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Welcome, AD Thurston!
Team News
Giveaway at Varsity BB on Jan. 28
Save the Date for the Blast!
Beaver Gear Confusion
Note from the ABC Presidents
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Jan 28: Giveaway @ Varsity BB Games
Mar 3: ABC Ballard Blast
Mar 7: Spring Sports Team Parent Meeting
Mar 17: Breakfast of Champions
May 1: All Sports Team Parent Meeting
Jun 7: Beaver Nation Athletic Awards
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Introducing our new Athletic Director, Jason Thurston!
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Beaver Nation,
I am extremely excited to join you all as the Athletics and Activities Director at Ballard. I have been incredibly impressed with everything I have heard, read, and experienced throughout the last 2 months and look forward to being a part of our future here.
I would like to tell you a bit about myself as a brief introduction, but look forward to getting to know many of you in person in the coming months and years. I began teaching and coaching in 2004 at Waller High School outside of Houston, before moving to Liberty High School in Frisco, TX in 2008. I have coached many sports including Track and Field, Tennis, Weightlifting, and Football, but the majority of my time has been spent as a Head Wrestling Coach for both the Men’s and Women’s teams for 11 of my 13 years. We were fortunate enough to earn 2 state championships during that time, as well as many district and regional titles as well.
My biggest passion is to build programs that give everyone involved a sense of community and family. Our job in athletics is to give kids experiences and memories that will last the rest of their lives. These experiences take place on the field/court/mat/track, but also in other events that take place away from competition that get the kids to build the camaraderie that is needed to win.
You will see my wife, Alexis, and our 3 young kids (Tyler - 4, McKayla - 2, Gabriel - 6 months) at many events throughout the year. It’s been fun teaching little ones what a Beaver is - we didn’t have many of those in Texas!
I am eager to get started and look forward to getting to work closely with many of you. I am confident we can build on the incredibly strong foundation laid by Ms. Burr and the rest of the Ballard staff. Let me know how I can assist in any way!
It’s always great to be a Beaver!
Respectfully,
Jason Thurston
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Boys Basketball
Anchored by seniors Shay Curcuruto (an ever-consistent floor general), Simon Czyzewski (an explosive scorer and emotional leader), Valentin Boyanov (a hard working, board-smashing big man) & Sam Heikel (a sharp shooting dead-eye), the Boys Basketball team have been on a mission the first half of the season. Based on a commitment to team defense and playing for each other, the boys have been competing head-to-head in the most talented league in the state, if not on the West Coast, and taking their game to non-league opponents. Junior Fresh Ausar has been electric in Metro league play, breaking ankles and dropping dimes, while Junior big man Thomas Helean is cleaning the glass and put the lock down on opponents' big men. The highlight of the season to date was the team's holiday tournament north of the border at the University of Victoria. The Beavs took down two of the best teams from British Columbia and Alberta respectively, running the table to win the tournament with a resounding 87-59 win in the championship game over Edmonton's Harry Ainlay Titans. Shay Curcuruto was named tournament MVP, while Simon Czyzewski and Valentin Boyanov were named to the all-tourney team - well deserved recognition of the hard work and time these young men have put into the program.
Coaches Mike Broom and Jon Adams continue to push the team to bring their best through the second half of league play with matchups against rival Roosevelt and a number of top 10 teams in the state right here in the Metro league. Follow updates from the team on Twitter @BallardBBall and online at:
ballardboyshoops.com.
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Girls Basketball
The girls basketball team won the Surf N Slam Tournament in San Diego, CA over break!
Kate Rutledge was named tournament MVP and Adrianna Davis was named to the All-Tournament team. While in Cali, the team enjoyed beautiful weather and memorable team bonding. This trip was made possible by our many supporters. THANK YOU!
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Gymnastics
The gymnastics team is off to a strong start and steadily improving. Standouts in the first half of the season have included Amirah Karam and newcomer Celyn Stermer. It's hard to believe we're already over halfway done! Come catch the team at home on Friday, Jan 20th @ 6pm for Senior Night, and Saturday, Feb 11th when we'll be hosting the SeaKing District Meet and hopefully qualify for state!
