As Highline’s fall sports come to an end, athletes start preparing for the winter sports season. Here at Highline, the winter sports feature men’s and women’s basketball. 

Men’s basketball is getting prepared for an exciting season, with high expectations for this year. While the women’s team is small but mighty team has a roster full of potential.

As fall sports come to an end at Highline, winter sports are just around the corner. A fan favorite, men’s basketball, returns to the court in less than two weeks for what will hopefully prove to be a thrilling season.

The 2023-24 season ended with an overall 15-14 record (6-8 in conference play) and landed fifth overall in the NWAC West Region standings. Building on their momentum from last year, the team is seeking to add even more success to the season this year.

Thomas Jefferson football recorded their first win of the season, when they prevailed over Kentlake 35-21 in a thrilling Friday night match.

The Thomas Jefferson Raiders and the Kentlake Falcons went head to head with both teams looking to get their first win of the season during this game and they were not gonna hold back.

For the third year in a row, Highline volleyball reigns as they clinched the Northwest Athletic Conference West Region Championship.

The Thunderbirds are currently 26-1 overall, 10-0 in the west region conference, and currently are on a 25-game win streak. 

The Highline women’s soccer team is back and ready to win after not playing during the fall 2023 season.

The Thunderbirds have recorded an impressive 7-3-2 record (5-3-2 in conference) and currently sit in third in conference standings. This new team has shown tremendous pride in the program under new head coach, Marco Monzonhad.

As we come to the middle of the season, the Highline men’s soccer team has truly shown how powerful of a team they can be. With a new head coach, and a demanding set of sophomores, this team truly has what it takes to be a winning team. 

The team is currently has an impressive 9-2-1 record this season, and have gone 8-1 within the NWAC west conference.

Decatur High School’s football team keeps turning heads in the local community by continuing their undefeated streak, beating Skyview, a consensus top ten 4A team, 15-14. 

The game took place under the lights of Federal Way Memorial Stadium, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m., where we saw the Decatur Gators (now 5-0) face off with the Skyview Storm (3-2). The Gators managed to hold Skyview to two touchdowns while also coming out on top for a hard fought win.

In true Seattle baseball fashion, the 2024 Mariners season ended without a trip to the postseason. Finishing the season with a 85-77 record, the Mariners missed the postseason by one game – mirroring last season’s tragic ending of falling just short. 

While their playoff aspirations were dashed before the contest, Sunday, Sept. 29, Marked the Mariners’ last game of the regular season. The Mariners went out swinging, ending a disappointing season with a win – beating the Oakland Athletics 6-4 at home.

Through the first half of the season, the Highline Volleyball team has shown how strong the core of their team is and that they are a powerhouse in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC). Thunderbirds have put up an impressive 19-1 record thus far, placing them squarely on top of the NWAC West Region 

Highline Volleyball is currently in the middle of an 18-game win streak, while boasting an impeccable 13-0 record when playing at home and going a perfect 3-0 against conference opponents.

As the Highline Thunderbirds gear up for the upcoming soccer season, the team is buzzing with anticipation under the leadership of newly appointed Head Coach Skyler Roehr. Roehr, who served as the assistant coach last year, steps into his new role with high expectations and a deep-rooted passion for Highline soccer, having played his final season with the Thunderbirds in 2018.

Last season, Highline came heartbreakingly close to capturing the NWAC Men’s Soccer Championship. The Thunderbirds finished as runners-up after a dramatic penalty shootout loss to Peninsula College. The match ended 2-2 after regulation and overtime, and the ensuing shootout extended to 11 rounds before Peninsula secured the title with an 11-10 victory.

Club América won consecutive championships and extended its record of Liga MX titles to 15 after defeating rival Cruz Azul 2-1 on aggregate in the Clausura 2024 final.

Thursday’s first leg ended with a 1-1 draw at Cruz Azul’s Ciudad de los Deportes Stadium. Sunday’s second leg at Club América’s Estadio Azteca ended with a score of 1-0 in favor of the team.

The Highline College men’s golf team concluded a commendable season with a notable performance at the NWAC Golf Championship, held at the scenic Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima, Wash. Despite the tough competition, Highline standout player David Sibbett achieved a remarkable fourth place individually, underlining his skill and knowledge of the game.

This season, the Highline College golf team competed fiercely in several tournaments, building momentum and showcasing their talents. The culmination of Sibbett’s efforts was evident in the championship, where his performance was a testament to his consistency and ability to excel under pressure.

The 2024 season ends in a second-place finish for the Highline women’s tennis team, as they fell to a Spokane Community College with a 6-3 loss in the championship final. The season proved a rollercoaster of victories and setbacks, culminating in an exciting journey to the NWAC Championship.

