West Seattle, Washington
03 Sunday
Cross country continues to be a success story in fall sports for both of our area’s largest high schools. Today we have updates from Chief Sealth International High School:
Congratulations to Chief Sealth International High School’s girls’ cross country team for winning the 2A Sea-King District Championship this week at Lower Woodland! Runners Federica Dilley, Doe Doe, Elena Latterell, and Casey Greger also earned all-district honors in the race. The win advances the team to the WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco on November 9th! It will mark the first return to State for the Chief Sealth girls XC team since their 1975 state championship-winning run.
(Pictured: Chief Sealth’s girls state XC qualifiers Federica Dilley, Doe Doe, Elena Latterell, Casey Greger, Paige Dempsey, Satomi Giedeman and Abby Peloza with Coaches Miguel Bautista and Charlie McDonald)
Additional congratulations to the Chief Sealth boys XC team, who finished fourth in the race (one spot out of team-qualifying) and had three runners advance to State as individuals: Remy Wittman (all-district), Cole Peloza, and Forest Andrews-Wehling. They will be the first boys XC runners from Chief Sealth to compete at State since 1987.
(Pictured: Chief Sealth’s boys state XC qualifiers Forest Andrews-Wehling, Remy Wittman and Cole Peloza)
See the full district championship race results here.
Thanks to Barry White for the report and photos from a historic achievement for West Seattle High School‘s cross country runners:
It was a great day at the Sea-King 3A District Championships on Thursday for the West Seattle HS XC runners and Head Coach Shelley Neal. This was the first time in program history that a full boys’ and girls’ team qualified for Districts at the same time.
Congrats to Aran Connolly, Lukas Doig, Clara Peak, and Daisy Pierson, who qualified individually for the WIAA State XC Championship next weekend in Pasco. Doig, Peak, and Pierson all ran PRs on the tough Lower Woodland course. The boys’ and girls; teams both finished 10th overall.
Our two Unified team runners, Elliott Weinmann and Garrison Etheridge, also qualified for State. They and their running partners Liam Baier and Ryan Wade will compete in the first-ever State Unified XC race in Pasco on 11/9 at 2:00 PM.
Photo courtesy of Peter & Patra Mueller
Chalk up another hard-earned 2A Metro League sports championship for Chief Sealth IHS this year, as the girls’ soccer squad topped Franklin 2-1 last night at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, to claim the league title.
The team is coached by Michael Rillo, who is in his 6th year at Sealth, and is pictured above along with the team’s seven seniors, who were honored for Senior Night.
Sealth moved to 9-3-4 for the season, and hosts Sultan next Monday, November 4, at 5 pm at SWAC.
Also winning last night were the West Seattle High School Wildcats, on the road vs. Nathan Hale. Final score was WSHS 21, Hale 14. West Seattle is now 5-4, having won 4 of their last 5 games, and plays a TBD opponent at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex next Friday (November 1), 7:30 pm.
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
There was no scoring in the 3rd period until, with 1:11 left, Lincoln scored on a touchdown pass, but Sealth stuffed the 2-point conversion attempt, to tighten the score to 21-12.
Next Friday (November 1), Sealth is on the road at Renton.
Two bits of news from Chief Sealth International High School cross-country – first, from athletic director Ernest Policarpio:
Congrats to the Girls X-Country Team for winning the 2A Metro Championship this week at Lower Woodland.
Federica Dilley is your 2A Individual Metro Champ with a time of 19:11 in the 5K.
And tomorrow morning, the cross-country program is cleaning up the campus and neighborhoods to raise money from the program, 9 am-noon Saturday, in partnership with A Cleaner Alki – here are the details, including how to contribute:
Earlier this month, at an event celebrating women’s soccer, the owners of West Seattle Junction FC said they had big news coming. This morning, it’s officially unveiled – here’s the announcement introducing you to West Seattle Rhodies FC:
A new women’s USL W League soccer team is coming to West Seattle in 2025 – West Seattle Rhodies FC. This exciting expansion into the United Soccer League (USL) will help establish a strong presence of women’s soccer in the Pacific Northwest. Based in the West Seattle community, the club will make its debut in the USL W League in the spring of 2025.
