On Oct. 25, 2023 the Western Washington University water ski team flew to Louisiana for the 44th Syndicate Collegiate Water Ski National Championships.
The Western Washington University Water Ski club relies on recruiting students who came to Western so they could snow ski at Mount Baker and converting them into water skiers.
A new generation of skiers has taken the team back to Nationals at the DII level for the 2023 season.
In June 2023, Jim Sterk became Western Washington University’s seventh director of athletics in the 109 years the university has been open. He rejoined the community to work with student-athletes who are where he once was at Western.
According to their head coach of almost 20 years, Anacortes High School has never had a basketball player as good as Davis Fogle.
Head Coach Brian Roper led Lynden High School to win four of the last five 2A state championships. Thirty years ago at North Mason High School, Roper coached his first season without winning a single game.
Western Washington University’s women’s soccer team placed second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships in Ellensburg. The team has appeared in the GNAC final game for the last 11 years.
Western Washington University women’s basketball started the season 2-0 after a dominating defensive performance in the Veteran’s Day Classic tournament held at Sam Carver Gymnasium.
Western Washington University’s cross-country team placed first in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship on Oct. 21, 2023. The Vikings have won three of the four most recent GNAC championships, coming in as defending champions this year, favored to win.
Vikings basketball has returned. The official start of the new season is Friday, Nov. 3, when the Vikings play against Daemen University in Langley, British Columbia.
Dugout chants, loud music and wet bleachers. On Saturday, Oct. 21, the WWU Softball Alumni Event reunited old teammates for some lighthearted competition.
Pieces of king salmon, skewered with alder wood sticks and seasoned with salt and pepper, stood at the ready, their pink tones waiting to be darkened by an open flame. A traditional Lummi BBQ was set up at the Squalicum Harbor, surrounded by many other local seafood sellers.
The 2023 season was one of the best in recent memory for Vikings baseball, making it to regionals for the first time since 2018.
Western Washington University’s Devyn Oestreich was the only underclassman to be selected from Western’s volleyball team for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference Team.
Costumes, breweries and relay races are great ways to enjoy the season and contribute to the community. On Sunday, Oct. 15, Whatcom Events hosted its fourth annual Trails to Taps race, where participants dress up and enjoy a fun run through Bellingham’s trails and breweries.
Bellingham Bells head coach Jim Clem will step down for the 2024 season. He coached the Bells for 12 seasons.
Western Washington University hosted its first and only home event of the season with the Women’s Golf Invitational taking place Oct. 9-10. Western finished in second place with Dani Bailey leading the way for the team.
“It’s just amazing,” Viking defender Halle Noel said. “It feels so good to win with this group."
As the Western Washington University men’s golf team flew into Ohio to compete in the Division II national championship tournament, so did fifth-year senior Jordan Lee for the first time in his career.
From roaring crowds in electric arenas to record-shattering moments and legends that capture the hearts of millions, sports are full of drama. With narratives of heartbreak, triumph and perseverance, stories about sports are some of the most captivating of any genre.
Solutions by The State News
