West Seattle, Washington
20 Saturday
(WSHS senior Breck Estep, #4, shows off the Huling Bowl trophy to the student section)
Story by Jason Grotelueschen
Photos by Oliver Hamlin
For West Seattle Blog
In the annual football battle between the area’s two largest high schools, the 2025 Huling Bowl was claimed by West Seattle High School as the Wildcats triumphed over the Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks by a score of 17-10, in a hard-fought game in front of a packed house Friday night at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.
The Wildcats are reclaiming the trophy this year after the Seahawks had prevailed in the rivalry game last season. For this season, coach Anthony Stordahl’s Wildcats move to 2-0 after the win, while Daron Camacho‘s Seahawks were dealt their first loss to fall to 2-1.
Both schools’ crowds and their bands and cheer squads were out in full force at NCSWAC on Friday, including many of the WSHS students decked out in neon:
The energy was high as teams took the field:
Sealth senior Kingston Cappiello (#2) celebrates after making a stop in the first quarter:
WSHS junior Justice Nguyen (#1) grabbed a key interception on a deep pass:
Senior Breck Estep (#4) caught a pass to set the Wildcats up for their first touchdown:
This was followed by a WSHS touchdown pass from junior QB Desmond Parkinson (#12) to senior LJ Moody (#3) with 6:46 left in the quarter. After a successful extra point kick, the Wildcats were on top 7-0.
Sealth answered with a drive of their own, featuring plenty of work by senior QB MJ Filitaula (#12):
As well as junior Xander Gomez (#23), running down the field after catching a pass:
And senior Jessie Gilmore II gaining yards on the ground:
The Sealth drive was capped by a Filitaula TD run with 2:10 left in the first quarter:
…and the successful extra-point kick tied the game at 7-7, which was also the score as the 2nd quarter got underway.
West Seattle reclaimed the lead in the 2nd quarter on a TD run by senior Jesse Hansen-Wilson (#43), to go ahead 14-7 after the extra-point kick. The Wildcats added a field goal by senior Jonah Pelander (#7) to extend their lead to 17-7, and then Sealth answered with their own long field goal courtesy of senior Ogi Petronijvec (#1) as time expired in the first half, with West Seattle on top 17-10.
Parkinson moved the Wildcats down the field through the air:
…and on the ground:
Moody, taking a handoff from Parkinson:
Sealth senior Shane Tino (#52) celebrates a tackle in the 2nd quarter by revealing a shirt in honor his late aunt Liz (one of many matching shirts at the game, worn by the family):
Pelander kicks an extra point:
During halftime, both schools’ bands entertained, including drummers from WSHS:
…and Sealth:
Also at halftime, special guest Councilmember Rob Saka took the field with athletic directors Ernest Policarpio of CSIHS and Corey Sorenson of WSHS, as a “proclamation” was read by the PA announcer to commemorate the Huling Bowl and the participating schools.
In the 3rd quarter, the teams traded possessions until Sealth moved deep into Wildcat territory and scored an apparent touchdown, which the officiating crew waved off due to a penalty. This was followed by another penalty and ultimately a failed pass attempt into the end zone on 4th down, which meant the Seahawks came up empty and the Wildcats took over on downs.
The score remained 17-10 as the 3rd quarter ended, and in the final quarter the teams went back and forth (including a key Sealth fumble and WSHS recovery):
…with no points scored by either team in the fourth quarter (or in the entire 2nd half), the game ended with a 17-10 West Seattle win.
After the game, the Wildcats and their fans celebrated on the field with the Huling Bowl trophy. Here’s councilmember Saka with the winning squad:
The coveted trophy:
Both teams play on the road next week: Sealth on Thursday 9/25 at Ingraham at 7 pm, and West Seattle on Friday 9/26 at Lincoln HS at 7 pm.