“We are beyond excited to embark on this new journey with the USL W League and bring West Seattle Rhodies FC to life. This is a remarkable opportunity to elevate the talent and passion of our community on a national platform, while creating pathways for women to thrive in soccer,” said CEO & Co-Owner Jessica Pierce.
“As a club, we’re dedicated to growing the game and fostering accessibility where players, coaches, and leaders can flourish. We’re eager to get started and contribute to the continued growth of women’s soccer in the Pacific Northwest,” Chief Marketing Officer & Co-Owner Marissa Villegas said.
Rooted in the vibrant West Seattle community, the club aims to foster a culture of inclusivity, excellence, and shared growth, building lasting connections through the beautiful game. The mission of the Rhodies is to develop the next generation of female athletes, inspire local pride, and establish itself as a competitive force in the USL W League.
“We are committed to empowering women in soccer by creating a platform where players, coaches, and leaders can grow and thrive together, just like the resilient rhododendrons that symbolize our club,” continued Villegas.
Why the Rhododendron
Our club draws inspiration from the rhododendron, a symbol of growth and resilience. Just as rhododendrons thrive in groups, we believe in fostering a supportive environment where women can grow and excel together.
Community Oriented
Rhodies players and staff will participate in youth camps and clinics, local events focused on youth development alongside our partners at the West Seattle Y, and community events alongside small local businesses. Home games will be played in West Seattle and the majority of the training sessions will be in the community as well.
About West Seattle Junction FC
West Seattle Rhodies FC is part of a broader vision initiated by the ownership group of West Seattle Junction FC, the men’s team which joined USL League Two in 2024. Both clubs share a commitment to fostering local talent and building a strong soccer culture in the region, with a particular emphasis on creating pathways for youth players to reach the next level. The combined ownership group will run both teams.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do at West Seattle Rhodies FC. As a club founded and majority-owned by women, we are committed to advancing women’s leadership in sports and ensuring that women are represented at every level of our organization.
Our ownership group includes two women of color, and we actively work to provide pathways for women not only on the field but also in key decision-making roles off the field. We empower women in leadership roles and promote diversity within our organization, and as we grow, we will expand our DEI initiatives, focusing on creating opportunities for women and underrepresented groups in all aspects of the game—on the pitch, in coaching, and in management.
Watch for more info here.
The update and photo are from Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Ernest Policarpio:
The Chief Sealth Slowpitch Softball team, after losing a tough first-round matchup vs Holy Names 15-5 on Thursday, won 4 straight this weekend to clinch a state trip to Yakima this weekend. Bracket (here).
The team, which won the Metro League championship a week earlier, went to the state tournament five years ago.
Thanks to Tom Gass for the report:
The West Seattle Holy Rosary CYO 7th/8th grade girls’ soccer team finished as the only undefeated team in the north and south divisions of the CYO K-8 league. Playoffs start today with Holy Rosary playing St. Francis (Burien) at 1:30 pm at Kennedy HS (140 S. 140th, Burien).
WSHS junior Breck Estep (#4) celebrates with senior Myles Mutchler (#80) after a big play.
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
West Seattle High School celebrated Senior Night and kicked off homecoming weekend on Friday at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, as the hometown Wildcats football team battled a tough Ingraham team, losing 28-13.
WSHS seniors participating in football, cheer and band (and their families) were honored at the game:
With a good crowd in attendance:
After trading turnovers in the 1st quarter, the visiting Rams scored on a short run with 1:37 remaining in the quarter to take a 7-0 lead over the Wildcats.
WSHS answered with 7:50 remaining in the 2nd quarter, scoring on a reception by senior and captain Myles Mutchler on a pass from sophomore quarterback Desmond Parkinson:
WSHS head coach Anthony Stordahl (middle) and assistant coach Andrew McDonough
WSHS cheer squad
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand. Above, WSHS #6, junior Jas Daily)
The big high-school sports excitement on the peninsula this fall is on the court, not the field. West Seattle High School‘s volleyball team is leading the Metro League. Chief Sealth International High School is right behind them. The two met tonight for the first time this season, at the WSHS gym. Big draw on both sides:
The Wildcats took the match in three straight sets.
