West Seattle, Washington
25 Sunday
(Added: Photos by Joe Christian for WSB)
9:34 PM: The West Seattle High School Wildcats are the state 3A baseball champions! The Wildcats roared out to a big lead over Mount Vernon HS early – six runs in the top of the 1st inning – and went on to victory, 9-3, playing in Pasco. This caps a sterling season in which WSHS also won the Metro League championship. Full story and photos to come!
ADDED 3:10 AM: The trophy-hoisting celebration on the field was three years in the making. In the team’s third consecutive year of reaching the state’s final four – every year Dylan Mclauchlin‘s been head coach – they finally made it all the way to the top. And from the opening moments of the game, it was never in doubt that it would end up that way.
Thr Wildcats were up 6-0 on four hits and five walks before the Bulldogs even came up to bat; among those with RBIs in the first inning was winning pitcher #17 Matthew Henning:
He struck out five and yielded only two runs and four hits over five and two-thirds innings. Meantime, West Seattle hitters were relentless, and piled up a 9-2 lead before Henning made way for #9 Sam Waskowitz in the sixth. He gave up one run in the seventh before closing out the biggest victory in West Seattle High School baseball history.
#2 Bobby Trigg had one of the hottest bats of the night, going 2 for 4 – both doubles – with 1 RBI, and scoring twice, including the ninth and final WSHS run in the third, on a single by #24 Lukas Cheha, who went 3 for 3.
#13 Parker Eley had 2 RBI on a second-inning double; seven other Wildcats had one each.
Now it’s time for the trip home with the trophy.
This was WSHS’s first appearance in the title game since May 25, 2013, exactly 11 years to the day before this win resulted in the school’s first-ever state baseball championship.
If you attended West Seattle High School, no matter which years, you’re invited to return to WSHS next Saturday for the annual All-School Reunion! Here’s the announcement we were asked to share with you:
The West Seattle High School All-School Reunion is taking place on Saturday, June 1st from 4-7 pm! Alumni from all classes are welcome to this free event. Reconnect with classmates, roam the hallowed halls, and check out the classic car show outside the main entrance! Not ready for the fun to end? Dance the night away at the unofficial afterparty with live music provided by West Seattle’s own Nitemates taking place at Whisky West starting at 7 pm!
Wondering where the Alumni Chinook newspaper is? The print version was delayed, but should be on its way to your mailbox next week. In the meantime, you can view the electronic version on the West Seattle High School Alumni Association website.
This issue of the Chinook notes the two alums joining the WSHS Hall of Fame this year are Tom Jensen (’66) and Dr. Susan Rutherford (’70).
(Photos by Joe Christian for WSB)
10:59 PM: The West Seattle High School Wildcats will play Mount Vernon HS for the state 3A baseball championship on Saturday night. That’s after West Seattle’s just-concluded shutout defeat of Eastside Catholic, 6-0 in Pasco. This is the third consecutive year the Wildcats have made it to the state final four – but the first time since 2013 that they’ve slugged their way into the title game. Details from tonight’s win, plus photos, coming up later!
ADDED 3:01 AM: #27, senior Miles Chandler, got the win for the Wildcats, pitching 5 shutout innings – with five strikeouts – despite a bit of turbulence in the 1st inning, when he got into a bases-loaded jam, but got out of it without yielding a run. That was the biggest threat the Crusaders posed for the entire game.
#7, senior Caden Fahy, had four of the six WSHS RBI, starting with two when he hit a triple in the top of the third.
That brought in #13, senior Parker Eley, and #14, junior Clay Pecore, who had a 2-for-3 night.
With a single in the fourth, Fahy brought in Pecore again, and #1, junior Dex Pudduck.
That was after #5, senior Matthew Hazelgrove, had smacked a two-run single of his own, which scored #24, junior Lukas Cheha, and #42, senior Sabin Tomlinson.
#6, senior John Langen, closed the shutout by holding Eastside Catholic to two hits in two innings.
Head coach Dylan Mclauchlin and the Wildcats are scheduled to take the field at 7:15 tonight (Saturday, May 25).
