By Sam Reed
Athletic Director/Activity Coordinator
Chief Sealth International High School

Last spring I led my season recap by saying that it was “my belief that the ‘12 spring sports season at Chief Sealth International High School will be one that sets a new standard for excellence and success.”
That statement proved true this year, as our athletes turned out in droves this spring, driven by high expectations. Led by a strong senior class, 254 student-athletes donned Seahawk apparel and demonstrated the “Sealth pride” that’s now come to be expected. Now, as this season and year comes to a close, it’s difficult to conger up the words to express what this group of seniors has meant to the school and to the athletic programs they’ve participated in. While it will be hard to see them go, the list of successes of all below should help demonstrate the strength of the program they’re leaving behind.

Let’s begin on the diamond where head coach Ernest Policarpio and the boys baseball team finished 4th in the Metro Sound Division (9-14 overall) and headed into the playoffs playing their best ball of the season. After an extra inning loss to Eastside Catholic and a clean win over Nathan Hale, the boys saw their season come to an end in a 4-1 loss to Seattle Prep. Seniors Max Sarver (1st team all-league), Michael Hafermann, Marley Lucas (2nd team) and others now turn the reigns over to a team that will be led next season by Izac Bauer (2nd team), Merle Rowan-Kennedy and Blaine Steele (both honorable mention).

Moving across the diamond, the softball team and head coach Mike Depew have established something of a Metro Sound Division dynasty, as they finished off their 2nd consecutive undefeated division title (17-7 overall). The team finished 4th in the Metro League tournament before falling to Mercer Island in Districts. All-league honors went to seniors Malia Dewey, Chloe Behar (1st team all-league), Corie Schwinger and Alana Sullivan (1st team all-division) , and sophomores Sophie Boyd, and Megan Hafermann (1st team all-division).

When building a program, the numbers usually come first, the success later. The ’13 tennis team continues to grow at a record pace, add this year added another division championship to our spring collection. Led by new head coach Alex Kattar, the varsity team finished 4th in Metros and advanced ten individuals into the league tournament. Outstanding sophomore Maria Nguyen made her way back into the District tournament for the 2nd straight year, while captain Andry Xevandry received the prestigious Jill Curan Award, given annually to the Metro League tennis player who shows the greatest display of teamwork and sportsmanship.

The track and field team, led by head coaches Lorna Considine and Asosa Sailiai, had perhaps their most well-rounded team in recent memory. The team received contributions and scored points in nearly every event this season, and was paced by a strong group of jumpers, throwers and distance runners. Senior Vidal Griffin II is headed to State this weekend in both the Triple Jump and High Jump, while sophomore Lorna Sailiai will be headed there as well, as she qualified in Discus for the 2nd straight year.

Once again it was the boys soccer team capturing the attention of many, both in the school and statewide. Head coach Ron Johnson earned his 2nd consecutive Metro Coach of the Year honors, as he and Metro Sound Division MVP Xahil McDonald led a veteran roster to a undefeated division season (13-3-3 overall), a 3rd place finish in the Metro League Tournament and their 2nd straight trip to the State tournament. The team was featured in The Seattle Times and spent most of the season ranked #1 or #2 in the state rankings. The all-league teams was peppered with Seahawks, including McDonald, Kristian Nilssen, Mori Tsuchiya, Devon Offord, Paal Nilssen, Elijiah Lazo, Ben Lee, Abdinur Galgalo, Eduardo Cardoza (1st team all-division), Rafael San Pablo, Sean Umeda, Tore Kelln, Anthony Masundire, and Joe Thayer (2nd team).

There’s another soccer team that deserves recognition this spring. Our Special Olympics Unified Soccer team, now in its third year of existence, has established itself as a model program both in the District and at the state level. Led by coaches Don Freitas and Andrew Saldana, the team – comprised of both students with and without mental disabilities – will be headed to its second consecutive Special Olympics State Games in June as recently sent a student, Christian Freitas, to Costa Rica to compete as part of Team USA on the National Level.

Finally, I was excited to partner with Supersonics Lacrosse this season to form a JV-level lacrosse program. Under the leadership of Scott Pattison, a dedicated group of Seahawks and other area high school students laid the groundwork for a team – and a sport – that continues to gain interest. I look forward to seeing this program grow into a varsity-level team in the near future.

An accomplishment I am even more proud of though, is how our student-athletes have succeeded in the classroom. They are leaders not just on the field, but in the halls and in our community, in student government and music, and in some of the most challenging classes offered at Chief Sealth. Their success is proven by the strong team GPA’s turned in by our sports teams, led by varsity baseball (3.39 combined GPA), varsity soccer (3.3) and varsity softball (3.26). The majority of our graduating student-athletes are moving on to further education, and while some will be participating in athletics, all will be taking what they learned as a Seahawk with them, both in the classroom and in competition.