West Seattle, Washington
02 Wednesday
(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.
West Seattle High School has received a national honor from Special Olympics for its Unified Sports program (which brings together student athletes with and without disabilities). We received the announcement from WSHS’s Unified Sports coordinator Rachel Myers:
WSHS is being recognized as a Special Olympics National Banner Unified Champion School.
WSHS demonstrates their commitment to inclusion and shown determination in achieving the collective goal of creating a truly “Unified Generation” of young adults who embrace differences and lead social change! We could not have done this without the hard work and support of our alumni and current WSHS students and staff! We are excited and honored to join the 1,014 schools across the country and the FIRST SPS school to receive this level of recognition!
Here is the official letter from Special Olympics North America and Special Olympics International.
This is a HUGE accomplishment for our school, district, and community! We will be receiving a banner to celebrate this accomplishment at a ceremony in the Spring at WSHS!
Myers explains that “Schools that receive this recognition have demonstrated the commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 national standards of excellence. These standards were developed by a national panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community.”
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Friday brought ample reasons for Chief Sealth International High School supporters to cheer, as the Seahawks’ second game of the season ended as their second win of the season, 29-7 over Franklin HS at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. Three CSIHS seniors contributed touchdowns in the first half – #0 Xavier Nguyen, #8 Seth Clark, and #14 Laith Nelson.
Next Friday, head coach Daron Camacho‘s Seahawks are the home team vs. West Seattle in the annual crosstown Huling Bowl clash.
The game’s at 6 pm Friday at NCSWAC (2801 SW Thistle).
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
The “Neon Night” theme in the stands at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex lent a little brightness to a Friday night that ended with West Seattle High School losing their second football game of the year, despite being ahead 13-0 over visiting Interlake HS at halftime.
The halftime lead followed touchdowns by #5, junior Miles Guidry, and #13, junior LJ Moody:
Interlake outscored WSHS 21-6 in the second half, and that resulted in the final score, Interlake 21, West Seattle 19.
Next week, head coach Anthony Stordahl and his Wildcats (0-2) face the crosstown competitors of Chief Sealth International HS (2-0) in the annual Huling Bowl, 6 pm Friday (September 20).
Following up on a stellar 2023 season that took them all the way to the state tournament, the West Seattle High School volleyball team has opened its 2024 season with a win. Megan Behrbaum from WSHS Volleyball sent the photo and report, and an invitation to come cheer for them at their home opener Thursday:
Last night the varsity WSHS volleyball team won their season opener against Roosevelt in an away game [3-1]. Our first home game is this Thursday. We play against Lakeside in our gym. Game starts around 7 pm and follows the JV game (starts at 5:30 pm).
Thursday’s theme is beach, so we welcome everyone to root on the Wildcats in their best beach attire.
The school is at 3000 California SW; the gym is on the southwest side of campus. Here’s the home schedule for the full season.
Chief Sealth International High School‘s first game of the 2024 season is in the books. The Seahawks went to Memorial Stadium downtown this afternoon to play Bellingham HS, and came back across the bridge with a win – Sealth 10, Bellingham 7. Head coach Daron Camacho and his team have their home opener next Friday (September 13), 4:30 pm, vs. Franklin HS, at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
The West Seattle High School football season started with the usual exuberance Thursday, as the team burst onto the field at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex flying both a Wildcat flag and American flag, ready to face their visitors from Bainbridge HS. The weather was perfect; supporters were in the stands:
And a sizable cheer team was there to lend their support.
The first quarter was more about defense than offense – a busy night for #13, junior LJ Moody, started with an early stop.
Midway through the quarter, the Spartans were first to score, with a field goal. Late in the quarter, the Wildcats got closer to the end zone than they’d made it previously, thanks in part to a big carry by #2, senior Sam Turner:
But time ran out and the 1st ended with the score still Bainbridge 3, WSHS 0. Head coach Anthony Stordahl‘s team got their one and only touchdown in the second quarter.
Credit that to #12, sophomore Desmond Parkinson:
#34, junior kicker Scott Bremen, got the extra point:
And that gave West Seattle the edge at halftime, 7-3. But they lost the lead with 5:56 left in the third quarter, when Bainbridge got a TD (though the Wildcats kept the Spartans from scoring the point after), followed by another less than half a minute later. Bainbridge added one more midway through the fourth quarter, and the Wildcats just couldn’t get a comeback going; final score was Bainbridge 23, West Seattle 7.
WHAT’S NEXT: The Wildcats host Interlake, 7:30 pm Friday, September 13, at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.