Looking for ork? Elle Loeppky with Friends of West Seattle Elementary tells WSB that their school is one of several on the peninsula with an urgent need for crossing guards:
West Seattle Elementary is in need of two crossing guards this year, and several other neighborhood schools also have vacant posts (see map and screenshot below — red darts mark openings). (Help spread the word) so these important roles can be filled and all students can walk or bike to school safely.
The job is part-time — just during school arrival and dismissal — and could be a great fit for a retiree, a college student, or a stay-at-home parent with older kids.
Crossing Guard Recruitment:
Pay: $20.76/hour
Requirements: Age 18+, high school diploma/GED (or equivalent experience), background check. Training provided by the district.
Schedule: Part-time, during school arrival and dismissal
Role: Safely assist students crossing streets and intersections in all kinds of weatherSee our map of open crossing guard posts to find opportunities in your neighborhood. See our map of open crossing guard posts to find opportunities in your neighborhood.
Questions? Apply here or contact SPS Field Staff Supervisor Stacy Roberts at sdroberts@seattleschools.org or call 206-252-0908.
(Photos courtesy Invest in Youth)
Local educational nonprofit Invest in Youth tells us that some of their best tutors come through WSB, so they’re again asking us to help with recruitment. If you can help, here’s how!
Are you interested in giving back to our community, narrowing achievement gaps for neighborhood students and promoting educational equity right here in West Seattle? Invest in Youth offers a unique opportunity to connect one-on-one with a local student for the entire school year beginning in October.
Tutors meet one day a week with the same student in the classroom with other student-tutor pairs, and work on math and reading fundamentals, all while serving as a mentor to foster lifelong academic success.
No experience is necessary; just a commitment to show up for one hour, one day a week. Tutoring starts in early October and launches with a training session to familiarize tutors on how to make the most of each tutoring session.
Roxhill Elementary at E.C. Hughes, Tuesdays 2:40 – 3:40 pm
Sanislo Elementary, Mondays 2:40 – 3:40 pmIn addition to these West Seattle Schools, Invest in Youth also serves Beacon Hill International School (Tuesdays from 3:40 – 4:40 pm) and Thurgood Marshall Elementary in the Judkins Park neighborhood (Thursdays from 2:40 – 3:40 pm).
Visit our website for more information or complete our tutor application to reserve your spot to begin tutoring this fall.
(WSB photos by Jason Grotelueschen)
Friday night, it’ll be a football game, but today, it was the sport the rest of the world calls football that brought Chief Sealth International HS and West Seattle HS to the field at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. We were able to drop in during the girls-varsity match’s early going for a few photos.
WSHS got its first win of the year, 3-0.
The Wildcats’ record is now 1-0-1; the Seahawks, 1-2-1.
You can see their next scheduled matches on the Metro League webdite. (Next Sealth /WSHS game on the field this week is Friday night at 7, when the two schools’ football teams play the annual Huling Bowl game.)
(WSB photo outside SPS HQ, Monday)
Hours after high-school students from all over the city gathered at Seattle Public Schools HQ to protest the plan to split lunch period, West Seattle High School students got word of a three-week reprieve. We noted in earlier reporting that the district had posted an FAQ list which among other things said the deadline for split-lunch implementation was actually October 6, and the message sent to families by WSHS principal Brian Vance says that’s now what they’re aiming for, so they’re staying with one lunch at least until then. Meantime, school board president Gina Topp had told us she expected that tomorrow’s board meeting would include a briefing on the sudden schedule change, and indeed, that’s been added to the agenda, fairly early in the 4:15 pm Wednesday meeting. Nine of the 25 speakers signed up for the public-comment period later in the meeting are listed as planning to address the lunch topic.
12:33 PM: A huge crowd of students has gathered outside Seattle Public Schools HQ, after walking out from high schools around the city, demanding the district pull back its seemingly sudden decision to split lunch periods.
We’d estimate more than 1,000 are here, even lining the railings on the Lander bridge overlooking the site.
At one point they were headed inside until told students were inside meeting with district leaders.
