Winter sports see mixed success in league play
Hannah Spranger, Co-Content Editor

Winter Cheer:

For the first time in many years, Winter Cheer attended a competition at a statewide level on January 4. The squad competed in the game day large co-ed category, and narrowly missed placing for state.

“I wish we could’ve been competing for all four years,” senior Maya Harrison said. “[Competing] brought the team together and it was good to see other schools compete and their techniques and dancing because we could bring those techniques back to our practices. I think it will be a lot better in the future since this was our first year doing competition, and now our coach and all of our underclassmen know what to expect so they will be a lot more prepared for next year.”

Because competition season is over, the girls are now traveling with the boys and girls basketball teams and the wrestling team to cheer on the Pirates.

Girls Basketball:

Led by senior captain Ella Wheeler and new coach and Vashon alumna Anya Serebryakov, the girls basketball team is playing well and showing growth. Wheeler sees the potential the team has to do well in the remainder of the season.

“The team is really motivated despite being so young,” she said. “We have developed such good chemistry and being on the team feels like being part of a family.”

The team has a record of two wins and nine losses and is ranked sixth in the league.

Boys Basketball:

The boys basketball team is currently fourth in the league with zero wins and one loss, but is going strong with eight wins and three losses overall. The team has a strong bond and sense of sportsmanship.

“We’re a very tight knit group and easygoing. We’re a silly bunch of pals,” junior Zac Van Dusen said. “We love to do things during basketball together and outside of basketball together. … We have a hard fighting spirit and good sense of community.”

The team is coached by long-standing head coach Andy Sears, who recently celebrated his 300th win, and led by captains and seniors JJ Bogaard and Isaac Patchen.

Wrestling:

The Vashon Island Wrestling team is second in the league with one tournament win and two tournament losses. They team also has one non-league tournament win. The team has a strong sense of community.

“Everybody is working hard and putting their best foot forward,” sophomore Joe Barnes said. “Everybody is super committed.”

The high school recently hosted the 31st annual Rock Tournament in the gym where 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A schools all competed. Vashon did well and is confident going into the rest of their season.