West Seattle, Washington
18 Saturday
Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Wednesday night was a big night for high school wrestling in West Seattle, as four Metro League rivals took to the mats at the Chief Sealth International High School gym. For this mid-season tournament, Chief Sealth and West Seattle each matched up against O’Dea and Nathan Hale high schools. The individual matches were intense and exciting as the teams start the home stretch toward the state tournament in late February.
Chief Sealth started off the evening on a high note, crushing the O’Dea Fighting Irish 53-14. This was a satisfying victory over a team that has given Sealth trouble in the past. West Seattle battled hard against O’Dea but came up short 30-56. Nathan Hale did not field enough wrestlers for the results to be official, but both West Seattle and Sealth handily defeated the Raiders wrestlers.
Sealth coach Maurice Dolberry said his team is peaking just at the right moment. He said the boys’ team has the talent and drive to achieve the school’s best ever showing at the state tournament. Girls’ wrestling is one of the fastest-growing high school sports, and the Sealth girls are poised to do well at State too.
West Seattle coach Shon Sweet said that his team wrestled really well, and he expects to have a handful of wrestlers that make the state tournament. Sweet is working on growing the West Seattle team and says, “Wrestling is for everyone. No matter your size or body type, whether you’re a boy or girl, there’s a place for you on the team.” That spirit of inclusion was fully evident at the tournament, with boys and girls from lightweight to heavyweight cheering each other on from the sidelines.
That’s one of our clips from Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby‘s season-opening bout at Southgate Roller Rink three weeks ago. The skaters are now just a week away from the season’s second home bout, set for next Saturday night (January 18) at the White Center rink. If you haven’t watched roller derby before, what you see in our videos is mostly what’s referred to as “jamming” – trying to block one or more skaters from getting through. (Next bout, in fact, will be “Battle of the Jams.”) In keeping with longstanding roller-derby tradition, you’ll notice that the skaters all have derby names, often puns – we noted a few while watching that first bout, like Acid Reign, Omar-geddon, Aya the Hurricane.
Some of the referees have derby names too – we noted Millennium FoulCon. The bouts are scored and announced, and we noted a good crowd of families and other fans watching this one.
Next Saturday night, doors open at Southgate (9646 17th SW) at 4:15 pm, and then you get more than three hours of roller-derby action for your admission fee ($12 adults, $6 kids 6-12, kids 5 and under free). The Southside Revolution Rebels, one of their five teams, are on the East Coast this weekend, competing in Pittsburgh!
Another youth-sports league wants you to know it has opened registration for the year – the Southwest Lacrosse Club. Here’s their announcement:
Are you looking for a fun, fast-paced team sport for your K-8th grader? Registration is currently open for the 2025 Seattle Metro Youth Lacrosse Season.
Founded in 2008, the Southwest Lacrosse Club (aka the Titans) promotes, organizes, and develops K-8 youth lacrosse from West Seattle to Federal Way. Our mission is to teach lacrosse fundamentals and good sportsmanship while emphasizing the importance of discipline, teamwork, and physical fitness. Players of all skill levels can develop their game, and we will prepare each athlete for the next level of play. No lacrosse experience is required; the club can provide all equipment. We offer full and partial scholarships for those who qualify and have equipment available to loan.
Practices begin mid-February, and games run from March through the end of May. Check out our website or contact us at swlctitans@gmail.com with any questions.
The Titans’ website notes this is a program for boys, except for the K-2 Skills Academy, and has information on who to contact for 3rd-12th-grade girls interested in playing lacrosse.
Looking for inspiration to dream past the winter grayness? The owners of West Seattle’s pre-pro soccer clubs offer a reason:
Attention, West Seattle soccer fans! The moment you’ve been waiting for is finally here — season tickets for the 2025 season of West Seattle Junction FC and West Seattle Rhodies FC are now available for purchase!
For just $100-$150 per season ticket ($20.00 discount on 4 or more), you can secure your spot to cheer on our own talented semi-pro men’s and women’s teams as they take the field in the 2025 upcoming season at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex and compete against regional teams like Ballard FC, Tacoma Stars, Big Foot FC, and Lane Co FC.. It’s the perfect opportunity to gather your friends and family for an unforgettable soccer experience May – July.
This will be the second season for Junction FC, first for Rhodies FC.
P.S. Both teams are about to have free, open tryouts in West Seattle – Junction FC today and tomorrow, Rhodies FC January 4-5.