1:06 PM: The crowd had dwindled by the time the open-mic-style megaphone exhortations stopped around an hour in. One student invited the protesters to “stay and eat your lunch with us” and many did. We have to head back to the peninsula and will add video at HQ. We’ll also follow up on results of the student-district meeting.
2:11 PM: Video and photos added. The reasons given by speakers for opposing the lunch change are the same we’ve reported previously – the loss of club time, for one. And this student, who identified himself as from West Seattle High School – whose students were first to tell us about the change – took the mic to declare, “Lunch is a time for community”:
Police were seen monitoring the protest around its periphery, including blocking off the street on the east side of district HQ:
Also there to watch were at least three School Board candidates, one of whom – former board member Vivian Song – told us this seemed like deja vu, a case of district administration making a big change at the last minute and explaining it poorly, including inadequate information on what problem it was meant to solve and what other options were considered.
7:31 PM: New developments since we first reported Tuesday on a sudden announcement from Seattle Public Schools that they’ll change multiple high schools’ schedules tomorrow – a week and a half into the new school year – so that all “comprehensive high schools” have two lunch periods (currently most have one). First, the district-wide student walkout that one West Seattle High School student mentioned has become a rally at district headquarters at noon Monday, after students walk out at 11 am. Second, School Board president Gina Topp – who is the West Seattle/South Park rep on the board – answered our original inquiry to her this weekend by saying she doesn’t “have more information than what the district has already shared” but expects a briefing at this Wednesday’s board meeting. Before then, Topp says, “I’ll be holding a listening session for students with some other board directors on Monday, and staff is coordinating one with ASB officers from all the schools.” The district did not answer our question about why the change is happening with the school year under way, nor did they explain the change beyond what was also in the original message to parents:
Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is implementing a two-lunch schedule across all comprehensive high school campuses for the 2025–26 school year. This reflects thoughtful planning to ensure compliance with applicable laws and policies while meeting the needs of students and staff.
This change ensures all students have adequate time for seated lunch while meeting Washington state’s required instructional minutes. Additionally, this schedule will support increased and equitable access to school meals, and ensure compliance with staffing, instructional time, and labor contract requirements.
A follow-up message to families, reported here, also cites safety.
8:21 PM: Just checked the district website and there’s now an FAQ posted about the change, dated today. Among other things, it says schools have until October 6 to implement this, while saying some will do so “as soon as (tomorrow).” It also cites specific policies behind the change.
In case you can’t believe it’s free, the sign reiterates it – the Highland Park Elementary PTA‘s Give-and-Take Sale is full of items donated so that people can take what they need. Free of charge, or you can make a monetary donation to the PTA. Thanks to Mel for the photo and for this quick video look at the sale setup at the school:
HP Elementary is at 1012 SW Trenton, and the Give-and-Take Sale continues until 3 pm.
For the second consecutive Friday night, Chief Sealth International High School won their football game tonight at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. This time, though, the Seahawks weren’t the home team – that designation belonged to their opponents, Franklin High School. The Seahawks kept the Quakers from getting close to the end one the entire night, with a final score of 20-0. They didn’t get on the board until almost literally the last second of the first quarter, when #1, senior Ogi Petronijevic, kicked the first of his two field goals:
The first TD, though, came from one of the freshmen on the Sealth squad, #3, Marquis Tovia:
That was at 7:15 to go in the first half. The Seahawks’ other TD was by senior #21 Marshawn Tovia-Ford, and the halftime score was CSIHS 17, FHS 0. The second half saw only a Sealth field goal but plenty of penalty flags as well as injuries on both sides, and though the Quakers started to make a little progress late in the game, they ran out of time. As noted earlier, Sealth plays West Seattle High School at NCSWAC next Friday, 7 pm.
West Seattle High School‘s football team was supposed to kick off its season last Friday in Yakima, but wildfire smoke canceled the game and trip. So tonight’s game at Interlake HS in Bellevue was the delayed season opener. The Wildcats, under head coach Anthony Stordahl, emerged triumphant, 14-7. Next week they play crosstown counterparts Chief Sealth IHS in the annual Huling Bowl, 7 pm at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), where CSIHS won again tonight (that story next).
