History Has Been Made
Record-Breaking Fall Sports Seasons at the Overlake School
The 2021 fall sports season at The Overlake School was a season to remember. With seasons of breaking records, many firsts, and making history, the volleyball, cross country, girl’s soccer, and boy’s tennis programs were all tremendously successful.
All four programs had representation at their respective State Tournaments — the cherry on top of already impressive seasons.
The Overlake boys’ tennis team finished their league season on a 9–2 record, seeing themselves as 2nd in the Emerald Sound Conference. Most notably, brothers Declan and Avery Vail clinched themselves a State doubles berth, qualifying themselves for the WIAA Tournament that will occur in May of 2022.
Staying outdoors, but moving off the courts, the Overlake cross country program, for both boys and girls, made history this season in several areas. For the first time in program history, the boys' team — led by Keith Hunter (‘24), Mateo Whatley (’23), Aleksy Umbers (‘24), Johnny Beinner (‘22), and Ryan Bartlow (’22) — won the Bi-District Championship, qualifying the entire team for the WIAA State Tournament. On the girls' team, individuals Olivia Stiles (‘23), Sameeksha Dangi (‘23), and Talia Willson (’24), also qualified for the state tournament.
After a rewarding tournament in Pasco, Washington, the Overlake boys’ cross country team finished in a commendable 7th place, with sophomore, Keith Hunter placing amongst the top 30 runners in the state.
And on that same theme of breaking records, Olivia Stiles found herself, not only making leaps and bounds across the arduous Pasco terrain, but also as she made Overlake history, being the first member of the girls' program to complete the race in under 20 minutes.
Making our way back onto the fields, Overlake’s girls’ soccer team had quite the memorable season in itself. The Owls found themselves cruising through the season ranked consistently amongst the top 8 1A teams in the state. Finishing their league season with a 9–3–5 record, the girls entered what would be a strenuous round of playoff matches. After just barely losing to Seattle Academy of the Arts and Sciences, and King’s High School, the Owls defeated Lynden Christian, securing themselves their State berth.
Though it was an exciting match, where the Owls played phenomenal defense, holding their own as the minutes counted down, they unfortunately lost in PKs, thus ending their quest for the state title. Nonetheless, this was surely a season to remember for the Overlake soccer program.
Dubbed “one of the best teams ever” in program history, the Overlake Owls varsity volleyball team made history across the board. For the first time, the Owls made their way down to Yakima to compete in the Sundome Festival Tournament amongst 2A and 3A schools, where they held their own, going 2–3 for the weekend.
And as the season progressed, the notabilities only piled on.
The volleyball team finished their regular league season undefeated; 1st in the Emerald Sound Conference, with a 16–0 record. Quite the outstanding record allowed the Owls to gravitate between 1st and 2nd in 1A state throughout the season.
And for the first time in Overlake history, the Owls defeated King’s High School and South Whidbey High School, in a succession of games that made up the Emerald Sound Conference Tournament, securing themselves a state berth, and winning the tournament and Bi-Districts.
The massive series of wins only propelled the Owls further in the rankings, as they entered the WIAA State Tournament as the #1 ranked team in the state.
In a bittersweet end to their season, the Owls suffered an upset to Lynden Christian, but came back to defeat South Whidbey, before ultimately losing to Seattle Academy in four sets.
Though it may not have been the outcome they had hoped for, the Overlake Owls varsity volleyball had an all-around record-breaking season — one to remember.
Sports are such a critical component — a backbone — to the culture and community at the Overlake school. Every year, more and more students are in the gym and on the fields, itching to get in on the action. The 2021 volleyball program, for example, saw an influx of 20 new freshmen to the program — the largest addition yet. And I’m sure the numbers will only keep skyrocketing.
In wake of what was taken from our world of sports for the 2020–21 school year, all we can do now is be thankful we’ve had such opportunities to participate and compete in a “normal” environment once more. And the success and buzz that this past fall season has inspired only gets me more excited to see what the winter, and then later, spring sports seasons at The Overlake School have in store.