(Above, WSHS #2, senior Sadie Miller)
(Above, CSIHS #8, senior Allison Ohta)
Scores were 25-12, 25-11, and, with the Seahawks trying to rally for a comeback, 25-18.
(Above, CSIHS #2, senior Charlotte Lindow)
(Above, WSHS #5, sophomore Zoe Hanson)
Also seen on the court – dinosaurs:
No, it’s not early Halloween; WSHS has launched student dino racing at home matches, to win free pizza. WSHS (9-0), led by head coach Scott Behrbaum, plays again at home tomorrow night (Tuesday, October 15), vs. Ballard; Chief Sealth (12-2), led by head coach Lorraine Toilolo, is on the road tomorrow, at Seattle Academy, also at 7 pm,
(First and third photos by Matthew J. Clark)
Local youth soccer players, families, and supporters gathered one week ago for a special screening celebrating women’s soccer. Event organizer Christine Clark sent this report:
Last Sunday (Oct 6th), Highline Soccer Association hosted a free film screening at the historic Admiral Theater to help raise funds for scholarships for their HSA Select players. The featured film was COPA ’71, a documentary about the long-forgotten story of how Mexico City hosted the first-ever Women’s World Cup Soccer tournament in 1971.
It’s an incredible and important documentary of how these pioneers helped create women’s soccer today. Interviews from players along with a historian bring this true event back to life thanks to Directors Rachel Ramsay and James Erskine and Executive Producers Serena and Venus Williams and Alex Morgan.
Over 200 people of all ages packed the Admiral. Jessica Pierce from Junction FC was also in the audience and made a very special announcement after the film – saying that Junction FC has big news in the near future that will further empower women in soccer in our community!
(Christine Clark and Jessica Pierce)
HSA Event Promoter Christine Clark said that “After seeing this film a year ago at SIFF, I knew it would be important for many more to see. I am a huge supporter of girls and women in sports and happy to help keep that movement moving forward. COPA ’71 has such an important message, so I was thrilled with our turn out and hope, in turn, all will tell their friends to see.” If you’d like to view the film, you can stream it on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Apple TV.
HSA would like to do a big shout-out to the Admiral Theater for their kindness and help with this event. Danny Ramos and partner Shoshana were fantastic.
If you’d like to make a donation to support youth soccer and give athletes a chance to play, you can donate to HSA via Venmo: @HighlineSoccerAssociation
Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Ernest Policarpio sent the photo and report:
Congratulations to the Chief Sealth Slowpitch team for defeating Ballard 15-9 in the Metro Championship yesterday at SWAC. They will play Holy Names in the 1st round of the Sea-King District Tournament.
Here’s the bracket – the tournament is also at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), next Thursday and Saturday (October 17 and 19). The Seahawks’ first game is at 5 pm Thursday. Chief Sealth slowpitch softball has a history of success, including back-to-back league championships in 2019 – with a trip to the state tournament – and pandemic-rescheduled 2020-2021.
(WSB photos)
Snow season has yet to begin, so it’s the right time to be sure you’re geared up for it. This weekend’s West Seattle Ski Swap has a bigger selection than ever – skis, boards, boots, apparel, more.
You’ll find all this at the West Seattle VFW Post 2713 Hall (3601 SW Alaska) until 5 pm today, and again from 10 am to 4 pm tomorrow.
The Ski Swap is presented again this year by Mountain to Sound Outfitters, whose storefront is across the street from the Ski Swap site.
In a doubleheader last night at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, both high-school varsity football teams scored victories by keeping their opponents scoreless. West Seattle High School (3-3) opened the night against Lakeside, winning 13-0; Chief Sealth International High School (5-1) closed the night with a 50-0 win over Cleveland. Next Friday (October 18), WSHS plays Ingraham at NCSWAC at 4:30 pm, while CSIHS is on the road, 7:45 pm at Nathan Hale.
(WSB photos)
The West Seattle High School girls’ soccer team won their first match of the season today, playing their cross-peninsula counterparts from Chief Sealth International High School.
Final score was 11-1. Sealth scored that one goal in the first half and the Wildcats shut out the Seahawks the rest of the way.
