Important Dates

Note: We've highlighted a few remaining regular season (but not all) games for Ballard teams, check for the full schedule on the Spring Athletics News & Updates page.

APRIL 20 Baseball vs. Auburn @ T Mobile Park, 6 p.m. FREE!

APRIL 23-26 Dance Team Tryouts @ BHS Gym 4:30-7 p.m.

APRIL 24 BUF Final Season Game vs. Lincoln @ BHS Field 5:30 p.m.

APRIL 25 Tennis Senior Celebration and match hosting West Seattle @ BHS Courts 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 26 Softball hosts Kentlake and "End to Gun Violence" event, in honor of Coach Griffith's cousin, D'Vonne Pickett Jr. @ Lower Woodland #3 4 p.m.

APRIL 26 Final Regular Season Soccer Game vs Seattle Prep @ BHS Field 4:30 p.m.

APRIL 30 Girls Lacrosse hosts Kennedy Catholic for Final Regular Season Game @ BHS Field 7 p.m.

MAY 2 Final Track Meet of Regular Season @ Ingraham first event 2:45 p.m.

MAY 3 Boys Lacrosse Senior Night vs. Bainbridge @ BHS ceremony at 6:30 p.m. game starts at 7:30 p.m.

MAY 13 Athletic Booster Club Board Meeting @ BHS Staff Lounge (2nd floor, past Counseling officers) 6 p.m.

MAY 29 Athletic Booster Club Trivia Night Fundraiser @ Elks Club (6411 Seaview Ave. N.W.) Doors Open 6 p.m., Trivia Starts 7 p.m.

Ballard Gymnasts Competing at National Senior Showcase

Congratulations to senior gymnasts Alex Bullock (left) and Naomi Kildal who will be participating in the Senior Showcase Invitational meet, put on by the National High School Gymnastics Association. High school seniors from across the US compete on state teams. Alex and Naomi applied for the team this year and were both selected for Team Washington!

Ballard has had 8 gymnasts go to the Senior Showcase over past years. Current Assistant Coach Hannah Hudson went in 2016. The meet is in Fort Myers Beach, FL May 17-18.

"We're very proud of Alex and Naomi," said Coach Stephanie Gundel. "They've been outstanding leaders for our program for four years and deserve this great end to their gymnastics careers."

Follow the BHS Gymnastics program on their Instagram page, @ballardgymnastics.

Your ABC Donations Help Make the Magic Happen!

Please Consider a Spring Gift to ABC

At our April meeting, the Booster Club Board approved a $600 grant to help with Beaver gymnasts Naomi and Alex's travel expenses for their trip, mentioned above, to the Senior Showcase Invitational.

As budget allows, the BHS Athletic Booster Club (ABC) provides grant funds to individual teams to support quality programming for all student athletes. We value access to participation in athletic activities for all, and these grants awards are designed to help solve fundraising shortfalls for teams that are trying to remove specific barriers to play.

We've worked hard to support Beaver athletes and coaches too. In addition to the grants to the gymnasts, ABC has also recently:

• supported the Strength and Conditioning program, serving all students, along with the Ballard High School Foundation and Associated Student Body, to help fund coach and intern salaries;
• provided treasurer services for Ballard athletic teams;
• purchased wrestling scales for the Brawlin' Beavers;
• purchased uniforms for the Bowling team;
• worked with Dick Lee, from the Ballard High School Foundation, to successfully encourage Seattle Public Schools to purchase new jump pits and covers for Track & Field athletes;
• And, in partnership with the BHS Foundation, and donations at the Breakfast of Champions event fundraiser, paid for all the coaches to participate in the Positive Coaching Alliance coaches mental health and strength training (winter and spring seasons, fall coaches to come in September) and purchased pizza dinners for participants.

We can only assist with grant requests and these crucial Ballard athletics needs with your kind donations.

So, thank you if you have given during the 2023-24 school year. If you can, please contribute again or step up now to support BHS Athletics! ABC Donations are always welcome online or via the QR code. Donations are fully tax deductible. Thank you!