Led by coach Laura Rosa, the season saw the team face tough opponents and made the six players truly prove their mettle on the court.

The season began with a dominant performance against Bellevue College, securing a solid 7-0 victory. Highline continued its winning streak with a convincing 7-2 victory over Spokane Community College. However, they faced tough losses against American River College and Menlo College, highlighting the challenges that awaited them.

Baseball was born as the perfect sport, which is at its essence, America’s pastime. A relaxing game where you can spend your whole day at the park with a beer in your left hand and a good friend sitting to your right as you complain to each other about the umpires.

Somewhere along the line someone got confused. Someone thought ‘big number good’ and decided that ‘no baseball is not a relaxing pastime, it needs constant scoring to satisfy the ever shortening American attention span – it needs more hits’.

This infectious idea, this poisoning of the mind started in 1973 as an experiment that went on for too long. Initially this contagion was confined to the American League. It was one of the beautiful oddities of baseball – where one league had the designated hitter (DH) and one did not.

After the recent string of North West Athletic Conference (NWAC) tournaments, the Highline College men’s golf team sits at sixth in the conference. These tournaments were an opportunity to showcase the team’s collective talent and individual prowess, boosting them to their current standing.

At the Olympic Invitational hosted in Port Orchard, Wash., David Sibbett led the charge with a standout performance, clinching first place after a thrilling playoff.

In a thrilling conclusion to their regular season, the Highline College women’s tennis team triumphed over Bellevue with an impressive 7-0 victory, clinching the top spot in their conference and securing a coveted place in the championship title match.

With their eyes set on the prize, the team displayed exemplary skill and determination on the court, leaving no doubt about their readiness for the challenges ahead.

Last Saturday, the Highline women’s tennis team embarked on a journey to Eastern Washington to clash with Spokane Community College, culminating in a thrilling 5-4 victory in favor of the Thunderbirds.

Spokane solidified its status as the toughest contender in the conference, showing its competitive prowess in recent matchups against Bellevue and Treasure Valley Colleges. With only one blemish on their record, a loss to Highline College on the road, this pivotal game determined the conference leader and secured the top playoff spot.

After beating Treasure Valley College with a final score of 6 to 1 in their last match, the women’s tennis team continues to be in a good position for a shot at the title this season.

In last Saturday’s regular season game, where Highline College played as visitors to Treasure Valley College, and emerged victorious, Henleigh Elder was the outstanding player of the match, with a 6-0 victory in singles and in doubles sharing the field with Sophia Crosby; they destroyed the local team with a crushing 8-1.

The Highline College tennis team is unstoppable, dominating the regular season with a perfect record and securing the top spot in the standings. In their final home game on Saturday, the women’s team trounced Treasure Valley College with an impressive 8-1 victory.

Highline’s singles players were on fire, with Sophia Crosby, Caley Buchan, Denali Terry, and Riley Cordova all winning their matches convincingly, with scores of 6-0, 6-0, 6-1, and 6-2, respectively. Treasure Valley’s Maggie Sharp put up a valiant effort but was the only player from her team to emerge victorious.

The quote “standing on the shoulders of giants” is a quote that was popularized by Isaac Newton as a metaphor for using the understanding and knowledge of those that have gone before us to make progress. It is a quote that can certainly be applied metaphorically to the 2024 Men’s March Madness Tournament.

Without the progress of Jim Calhoon bringing UConn into the national spotlight through his several title runs from 1999 – 2011 UConn would never have attracted head coaching candidate Dan Hurley, and they would certainly never be in the conversation as a NCAA men’s basketball Blue Blood.

Over spring break, the Highline tennis squad kept their rackets hot, notching three consecutive victories in conference matchups, solidifying their dominance on the court.

Adding to their impressive run, the team embarked on a crossover event in Sacramento, California, where they showcased their skills against junior colleges from across the region on March 21st, 22nd, and 24th.

The Highline softball team has had to end their season premature of their season’s commitments this spring. The team has been forced to withdraw from participating in the NWAC softball season.

The most notable reason was the concern that there were players who decided to withdraw from the team as the season had already begun.

The withdrawal from participating was due to reasons that have not been disclosed on the part of the players. The difficulty in reaching a mutual agreement between players and the management to find a solution that could have saved the season led to the season being canceled altogether.

In a resounding victory, the Highline College women’s tennis team dominated their home opener against Bellevue College, securing a 7-0 win.