The time might vary depending on the games that precede it (which is why this game started so late). The Mount Vernon Bulldogs got the other championship-game spot by beating Edmonds-Woodway 9-7 earlier in the evening. While this is WSHS’s third year in a row to reach the semifinals, it’s the first trip in almost a quarter-century for Mount Vernon.
When Chief Sealth International High School students, teachers, coaches, and family members gathered last night for the winter sports-awards banquet, college signings were among the highlights. Ocean Freeman signed a letter of intent to play football for Lewis and Clark College:
Gavin Brown signed a letter of intent to play baseball for Gig Harbor:
He also won the spring Seahawk Award – an honor presented to outstanding student-athletes from each sport. Here are all the winners:
Jennie Brown, fast-pitch softball:
Jason Nguyen, boys’ tennis:
Reachany Oung, girls’ tennis:
Carter Reeve, boys’ track:
Stoli Slywester, boys’ soccer:
Not in attendance was Tori Lillich-Roberts for girls’ track. Meantime, Chief Sealth’s Cheer Team was there to celebrate everyone:
Also part of last night’s celebration, retiring softball coach Karen Rains:
Sealth’s sports program is led by longtime athletic director Ernest Policarpio
Got a car, van, motorcycle to show off? The students organizing this year’s Car Show invite you to join them! Noah sent the announcement:
This year we’re having our 3rd annual car show … June 1st, 2024, from 12 pm – 3:30 pm in the main WSHS parking lot.
The event is free to the public, and there is a small fee ($10) for people showing their cars that goes directly to support the WSHS Car Club. WSHS is the only high school in the district that still has an auto shop so we’re doing everything we can to keep it alive and well! We will have an award show, activities for kids, and a food truck from La Chingona Taqueria.
This year our car show is in association with the WSHS Alumni Association car show, so we’re expecting a great turnout.
The show will be in the school parking lot (3000 California SW). Here’s the registration link.
Lots of school news, now that we’re in the last month of the school year. If you have a Chief Sealth International High School senior in your household, the CSIHS PTSA reminds you that Friday (May 24) is the deadline to apply for the new scholarships they’re offering: $1,000 each for up to five graduating seniors planning to attend a college, university, or technical/vocational program. Get more info – and the application form – by going here.
If you’ve been to the Alki Masonic Center in The Junction, chances are it was for a meeting or party – Sound Transit has had “open houses” about West Seattle light rail there; the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle has had its holiday-season pancake breakfasts there; just last week the Center for Active Living (formerly Senior Center) announced its new name there … the events are countless.
But they aren’t the building’s main purpose. It’s home to Alki Masonic Lodge 152, a 118-year-old chapter of a centuries-old fraternity. For decades, its members have engaged in community service too – including the annual School Awards Night in Support of Our Public School System last night.
(Photos by Rick McGann. Above, L to R, Martin Monk, Delton Johnson, Tom Christie)
The lodge and its parent organization believe strongly in public education, so every year these awards are given to accomplished junior-year students from Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School. The Masons are “very proud” of being able to provide this support, said Martin Monk, who emceed the event. Before the awards were presented, the lodge’s current leader, Worshipful Master Delton Johnson, expressed hope that the students would “build on what’s good in the world and foster change in what you think can be better.” He quoted Malcolm X: “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
Agreed Tom Christie, another lodge member who spoke: “Education is a lifelong process – there’s always something new to learn.”
