West Seattle, Washington
22 Saturday
(November 2024 WSB photo)
Last year, West Seattle High School volleyball coach Scott Behrbaum and his team went to state. Their followup season is just around the corner, and it’s tryout time soon. Here’s the announcement sent to us to share with you:
Reminder for Players and Parents: West Seattle High School Volleyball Tryouts Begin August 25th!
West Seattle High School’s volleyball tryouts for the upcoming season are just around the corner, kicking off on Monday, August 25th. Parents of student-athletes are reminded that all required athletic forms must be completed in Final Forms prior to tryouts in order for students to participate.
Please visit the WSHS athletic registration page at:
westseattlehs.seattleschools.org/student-life/athletics/athletic-registrationIf you have questions about the upcoming tryouts or the volleyball program please contact westseattlevolleyballteam@gmail.com
Go Wildcats!
The local beach-volleyball players who worked to get Seattle Parks‘ support for a “drop-in volleyball” court on Alki report it’s back in action, thanks to a donation. Last month, WSB’s Hayden Yu Andersen reported on the new court and installation of its net; days later, that net was stolen. Now the advocates/players sent photos, and this update, to announce that the court’s available again:
Great news. The net at Alki is back up, thanks to a generous net donation from the SeaBeach Volleyball Co-op. We’re excited for the community to be able to play again and for beach volleyball to be more accessible to everyone.
The court is on the beach across from the Christos/Do Si KBBQ building.
Easy Street Records, it seems, is known for softball hits as well as music hits. Proprietor Matt Vaughan sent the photos and report:
The Easy Street Wreckers won the ISL Softball Co-Ed City Championship . This marks the 4th time in 6 years! They are also celebrating 20 years as a team! Trailing by 5 going into the last inning, Easy Street rattled off 12 unanswered runs to take the trophy. The ASA Industrial Softball League includes 16 small businesses throughout Seattle. Big props to The Lariat, great bar/ lounge in White Center. Seattle’s first and only pro-wrestling-themed bar! Congrats to Georgetown’s 9 LB Hammer – they won the 2nd Division trophy.
MVP went to South Seattle College Political Science Professor and avid record collector, Larry Cushnie.
Congratulations to the DubSea Fish Sticks for their first-ever Pacific International League championship! We knew Saturday night’s game at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, vs. the Gumberoos, was sold out, but we didn’t realize a title was on the line until we heard about it from WSB contributor Jason Grotelueschen – attending the game as a fan. He sent the video above and the photos below:
The Fish Sticks won 18-1. This was their last home game of the year; their season wraps with a Monday night road game. (The PIL season ends this early because the players have to get back to their respective colleges.) This is the fourth season since team owner Justin Moser rebranded the former Highline Bears and put the Fish Sticks on a course to provide entertainment as well as baseball.
As we reported in June, West Seattle-based Rain City Ropeworks has a team at the world jump-rope championships – and Zack Hill sent this update, with photos:
I wanted to provide an update on how the West Seattle-based Rain City Ropeworks jump rope team is doing this week at the Jump Rope World Championships in Kawasaki, Japan. Rain City qualified 9 kids for Team USA, all of whom are competing this week in Japan.
(Photo by Eric Mak/Kosation)
These kids qualified in a number of disciplines, including double dutch, speed, and freestyle.
(Photo by Jackey Guo/Kosation)
And for the first time ever, a Rain City entrant placed in the top 3 at worlds!
Sisters Madeleine and Mara Garrison (above) placed second in the Wheel Freestyle event at the International Open Tournament.
The West Seattle community has been so awesome at supporting these kids, and we wanted to update everyone back home.
Rain City Ropeworks was founded and is led by five-time world champion René Bibaud.
That’s Chelsea Lee, an Alki resident and open-water marathon swimmer, on the shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, where she will attempt a tough cross-strait swim tomorrow (Friday, August 1). We told you last week that she planned to make the attempt sometime in the next few days, depending on the wind and waves outlook, and now the decision’s been made. She’s planning to swim between Beechey Head, BC, and Tongue Point, WA, starting at 7:30 am tomorrow. Chelsea already has completed marathon swims including the what the Northwest Open Water Swimming Association calls the Amy Hiland Swim – Bremerton to Alki Point, which fellow Alki swimmer Justin Davis achieved last Sunday – and the Bert Thomas Swim, Tacoma to Lincoln Park. Once she starts, you’ll be able to follow her on this tracking page.