Last week, we told you about three marathon swims announced by the Northwest Open Water Swimming Association for last week. We noted the first swim’s successful completion last Wednesday – Chelsea Lee completing what’s known as the Bert Thomas Swim, almost 19 miles from Old Town Dock in Tacoma to Point Williams by Colman Pool in West Seattle, in . She finished in just over 9 hours. Two days later, last Friday, NOWSA confirms, Wendy Van De Sompele of Vashon Island – aquatic director at Colman Pool – swan from Alki Point to West Point, six miles, in 2:45.
(Wendy, post-swim – photo by Scott Lautman)
With that, she became the first person to complete 5 out of the 6 swims in the Puget Sound Lighthouse Series.
Then on Sunday, NOWSA’s big week concluded with a round-trip all-woman relay from/to Alki Point, around Blake Island, completed in 6:28:
(Salish Sirens at relay’s end, photo by Stephanie Zimmerman)
They were dubbed the “Salish Sirens” – Melissa Kegler, a Triple Crown marathon swimmer (English Channel, Catalina Channel, around Manhattan Island) headed the relay team, whose members spanned all decades from 30-70: Becky Smith, Carol Horowitz, Guila Muir, Emily White, and Shea DeWald. They all regularly swim in the Sound off Alki. Boat support was provided by Seastr PNW, which NOWSA explained is “dedicated to inclusive access to waterborne activities for people who have been historically excluded from the maritime industry and water sports.” You can learn more about NOWSA here.
The Northwest Open Water Swimming Association has three swimmers planning marathon swims in the area this week, starting with one happening right now:
HAPPENING NOW: Above is a screenshot of the tracker showing where Chelsea Lee was moments ago – at 10:45 am – in her attempt to complete what’s known as the Bert Thomas Swim, almost 19 miles from Old Town Dock in Tacoma to Point Williams by Colman Pool in West Seattle. NOWSA’s Amanda Winans explains, “Chelsea trains at Alki Beach and has also completed the Amy Hiland Swim in 2022, from Bremerton to the Alki Lighthouse.” Amanda is the official observer on the support boat for this swim and is one of two other swimmers who’ve done this swim since its namesake in 1956; the other is Andrew Malinak, who is also aboard the support boat as pilot. Chelsea started in the 6 am hour this morning and if successful will reach Point Williams in mid-afternoon. (Update: As of 2:20 pm, they are projecting 3 pm-ish. Second update: Tracker indicates she finished in just over 9 hours! Third update: Amanda sent the photo and reports, “Chelsea finished in about 9 hours, 3 min, at 3:07 pm at Colman Pool. She got to finish it off in style and go down the Colman Pool slide! Photo is by Stephanie Zimmerman.)
Amanda also tells us about two other marathon swims planned this week:
FRIDAY: Wendy Van De Sompele of Vashon Island – who you might know as aquatic director at Colman Pool – plans to swim from Alki Point to West Point, six miles. If successful, Amanda says, Wendy will be the first person to complete 5 out of the 6 swims in the Puget Sound Lighthouse Series. She plans to start her swim from Alki Point at 10 am Friday (August 23).
SUNDAY: This is a round trip, also from Alki Point, Amanda explains:
An all-female relay, supported by a female pilot and a female observer (local marathon swimmer Stephanie Zimmerman) will swim an unprecedented route for NOWSA from Alki Point Lighthouse, around Blake Island, and back to the lighthouse. Melissa Kegler, a Triple Crown marathon swimmer (English Channel, Catalina Channel, around Manhattan Island) spearheads the relay, which includes women covering all decades from 30-70: Becky Smith, Carol Horowitz, Guila Muir, Emily White, and Shea DeWald. They are all “Notorious Alki Swimmers” who you will find swimming regularly from the Alki Bathhouse, and Carol, Emily, and Shea are West Seattle residents. Boat support will be provided by Seastr PNW, an organization dedicated to inclusive access to waterborne activities for people who have been historically excluded from the maritime industry and water sports. They will be starting from the Alki Lighthouse at 8 am, and returning back sometime in the afternoon.
Both of those swims will use the same online tracker as today – find it here.
(WSB photo, 2021 Great Cross-Sound Race)
If you’re a rower or paddler and you haven’t tried the Great Cross-Sound Race yet – this might be your year! One week from today, the annual 7-mile race heads out from Alki to just off south Bainbridge Island and back, 9 am Saturday, August 24. Sound Rowers and Paddlers organize the race and registration is open – there are categories for single, double, and triple (or more) watercraft. You can register here. (You can also watch from the Alki seawall west of the Bathhouse and cheer the racers, at a distance!) This is the first one in two years; last year’s race was canceled due to air quality from wildfire smoke.
In case you haven’t already seen it in our calendar: The Salvation Army is having a fundraising 5K on Saturday (August 17), and part of the course involves a street closure. The Fund Run will close SW Barton on Saturday morning; the course is described as, “from the White Center Salvation Army parking lot [9050 16th SW], east on Barton up to Westcrest Park, where a designated loop will be set up with volunteers, and then back to the Salvation Army. SW Barton Street will be closed between 8th Ave and 16th Ave.” The run starts at 9 am, with 5K and 1K options; registration is still open. They’re fundraising for ongoing community programs including senior lunches, day camps, and after-school services.