Both teams have their next matches on Thursday (October 10) – WSHS (1-7-1) plays Seattle Academy at 4 pm at Delridge Playfield (4458 Delridge Way SW); CSIHS (4-2-4) takes on Ingraham at 4:30 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
With one game last night and one this afternoon, this week’s local high-school varsity football games are both in the books. This afternoon at Memorial Stadium downtown, West Seattle HS won its second game of the year, beating Franklin 34-7. Last night at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, Chief Sealth IHS lost to Lakeside 13-10, its first defeat of the year. Next week, both teams play Friday night games at NCSWAC (2801 SW Thistle) – WSHS (2-3) vs. Lakeside at 4:30 pm, CSIHS (4-1) vs. Cleveland at 7:30 pm.
Our area’s two biggest high schools are both having excellent seasons in volleyball, and each team notched two more wins this week. West Seattle HS is leading the Metro League Mountain Division at 7-0; Chief Sealth IHS is second in the Metro League Sound Division at 9-1. This week, the Wildcats beat Bishop Blanchet 3-0 at home and Holy Names 3-1 on the road; the Seahawks were victorious over Cleveland and Rainier Beach, both by a score of 3-0, both at home. Next week’s schedules for both teams are here; if you want to see them both on the same court at the same time, WSHS and CSIHS will face off one week from Monday, 7 pm October 14, in the West Seattle gym (3000 California SW).
Thanks to Conwell for the photo. If you see that unusual protrusion outside Easy Street Records – it’s an inflatable “tentacle,” part of a Seattle Kraken promotion. We got a note from the team saying they were placing various promotional curiosities around West Seattle and the rest of the region, looking ahead to the hockey team’s home opener next week. The Kraken also had planned to place another “tentacle” at Admiral Pub, and there’s an inflatable bobblehead outside The Westy (added after comments: on Alki too).
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
The Chief Sealth International High School varsity football team is one of two with a Metro League-leading 4-0 record, after a win over previously undefeated Ingraham HS last night in the nightcap at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. Above, We were there for the first half of the 33-7 win. Above, #3, senior Xavier Nguyen, a very busy runner last night; below, #12, junior MJ Filitaula, scored the Seahawks’ first TD:
Chief Sealth was ahead 10-7 at the half, and the defense kept Ingraham scoreless in the second half.
Head coach Daron Camacho‘s team plays Lakeside next Friday (October 4), again at home at NCSWAC, 6 pm.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Both local high-school teams played home games last night at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. The first game was West Seattle High School‘s first victory this season, 31-7 over Lincoln HS.
We dropped in during the second half for photos. Scoring while we were there included, above, #13, junior LJ Moody, with a TD; below, #34, junior Scott Bremen, with a field goal:
Head coach Anthony Stordahl and the Wildcats play at Memorial Stadium downtown next Saturday, 2 pm October 5 vs. Franklin.
Another victory for West Seattle High School volleyball has them now leading the Metro League Mountain Division. Here’s the team’s report on tonight’s contest:
Tonight WS varsity volleyball beat Seattle Prep in five hard-fought sets. With our win tonight, WS varsity volleyball leads the Metro 3A Mountain division. Thanks to all the students and families that came out to cheer on the team. Our next home game is this Saturday afternoon at 2 pm against Eastside Catholic.
So far this season, the team is 4-0.
(WSB photo, Monster Dash’s mascot in 2023)
Fall’s fun costumed 5K, the West Seattle Monster Dash, is exactly one month away. Organizers just sent the announcement, and we notice that you have only a few more days to sign up at lower rates. The Monster Dash – set for Saturday, October 26, at Lincoln Park – is a fundraiser for West Seattle’s Cooperative Preschool program. As organizers describe it, “This event is a costumed 5k trail run/walk, Kids Dash, and Kids Zone featuring games, activities, and prizes. Paid registration includes a T-shirt featuring our iconic Monster (all races) and bib with timing chip (5K only).” The 5K starts at 9:30 am, and the Kids’ Dash at 10:30 am. Adult and youth 5K registration is at the lowest price if you sign up before next Tuesday (October 1) – to register, go here. The Monster Dash (in its lucky 13th year!) is also still welcoming sponsors – go here.
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