From the Sidelines

The calendar may say “Summer” and the weather persons are predicting 90 degrees in the next few days, but it really is time to think Fall sports.

Signups for Vashon High School Fall sports begin next week, Aug. 17 through Aug. 23.

Football practice starts Aug. 18 and the other sports start Aug. 23. Athletes must have all paper work and fees paid before they can practice with the team, and missed practices the first two weeks can mean delayed eligibility and missing early competitions. The school office will be open starting Aug. 17. Check the school web site for hours. All the necessary forms are available on the web site.

Football coach Clay Eastly is optimistic about the coming season and urged me to make the trip to Chelan for the Sept. 3 season opener. Chelan was beaten in last year’s state semi-final by champion Connell. Eastly says this year’s Pirates will be a match for the Goats. The trip might be worth it just to see the only high school I know of whose fight song is to the tune of “Anchors Aweigh.”

Cross country coach Kevin Ross is excited about the boys team this year, with a lot of returning veterans and some incoming freshmen and transfer students. The harriers open with a home meet Sept. 16.

There is a chance Vashon could host the Nisqually League Meet in October. With the 2A schools moving to another league, the regular season meets will be a good indication of the team’s strength against 1A schools when regional and state meets come up.

Girls soccer lost a lot of strong players to graduation, but there are some strong players coming up from last years JV and, I’m told, a good group of freshmen.

I’ve retired from coaching so I hope to get to competitions for all the Pirate teams and get some good photos this Fall.