The awards are a collaboration between the schools and the lodge – they ask administrators to nominate potential recipients. Here are the Chief Sealth students honored last night:
Charlotte Lindow
Hannah Mueller
Heran Andermariam
Sadie Ransom
Vinh Le-Truong
Eleanor Kamin (not present)
Allison Ohta (not present)
And the WSHS honorees:
Edie Branner
Ellen Rikhof
Danna Martinez
Nina Soleil Abdus-Salaam
Jhana Saboe Hutchinson
Fiona Tesfamariam
Afra Mizra
Souljah Tyson (not present)
Each honored student receives a certificate and a “monetary gift,” their hosts explained. Then the Top Students were announced – from WSHS, Edie Branner – whose interest in international affairs was noted – and Ellen Rikhof, who plans to pursue studies in marine biology, and from CSIHS, Charlotte Lindow and Alison Ohta (unable to accept in person). The Top Student winners were invited to speak, and all three who were there offered words of gratitude to their families and educators. Both schools were invited to send faculty; for WSHS, counselor Erica Nguyen and assistant principal Ron Knight were there. Knight accepted the perpetual plaque that displays the name of each year’s top two:
Today at CSIHS, principal Ray Morales was given the Sealth plaque:
(Photo courtesy Michelle Riggen-Ransom)
At last night’s event, photo ops followed the presentation, along with a pizza dinner downstairs in the big room where so many organizations have their events. And the students also went home with warm words from the Masons – Johnson called them “changemakers”; Christie observed, “I think the world is in good hands.”
On Sunday thanks to photos from Michelle Edwards and Jim Edwards (current and past coordinators of the West Seattle Grand Parade), we showed you the West Seattle HS and Chief Sealth IHS Marching Bands in Victoria, B.C. Today, both marched in the Victoria Day Parade, and the Edwardses sent photos again:
You can also see both in CHEK-TV‘s broadcast of the entire parade – we went through to get the time codes: 1:04:55 in, you’ll see WSHS; 1:14:00 in, you’ll see Chief Sealth:
The individual school bands generally don’t march in the summer – they and other Seattle Public Schools are represented in the All-City Band, seen in the West Seattle Grand Parade among many others
We have word tonight of another team of local middle-schoolers who won a citywide championship this weekend. Lilyanna, a member of the Pathfinder K-8 Ultimate team, sent the report and photo:
I am an 8th grader at Pathfinder K-8, I am on the Ultimate Frisbee team and we won the championship on Saturday! We won 11-4 and our season ended 7-1. My team and I can’t believe that we made it that far. We went to Spring Reign and completed against so many amazing teams. We won 3/6 games we played. It was an amazing experience and we all had so much fun!
The reason for this email is I want our team to be recognized. I have one of the most amazing and talented teams that I’ve ever been on. As a 8th grader leaving Pathfinder and going off to High School, it makes me really happy that I got to experience this. I love Ultimate so much, but what I love most is the people on my team and at my school. We have amazing coaches! Coach Jonah and Coach John. They’ve taught not only me but our team how to work together and build the community that we have now. Thank you so much, Pathfinder, for the amazing opportunity to be a part of the team.
The leaving 8th graders on the team are
Anna
Willa
Taylor
Salem
Ronan
Elias
Milo
Ian
Will
Lilyanna says they beat Eckstein MS in the title game, played at Magnuson Park.
(This and next photo sent by Michelle Edwards)
Thanks for the photos! First, we learned from Michelle Edwards and Jim Edwards (who you might know from the West Seattle Big Band and/or West Seattle Grand Parade) that the West Seattle High School (above) and Chief Sealth International High School (below) Marching Bands are in Victoria, B.C. today – performing outside the Parliament buildings as part of Victoria Day weekend festivities.
Shortly after receiving those photos, West Seattle photographer Holli Margell sent images of both bands in the Port Townsend Rhody Festival parade on Saturday:
(This and next photo sent by Holli Margell)
The trip’s not over yet – tomorrow brings the Victoria Day parade, also featuring other student bands from around the region (including the UW). Holli tells us the parade will be streamed on YouTube here, starting at 9 am Monday.
More big school-sports news – two Madison Middle School teams won citywide championships today!
That’s the Madison volleyball team. Jennifer sent the photo with word that they won the Seattle Public Schools championship today to crown an undefeated season. The championship was against Robert Eagle Staff Middle School – and Madison won despite Eagle Staff having home-court advantage, since that’s where they played.
Eagle Staff is also the school that Madison’s boys soccer team beat for their championship win today:
The photo and update are from Amber; as she had mentioned in the preview we published last night, this match was played at Memorial Stadium downtown
7:04 PM: That’s how West Seattle High School‘s baseball team celebrated the win this evening that is sending them back to the state semifinals – third year in a row! We’ve been up at Edmonds-Woodway HS for the past six hours covering WSHS’s first two state tournament games – both one-run victories, 2-1 over Peninsula and 10-9 over Mountlake Terrace. Next they’ll head to Pasco, where the state 3A semifinal and final games will be played this year. We’ll add more about today’s games here later!
