Charles Wright athletes scored big this week with victories for every fall sport played at the school.  The fans scored big too – they voted Charles Wright KIRO-TV’s Game of the Week for the second time this season.  The station’s 11pm news program tonight will include coverage of the home football game versus Vashon and that clip and a video filmed on campus Thursday about school spirit can both be viewed at www.kirotv.com/hsfootball during the coming week.

Football
The fifth and sixth grade football team won their game against Vashon this week by a score of 19-6 and improved their season record to 2-3-1.  They have stood toe-to-toe with notable opponents from the Boys and Girls Clubs as well as two University Place teams including the two-time defending champions.  Ten CWA students are playing for the Tarriers this season, including two girls.  From off-campus, eight additional players have joined the team.

“These kids have worked hard and done all that we’ve asked of them while demonstrating powerful traits that will prove helpful throughout life,” says Coach Tony Hill.  “They’re conquering fear, overcoming pain or discomfort, identifying roles and how each player affects the outcome of a particular play, and developing one of the best traits – jumping back after being knocked down.  We like to say it’s not if we’ll bounce back, but how high.”

The team received a great complement from an opposing coach recently.  He told Hill after the game: “Coach, you have the nicest team ever and they still kicked our butts!”

Charles Wright’s Middle School varsity football team faced Life Christian this week.  A well balance offensive attack boosted the Tarriers over the Eagles by a score of 34-20.  Several Tarrier offensive players scored touchdowns.  The defense shut down the Eagles’ running game in the second half to help secure the victory.  CWA recorded over 200 yards on offensive and for the first time this season the Tarriers returned a kick for a touchdown.

Last Friday, the US varsity team beat Chimacum on the road 28-14.  The Tarriers scored seven points in the first quarter when CJ Dale made a 16-yard pass to Cory Barrett and Alex Benfanti made the kick.  They scored 14 in the second quarter on a 20-yard pass from Dale to Eric Knowles, a four-yard run by Mike Mayer, and two kicks by Benfanti.  In the fourth quarter, Dale passed to Knowles again, this time for 82-yards, and Benfanti made another kick.  The JV team also beat Chimacum 36-32 this week.

Volleyball
CWA competed in nine volleyball matches over the past week.

The JV-White team took on the Eagles at Life Christian on Friday afternoon.  After a tough loss the previous Tuesday, Coach Richard Kalustian and his team came out firing.  Good serving from Sydney G. helped them overcome an early deficit and they showed a lot of determination by keeping most balls from hitting their floor.  They outlasted the Eagles for a 25–17 win.

Despite enthusiastic and inspired play from Tarriers in the next two games, the Life Christian Eagles proved too consistent to beat.  Alex R. kept the team in from the serving line, but at 23–21, with the Tarriers down two, the Life Christian Eagles powered the ball back over for game point and the eventual win.  The 3rd and deciding game was close as well, 15–12 Eagles.

The MS Varsity Volleyball came out fired up and ready to play against Life Christian.  Behind the leadership of team captain Shayna J., the Tarrier team took the floor and out-played the Eagles in all aspects.  Malia K. played well at the middle blocker position and had several nice attacks at the net.  Kaja S. also played well at the net, swinging with aggressive force from the outside hitter position.  Both Shayna J. and Shelby F. showed terrific hustle at the setter position.

In the second game, it was the Tarriers who found themselves scrambling to make plays.  After a confident first outing they struggled to get into a rhythm and were never able to get their feet underneath them.  They struggled to pass the ball and the Eagles quickly overwhelmed them.

In the third and final game the Tarriers picked up where they left off the first game, and this time when the Eagles pushed, Charles Wright pushed “wright” back.  They made some great defensive plays and kept the ball alive with incredible hustle and determination.  Combined with rekindled deadly serving, the Tarriers put the Eagles to sleep for the win.  They won 3-0: 25–17, 11–25, and 15-11.

On Wednesday, the varsity and JV-white teams both beat Tacoma Baptist 3-0.  On Thursday, the varsity and JV-green teams suffered their very first losses of the season to Seattle Christian, both by a score of 2-1.  The varsity team is now 3-1 this year, while JV-white is 1-2 and JV-green is 1-1.

The Upper School’s varisty volleyball team lost to Cascade Christian and Life Christian this week 3-0 and 3-1, respectively.  Erin Hollihan had 13 aces, 22 assists and three blocks against Life Christian.  Kate Ellwanger had nine kills and ten blocks in the match.  Tana Watanabe had four service aces and six digs.  The JV team played Cascade Christian this week and lost 2-1.

Cross-Country
The Middle and Upper School cross-country teams ran against Vashon, Orting, Steilacoom and Seattle Christian this week at Paradise Ridge on Vashon Island.

The Upper School boys won first place at their third meet this season.  Nick Smith and Max Laberge took second and third places, both with a time of 18:45.  David Dennis had a break-through performance and finished in 14th place with a time of 20:14.

The Upper School girls tied for first place but lost the tie-breaker to Steilacoom.  Rie Nordestgaard recorded a personal best in 23:08 on a difficult hilly course and led five CWA girls into the top 15.

The Middle School boys and girls both won their meets at Paradise Ridge.  The Tarrier boys finished first, third, and fourth.  The girls from CWA finished first, third and sixth.  David Goldstone and Olivia Powell both set new course records.

Soccer
Upper School varsity girls soccer team beat Life Christian 2-1 on Monday with goals by Valarie Rutan and Fallon Staples.  On Thursday they beat Vashon 4-3 with three goals by Rutan and one from Jackie Kirschner.  The JV team also beat Vashon.  They won 1-0 with a goal scored by Nicole Schmiedl.

The Middle School varsity boys soccer team tied with McMurray 3-3 on Monday.  Nate M. scored all three goals for CWA.  The team lost to Seattle Christian this week bringing their season to 1-1-1.  Nate Y. and Andrew W. scored goals in the 6-2 defeat.  The JV team lost to McMurray 5-0.

Tennis
The Upper School boys tennis team advanced to a 7-1 record this week with wins over Steilacoom, 4-1, and Northwest Christian, 5-0.  Dillon Truscott, Daniel Ham and Tim Chang each won a singles match.  Chris Gugliuzza won two.  Tim Chang and Chris Wong, Stanley Peterson and Yuri Korol, Truscott and Wong, and Hunter Hassig and Xavier Al-Mateen all won doubles matches.  The team’s Eatonville match on Friday was rained out.

Tarrier Sports Events This Coming Week
Monday, 10/6
US Football (JV) @ Vashon 4:00
US Boys Tennis vs Cascade Christian 3:30
US Volleyball (JV/V) @ Orting 4:30/5:45
MS Boys Soccer (V) vs Cascade Christian 3:30
MS Volleyball (JV/V) vs Cascade Christian 3:30/4:30

Tuesday, 10/7
US Girls Soccer (JV) vs Cascade Christian 4:00
US Girls Soccer (V) @ Cascade Christian 6:15 (Bonney Lake HS)
MS Football (JV/V) vs Showalter 3:30
Youth Football vs Orting 6:15

Wednesday, 10/8
US Boys Tennis vs Vashon 3:30
US Volleyball (C/JV/V) vs Seattle Christian 3:30/3:30/4:45
MS Boys Soccer (JV/V) @ Showalter 3:30/4:45

Thursday, 10/9
Nothing Scheduled

Friday, 10/10
US Football @ Cascade Christian 7:00 (Sumner HS)
US Boys Tennis vs Eatonville 3:30 – tentative make-up date