Thanks to Don for the photo taken south and upslope from the new Alki Elementary School, expected to open next school year. Don reports, “Masons are working on exterior wall insulation and brick veneer at the third floor level of the south side. The contractor is using a mobile crane to fly HVAC equipment into the mechanical penthouse through the roof.” The district webpage about the project (which includes a live project-site webcam) hasn’t been updated lately, so we have an inquiry out to see if the project’s still on track. The school students and staff, meantime, have just started their third year at the former Schmitz Park Elementary campus.
We’ve heard tonight from multiple West Seattle High School students about an announcement that apparently affects most Seattle Public Schools high schools: Starting next Monday, less than two weeks into the new school year, high-school lunchtime will be split into two. Here’s a screenshot of the announcement sent to WSHS families. One WSHS student, Lemuel Turpaud, asked us to publish this message about it:
I am a member of West Seattle High School, their ASB, and many clubs, and I have an important message to share to the community. Seattle Public Schools will be requiring all high schools in the district to change from one unified lunch to two separate lunches on Monday.
This proposal will kill clubs at the high school. Last March the West Seattle Rocketry Club reached out to the West Seattle Blog, and from our amazing community received over $1,200 to fund our rocketry competition. This support from the community allowed for the team to continue their project, and have financial safety going into the next year. Now with the change of school lunch policy, the Rocketry Club and other student run clubs will be facing a much larger problem than funding. Splitting the lunch period divides students’ only shared free time to meet and join clubs. This decision will kill many clubs, specifically the smaller clubs that are created as passion projects by dedicated members of the school; Rocketry Club being one of those.
Students districtwide from almost ten schools are planning on walking out on Monday, September 15th ,if the policy is not reversed.
We ask the West Seattle community to stand with us. Please contact the school board and urge them to preserve a unified lunch period so student clubs, opportunities, and community can continue to thrive. Thank you.
– Lemuel Turpaud, Class of 2026
Another WSHS student sent the link to an online petition about this plan and other changes/problems in the district. We will be contacting the district first thing in the morning to find out more about this change (including why it, and the bell-time changes that will result, wasn’t implemented at the start of the year).
ADDED WEDNESDAY NIGHT: No explanation from the district. Our inquiry was answered with exactly the same verbiage used for last night’s announcement.
(WSB file photo)
Got garage-sale-suitable stuff but don’t want to, or can’t, have a sale? Here’s an option – donate your gently used items to the Highland Park Elementary PTA for their fundraising rummage sale this Saturday (September 13)! You can drop off donations 8-10 am; the sale is open to shoppers 9 am-3 pm. It’s a “give and take” sale again this year – take what you need, free, or make a monetary donation. According to the announcement we received, “All donations support the awesome teachers and students throughout the year.” HPE is at 1012 SW Trenton.
Story by Jason Grotelueschen
Photos by Oliver Hamlin
For West Seattle Blog
In the first local high-school home football game of the season on Friday night at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, Chief Sealth International High School cruised 33-6 past the visiting squad from Hockinson (which is near Vancouver, WA).
Sealth moved to 1-0 on the season as head coach Daron Camacho‘s team held a 19-6 lead after three quarters, and then added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Officials had decided to start the game about 15 minutes early, due to concerns with deteriorating air quality due to wildfire smoke, which caused cancellations of games throughout the state. One of these unfortunate cancellations is West Seattle High School‘s season opener against La Salle in Yakima on Saturday: We were told by WSHS head coach Anthony Stordahl — who was also in the stands at NCSWAC watching the game on Friday night — that their Yakima road game is canceled due to smoky conditions east of the Cascades.
But at SWAC on Friday night, the host Seahawks put on a stellar show for their fans, including fellow students who had just returned to classes this week after summer break.