9:58 PM: Here are our highlights of the two games the Wildcats played today – both “loser out” games, so the stakes were high – starting with the game against Peninsula:
WSHS starter #12, senior Miles Chandler, had some control problems right out of the gate. He got out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning but gave up a run in the second. He was pulled in the fourth inning, and #6, senior John Langen, took over mound duties. Later that inning, WSHS got on the board after #2, senior Bobby Trigg, got a leadoff double and was brought in by #24. junior Lukas Cheha.
The Wildcats’ other run was in the 6th, when #11, senior TJ Buehring, got on base, made it to third after a double by #7, senior Caden Fahy, and then scored.
Time ran out for Peninsula, which didn’t manage to muster a late comeback.
That win sent head coach Dylan Mclauchlin and his team up against Mountlake Terrace, also a “loser out” game. This one had plenty of drama, as well as weather challenges (rain, mostly light). A dedicated crowd braved it all.
This time the Wildcats scored right off the top – Buehring drew a walk, Fahy hit another double, Cheha hit a sacrifice fly for an RBI, and WSHS had an early 1-0 lead. Starting pitcher #17, senior Matthew Henning, struck out two of the first three Terrace batters. In the second, he had two outs on two pitches. Things looked good … until the bottom of the third, when Terrace loaded the bases and turned that into two runs, followed by two more before the inning ended. West Seattle got one back shortly thereafter. It was three up, three down, for Henning in the bottom of the fourth, still 4-2 MLT. The Wildcats added another run in the 5th. So did the Hawks.
Then came the dramatic two-out comeback in the top of the 6th. Buehring and Fahy both got hits after two previous batters notched outs. Henning walked. Cheha got an RBI single.
#42, senior Sabin Tomlinson, came up to bat:
With that, WSHS took the lead, 6-5.
And the rally was’t over – one more run followed. Then in the bottom of the 6th, pitcher #9 Sam Waskowitz made 1-2-3 work of the Mountlake Terrace batters, and it was on to the 7th. The Wildcats added three insurance runs, with hits including yet another Fahy double. By inning’s end, they were ahead 10-5.
But as the saying goes, “it’s not over till it’s over.” Mountlake Terrace loaded the bases in the bottom of the 7th and cleared them with a grand slam, That five-run lead was down to one. Fahy concluded his heroics for the day by moving onto the mound and saving the victory.
So, for the third year in a row, the Wildcats have made it into the state tournament semifinals (see the full bracket here). Their next game is in Pasco, vs. Eastside Catholic (20-7), 7:15 pm Friday (May 24). The two teams met on April 3; the Wildcats (20-5) won, 5-4.
One last reminder that tomorrow (Sunday, May 19) brings more than 1,300 runners and walkers to Alki and Harbor Avenues for the West Seattle 5K. The no-parking signs are out (don’t defy them – you might get towed) and both streets will be closed to vehicle traffic between roughly 8 am and 11 am. It’s not too late to be part of it – you can still register online, or at the starting line – near the Alki Bathhouse (60th/Alki) – starting at 8:30 am Sunday. The West Seattle 5K is a fundraiser for programs supported by the West Seattle High School PTSA, which coordinates the event.
The photo is from Amber, one of two Madison Middle School parents who sent word that the boys’ soccer team plays for the district championship Saturday morning at Memorial Stadium downtown. The other parent notes, “They are led by the amazing and caring Coach Zanna Peterson, who is also an Instructional Assistant at Madison. Congrats to Coach, these players, and their families!” The game at 10 am tomorrow, Amber says, is vs. North Seattle’s Robert Eagle Staff Middle School.