FRIDAY UPDATE #1: Because of a weather advisory, she’s swimming from the US to Canada instead of the other direction.
FRIDAY UPDATE #2: Another update from NOWSA’s Amanda Winans: “They’ve been enduring some pretty rough conditions (getting too rough for the boat, and getting worse closer to Canada), so they made it a goal to get to the Canadian line. They did a u-turn there, and now she’s hoping to be able to swim for a total of 6 hours, to use it as an English Channel qualifying swim (although this is an extreme version!). They’re keeping the tracker on.”
Thanks for the tips on this and big congratulations to the champions! This report, with photos, is from a proud parent:
Our Home Team Running Club – West Seattle RoadRunners – just took the National Junior Olympics Championship for the 11-12 year old girls 4x4x8 relay in dramatic fashion.
Records fell last Sunday in Savannah, Georgia, as the girls took home the gold and Beau Sitzmann broke the 1981 PNW 3k record. Coached by James Powell, Carson Caprara, and Devin Kemper, these girls are poised to set a new record this winter for the national cross-country championships. This is the second national championship title by these four girls in the last three years. And they go by the acronym of “B.E.S.T” representing each initial of all their names.
Beau Sitzmann (12)
Everleigh Haas (11)
Savannah Brondstetter (12)
Teagan Kemper (12)What these girls have done in the last five years in the name of West Seattle is amazing.
Beau’s recordbreaking achievement is singled out in this event wrapup.
The team is on the road but The Moose is on the loose on Alki Beach this morning. Well – not exactly “on the loose”; the Seattle Mariners‘ mascot had a reason for being here, a Mariners’ Kids Club event (explained here). Thanks to James Bratsanos for the photo! (The M’s, by the way, start their next homestand tomorrow.)
(Photos courtesy Quail Park West Seattle)
That’s Tommy Criswell with the DubSea Fish Sticks‘ mascot Fin Crispy Jr. at Steve Cox Memorial Park‘s Mel Olson Stadium this past Sunday. He got to make a baseball dream come true,explains Betsy Henry from Quail Park West Seattle (WSB sponsor):
A dream 70+ years in the making came true for 78-year-old Tommy Criswell, a longtime Seattle resident and lifelong baseball fan as he threw the ceremonial “first fish” at the DubSea Fish Sticks game against the Redmond Dudes on July 27th.
Criswell, who lives at Quail Park West Seattle, checked off a major item on his bucket list when he took the mound at Mel Olson Stadium in King County’s Steve Cox Memorial Park at the start of Sunday’s game.
Born in Texas but a proud Seattleite for most of his life, Criswell discovered his love for baseball at age six when his father signed him up for Little League. That early passion followed him through decades, even as he built a 30+ year career as a physicist with Boeing.
Criswell is also a devoted Mariners fan—his favorite player of all time? Ken Griffey Jr. “I loved how he’d leap into the air to catch the ball—like Spider-Man!” he says, referencing the iconic outfield catch that earned Griffey the superhero nickname in his mind.
Now, more than 20 years after attending his last Mariners game in person (a victory over the Dodgers), Criswell re-lived the magic of the ballpark in a way he never expected—on the pitcher’s mound. Criswell said it was a thrill to throw the first “fish.” When asked what he thought about the experience, he said with his characteristic sense of humor, “that was a slippery fish!”
The West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) is offering a weeklong basketball camp for kids next month – here’s the announcement:
Get ready for a high-energy week of hoops, hustle, and heart! This full-day clinic is more than just basketball—it’s a chance for young athletes to sharpen skills, build confidence, and grow as teammates and leaders. Led by inspiring coaches and dedicated Y staff, kids will level up with focused training in dribbling, shooting, court awareness, strategy, and agility. They’ll also enjoy a fun pool day to recharge and bond. Through exciting drills and games, athletes will boost their abilities, sportsmanship, and resilience in a fun, supportive environment.