(Photo courtesy West Seattle RoadRunners)
Runners from the West Seattle RoadRunners are back from the national championships, with major success, including the 9-10-year-old girls [photo above] repeating as national champions! Here’s a summary courtesy of head coach James Powell:
This past weekend, youth athletes from West Seattle RoadRunners, our local youth running team, competed in the 2024 USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships in Shelbyville, Indiana. 3,175 athletes from all over the country competed in 2-year age group races from 7-8 year olds to 17-18 year olds.
Athletes on this team have represented our community at the National Championships in each of their 8 years since they started in 2017. In that first season, four West Seattle athletes competed at Nationals. This year the team sent 59 runners, its largest and most successful contingency ever and the most athletes from any team in the Pacific Northwest.
The 9-10 year old girls team defended their 2023 National Championship team title taking 1st place again this year. Their top 5 runners finished an astonishing 45 seconds apart. They were led by Everly Haase (15th) and Lanna Caprara (22nd) who earned All-American honors for their top 25 finishes.
The 11-12 year old boys team, led by Gus Kemper (5th overall), became the first boys race team from West Seattle to stand on the National Championships podium, finishing in 3rd place.
The 11-12 girls team finished in 5th place with 3 athletes earning All-American honors: Teagan Kemper (8th), Beau Sitzmann (15th), and Savannah Brondstetter (17th). Amazingly these three girls are barely 11 years old and will be back in the same age group next season as they are joined by members of the 2-time National Champion 9-10 year old team who are aging up.
Kallan Knapp wrapped up the day for our team in style finishing in 9th place in the 17-18 girls race and earning the team’s 7th All-American honor at this year’s meet.
You can learn more about this youth running program by visiting their team website at www.westseattleroadrunners.org and following their team Instagram account @westseattleroadrunners
(WSB photo, this afternoon)
10 days after 13-year-old Nathan Tavel spent the morning after Thanksgiving in a one-person, one-hour bowl-a-thon to benefit local food banks, reps of both met up with him at West Seattle Bowl for a celebration of the final tally: $9,383, according to Nathan’s dad Phil Tavel. That’ll be split between the White Center Food Bank – whose Randy Nguyen is at left in our photo – and the West Seattle Food Bank, whose Fran Yeatts, Whit Carter, and Robbin Peterson are at right with Nathan, who bowled a perfect game during the fundraising hour.
Another local youth-sports league has started spring registration, just as we get to the earliest sunsets of the year. Here’s the announcement West Seattle Baseball asked us to share with you:
West Seattle Baseball is excited to announce the opening of baseball and softball registration for the 2025 spring season!
Registration will be open now through February 14,2025 on the league’s website. An Early Bird discount of $15 off is applied to all registrations completed by December 31st. Scholarships and multi-sibling discounts are available as well.
Prices start as low as $130 for the season. Registration costs include a ballcap and team jersey for each player, in addition to a full season of baseball/softball with events three times per week from mid-March through early June.
West Seattle Baseball will offer six different divisions for baseball, covering players aged 4 through 18, including tee-ball and coach-pitch divisions for younger participants.
West Seattle Baseball also has a goal to field four softball teams this spring season, spread across all ages. Softball registration is $150 per player for the 2025 spring season. If anyone wants to bring their own team, a $200 discount will be applied to the cumulative registration fee for that team’s players.
West Seattle Baseball believes that every child deserves to benefit from the games of baseball and softball. For families needing financial assistance, we offer reduced-fee league registration through the West Seattle Baseball Scholarship Assistance program. If you wish to apply, please contact wsbbregistrar@gmail.com.
West Seattle Baseball is a 100% volunteer-run, non-profit youth baseball league. Our goal is to provide comprehensive baseball programming that appeals to kids of all levels of enthusiasm and ability. The league prides itself on being a fun and enjoyable program that our players, their families, and their coaches want to participate in again each succeeding season. If you have questions about the divisions or anything else West Seattle Baseball, please email the league at communications@westseattlebaseball.com.
We hope to see you at the West Seattle PeeWee Fields soon – for the love of the game.
The PeeWee fields are in Riverview.
Even as we get to the shortest days of the year, there are reasons to think ahead to the warming months of spring. For one: Youth-sports leagues are opening spring registration, and this morning we have the announcement from West Seattle Little League:
West Seattle Little League Spring (WSLL) 2025 registration is now open for all youth ages 4-14.
Join us, your West Seattle neighbors in the bleachers, for another incredible season of hot dogs, cool drinks, sunny afternoons, and fun moments that your child and your family will cherish forever!