Almost nine months after her installation, Bruun Idun the troll remains a popular attraction at Lincoln Park. Today, her visitors included dozens of students from Pathfinder K-8, on a doubleheader field trip. First they released salmon fry at Fauntleroy Creek, not far from the park; then they went to visit the troll. Their time there was highlighted by a short talk from docent Jane Gunwaldsen, who talked about the connection between the Nordic nations – including troll creator Thomas Dambo‘s native Denmark – and the Northwest, including Indigenous traditions caring for the land and water.
Bruun Idun and the other trolls, you might recall, are meant to be symbols of environmental stewardship, made from discarded/reclaimed/found material. Jane told the students that Dambo has installed trolls in 17 countries including ours. Also of note: The students along for today’s field trip included about half a dozen living with disabilities – Salmon in the Schools volunteer Judy Pickens explains that the program has expanded to find new ways of including students outside the general-education classroom environment. (This year’s Fauntleroy Creek releases run through the end of the month.)
(WSB photo, past-and-future Alki Elementary site earlier this week)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“We’re frustrated that the school’s not being built, and that our voices are not being heard.”
That’s how Eva Chappell explains the letter-writing campaign she and Stefie Deeds have organized in support of the Alki Elementary rebuild/expansion, so far delayed almost a full year because of appeals filed over zoning exceptions involving parking.
Chappell and Deeds are both parents of Alki Elementary kindergarteners. The old school closed after the 2022-2023 school year and has been demolished, with other site preparation under way, but no construction until the latest appeal is resolved. Right now, it’s set to go before a city hearing examiner right after Memorial Day.
A bit of backstory if you’re just tuning in: Seattle Public Schools sought nine zoning exceptions (“departures”) for the rebuild/expansion. The city granted them. Nearby residents appealed. A hearing examiner denied the appeals on all but one point – the plan for no on-site parking (following zoning rules would require 48). The district went to court to try to overturn the ruling but was unsuccessful. Finally it submitted a new plan with 15 parking spots. The city approved that. A different set of nearby residents appealed in March. And that’s the subject of the upcoming hearing.
Meantime, Alki Elementary students and staff are wrapping up the first of at least three years in temporary quarters at the former Schmitz Park Elementary, which is so small, Chappell and Deeds say, some of the classes – third- through fifth-graders – are in portables.
But what they’re most concerned about is that parents like them have no voice in the process that’s extended their children’s stay in temporary quarters. In a conversation with WSB earlier this week, they explained that many Alki parents don’t even know what’s going on with the project – they “have no clue that it’s being held up,” Deeds says. “Nobody thought this was going to happen.” She’s an eight-year Alki resident who was excited about being able to send her child to a neighborhood school – but now for at least three years, they’re not within walking distance. “Alki really deserves a walkable school.”
She contends that appellants are wrong to contend that the new, larger school will pose a traffic nightmare because everybody drives, saying that in fact, many parents they’ve spoken with say they’ll be walking, as will her child.
So they’re hoping their voices of support can make a difference; more than 200 letters have been sent already via their online campaign. District officials including our area’s School Board director Gina Topp are the designated recipients.
They’re stressing that their intent isn’t “to diss anyone” – not even those who’ve been fighting the rebuild; they want to “regain a sense of community, in raising awareness.” They hope to “sit down together” with school neighbors as well as with other school families and staff, to discuss the school-related traffic concerns.
But first – they want to see the project back on track.
WHAT’S NEXT: The appeal hearing is scheduled to start at 9 am Tuesday, May 28, in the Hearing Examiner’s hearing room in the Seattle Municipal Tower downtown (700 5th Avenue). If a second day is needed, that’s scheduled for Thursday, May 30.
When announcing that its plan for possible school closures/consolidations was getting closer, Seattle Public Schools said it would have a series of community meetings in May/June. Now the list of dates/times is out, including Saturday, June 1, 10:30 am at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle). As reported after the SPS board’s latest meeting, they’re only considering closing elementary schools to create “a system of well-resourced schools,” but that could mean 20 closures citywide. The district is offering this form for RSVPs and questions. Exactly what they’ll present isn’t clear, as the specific list of possible closures/consolidations isn’t expected to be given to the board before June 10th.