Still some big summer events to come, especially at Alki, and this one’s happening tomorrow:
AAU Strength Sports Director Andrew “Bull” Stewart will present the 2024 AAU 28th annual Bull Stewart Alki Beach Classic, taking place at the Alki Beach Bathhouse (2701 Alki Ave SW) on Saturday, August 10th.
(Photos courtesy Bull Stewart Alki Beach Classic)
Framed by the Olympic Mountains and Elliott Bay, this raw, drug-tested powerlifting and feats of strength event is the longest running of its kind in Seattle. Lifters from all ages and walks of life will be competing in the squat, bench and deadlift categories, along with new team category “Double Deadlift” (deadlift by two people) and Feats of Strength (tire throw, farmers walk, to name a few).
Event begins at 9 am, and is free to the public! There will be some limited seating, vendor booths, and a lot of energy brought by the friends and families of these world-class lifters!
Local director Andrew “Bull” Stewart has been promoting strength sport events in Washington for over 30 years (including the wildly popular “Bull Stewart Alki Beach Classic” held seasonally in August). Bull Stewart is a 15 year National/World drug-free powerlifting champion, Hall of Famer, coach of the #1 AAU powerlifting “Bull Power Team” 6 years in a row, the current Rainier Beach HS basketball strength coach, and the owner of Columbia City Fitness Center in Seattle (member of CCBA). His events are known to draw people of all walks of life together, generating a family friendly, positive environment where every member of our community is welcomed, regardless of race, creed, or religion.
Still lots of time to get out on the water this summer – and you have a chance on Saturday to buy/sell gear at the annual West Seattle Boat Swap! Here are the details:
This August 10th community event is a great opportunity to buy and sell human-powered watercraft (Kayaks, SUPs, Canoes) and paddle accessories! We will have used paddle boards and kayaks from Mountain to Sound Outfitters and Alki Kayak Tours’ demo and rental fleets available at discounted rates in addition to consignment boats and gear.
To Shop:
11 am-4 pm on Saturday
– Cashiers & sales staff are available to help!To Sell:
MUST REGISTER ONLINE to sell gear at the Swap!
– Day Of Drop Off on Saturday, 8/10, 9 am-11 am
– Pick Up unsold Items on Saturday, 4 pm-5 pmQUESTIONS? Email gearswap@m2soutfitters.com
Though Seattle Public Schools classes are still four weeks away, tryouts and practices for fall high-school sports are as close as two weeks away. West Seattle High School asked us to share the info packet for athletes and families looking ahead to fall sports – girls’ Swim & Dive, Volleyball, Soccer, Cross Country, Golf; boys’ Football, Cross Country, Golf. The packet has info on start dates, coach contacts, and what to do before the season, starting with registration; here’s the packet, and here’s the registration link. Also note that the WSHS calendar has “Fall Sports Family Night” set for 7 pm September 3.
It’s the next-best thing to being an Olympic Games runner – getting a chance to run the same course! A West Seattle couple will head to Paris soon to do exactly that. Shannon Chappon tells the story of what’s ahead for her and Huy Son:
I thought it would be fun to share that my husband and I will be running the Paris Marathon course in a few weeks in a never-before experience for non-elite runners.
The Paris Olympic Marathon course will be open for a select number of runners in between the elite men and women. The men run in the morning of August 10th and the Marathon Pour Tous will be later that day at 9 pm. The women run the following morning. There is also a 10K. More details about the Marathon Pour Tous can be found here.
For the past year or so Huy and I tracked our running and attempted to win an entry through the weekly challenges provided by the Marathon Pour Tous. None of those challenges gained us an entry, but we continued to run and rack up points which eventually earned us a chance in the lottery. I gained an entry in late January and so we decided to go to Paris. Huy planned to watch me on the course but a few weeks later he also gained an entry.
Never in my life would I have imagined that we would be able to experience something like this! I have been running since I was little and just love the feeling of going wherever my feet can take me. I would go down to Alki and push against the wind when I was in my early teens. I ran track at Kennedy Catholic and then ran for fun in college at the University of Washington. Huy started running later in life when a friend invited him to run Beat the Blerch. He discovered the joy of running and a few years later qualified for Boston. I watched him run Boston 2022 and decided that I would like to try and qualify as well. A year later I qualified and ran Boston 2023. We have been chipping away at the 6 Marathon Majors, having run Boston, New York, Chicago and Berlin. We still have Tokyo and London but we are in no rush. Running has provided us with such amazing opportunities to see the world and make new friends wherever we go. Some of our adventures are on my Instagram (@chappons).