Sealth took an early 7-0 lead after a short run by sophomore Loto Amituanai (#26).
With 6:28 left in the first quarter, the Seahawks extended the lead to 10-0 with a field goal by senior kicker Ogi Petronijevic (#1).
Early in the second quarter, senior quarterback MJ Filitaula (#12) scored on a TD run to make it 16-0, where the score remained after a failed attempt at a faked extra point (following a penalty on the first extra point try).
Hockinson responded with a long TD reception by Mark Hogan Jr. (#3) with 5:42 left before halftime, and after a fumbled 2-point conversion attempt, the score was 16-6.
Sealth added a Petronijevic field goal to take a 19-6 lead into the locker room at halftime. Here’s the team storming back onto the field for the second half:
After a scoreless third quarter, the Seahawks extended their lead to 26-6 after a short TD run by Filitaula and a successful extra point try with 10:45 remaining.
Then, after an interception and long return, Sealth scored on a TD pass from Filitaula to freshman Marquis Tovia (#3) to make the final score 33-6.
Senior Jessie Gilmore II (#9):
Junior Eli Policarpio (#7) picking up a fumble and celebrating:
Policarpio and Tovia:
Sealth’s defense makes a big stop on 4th down:
Junior Kaeson Filitaula (#8) after a crucial interception:
Next up for Sealth is Franklin on Friday, September 12, followed by the huge annual Huling Bowl rivalry game against West Seattle HS on Friday, September 19 (both games at SWAC).
Another school where students were warmly welcomed on this first day: Madison Middle School. Thanks to PTSA president Amber Zeddies for the photos! Arrivals were celebratory, with a photo-op station:
Longtime principal (since the ’13-’14 school year) Dr. Robert Gary even got into the spirit:
And another reminder, it’s the first full year of the School Street in front of Madison, with 45th closed to through traffic on weekdays:
P.S. Want to get involved with the PTSA? This year’s board-meeting schedule is here.
(WSB photos/video)
Some students walked into West Seattle Elementary this morning; some ran; one boy even danced his way through the doors.
All crossed a red carpet lined with staff, parents, and community members cheering and offering high-fives – one student even reached out with both hands:
It was also the first day of Ritchie Garcia‘s first full year leading WSE, and he welcomed the students before the doors opened, telling them this was more than simply “the first day of school”:
Those on hand to welcome the students also included West Seattle’s school board rep Gina Topp, who is the board’s president (she’s toward the right edge of the clip below).
The red-carpet tradition at WSES dates back to 2016!
Seattle Public Schools first through 12th graders return to school tomorrow, and this year six local SPS schools will have new principals/interim principals starting their first full school year:
Arbor Heights Elementary – Lauren Porto
Boren STEM K-8 – Adrienne Ollerenshaw
Chief Sealth International High School – Hope Perry
Pathfinder K-8 – Daxa Thomas
Roxhill Elementary – Kelly Bruno
West Seattle Elementary – Ritchie Garcia
We’ve linked each school name above to the official SPS announcement of that principal’s appointment.
P.S. While Wednesdays will be early-release days for SPS schools for most of the year, the first day tomorrow will be a full day. And one more reminder that West Seattle Elementary will start the first day with its annual red-carpet ceremony, in which community members are encouraged to participate.