When: August 11th – 15th 9 am-4 pm
Who: Kids Ages 8-12
Contact Liz Abbott at labbott@seattleymca.org
(Photo courtesy Northwest Open Water Swimming Association)
That’s Justin Davis, right after he completed what the Northwest Open Water Swimming Association calls the Amy Hiland Swim, Bremerton to Alki Point, this afternoon, as previewed here earlier this week. Supporters were there to cheer his achievement:
(Video by Chris Hasse, courtesy NOWSA)
We didn’t make it to the rocky shore of Alki Point until shortly after Justin arrived (and then left), so we didn’t get to talk with him, but Amanda Winans of NOWSA was there and told us that Justin – in his first official marathon swim – set the unofficial course record, 3:52:16, and is the first male swimmer to solo the 10.4-mile route. Also there was Chelsea Lee, who as also mentioned in our story earlier this week is preparing for a marathon swim, planning to cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca – also 10.4 miles – this Friday or Saturday, depending on the wind forecast. She is exuberantly excited about the swim. They’re all members of the Notorious Alki Swimmers, the open-water swimmers often seen in Elliott Bay right off the beach.
Recently, we spotlighted a swimming feat by young athletes from the Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club. Now we have word of big tennis wins too, sent by Chris Smithco, tennis rep on the club board:
The Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club tennis team recently wrapped up an incredible season — and they finished strong!
In the South Seattle postseason competition, Arbor Heights faced off against three other clubs and Arbor Heights won 6 of the 8 championship matches (Girls & Boys 10U, 12U, 14U &Seniors) — a fantastic achievement and a testament to the dedication and hard work of our players and coaches.
I attached a few snapshots from the season to highlight some of the excitement and sportsmanship that made this summer so memorable.
We also are offering Youth Tennis Camps for kids ages 7 to 12 in early August with the camps open to both members and non-members. These camps are a great opportunity for young players to learn the game, build confidence, and have fun in a supportive environment. Register here.
(August 2024 photo by Stephanie Zimmerman)
That’s local marathon swimmer Chelsea Lee, in a photo we published last August, after she swam from Tacoma to West Seattle’s Lincoln Park. She’s one of two Alki open-water swimmers that Amanda Winans from the Northwest Open Water Swimming Association tells us is about to try major marathon swims, as the peak season for them begins:
Justin Davis are going to be attempting the Amy Hiland Swim (~10.4 mi), from Bremerton to the Alki Lighthouse, this Sunday (July 27), starting at 9 am, with an expected finish at around 12:45-1:30 pm. This is his first official marathon swim. You can track his swim here.
Chelsea Lee, who has completed the Amy Hiland Swim and Bert Thomas Swim (Tacoma to Lincoln Park), is attempting to swim across the Strait of Juan de Fuca (~10.4 mi), on August 1 or 2, depending on the weather. She’ll start at Beechey Head, BC [map], and swim to Tongue Point, WA. As it says on our site, this has been called one of the two “Toughest Swims in the World,” according to “Wind, Waves, and Sunburn, A Brief History of Marathon Swimming.” Currents and weather conditions, as well as very cold water, make this a difficult swim. Her tracker link will be the same as Justin’s.
With NOWSA’s help, we expect to have followups on how these swims go.
Story and photos by Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Earlier this week, we reported on Alki Beach’s first permanent volleyball court, scheduled to be installed today. Right on schedule at 9:00 am this morning, volleyball players and representatives from the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department gathered to install the net, declare the court open, and celebrate with a quick game.
“Doing this, right now, is a huge win,” said Alex, who frequents Alki Beach to both play Volleyball and run tournaments. He was one of the community members who helped push for a permanent net and a clearly defined court space.
“It was a struggle at first,” he said, “but after a lot of effort, and a lot of us getting out there and pushing for it, it’s here.”
“It’s nice to see people who are really vocal and want to help us, and fill us in with more information,” said Shalandra Shippentower, Senior Recreation Program Specialist with Seattle Parks.
The Department collaborated with volleyball regulars to create the rules for the new court as a way to ensure that it meets their needs best, according to Shippentower. “Making these things more accessible,” she said, “is always what we’re trying to do.”