Amidst the jubilant atmosphere, Sophia Crosby, a freshman hailing from Grantsville, Utah, shared her insights on the thrilling match and her experiences as a newcomer to the Thunderbirds. In an exclusive interview with the Thunderword, Crosby expressed her exhilaration at donning the Thunderbirds jersey for the first time on home turf.

Softball season is finally back for Highline supporters who have waited patiently. There are new faces on the team who are ready and excited to tackle the new challenges that come with this season’s schedule. 

The team seems to have a good mix of fresh new faces and the more experienced players of the team. The roster currently hosts 11 players, with eight of them being freshmen and the other three sophomores.

In their final game of the season, the Thunderbird’s basketball team displayed tenacity and commitment on the court, despite facing a formidable opponent. Highline College went head-to-head against Grays Harbor Community College in a closely contested, but ultimately unvictorious, matchup.

The game unfolded in two intense periods, with both teams trading baskets and demonstrating their competitive spirit. In the first period, Grays Harbor College took a narrow lead, finishing with a score of 37 to 34 against Highline College. Highline fought back in the second period, but were still edged out with a score of 49 to 44.

At Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, one of the most exciting and unique NFL championship games unfolded in front of fans, celebrities (yes, Taylor Swift was there), and a record-breaking number of viewers.

On sports biggest stage, the Kanas City Chiefs went on to defeat the San Fransisco 49ers 25-22 in an overtime brawl, securing their second consecutive title. Since its inception, 58 Super Bowls have been played but only two have progressed to overtime, including Sunday’s battle between the Chiefs and 49ers.

It was a great start to the week for the Thunderbirds men’s basketball team, who took on Pierce College at home, and came out with a big win. When the clock struck zero the final scoreboard read 73-67. 

The Feb. 7 match saw the Thunderbirds take the lead in the first half 39-29. And while the second half was a super close matchup which ended with Pierce beating Highline on a narrow 38-34 lead, the differential was too much for the Raiders to overcome. Ultimately, the Highline men won the day. 

In a thrilling matchup at the Thunderdome, the Highline College men’s basketball team showcased its talents, securing a remarkable victory against Grays Harbor College. The game, which captivated fans with its intensity and drama, culminated in a triumphant win for the home team – highlighting the players’ determination and skill on the court.

As the game unfolded it was evident that each team was set on fiercely competing for dominance. The Thunderbirds demonstrated their prowess early on, claiming a commanding lead of 43-28 at the end of the first half.

The women’s basketball team was back in action this past Saturday against Lower Columbia, the leader in the standings. Even though the Thunderbirds gave it their all, they were defeated 102-41.

During their Jan. 27 match, the meeting between Lower Columbia and Highline took place at Lower Columbia College in an away game. With an effective performance, the Titans demonstrated their superiority, and Highline was forced to recover and plan for their next battle.

With an impressive performance against the Tacoma Titans, the Highline women’s basketball team prevailed 84-69, capping a season marked by more lows than peaks. The Thunderbirds, who are currently 2-14 on the season with a 1-4 conference record, saw a welcome uptick in performance after the victory.

Freshmen Thunderbirds Anaiya Lewis and Rahi-Mya Sumler demonstrated their scoring prowess before the game against Tacoma, averaging 9.2 and 8.2 points per game, respectively. Nevertheless, they outperformed everyone in the Tacoma game. Sumler showed off her dynamic abilities with 24 points, 5 rebounds, and an amazing 5 steals, while Lewis led the way with an incredible 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists.

On Saturday, Jan. 13 the beaches of Santa Monica exploded with Frisbees being thrown, spirit abounding, and players dressing up in different costumes to represent their team. This was not some kind of alien beach party invasion, it was beach ultimate Frisbee.

For the uninitiated, ultimate Frisbee is a sport where players receive a Frisbee off an initial throw (or pull) from the other team, and then work the Frisbee up-field by throwing the disk to their teammates.

Those teammates are then tasked with catching the Frisbee, stopping, then throwing the Frisbee to other teammates until someone catches it in the end zone to score. If the Frisbee touches a single grain of sand or blade of grass it is a turnover, and the other team gets a chance to do the same towards their goal.

After just one victory and 14 losses in the regular season, the Highline women’s basketball team faces an arduous season that makes postseason dreams a distant memory.

The club has been plagued by injuries, which have interfered with player rotations and challenged the coach’s strategic acumen. The Thunderbirds’ already difficult ascent has been made more difficult by the declining player numbers, which are the result of serious injuries.

The Highline college basketball team faced a challenging couple of games recently, displaying both resilience and skill on the court. On January 17, 2024, the Thunderbirds went head-to-head with Centralia College at Centralia. The game started with Centralia taking the lead in the first quarter with a score of 46-29. However, Highline College fought back in the second quarter, narrowing the gap to 41-37. The third quarter saw a remarkable turnaround, with Highline College outscoring Centralia and securing the win with a final score of 83-70.