Save the Date!

Spring Athletic Booster Club Trivia Night May 29

Save the date for our next Trivia Night fundraiser Wednesday, May 29 at the Ballard Elks Club (6411 Seaview Ave. N.W.). Doors open at 6 p.m.; trivia starts at 7 p.m.

Gather your friends and family in teams of six for a fun evening testing team trivia skill! Also, the coaches want to regain their position as Trivia Night Champs!

Look for registration details coming soon! Your registration fee is a donation to the Athletic Booster Club to further our mission to support and promote quality athletics at Ballard High School. Donations are fully tax-deductible.

Volunteers are needed and service-learning opportunities will be available too. If you want to help, email Beth Sylves at bhsabcmemberships@gmail.com.

5th Annual Running of the Beavers 5K a Success!

A rainy start couldn't damper the Ballard High School Foundation's 5th Annual Running of the Beavers 5K Fun Run/Walk March 23 at Golden Gardens.

This year, the senior class won the Class Competition, earning $500 for their class ASB account! Congratulations Class of 2024!

Thanks to organizers, including Foundation Executive Director and Co-Founder Dick Lee '61; race chairs Beth Sylves and Sue Stimac Verduin '78; Athletic Booster Club President Suzanne Dale Estey; Activities Coordinator Laura Lehni; ASB President Addy Wynkoop; band and cheer team members; and parent/guardian, community, and student volunteers.

Thanks also to sponsors Anchor QEA, Covich-Wiliams, Goodman Foundation, Carter Motors, Duke's Seafood and Cafe Appassionato. Rough & Tumble hosted an after party and Visit Ballard also helped get the word out about the event. Thanks to participants who shared food donations at the event for Ballard Food Bank.

Sign Up for Victor Salvino BHS Foundation Golf Classic

Sign up for the Victor Salvino 24th Annual Ballard High School Foundation Golf Classic, Friday, Aug. 16 at Newcastle Golf Course. Shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. Pre-event barbecue and putting contest too.

Register Today for the Golf Classic! Direct your registration proceeds to your favorite athletic team, Ballard Performing Arts, Cheer or Dance Team! See you at the Golf Classic!

Not a Golfer? You Can Still Find Ways to Help AND Your Team Benefits!

The Athletic Booster Club continues its support for the Foundation's annual golf tournament that offers so many ways for teams to raise funds for their programs!

Join the fun, like the Girls Soccer team who got to help out with the Putting Contest last summer and learn about how your team can benefit too!

Do you want to join ABC Boosters as a volunteer? Email Dick Lee at rjlee@seattleschools.org.

Meet New Ballard Tennis Coach Angel Le!

We asked new Tennis Coach Angel Le to share a bit about her background and perspectives on the sport. She was kind enough to oblige!

Tennis is primarily an individual sport, but in high school tennis, players learn to operate within a team framework. Each individual win or loss on a court contributes to the overall team score. Whether playing singles, where you may find yourself alone on the court, or doubles, where you're paired with a partner, the entire team is rooting for your success. It takes a special kind of coach to cultivate this mindset, and I was fortunate to have had exceptional coaches, especially during my time in high school tennis. This experience influenced my decision to coach at Ballard High School.

My journey in tennis began at the age of 5, competing in the USTA. I played Varsity tennis at Interlake High School where we were 3x State Champions. Continuing my tennis career at Whitman College, I earned recognition as a multi-All-American player, ITA West Player, 3x Player of the Year for the Northwest Conference, and achieved a national ranking of 20th. After suffering a shoulder injury, I lost my love for the game, but it fueled my desire to inspire the next generation to discover and sustain the joy of tennis. This led me to prioritize coaching, serving as the Tennis and Pickleball Director at the Walla Walla Country Club for three years.

My primary goal for this year's team is to ensure my players have fun while prioritizing their mental and physical well-being. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the Ballard Beavers family! Welcome Coach Le!

