wish to consign, to expedite your dropoff, please put all items in a paper shopping bag clearly marked with your name and phone number.
-Additional baseball gear (bats, gloves, helmets, pants, etc.) will be inventoried, priced, and made available for sale at the event.
During the Exchange
-Free/exchange cleats will be located in a specially marked area, limit two pairs per family. Every attending family is entitled to free cleats from the swap table.
-All other baseball gear will be available for sale at a special one-day only discount. After the sale, regular prices will apply.
-Enjoy additional in-store discounts, complimentary snacks, and drinks.
-Bring in a food donation for West Seattle Food Bank.
Questions? Call Second Gear Sports – which is at 6529 California SW in Morgan Junction – at 206-935-3552 or e-mail info@secondgearsports.com
P.S. Today through February 28th, SGS has a sale on winter gear – 25 percent off.
While the West Seattle High School boys’ second game in eight days against Nathan Hale ended the way the first one did – with a loss – the Wildcats refused to be intimidated by the nation’s #1 team. They were behind by just 3 points at halftime (29-26) and after three quarters (44-41).
The WSHS defense limited Hale’s ability to run and gun. It was another physical game, with fouls and steals, but the Wildcats just couldn’t close the gap in the final moments, and Hale got the win, 62-52. WSHS #1 Nate Pryor led scoring with 31.
The Wildcats should find out sometime Sunday who and when they play next.
(UPDATED 9:07 PM with details, photos)
FINAL: West Seattle HS girls beat Bellevue, 47-37. (Video: 4th Q basket by Jasmine Gayles) pic.twitter.com/rr9j46bGYf
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) February 17, 2017
(Video: 4th-quarter basket by WSHS’s Jasmine Gayles)
FIRST REPORT, 4:19 PM: “Championship game, here we come!” yelled a West Seattle High School fan, as the Wildcat girls beat defending state 3A champs Bellevue HS 47-37 moments ago at Bellevue College. They play for the district championship at 8:15 pm Saturday, again at Bellevue College, vs. the winner of tonight’s game between Bishop Blanchet and Cleveland at Chief Sealth. Photos and details from today’s game, coming up.
ADDED 9:07 PM: Photos and game summary ahead: Read More
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:01 PM: We’re at the Chief Sealth IHS gym, where the West Seattle High School boys just won their district-tournament game against Ballard HS, 62-44. The Wildcats led after each quarter; here’s how the first half ended, before they went into halftime ahead 25-18:
WSHS boys run up a 25-18 lead over Ballard going into halftime. Here's how the half ended: pic.twitter.com/pG8bTjcLw1
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) February 15, 2017
The WSHS boys’ next game in districts is Thursday at Bellevue College, 8:15 pm, vs. the winner of tonight’s game between Nathan Hale and Eastside Catholic.
10:57 PM: Photos added:
#22 Yusuf Mohamed ended the night with 19 points; next was #1 Nate Pryor, with 17:
#3 Tyler Lenzie had 9, and #13 Cass Elliott netted 6.
If you’re going to the 8:15 pm Thursday game, you’ll be cheering for the Wildcats vs. Nathan Hale, in a rematch of their recent Metro tournament faceoff. And however that turns out, WSHS is guaranteed a berth in the state tournament as a result of tonight’s win.
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