We are competitive, but most important, our coaches encourage fair play, teaching, and positive sportsmanship. Whether that’s summoning up the courage to swing the bat or running the bases with passion, we are here to listen, teach and inspire West Seattle youth to find their best self.
Each year, we want to make sure all kids have the opportunity to write the next chapter in the Little League story, regardless of their situation. No child will be denied an opportunity to play due to financial reasons. If you are in need of a full or partial scholarship, please visit our scholarship page for more info. We are dedicated to finding a confidential financial solution for families.
WSLL is excited to announce the fourth year of the Challenger Program! The Challenger program is Little League’s adaptive baseball program which offers additional support for athletes with disabilities.The Challengers program is free to all participants and open to West Seattle residents between the ages of 4-18 or up to age 22 if still enrolled in school. Inclusion and opportunity is the cornerstone of Little League, and it’s our passion to ensure everyone has an opportunity to play. Find more info here or email challenger@westseattlelittleleague.com with any questions.
The WSLL spring season will run from March – June and features fun activities including the jamboree, sandlot days, and end of the year bash. Interested to know more details? Check out westseattlelittleleague.com to find information about boundaries and divisions of play.
Register by February 9th. Registering early helps streamline our league operations – sign up today!
Next Saturday (December 7), girls from high schools around the city will spend the day playing flag football downtown. Among them will be West Seattle High School‘s new team.
Parent club manager Pamela Quadros sent that photo with word that the team had made history two weeks ago with WSHS’s first-ever girls’ flag-football practice. She says students Thea and Maggie Harnish and Charlee Cummings founded the team, and that they’re getting support from organizations including the Seahawks. They also express thanks to coach Kris Smith, WSHS athletic director Corey Sorenson, and Underdog for running the girls’ flag-football league (which also includes Chief Sealth International High School – here’s the full schedule for next week and beyond).
10:08 AM: That’s 13-year-old Nathan Tavel, warming up moments ago for his hour-long bowl-a-thon at West Seattle Bowl. He’s the only bowler here before the official opening time, raising money for local food banks. So far pledges are covering $2.09 per pin, $68 per “turkey” (three or more consecutive strikes). We’re here to watch and to update. Nathan’s bowling on lanes 23 and 24; he bowls 216 in his youth league and has been doing bowling fundraisers for more than four years.
10:15 AM: $500 raised for the food banks so far. Pledges were accepted up till Nathan started bowling; this is also being streamed on social media, with Nathan’s dad, community advocate Phil Tavel, narrating.
10:20 AM: First “turkey” (three strikes in a row), raising $68 more. … Moments later, another one. … and that string ran to 11 in a row by our count.
10:29 AM: Almost midway through, Nathan threw his first perfect game – 300. He’s picking up steam as this rolls on. “Nathan’s crushing it,” his dad declared. Nathan himself is a young man of few words, so far.
10:43 AM: “Holding up well,” the bowler allowed. So far he’s knocked down 1313 pins, with 41 strikes and 6 turkeys, raising just over $3,000.
10:52 AM: Another turkey. Nathan will be bowling until about 11:05 since this started just after the top of the hour.
11:00 AM: Just a few minutes to go. Nathan’s remained calm and steady throughout this – and his dad informs us he’s now up to 2123 pins, 60 strikes, and nine turkeys – that’s almost $5,000 for the food banks.
11:16 AM: Final total, just past $6,200, to be split between West Seattle and White Center Food Banks – 2,577 pins, 73 strikes, 12 turkeys. If you pledged, watch for your PayPal invoice; prize winners will be notified too. (And now the bowling alley’s open for regular bowling for the day.)
ADDED SATURDAY: Update from the Tavel family:
Our final numbers based on a few last minute pledges that came in:
We had 41 pledges.
For a total of $2.27 per pin and $80 per Turkey.That’s a total raised of $6,809
In the end, Nathan threw the following 12 complete games in one hour:
166
187
300 – The first perfect game Nathan has ever thrown!
225
202
243
228
193
189
192
192
213
plus 57 more pins in the last incomplete game.
Nathan averages 214.5 for the day. He threw 1 frame every 28.5 seconds for 1 full hour.Nathan threw 71 strikes and made 12 Turkeys (3 strikes in a row).
(WSB photos)
A foggy mid-30s morning was no deterrent to those intrepid runners who turned out this morning for a pre-turkey Thanksgiving tradition – the 14th annual West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) Gobble Gobble Run on Alki. WSR proprietors Lori and Tim McConnell added some extra spice to the mix this year, with drawings for running shoes:
Then it was time to get going for the “3-ish”-mile out and back run, low key, no pressure, no timing, even some walking:
This is the second of three special seasonal runs this fall – which started with the Halloween run, and continues with the Christmas Light Run on December 22. WSR also offers free weekly runs on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings and special events such as a Women’s Workshop on December 10.