The new net/court is at 58th/Alki.
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
It’s difficult to imagine a day at Alki Beach without volleyball. Beachgoers stringing up nets and playing, in between trips to coolers, or across the street in search of refreshments, are a frequent sight between June and August. If you’ve ever seen groups playing and wanted to join in, starting Wednesday (July 23), you’ll get the chance, as Alki Beach gets its first-ever permanent Volleyball court, across from the Christos on Alki/future Do Si KBBQ building [map].
(Photos courtesy Hannah Cassius)
It’s easy to assume that because the beach has volleyball poles, it has an accessible setup, explained Hannah Cassius, who helped organize this project in cooperation with the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department after she noticed several problems with their old system. The new court will feature clearer lines and a permanent net, scheduled to go up this week.
Until now, the lack of a permanent net and the poorly defined court have led to two problems, Cassius said. First, if you don’t have a net or a friend to play with, it makes the pastime inaccessible for the average person. The new court, which is set to open at 9 am on Wednesday, will feature a permanent net and a clearly defined court. As Cassius put it, “If you’re walking on the beach and you wanna play, you can play.”
The second problem was safety and quality. “We would find glass and nails in the sand, and the poles were crooked,” she said. “So having these permanent lines and nets makes beach volleyball more accessible to the community.”
The new court runs on a special system, called a “challenge court,” that keeps with the competitive spirit of the sport, while making it accessible to new players. If you want to play, you set down your sandal in a line to indicate your space. While people often show up in groups, there are no rules preventing anyone from simply walking up and joining the line to play. If you win your match, you get to stay for a maximum of two games before going to the back of the line.
“Here’s a hypothetical example,” Cassius said, “My husband Reid and I are playing against two other friends of ours, Brandon and Anissa. You put your shoe in line to play the winner. Reid and I win the game. We play you and your friend.” While this is new to Seattle, challenge courts are common at public volleyball courts in other states, like New York and California, according to Cassius.
(Seattle Parks Department rules)
The issues first came up earlier this year, at a Parks and Recreation Department town hall. Then, she slowly began to drum up support from the local volleyball community. Watching people come out in force, and the Parks Department’s quick and enthusiastic response to the quickly growing group’s concerns, was both surprising and heartwarming. Several hands-on work days and a change.org petition later, the courts are about to open to the public. According to Lisa Nielsen, the Athletic and Event Scheduling Manager with Seattle Parks and Recreation, the cost was approximately $900, covered by reservations for the other, non-permanent courts.
“I was actually positively surprised,” she said. “A lot of the older volleyball players said ‘the Parks Department doesn’t do anything, you won’t see any changes, et cetera,’ and for many of us, it was our first time working with them, but they’ve been with us every step of the way.”
Permanent courts on Alki aren’t the only thing they’ve managed to get done in cooperation with the Parks Department. They’ve managed to update the Volleyball poles to support men’s, women’s, and co-ed play, leveled the sand around the court, had the Alki showers turned on in April (in previous years they’ve waited until late May or June to turn them on), and even increased restroom maintenance.
They’re not done yet, though. Cassius says they have plans on the horizon to set up a community tool shed, with sifters and rakes to keep the courts safe, and add even more poles and sand. “At the end of the day,” She said, “ the larger Seattle volleyball community is a lot of people, from a lot of diverse backgrounds, but everyone is united by wanting to play this sport. This is an opportunity for more public athletic spaces with the community.”
FIRST REPORT, 9:54 AM: Again this year, the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s “wheel” parade float is what runners and walkers in the Float Dodger 5K are “dodging” at California/Alaska. The race, presented by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) as a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank, precedes the West Seattle Grand Parade, which is just about an hour away. Development director Robbin and volunteer Michelle were at Hiawatha selling $5 tickets to the WSFB’s raffle of Taste of West Seattle (September 25!) tickets:
More than 550 participants were registered as of pre-5K:
(Photos from here by Dave Gershgorn for WSB unless otherwise credited)
My Team Triumph started the race, as has become a tradition.