(WSB file photo)
Most local schools will start a new year of classes within the next few days; a few have started already. Even if you don’t have a student in the household, it might be helpful to know who starts when, so we compile this every year:
ALREADY STARTED
Summit Atlas (started August 13)
Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School (started last Wednesday)
Kennedy Catholic HS (started August 22)
STARTING TUESDAY
Holy Rosary School
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School
Bridge School Cooperative Elementary
Vashon Island School District
STARTING WEDNESDAY
Seattle Public Schools (grades 1-12)
Westside School (WSB sponsor)
Tilden School (WSB sponsor)
Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor)
Hope School
West Seattle Montessori
Highline Public Schools (grades 1-12)
STARTING NEXT MONDAY (SEPTEMBER 8)
Seattle Public Schools (pre-K and K)
Whichever school(s) you’re affiliated with, tell us what’s new, now and as the year progresses – new principal? fundraisers? events open to the community? successes? – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(September 2024 WSB photo)
Next weekend, high-school football season kicks off. West Seattle High School is scheduled to play its first game on the road, 5 pm Saturday, September 6, in Yakima vs. La Salle HS. Even before the season begins, head coach Anthony Stordahl tells WSB, the year’s biggest fundraiser in support of his team is off and running. It’s an online fundraising campaign, and the coach explains, “This is the only fundraiser we will do this year to raise the money needed to have a successful season. The money goes toward equipment, travel expenses, nutrition for players, and a lot more.” They’re hoping to have a few dine-out fundraisers too, but the online donations will comprise the lion’s share of the Wildcats’ fundraising. Their first home game is the annual Huling Bowl crosstown faceoff with Chief Sealth IHS, 7 pm Friday, September 19 (see the full season schedule here). Meantime, donations will be welcomed here.
We’re now days away from the start of school for thousands of local students, staff, and volunteers who support them. Among the latter, Friends of Roxhill Elementary – who hope you’ll help their school start strong:
Friends of Roxhill is asking the entire West Seattle community to help support our students have a rich school experience this year by making a donation to the Roxhill Field Trips and Classroom Fund.
With your generous donations, Friends of Roxhill provides each Roxhill Elementary teacher with money for field trips and to equip their classroom with much-needed supplies, like educational games, toys, and books. Past donations have helped send Roxhill students to the Seattle Aquarium, the Woodland Park Zoo, and the Seattle Children’s Theater.
To meet our goal for this year, $20 covers one student, $80 covers a table group, and $400 covers one whole class! Can you chip in to support our students?
Roxhill Elementary is a small-but-mighty Title I school with about 250 students where over half of families qualify for free-or-reduced lunch.
Donate today: gofundme.com/f/roxhill-2025-backtoschool-field-trips-classroom-fund
Though school starts a week from today, SDOT‘s new California Avenue SW school-zone-speed cameras near West Seattle High School and Lafayette Elementary won’t be in operation right at the start. We’ve been asking SDOT for an update on the cameras’ status, and just got it:
We expect to activate school zone safety camera near West Seattle High School on California Ave SW in the southbound direction mid-September. The northbound camera for West Seattle High School is expected to be activated mid-October due to more complex construction methods at the location.
SDOT is also installing speed cameras on Admiral Way near Alki Elementary, but won’t be activating them until the rebuilt school at 3010 59th SW opens in fall 2026. Here’s the list of schools that already have these cameras (including five in West Seattle). We first mentioned the new cameras’ locations in city-budget coverage almost a year ago.
(WSB photo, September 2024: WSES staffer Akim Finch welcoming students)
Again this year, the first day of school will begin with the exuberant tradition of a red-carpet welcome for students at West Seattle Elementary. You’re invited to join other community members and WSES staff for the welcome. Just be at the school’s main entrance (on the north side of the campus at 6760 34th SW) 7:15-8 am on Wednesday (September 3). It’s the first red-carpet event for Ritchie Garcia as principal; the longtime assistant principal is leading the school this year after Pamela McCowan-Conyers‘ retirement.
(WSB photo, January 2025)
One week from today, Seattle Public Schools begins the 2025-2026 school year. Even if your family doesn’t have a student or school staffer, you’ll be affected by the resumption of school-related traffic and transportation management, including school-zone speed limit and School Street closures. The Madison Middle School PTSA asked us to remind you about their School Street – 45th Avenue SW in front of the school, between SW Spokane and SW Hinds, will close to through traffic on weekdays again this school year. Several other West Seattle schools have set up School Streets; at one, Genesee Hill Elementary, SDOT has declared it to be permanent. This will be the first full year for Madison’s School Street, which was launched last January.
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