1:27 PM: Did you hear the roar? We did from The Junction. Home game today with a “Salute to Service.”
1:59 PM: And here’s who flew over:
Today's #SaluteToService flyover features two EA-18G Growlers from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.@USAA | @USNavy pic.twitter.com/ljVQ3W52U9
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 24, 2024
As we’ve been reporting, West Seattle High School‘s volleyball team is at the state tournament for the first time in a half-century. Saturday was their second day of play in Yakima, concluding late at night with a loss – first match of the day, the Wildcats shut out Stanwood, 3-0 (25-23, 31-29, 25-14); then in the second, they lost to Seattle Prep, 3-1 (21-25, 27-25, 25-9, 25-19). That sent them to the consolation bracket, with little time to rest – they’ll play Liberty at 10 am today (Saturday), and if they win, they play for 5th place at 2 pm. It’s been a huge season for head coach Scott Behrbaum and his team, taking the district championship along the way. We’ll have another update after today’s game(s).
Yet more student-athletes in West Seattle are celebrating a championship. Here’s the update we received on the Pathfinder K-8 Ultimate Frisbee team:
The Pathfinder K-8 Ultimate Frisbee team prepared well this season with an almost perfect season leading to their victory in the SPS, middle school division C final this past Saturday. Their growth as a team was obvious as they moved the disk down the field with precision and applied a stifling defense, which took all of their best weapons away from them to lead 6-1 at halftime. Our opponent, Hazel Wolf K-8 – who we fell to in our only loss this season – could not begin a comeback after the rain began in the second half. All 14 players who were available were important contributors in the 11-2 final score. Thanks to all the players, coaches John and Dominik, and all the supporters that came out to cheer the team on!
West Seattle High School volleyball head coach Scott Behrbaum shared that video shown at WSHS on Wednesday as his team prepared to head east today for the start of the state 3A tournament in Yakima tomorrow. After winning the district championship, the Wildcats’ next challenge is a 1:30 pm Friday match against either Stanwood or Lakes, depending on which of those teams wins its opening match hours earlier. However their first contest turns out, they’ll have a second match Friday evening. This is WSHS’s first trip to the state tournament in a half-century; you can follow their progress via the tournament bracket here.
Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Special to West Seattle Blog
Tonight’s Class 3A District 2 volleyball championship game at Lakeside School featured a matchup for the ages. The West Seattle High School volleyball team came into the game determined to win the program’s first-ever district championship. Their opponents, Renton’s Liberty High School Patriots, were riding high after pulling off an improbable upset in their semi-final game against the #1 seeded Seattle Prep team earlier in the day.
The Wildcats broke the WSHS district championship drought, making history by defeating Liberty 3-0. The girls played in their signature loose and joyful style, and the outcome of the match was never seriously in doubt. The team has had its ups and downs this season, but as head coach Scott Behrbaum said, “What matters most is to be playing well when it counts, and we are doing that.”
The Wildcats played smothering defense, with several dramatic blocks and clutch digs.
Westside’s district championship win likely will lead to a more favorable seed at next week’s 3A State Tournament in Yakima. The tournament matches will take place on Friday and Saturday, November 22 and 23.
SEALTH’S SEASON ENDS AT STATE
Meanwhile, the #10 seed Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks volleyball team wrapped up its season on Saturday afternoon by defeating Toppenish to capture 7th place in the Class 2A State Tournament at the Yakima Sun Dome. The match was a nailbiter, with Sealth winning 3-2. Sealth played catch-up all match, losing the first and third sets. They squeaked out the win in a match where every set was decided by 3 or fewer points. The final-set scores were 23-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23, and 15-12.
Thanks to West Seattle High School head volleyball coach Scott Behrbaum for the update! His team won its district semifinal match this morning and will play for the district championship tonight. “West Seattle defeated Bellevue in 3 sets in the District 2 volleyball tournament. We face Liberty HS at 5:15. Liberty defeated Seattle Prep this morning as well, 3-0.” They’re playing at Lakeside School if you want to head there to cheer them on; here’s the bracket, and here’s ticket info. (The team is already guaranteed a berth in the state tournament, as noted here Thursday night.)
Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Special to West Seattle Blog
Thursday night at the Highline High gym, the West Seattle High School volleyball team punched their ticket to this year’s state tournament, beating the Roosevelt Rough Riders 3-1 in the quarterfinals of the district tournament.