I am a West Seattle native and Huy’s first apartment in Seattle was on Alki. We moved back to West Seattle a few years ago. My dad also grew up on Alki and attended West Seattle High School. I absolutely love West Seattle and we can both be found running Lincoln Park to Beach Drive and onward to Alki.
We wish them bonne chance!
Outrigger canoe racers are in the water off Alki today for the annual “Da Grind,” presented by the Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club. But they’re not the only paddlers participating – the event has a standup-paddleboard component too:
Short-course racers took off at 9 am.
Some long-course racers were scheduled to start at 10:30.
And the final group heads out at 1 pm. The event also includes booths on the beach:
It all wraps up with an award ceremony around 3:30 pm.
(WSB photo, July 2023)
The first of this summer’s two major human-powered-boat racing events at Alki is happening tomorrow! Dozens of outrigger-canoe paddlers from around the region are expected for the annual “Da Grind” races, hosted by the Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club. The event will last much of the day, starting with registration at 7 am and continuing until awards are presented around 3:30 pm. Paddlers will race on one of two courses – 4 miles (along Alki) or 12 miles (out to Blake Island and back); see the maps on the race page.
P.S. The other major human-powered boat racing event is Sound Rowers’ Great Cross-Sound Race, coming up August 24.
Once again this year, MyTeam Triumph led the way at the Float Dodger 5K, celebrating its 10th year as the West Seattle Grand Parade‘s opening act. About 600 people had registered by race time – here’s most of the rest of them “dodging” the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s logo float at California/Lander:
Half an hour before race time, the Kids’ Dash saw dozens of young runners take a lap around the Hiawatha track.
The Float Dodger is presented by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), and proceeds go to the West Seattle Food Bank, which had a booth at Hiawatha, selling their fundraising summer raffle tickets.
(Above, WSFB’s Robbin Peterson and volunteer Al Carlson, with WSR proprietors Tim and Lori McConnell)
Also on hand – Lake Washington Physical Therapy-West Seattle (WSB sponsor):
Results are posted here.
(WSB file photo, Float Dodger 5K)
Saturday brings the 10th anniversary of the 5K that’s the opening act for the West Seattle Grand Parade – the Float Dodger 5K. You can run or walk the parade route, from Admiral to The Junction and back, and then enjoy a root-beer float as parade time approaches. Costumes welcome for Float Dodger, too (but not mandatory). Best of all, your entry fee supports the West Seattle Food Bank – the 5K’s organizers at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) set it up as a fundraiser, so the more people are in it, the more $ for WSFB in its work providing not only food but also emergency assistance to keep people from becoming homeless. The Float Dodger 5K starts at 9:30 am Saturday, with a free Kids’ Dash before it, at 8:45 am. Register for either or both here!
We’ve told you before about local jump-rope athletes heading to national competition. Here’s what happened! The update and photos were sent by Zack Hill:
Rain City Ropeworks, the amazing West Seattle-based jump-rope team coached by René Bibaud, has just returned from the American Jump Rope National Championships, and they have a great deal of success to celebrate! This year, 14 members of the team traveled to compete against the best jumpers in the nation. Several of these incredible athletes finished top 3 nationally, including:
Single Rope Speed Sprint: Haru Ogawa, 3rd place (12-13 year old division)
Single Rope Speed Relay: Mara Garrison, Adelaide Musselman, Haru Ogawa, Mia Wheatley, 3rd place (12-13 year old division)
Single Rope Individual Freestyle: Mara Garrison, 1st place (12-13 year old division); Madeleine Garrison, 1st place (16-18 year old division)
Single Rope Pairs Freestyle: Grace Muller and Craiggan Wickliff (photo above), 3rd place (14-15 year old division) …
… Haru Ogawa and Reymon Pader (photo above), 3rd Place (12-13 year old boys division; Mara Garrison and Mia Wheatley, 2nd place (12-13 year old girls division); Riley Hill and Madeleine Garrison, 3rd place (16-18 year old division)
Double Dutch Single Freestyle: Halle Morgan, Riley Hill, Madeleine Garrison, 2nd place (16-18 year old division)
Double Dutch Pairs Freestyle: Halle Morgan, Calla Freeman, Riley Hill, Madeleine Garrison, 1st place (16-18 year old division)
And 4 of these athletes qualified for the Grand National Championship, by virtue of scoring in the top 6 of an event across all age groups: Halle Morgan, Calla Freeman, Riley Hill, and Madeleine Garrison. Congratulations to all of these kids and their amazing coach, Rene!
If you have a child interested in either joining the team or participating in one of Rene’s summer jump rope camps, you can get more information at www.LearnToJumprope.com.
Next Saturday (July 20), you can watch for Rain City Ropeworks in the West Seattle Grand Parade!
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