As for the first finishers – we’ll add coverage later – participants will be off the parade route in time for the parade’s start with SPD motorcycles around 10:45! And if you’re in or near Admiral, West Seattle Runner is hosting a beverage garden and parade-watch party to raise even more for WSFB; you can buy raffle tickets there too.
ADDED 3:46 PM: The results are here. First finisher, timed at 16:10, was 22-year-old Jonathan Grothe:
Next was 17-year-old Mason Murison, timed at 17:04:
First female finisher was 43-year-old Megan Heuer, timed at 19:02:
Second female finisher was 22-year-old Adeline Roza, timed at 19:35:
One more Float Dodger 5K note: There was a moment of silence before the race for Christi Rohlena, sister of WS Runner co-proprietor Lori McConnell; she died in a car crash this past February, Lori explained when we stopped by the shop post-parade to find out more. Lori said many family members were visiting from out of town and showed us the special race bibs they had made in Christi’s memory:
Thanks for the report on what the sender calls a “record-breaking summer at Arbor Heights”:
e Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club 12 and under Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay for a record setting race against Kent (Tuesday night). The girls finished 2:07:27 breaking the 1997 Arbor Heights record of 2:09:86. Congratulations, ladies!! [Dior Webb (backstroke), Katie Trainor (butterfly), Amanda Trainor (freestyle), and Caroline Arthur (breaststroke)]
We’ve had some great success stories about local athletes recently, and here’s the latest: Local ultramarathon swimmer Denise Simens, who also coaches high-school swimmers, competed at nationals in Portland last weekend, and her friend Chelsie P sent the story and photos:
I wanted to shine a spotlight on a West Seattleite making a splash! My good friend Denise Simens just swam the Portland Bridge Swim in Portland, OR (last weekend). This event is an 11-mile long open-water swim in the Willamette River. The event was the official 2025 United States Masters Swimming Ultramarathon-Distance Open Water National Championships.
Denise improved her time from last year by 41 minutes, and took first place in her age group by 17 minutes. In addition to being ranked #1 in the Country by age group, she also finished 6th overall female and 22nd overall athlete (out of men and women). Entries were limited to the first 100 qualifiers across the country and registration closed quickly this year! The qualifying standard was to complete either a 5,000M or 5,500YD swim in less than 1:40 (an hour and forty minutes.)
For a bit of context, any swimming event over 10K is considered an ultramarathon, and the distance swum yesterday nearly doubles the distance of the minimal requirement. Next up for Denise is an inaugural event in September called the Mt. St. Helens Classic, hosted by the Northwest Open Water Swimming Association (NOWSA). This event is four ultramarathons in 4 lakes, swam in just 4 days after Labor Day Weekend.
I would like to mention that Denise is also the Head Women’s Swimming Coach for Chief Sealth International High School! She has been a West Seattle resident for nearly ten years.
Chelsie also sent the results from last weekend.
Saturday’s doubleheader is getting ever closer – you can run or walk the Float Dodger 5K, and then watch (if you don’t happen to be among the hundreds of people set to participate) the West Seattle Grand Parade! We have a few more notes tonight, looking ahead:
(WSB file photo)
FLOAT DODGER 5K: Still time to register and avoid the last-minute price increase! The 5K starts from the field at Hiawatha at 9:30 am Saturday (July 19). Even if you’re not running/walking, come down early and visit the booths – among them, the West Seattle Food Bank, to which West Seattle Runner (which presents Float Dodger) donates proceeds. They’re offering an extra way to support the WSFB (which needs it more than ever) – a new raffle for $5/ticket, with your chance to win tickets to the September 25 Taste of West Seattle. (The WSFB’s other raffle, the Summer Raffle with prizes from local businesses, sold out for the first time ever!) Bring your $5 and look for the WSFB tent at Hiawatha on Saturday morning. And if you want to register for the Float Dodger 5K, do that here!