Despite having to play short-handed due to injuries and illness, West Seattle kept getting stronger as the match went on.
They dropped the first set by a score of 25-22, in a contest that featured long rallies and hard-fought points. Between sets, head coach Scott Behrbaum told the team to relax, play freely, and have fun. The Wildcats made small adjustments in their attack and defense and came back to win three straight sets, capping it off with a 25-11 victory in the final set.
An enthusiastic crowd of WSHS Wildcats supporters who traveled to Burien witnessed the team advance to the state tournament for the second year in a row. It’s a remarkable turnaround for a program that hadn’t previously qualified for the state tourney since the 1970s. They will be facing Bellevue in the semifinals of the district tournament at Lakeside School on Saturday at 9:00 am. The outcome of the rest of the district tournament matches will factor into the seeding for next week’s state tournament in Yakima.
Another local high-school team that made it to state is celebrating its success – thanks to the reader who sent this report on the Chief Sealth International High School cross country girls’ results:
Congratulations to Chief Sealth IHS junior Federica Dilley on finishing 7th at the 2A State Cross Country Championship on Saturday in Pasco! Dilley covered the 5k course in a time of 18:59 and led the Seahawks to an 11th-place team finish.
(Pictured: CSIHS junior Federica Dilley (red) receiving her award after earning first team All-State)
(Pictured: The CSIHS girls’ XC team after placing 11th at the 2A State Championship)
Full results from the 2024 WIAA Cross Country State Championships are available here.
Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Special to West Seattle Blog
The West Seattle High School Wildcats volleyball team faced a strong Seattle Prep squad in last night’s Metro League championship game in the Chief Sealth International High School gym. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the Wildcats’ night. Prep’s power and shot placement propelled them to a 3-0 win over West Seattle.
In their semifinal match earlier in the day, West Seattle cruised past the Bishop Blanchet Bears, never trailing in any set on their way to a 3-0 win. The team played cohesively against a talented Blanchet team, with Janie McCanna and Sadie Miller notching an impressive number of kills. The individual set scores were 25-12, 25-19, and 25-8.
Next week, West Seattle (15-4) will head to the 3A District Tournament as the #2 Metro seed. Head coach Scott Behrbaum expressed satisfaction with the team’s successful season and is gearing up for the team to take the next step forward. “We’re proud of being the best public school in the Metro League and we’re going into Districts with a clean slate, knowing that we can compete with anyone.”
Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Special to West Seattle Blog
For the first time since 1974, the Chief Sealth Seahawks have won the Class 2A District 2 volleyball championship. In a thrilling championship match, the Seahawks defeated the Nathan Hale Raiders, 3-0.
The first two sets of the match at Foster HS in Tukwila were both nailbiters, as the lead seesawed. Sealth pulled out wins in both by scores of 25-23 and 25-18.
Nathan Hale started the third set determined to extend the match, charging out to an early 8-point lead. But the Sealth girls hung tough and, on the verge of defeat, they reeled off seven straight points to win the deciding game by a score to 25-23.
After the match, an elated Chief Sealth head coach Lorraine Toilolo referred to the sweetness of breaking Sealth’s 50-year drought since their last District Championship. “It’s been a long time coming. We’ve worked hard and we’re headed to the State Tournament!” The Class 2A State Tournament will be held at the Yakima Valley SunDome next Friday and Saturday (November 15-16).
The state cross country championships are happening today in Pasco. We’ve already reported on runners from our area’s two biggest high schools who qualified – and there’s one more group of West Seattle runners participating, proud parent Beth Martin points out:
O’Dea High School cross country is also at state, qualifying as a team for the first time in 25 years. Five of the seven running today live in West Seattle: Ryan Berta, Maddox Fox, Maks Karman, Isaac Lewis, and Will Martin.
Good luck to all!
(Photo courtesy Phil Tavel)
Our area’s new women’s soccer team, West Seattle Rhodies FC, introduced their head coach during last night’s launch celebration at Ounces in North Delridge. Lyndsey Patterson is a 10-year veteran of professional soccer, including the Seattle Sounders Women of the W-League. She played college soccer at the University of Tennessee before turning pro. Her West Seattle team hasn’t been built out yet – they’ll have open tryouts for players whose first matches will be next year. The plan for the Rhodies was first announced almost three weeks ago, brought to you by an ownership team including the women behind West Seattle Junction FC, which played its debut season earlier this year. The Rhodies will play in the USL W League. Their name is the nickname for the rhododendron flower, a symbol of resilience and strength.
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