Girls Lacrosse
Parent/Player/Coach Informational Meeting is on Mon Jan 23 at 7pm in BHS Library. Girls Lacrosse is a no cut sport but we will hold tryouts for the Varsity team. This is an opportunity to learn more about the upcoming season as well as to meet the coaches, future teammates and other parents. We will answer questions about the season and discuss tryouts, registration paperwork, and volunteer opportunities. Captains Practices are currently being held on Monday and Thursday afternoons after school. The season gets underway on Feb 27.
Ultimate
Winter Ultimate season is underway and our Varsity Coed team started things off right with a win last Saturday against Nathan Hale 11 - 7. The season runs through the end of February with our next Matchups against Franklin Coed on Sunday 1/15 and then agains rival Ingraham on Saturday 1/21.
Girls Ultimate practices for Spring Season will begin on February 27th. The Spring Season for Girls will run from March through the end of May. All girls interested in playing please contact John Nobis
jgnobis@gmail.com (206-257-8311). We accept all levels of players. Those with experience and those brand new to the game. Please come out and see why this is one of the fastest growing sports amongst girls nationwide.
Boys Spring Club will also begin in March. Any boys interested in playing Ultimate in the Spring are welcome to join the boys club team which will have games every Friday night March through May. More details to follow in upcoming newsletters.
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Ballard Headband Giveaway at Varsity Basketball Games January 28
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The ABC is excited to announce that we are giving away 150 high-quality performance headbands featuring the Ballard logo at the upcoming Varsity Basketball Games on Saturday, January 28.
The first 75 students to each of the Boys and Girls Varsity games will receive a headband. The Girls game starts at 4:45pm and the Boys game starts at 6:30. Come out and support our Beavers as they take on nationally ranked Nathan Hale!
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Save the Date for the Blast!
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Mark your calendars: the 2017 Ballard Blast will be at 6pm March 3rd at The Ballard Elks. Please join us for this fun and casual evening fundraiser in support of the work the BHS Athletic Booster Club does for Ballard Athletics!
Procurement forms are available for download by clicking the image -- please consider taking a form or two around town as you run errands and asking your favorite shops, services, and restaurants if they will donate to the Blast.
Tickets are $30 each, and online sales and more event details are coming soon. If you'd like to buy your ticket now, please make your check out to BHS ABC and mail to P.O. Box 70426, Seattle, WA 98107.
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Before the holidays a number of parents contacted us about the Ballard items that were being sold at Bartell Drugs. Some of the items were priced lower than similar items we sell. The display for these items said that a portion of the cost would be donated to the school.
We would like to clarify that this company has nothing to do with Ballard High School and from the research we have done so far we cannot find any group within the school that is receiving proceeds from the sale of these pieces.
We are trying to figure out how they (an East Coast company) are able to do this, but we are having a difficult time getting any response from anyone involved.
Please know that if you are not buying Ballard Beaver Gear with our logo on it from The Athletic Booster Club, your sports team, or another school organization, your money is most likely not benefiting the school.
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Note from the ABC Presidents
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Happy New Year!
We hope you all had a happy and healthy holiday season and enjoyed some additional time with your Ballard Athletes.
We are in our last few weeks of first semester and all of our winter sports teams are going strong. Please try to get out and attend one of the many athletic events over the next month -- let's show our Ballard Pride!
On January 28th, the Athletic Booster Club will be at the girls’ and boys’ basketball games against Nathan Hale with a Beaver Gear giveaway to the first 75 students in attendance at each of the varsity games. Come support your teams in what is going to be their biggest game of the season!
Also, please mark your calendars for Friday, March 3 for the ABC’s Annual Blast at The Ballard Elks. We promise a fun night with a silent auction, cornhole, dinner, drinks and mingling. More to come on raffle items and exclusive parties only available for purchase at this event.
Thanks for all of your support,
Lauren and Jennifer
ABC Co-Presidents
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Visit the ABC website for specific team info, sports calendars, and more!
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Join the BHS Athletic Booster Club and help us support Ballard athletes!
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