Baseball

From Coach Doug Montgomery: "The Baseball Dirt Beavers are off to a strong start in the uber competitive Metro league, currently sitting at 8-2 in Metro play, and 11-4 overall, holding a #1 seed in the upcoming Metro tournament. JV (9-6) and JVC (8-5) are also having good seasons as the depth in the baseball program is the best it's been in years. Your Beaver Batsmen have been led by outstanding performances by senior captains Adam Tripp (batting .429, 3-0 pitching), Chase Edwards (batting .422, team high 19 hits) and standout junior catcher Truitt Madonna (UW Commit), batting .405, team high 14 RBI)."

Beavers playing at T-Mobile April 20!

"Come watch the Flat-tailed Fielders in person this weekend at T-Mobile Park, Saturday, April 20 at 6 p.m. The game is free to attend. Home plate entrance will be open. As part of the High School Baseball Classic, Beavers Baseball will play Auburn High School at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at T-Mobile. This game is free to attend, so catch Ballard under the big lights!" Follow the team @ballardbaseball.

Boys Lacrosse

It’s been an exciting and action-packed season! The Boys Lacrosse team continues to make a concerted effort to grow the game and has great momentum, fielding both JV and Varsity teams led by four dedicated coaches, including second season head coach Ray Pryphun. The Varsity record is 5-2 heading into 5 home games, mostly league play, beginning this Saturday, April 20.

The team is led by Captains Luke Berard and Carter Garrison (seniors), and Owen Willis and Davis Brewster (juniors).

Senior Night will be held on Friday, May 3 against Bainbridge at the Dam. The ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m. This summer, players from both the boys' and girls' teams are taking their first international service trip to Colombia. Thank you for all your support for lacrosse on and off the field! Go Beavers! Follow the team @ballardlacrosse.

Track & Field

Quick season peek from Coach Neal Howard:

"The Track and Field teams traveled up to Bellingham to compete against 36 other teams at the Birger Solberg Invitational meet on Saturday, April 6. The Girls Team came out in first place and the Boys Team placed second! Both teams' scoring came down to the last event, the 4x400m relay, where Ballard relay teams set season records to secure their final placement. The coaches are proud of the team this year and the students have shown resilience under pressure and adverse weather! Looking forward to sunnier skies later this season." Follow the team @ballard_trackandfield

Boys Soccer

In its tough Metro Sound division, Boys Soccer is currently 4-4-2 (4-5-2 overall), with three games remaining in the regular season. On Friday, April 19 the Beavers will play at Lakeside at 3 p.m. and on Monday, April 22 they'll play at Lincoln at 5:45 p.m. The final regular season game of the school year is home at 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 26 versus Seattle Prep. Follow the team @ballardsoccer.

Softball

Fastpitch Softball is 8-4 overall, 6-2 Metro. After taking Spring Break off to recharge the battery, the Beavers are currently on a three-game winning streak and remain undefeated at home!

At their home game Friday, April 26 versus Kentlake, Ballard Softball will host an "End to Gun Violence" event Friday, April 26, in honor of Coach Griffith's cousin D'Vonne Pickett Jr., who was tragically killed in October 2022. The game is 4-6 p.m. at Lower Woodland #3. Follow the team @ballardbeaversoftball.

Tennis

From Coach Angel Le: "The Ballard Tennis team is making a strong statement that we are a new force to be reckoned with. Both of our boys' and girls' records for this season are 5 wins and 4 losses. While each individual player has an important role in our team's success, I want to acknowledge our seniors who have shown tremendous leadership and sportsmanship: Amara Fontes, Emilie Opdahl, Cami Martinez, Jackson Jobe, John O'Neil, Josh Skov, Kian Graham, and Sienna Lee. Come support the team's final home match and celebrate our seniors on Senior Day Thursday, April 25 3:30 p.m. at the Ballard HS tennis courts." Follow the team @ballardhighschooltennis.

Girls Lacrosse

After starting the season on a 7-0 tear, Girls Lacrosse is now 9-2 and has scored 129 goals in their 11 games.

