Tuesday, October 1, 2024
LEAVENWORTH – The Cascade High School (CHS) campus was abuzz with excitement last week as students, staff, alumni, and families celebrated the annual renewal of traditions and fraternal spirit during the school’s homecoming.
The week-long affair, planned weeks in advance by the Associated Student Body leadership team, included themed spirit days and lunchtime games, “powderpuff” football and “powerpuff” volleyball, a pep rally, the marching band playing in the Leavenworth Autumn Leaf Festival parade, no less than a dozen varsity and junior varsity sporting events, a homecoming court, fireworks, and the homecoming dance, all highlighting the strong sense of community and tradition at CHS.
With hallways and doors adorned with a tapestry of spirited posters and banners setting the tone for the week, the festivities kicked off on Monday with “pajama day” and classic movies being aired during lunchtime. Each day thereafter brought a new theme and activity, from “twins” and sports jersey days to classic tug of war contests and three-legged races.
The annual midweek “powderpuff” and “powerpuff” games are lighthearted intramural games in which traditional fall sport gender roles are switched. Senior and junior class girls take on each other in flag-football and the boys do the same in a game of volleyball.
“It has been really satisfying to watch, for the first time, how students and staff have been navigating and absorbing this week filled with joy,” observed first year CHS principal James Swanson. “I love the energy and all the smiles.”
That zeal, boosted by an all-school Friday afternoon rally, carried through to Friday night lights at the Peshastin-Dryden Sports Complex, where the Kodiak football team beat Mason to win their first homecoming game in years. The packed house included students bedecked in red, white, and blue to adhere to the patriotic 'America' theme, while the band filled the air with spirited tunes and the cheer squad rallied support for the team. (A more detailed report on the game and other sports scores is below.)
Half-time on the gridiron witnessed the coronation of, and speeches by, homecoming royalty, including the king and queen, seniors Ethan Flansburg and Savanna Rowles, followed by CHS’s signature homecoming firework show along the banks of the Wenatchee River.
After a Saturday that saw both the boys’ and girls’ varsity cross-country teams on the podium at the Leavenworth Invite at Ski Hill and the girls’ varsity soccer squad win their fifth game of the season at home versus Tonasket, students danced the night away to wrap up homecoming at the Leavenworth Golf Course Clubhouse, celebrating not only their victories but also the friendships and memories that high school fosters.
CHS Homecoming Week Sports Roundup
Football – Kodiaks win second straight, 20-14
The visiting Division 2B Manson Trojans (0-4) struck first on Friday night with a five-yard run in the opening quarter of the CHS homecoming game to take a 7-0 lead in Peshastin.
The ensuing Kodiak drive ended in a fumble and turnover, coupled with a 15-yard personal foul penalty, to put the Trojans in the driver’s seat for what looked like it might be a long evening for CHS.
However, the Cascade defensive line, led by senior Ethan Flansburg, had other plans. Flansburg closed the first quarter and opened the second with sacks to help the Kodiaks take control of the rest of the game.
The Cascade offensive line then began opening holes that allowed senior Quarterback Will Biebesheimer and running backs senior Artie Northrup and multi-position, sophomore Julian Feeney to establish a strong ground game, which in turn gave Biebesheimer the room to start airing it out to his favorite receivers on the night, Feeney, and his older brother senior Jackson Feeny.
The younger Feeney dashed into the endzone mid-way through the second quarter to tie the score. Biebesheimer, who, along with Northrup and the Feeney brothers, played both ways, intercepted a Manson pass to end the half.
In the third quarter, the Trojans riddled themselves with penalties, from which the Kodiaks took advantage. On a reverse from 15 yards out that seemed to be stuffed, Julian Feeney, somehow broke a series of tackles to race to the endzone. Northrup, who also handles place kicking duties, split the uprights and the Kodiaks took a 14-7 lead into the fourth quarter.
It was back and forth possessions next before the Kodiaks took the ball with eight minutes remaining. Northrup and Biebesheimer traded runs to seemingly run out the clock. Then, catching the Trojans flat-footed, Kodiak head coach Carl Haberberger called for a pass. Biebesheimer connected with sophomore Aengus Gillikin for a 32-yard touchdown.
Those are all the points CHS needed. Mason scored a late touchdown to end the scoring at 20-14.
With the win, in which the Kodiaks gained 205 total yards -106 on the ground and 99 in the air - and forced two turnovers, CHS football improves to 2-1 after a winless 2023-24 season. Haberberger, in his second year at the helm, takes the Kodiaks to Tonasket next Friday night to take on the 1-3 Tigers.
Volleyball – Cascade Girls’ Volleyball drop two in straight sets
The Kodiak volleyball team fell to 2-4, and 0-2 in conference play, after hosting Chelan last Tuesday (9/24) and Brewster on Thursday (9/26).
Cascade lost in straight sets in a Caribou Trail League match against the undefeated, defending state champion Goats before doing the same against the 2-6 Bears in a non-league matchup.
CHS has a tough road ahead next week as they look to rebound on the road against Chelan and Lake Roosevelt.
Soccer – Lady Kodiak soccer splits
The Cascade girls’ soccer team moved to 5-3 after a 3-1 loss in Quincy against the Jackrabbits on Thursday (9/26) and a 3-2 win at home against the Tonasket Tigers.
The Kodiaks, led in scoring by seniors Teyva Dillon and Maisy Groff, look to maintain or improve upon their Division 1A state ranking of 20th when they travel upstate to play the 5-3 Pateros Billy Goats on Tuesday (10/1) and host the 6-3 Okanogan Bulldogs on Thursday (10/3).
Cross Country – A win for the boys and second place for the girls at Leavenworth Invitational on Saturday at the Ski Hill
Senior Ben Jerome ran with spirit to secure the third spot on the podium at the 28th annual Leavenworth Invite on Saturday. Jerome led the Kodiak boys to an impressive team victory at the Ski Hill classic, which attracted 24 other high school teams and over a thousand (high school and middle school) runners to Leavenworth. As has become a pattern this year, freshmen Lane Bedard and Kolston Breaux were the next Kodiaks across the line in 9th and 11th, respectively.
On the girls’ side, seniors Caroline Menna (4th), Grace McDevitt (5th), and Alice Ferrell (11th) steered the girls’ team to consecutive team second place finishes on the demanding Ski Hill course, which takes three passes up the steep small ski hill slope.
The Kodiaks race next on Saturday, October 5 in Marysville at the prestigious Nike Twilight XC Invitational.
Caroline Menna is an intern for Ward Media and a senior (Class of 2025) at Cascade High School. She serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Cascade High School Publications Group.
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