By Sam Reed
Chief Sealth International High School Athletic Director

As the calendar flips toward September 8 and the first day of school at the new home of Chief Sealth International High School, students are gearing up not only for successes in the classroom, but on the athletic fields as well.

While many 14-18 year-olds have been reveling in these last few weeks of summer vacation, more than 150 Seahawks have been hitting the fields and courts hard since mid-August.

Football

In his 4th year as head coach of Chief Sealth, Asosa Sailiai is faced with a task he hasn’t had to think much about in recent years – finding a quarterback. That is because 4-year starter and graduating captain Daniel Davis has taken his game to the college level where he is now playing at Division III Bethel University.

Sailiai will turn to a trio of potential replacements to lead a team that figures to feature an offense heavy on the run. Seniors Tauofoga Sauni, Misioka Tupuola, and sophomore Max Sarver are all taking preseason snaps with the first unit as the team tries to find the right blend of talent and leadership.

Whomever ends up as the chief signal caller will be calling the number of senior Devante Meullion early and often. A workhorse back, Meullion is a punishing runner who does damage between the tackles. Senior Jabrii Polk will also receive carries.

Despite the turnover at the quarterback position, this Chief Sealth squad is an experienced group who is hungry for a playoff spot after finishing 2009 with a 3-7 record.

A pair of strong defensive efforts and a turnover free offense could lead to a promising start as the team plays its first two games of the year at home. Non-league opponent Port Angeles visits this Friday, while Ingraham High School is the Seahawks first league opponent on Sept. 10. Both games kick-off at 7:00 p.m. at the Southwest Athletic Complex.

Girls Soccer

An 2009 4th place division finish and playoff loss to a perennially strong Bainbridge team should prove to be nice building block for this Seahawk team who looks to be on the rise in 2010.

Led by 1st team all-league, standout senior Molly Freed, these girls look to feature an intriguing mix of youth and experience. Joining Freed will be fellow captain and senior Alexandria Stariha as well as junior Miranda Taylor and sophomore Emma Pierce.

A strong group of freshmen have brought a new level of competition to practice and a number of them are set to see varsity action immediately. An important key to the 2010 season will be finding a goalkeeper to replace graduated senior and all-league player Natasha O’Rourke-Perry.

The Seahawks will take the field on Sept. 9 in a cross-division match versus Seattle Prep.

Volleyball

New coach Lorna Considine brings with her more than twelve years of head coaching experience and has a proven history of taking teams to the playoffs. She’ll go to battle with a young Seahawk squad that features only three seniors in Elizabeth Kirk, Sara Schendel and Victoria Swamy.

The pantry is full however, with a number of juniors and sophomores who played significant minutes on a 2009 varsity team that lost a number of close games. That experience, as well as the improved play of junior Kari Sandell and sophomore Katherine Kirk, should help the team as they look to finish in the top half of the Metro Sound division and move toward the league and district tournaments.

The volleyball team starts play Sep. 7 at Cleveland and will christen the refurbished Chief Sealth gymnasium on Sept. 14 in a clash versus West Seattle.

Cross Country

Senior Daniel Perrine looks to build on his strong district finish in 2009 as he leads a Cross Country team that has a number of returning runners.

Strength in numbers was the theme of 2009 as a large team was able to accumulate points from a variety of sources in finishing strong in the Metro Sound division team standings.

This year coach Jason Glover will look to see a handful of individuals breakthrough with improved times including Seniors Perrine, Alex Sampson and Courtney Moore. Freshmen Kenaia Neumann is also poised to post competitive times right out of the gate.

The boys and girls will be off and running beginning Sept. 15th at Lower Woodland Park.

Golf

PGA Teaching Professional and long-time Chief Sealth golf coach Davie Hendrix, is back on the putting green this fall teaching a game he loves.

An excellent and patient teacher of the game, Hendrix regularly takes a group of young students, many who have never played the game before, and turns them in to a team that competes strong within the Metro Sound division.

In 2010 Hendrix will slot in senior AJ Rose and sophomore Michael Hafermann near the top of his ladder. Both players have a strong chance of placing in the league tournament this November, but first they will tee off in league play which begins Sept. 10 at Jefferson Golf Course.