The Thunderbirds’ starting lineup showcased impressive performances, with standout player Nick Robertson delivering an outstanding performance of 25 points and 16 rebounds. Robertson’s contribution was a key factor in Highline College’s victory, highlighting his skill and determination on the court. Other notable players in the starting lineup included Rylon Donovan, Keaine Silimon, Bradley Graham, and Isaiah Vargas, each making valuable contributions to the team’s success.

Over the past week, the Thunderbirds men’s basketball team split a set of matches, highlighted by bringing home a win against the number two ranked team in the west conference.

The victory came by besting the Green River Gators, with very little margin for error, 74-72. And in a nail-biting showdown at Pierce College, the Highline Thunderbirds took the court with determination, but ultimately fell to the tough competition, 93-85.

Well, if Husky fans didn’t have a reason to stay in their room and blast sad Drake songs, now they do, thanks to the previously undefeated Washington football team acquiring their first loss of the season in the National Championship game.

For many Washington fans, this season was a dream season where it seemed like nothing could go wrong. The Huskies tallied win after win throughout the regular season, came in first in the Pac-12, and were the second-highest nationally ranked team in all of college football.

The Highline women’s basketball team faced an intense three-day challenge during the Highline College Women’s Basketball Crossover, competing against formidable opponents. While the outcomes weren’t in their favor, individual performances illuminated the court and provided glimpses of the team’s potential.

In the opening game against Yakima Valley, the Thunderbirds exhibited resilience despite falling short with a final score of 74-54.

Jesselle Victo Castillo showcased her dedication, leading the team with 19 points. Sarah Gatluak’s performance, contributing 9 points, demonstrated her scoring prowess. Anaiya Lewis added 9 points and 6 rebounds, highlighting her multifaceted skills on the court.

In the heart of the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC), the Highline College Thunderbirds have been navigating a challenging season, showcasing resilience and determination on the basketball court. 

In their recent game against Bellevue College, the Thunderbirds faced a tough challenge. Despite a promising start in the first quarter, Highline eventually fell short, with Bellevue securing a 74-64 victory.

The Highline College men’s basketball had an eventful weekend with two intense games where the team showcased their skills. Matching up against Shoreline, the team secured a victory, yet in another, against Edmonds, they faced a close defeat.

In the first matchup against Shoreline on Nov. 29, Highline emerged victorious with a final score of 85-72. The team’s performance was commendable, particularly in the first and second quarters, where they outscored Shoreline. Bradley Graham, a sophomore from Federal Way, once again led the scoring with an impressive 21 points.

The Highline College women’s volleyball team has finished a remarkable season, finishing first in the western region of Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC).

In the NWAC West Region, the team played a total of 12 games in the regular season, boasting an amazing 11-1 record, translating to an impressive win percentage of 91.7%. Their defensive skill is highlighted by an astounding 34 sets won and a mere three sets lost.

In the broader scope of NWAC, the team played 36 games overall, securing a commendable 30-6 record and maintaining a win percentage of 83.3%.

During the 2023 season, Highline men’s soccer team stood as a formidable force, proven by a successful season culminating in their second-place finish in the NWAC. As the NWAC men’s soccer All-Stars are unveiled, the dominance of Highline’s athletes becomes apparent, solidifying their presence in the prestigious lineup. 

Head Coach Steve Mohn’s strategy and leadership have propelled Highline to unprecedented heights. Named Co-Coach of the Year, Mohn played a pivotal role in guiding the team to a 16-1-3 season record, clinching the NWAC West region title and reaching the final championship.

In an electrifying season opener, the Highline men’s basketball team showcased their resilience and determination, securing a hard-fought victory against Wenatchee Valley with a final score of 97-90.

The game, held at Highline on Nov. 21, provided a rollercoaster of emotions for fans as the team faced an early deficit in the first quarter with a score of 40-29.

However, Highline bounced back emphatically in the second quarter, outscoring Wenatchee Valley to end the half 51-40. The intensity continued during the second half, ultimately leading to triumph for Highline.

The Highline’s women’s volleyball team competed at the prestigious NWAC Elite 8 Championship, but ultimately fell to the competition in the semifinal round. Their season comes to an end after the squad reached the Final Four, a feat to be proud of.

In a thrilling display of skill and determination, the highline women’s volleyball team embarked on a commendable journey in the NWAC Volleyball Championships, held at Pierce college from Nov. 17 to Nov. 19.