Congratulations to the West Seattle High School Wildcats softball team for another strong season, which ended tonight. The team, coached by Kyler Tsukada, made it to the district tournament again this year but lost their opening game, 9-4, vs. Renton’s Liberty High School, played at Juanita HS in Kirkland. The Wildcats finish the year 11-11.
Independent elementary Tilden School (WSB sponsor) is planning a party – here’s the invitation!
The Tilden School board of directors will be hosting Tilden’s FIRST-ever fundraiser on May 31st. We’re calling this Tilden PROM (Past and Present Remembering Our Magic). All Tilden alumni, current families, incoming families and friends of Tilden (18 and over) are welcome. It’ll be held at Kenyon Hall from 7-10 PM with food, drinks, live music, a short program, and catching up. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/tildenprom
(2023 photo by David Hutchinson)
One more look ahead before the weekend ends … next Sunday (May 19) brings the West Seattle 5K to Alki! It’s the season’s first big 5K, presented by the West Seattle High School PTSA to raise money for WSHS. The morning starts with Alki and Harbor Avenues closing to vehicle traffic around 8 am, then:
8:30-9:15 am: Day-of-event registration
9:10 am: Pre-race warm-up
9:30 am: 5K Run/Walk starts
8:30 to 11:30 am: Visit our sponsor booths and enjoy student music
You can register online right now, or register in person at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) the day before the WS5K (noon-5 pm Saturday, May 18). The start/finish line next Sunday is near 61st/Alki. See you there!
Thanks to Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Ernest Policarpio for sending the announcement and photos:
Congratulations to the Chief Sealth and West Seattle 2024 Washington Athletic Club /101 Club award winners:
Chief Sealth
Isaac Martinez, Ocean Freeman, Jeylen Pham, Breanna Tran, Jennie Brown, and Joy Ohta (Not Present) (Also in the pic: AD Ernest Policarpio and Assistant Principal Isaisha Perry)
West Seattle
Carmen Cruz, Kamil Ignacio, Sole Norman, Bo Gionet, Matthew Henning, and Gibson Aguilar
The WAC & 101 Club Awards honor 3 boys and 3 girls from each school who have athletic & academic achievements.
With a month left in the school year, many are looking ahead to next year. In addition to Seattle Public Schools, West Seattle has public-school students in neighboring districts, primarily Highline to the south and Vashon Island to the west. VISD’s superintendent Dr. Slade McSheehy asked us to publish this reminder for any family interested in their district:
Did you know that the Vashon Island School District is currently accepting non-resident applications for students in grades K-12? This is a wonderful opportunity for families in our neighboring communities to become part of an exceptional school district. At Vashon Island School District, we take pride in small school environments where every student is not just a name on a roster, but welcomed, known, and treasured.
Join over 200+ students, K-12, who commute daily to be a part of our close-knit island community.
Apply for admission using the VISD Non-Resident Student application, Non-Resident Application
Questions, forms, and other information can be received for each school from the following people:
Chautauqua Elementary: Caleb Johns, CES Registrar – cjohns@vashonsd.org 206-463-8540
McMurray Middle School: Kelly Murphy, McM Registrar – kmurphy@vashonsd.org 206-463-9168
Vashon High School: Deb Franson, VHS Registrar – dfranson@vashonsd.org 206-463-8684
Choice Transfers, District Contact: Kareem Greenidge – kgreenidge@vashonsd.org 206-463-8530
The West Seattle High School Wildcats are the Metro League champions for the second time in three years! They won the title game against Ballard 7-1 tonight at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center. WSHS was ahead 2-0 after the first inning and never looked back.
A few more innings went by before West Seattle started piling on the runs by methodically advancing after getting on base – a single here, an RBI there, a stolen base here.
Miles Chandler was the winning pitcher. Head coach Dylan Mclauchlin‘s Wildcats had already secured a spot in the state tournament, which starts Tuesday.
When their next game is set, it’ll appear on this bracket.
SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATE: The next game is set – next Saturday (May 18), 1 pm, vs. Peninsula, at Edmonds-Woodway HS. It’s a potential doubleheader, as it’s a must-win game, with the winner advancing to another game that afternoon.
| 28 COMMENTS