(WSB photo, 2024 Grand Parade)
WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: Official parade start time from California/Lander is 11 am, but the leadoff group, the Seattle Police Motorcycle Drill Team, will likely start at about 10:45 am. They’re expecting at least eight motorcycle officers this year, twice the size of the comeback unit last year. One big decision if you haven’t made it already is where to watch – this year there’s an official list of “watch parties” – including:
Cherry Consignment
Falafel Salam
Hotwire Coffee
Sebastiano’s Natural Wines
WEND Jewelry
West Seattle Realty
One of those businesses has an entry in the parade too – Falafel Salam. Parade coordinator Michelle Edwards explains that the businesses on the list “are the businesses that the West Seattle Grand Parade Committee is currently aware of having and promoting a parade watch party at their business. There may be others that we don’t know about, but we are excited to see so many businesses bringing the community together for the parade and would love to know if anyone else is having one!” Email westseattleparade@gmail.com (and tell us too!). … For previous parade previews, click “West Seattle Grand Parade” under the headline and scroll through our archive!
More big news from West Seattle Little League – Jen sent the photos and report:
What a time for West Seattle Little League!
WSLL’s Softball 10U All Stars are 4-0 in the State tournament and are in the finals this Thursday at 6 pm! While they are battling it out in Vancouver, WA – we can still unite to cheer them on locally! Our friends and WSLL sponsors at West Wings are holding a watch party on: Thursday, July 17 at 6 pm. Come cheer the 10s on and have some good food and drinks!
WSLL is honored to host the Baseball 10U State Little League Tournament from July 19 – 26 at our home field, Bar-S Playfield! This statewide tournament rotates between 13 districts, and after many years, it’s finally our turn to shine.
Even more exciting, our very own Baseball 10U All Star team won the District 7 Championship and kicks off their first game on Sunday, July 20 at 3 pm!
This event is bigger than baseball – it’s a celebration of teamwork, sportsmanship, and community spirit. Let’s come together and show visitors from across the state what makes West Seattle special!
The Bar-S fields are on SW Admiral Way north of 63rd SW.
Thanks to Melissa for the photo and update:
Thought I would pass an update along about the West Seattle Little League Softball 10s playing in State in Vancouver, Washington. They are 3-0 in the tournament, playing tomorrow at 5:30 in the semifinals against Pacific Little League. Mackenzie Hart threw a perfect game and no-hitter to beat Issaquah 11-0 yesterday.
Thanks to Katherine for the photo and report:
The combined West Seattle/Southwest Little League Juniors Softball All-Stars have advanced to the semi-finals of the Juniors Softball State Tournament with a 9-7 win today over the team from Redmond/Sammamish/Eastlake. The team has won three games so far in the state tournament, the most wins at state of any softball all-star team in the history of West Seattle and Southwest Little League!
West Seattle/Southwest Little League plays against the team from Shoreline/North Central/Queen Anne Little League tomorrow [Friday] at 6 pm at Northshore Athletic Fields in Woodinville.
Come cheer them on!
PHOTOS BY DAVE GERSHGORN FOR WSB
West Seattle Junction FC, the pre-pro soccer team in its second season, played its final home match of the year last night at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, and it was a thriller. Team owner Jessica Pierce shares the highlights, to go with our first-half photos from WSB contributing photojournalist Dave Gershgorn:
(Forward Alex Mejia waves as the team is introduced before the match)
Down 0-3 at the half, Coach Oman made some front line change-ups, adding in Joschi Schelb from Rutgers and Mani Diop, defender at UW.
Schelb quickly fueled the fire adding a point to the board! West Seattle fans and the drum line pounding in the stands were all on their feet.
From the 70th minute on, Diop delivered goals 2 & 3 to tie up the game, including a brilliant header off a corner. Schelb with the winning goal with a key assist by Will Maschmedt in the 87th minute, making it 4-3. With 6 minutes of stoppage added, the crowd remained on their feet until that final whistle blew.
West Seattle loves this tenacious team and we love West Seattle! The support you’ve all shown us in year 2 has been incredible! We can’t wait for year 3!
Other game scenes:
Junction FC wraps up the season Friday night on the road vs. FC Olympia. … One more note from the organization, if you have a young player in the household:
The Rhodies & Junction FC host a youth player clinic from 10 am-12 pm on Saturday at Delridge playfields. Visit the Junction FC website to sign up and train with the team & staff!
The clinic is $65 and geared for (updated) U8 through U15 age groups.
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