To wrap up the season, the team travels to Bainbridge at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, before returning to play at home for their final two. The Beavers take on the Roosevelt Roughriders at 7 p.m. Friday, April 26 and wrap the regular season against Kennedy Catholic at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, both on BHS Field. Follow the team @bhs_girlslax

Girls Ultimate Frisbee

Varsity BUF Girls Ultimate Frisbee team are wrapping up a fantastic season. Come check out their last game of the season on April 24 vs. the Lincoln Lynx at 5:30 p.m. on the BHS Field. Way to go Abby, Addy, Cecilia, Charlotte, Elsa, Ivy, Josie, Julia, Katelyn, Matisse, Petra, Piper, Rose, Sadie, and Sidney for staying chilly!

Also, come watch Ballard Mixed Varsity at Spring Reign on Sat, April 27 and Sun, April 28 at Skagit River Park. The tournament hosts teams from WA, ID, OR, British Columbia and Manitoba.

And finally, we'll be saying goodbye and thank you to our graduating seniors Krystian, Nathan, Isak, Dexter, Danny, Etienne, Simone, and Elsa.

We're always looking for new players to join BUF so check out our website and fill out our new player interest form. Follow the team @bufballard. Have you thrown a disc today?

Find more information on the BUF website.

Dance Team Compete at State & 2024-25 Audition Details

Congratulations to the Dance Team, led by Head Coach Bethany Nielcen, which competed in the State Championships March 23 at the Yakima Sundome. Here's an encore of their performance "Burn" from the Hamilton Musical.

Beaver dance enthusiasts: Want to join the fun? Dance Team auditions for the 2024-25 school year will be 4:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 23 through Friday, April 26 in the Gym. All current 8th-11th graders are eligible to audition!

The audition consists of 3 clinic days (Tuesday-Thursday) and the final audition day on Friday. Dancers will learn jazz, lyrical, pom, and hip-hop material. No prior dance experience is required!

Sign up via Final Forms. To learn more about the team, please click HERE or visit our website at https://bhsdanceteam.wixsite.com/ballard/auditions. Please contact bhsdanceteam@gmail.com if you have any questions. Follow the team @ballardhsdanceteam.

Spring Athletics Posters in Main Office

For Beavers fans, there are few remaining Spring Athletics team posters in the Main Office. Stop by and pick one up for free and proudly display in your business or home!

Thanks for supporting Ballard athletics! Here's the poster photo taken by Athletic Director Eric Ensign. The poster also features business community supporters.

Pre-ordered Beaver Gear Duffel Bags Have Arrived!

Thank you all for your patience with the duffle bag delivery. The bags were delayed from original ship date and were distributed Friday at lunch. Students and families who pre-ordered a bag and weren't able to get theirs Friday can pick it up in the Main Office. More info.

Email bhsabcgear@gmail.com any questions. Thank you for purchasing a duffel bag, a portion of the sales goes back to Ballard Athletics!

SUPPORT BALLARD ATHLETICS!

ATTEND OUR NEXT MONTHLY BOARD MEETING!



6:30 p.m. Monday, May 13 in the Ballard High School Staff Lounge (second floor, past Counseling Center)

Our Athletes Need Your Support!

I want to support BHS athletes! What can I do?

• Please support the Athletic Booster Club by donating! As a team parent/guardian, you are already a member of the Athletic Booster Club! Your kind donations (via link or use the easy QR code) directly support our efforts to support all student athletes.



• Buy and wear Beaver Gear, especially when you are out supporting our Beavers at sporting events.

• Plan on attending the various social and fundraising events we host and support throughout the school year. Help us build community while we celebrate our athletes! This includes our Spring Sports Trivia Night May 29 at the Ballard Elks Club! (More details will be coming soon on our website!)

• Assist your team coach as a team rep or offer to help your existing team rep. Volunteering to help out with a team's administrative, fundraising, or communications means the coach has more time to focus on athletes.

• Make a direct donation to your team!

Questions? Email Beth Sylves at bhsabcmemberships@gmail.com. Go Beavers!

THE ABC SUPPORTS

Follow @bhs_athleticboosterclub on Instagram!