Sports Archives - Tulalip News

Lady Hawks show fighting spirit, but come up short in loss to Providence

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Scoring has been hard to come by for the (2-5) Tulalip Heritage Lady Hawks. Their average offensive output of 29 points per game can largely be explained by lack of chemistry due to multiple games of missing starters. It’s difficult to build a solid foundation of team cohesion when impact players aren’t getting the reps in games, let alone practices, that most any coaching staff could expect.

In addition, any hoop head of worth would also say low point totals are a direct symptom of cold hard bricks, or missed shots for the uninformed. Missed layups and missed free throws, in specific, can result in any team – high school, college, or professional – to suffer some offensive woes that can carry over from game to game.

On January 6, when the Lady Hawks travelled south to play Providence Classical Christian, they were at full strength and looking to make a statement in the new year. That’s not how things went, at least to begin with.

The 1^st quarter was a brick fest by both teams. Seriously, the score was 0-0 five minutes in. After eight minutes of play, the Tulalip girls trailed 0-4 when finally, Raylee secured a well-positioned offense rebound and immediately shot and scored to give her team its first bucket. The quarter ended with a score of 2-4.

In the 2^nd quarter, the Lady Hawks found their scoring ways, anchored by shooting guard Audrielle Mclean’s unconscious ability to shoot deep 3-pointers. She connected on three long range jumpers in the quarter to spark her team’s offensive fire power. After hitting nothing by nylon on her third made 3-pointer, Audrielle gave Tulalip their first and only lead of the game, 14-12.

At halftime, Lady Hawks assistant coach Tim Greene reflected on the first half. “We’ve missed a lot of layups and a lot of free throws (the girls missed 7 of their 8 free throw attempts). That part of the game is more mental than anything else. On the defensive side, I’ve liked the hustle they’ve shown. We need more of that energy across the board if we’re going to have a chance at winning. That and making our free throws.”

Skipping ahead to the middle of the 4^th quarter, when Tulalip trailed 18-32 with only five minutes remaining, the Lady Hawks went full fight or flight mode…they chose fight. Getting into the bonus early meant they had to keep attacking to get easy scoring opportunities at the free throw line. The ball was hopping and the girls were rotating beautifully. Led by the always energetic and vocal Raylee, who was continuing to dive for every loose ball and battle for every rebound, she rallied her squad.

Point after point and bucket after bucket, the Lady Hawks slowly chipped away at their double-digit deficit until they got within just 5 points, 27-32, with two-and-a-half minutes remaining. Chants of “Defense!” even rang out from the Tulalips in the crowd. But like its been all season, defense wasn’t the issue, offense was. The girls just couldn’t buy the buckets necessary to complete the comeback. They ultimately took a 29-38 L.

After the spirited contest, Tulalip forward Raylee Lewis, the Lady Hawks leading scorer in the game and unofficial Miss Hustle award winner, shared, “We were all really frustrated with our play in that first half and in that 3^rd quarter, but going into the 4^th quarter our coaches told us we needed to shift our mindset. I think most of us heard that message loud and clear and did what we could make that shift. We upped our communication and our energy and you could see how much we feed off that kind of positivity. Even though we lost, there are things we can take away from this game, like continuing to play for one another and remaining positive.”

Hawks remain unbeaten with 76-43 trouncing of Providence

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

The (8-0) Heritage Hawks ventured into the realm of Providence Classical Christian on January 6 and came away with yet another resounding W. It’s been a remarkable start to the season for the Tulalip boys who made it their goal from the get go to reach the State tournament.

After reeling off eight straight wins, they hope to build off their early season success and keep the momentum going through the end of the regular season and well beyond.

Prior to tip, head coach Shawn Sanchey said, “Our main focus right now is to stay playing at our level at all times. Regardless if we’re home or away, or what the score is, we want to be playing Tulalip basketball. We know what are goals and dreams are as a team and in order to reach them we can’t let anything keep us from playing at our own pace and intensity level.”

The high-powered Hawks also added another scorer to their arsenal. After getting his transfer approved in mid-December, Davien Parks has been ballin’ out in a Hawks jersey. Coach Shawn also said, “He’s brought so many things to our team. Great leadership, more speed, more shooting, and just an all-around versatile skillset that elevates our style of play.”

Davien showed his scoring prowess in the opening quarter vs Providence when he singlehandedly outscored the opposition by himself. He scored 13 points in the 1^st quarter to pace his Hawks to a 18-11 lead after ten minutes of play.

The Hawks lead continued to soar when Tokala Black Tomahawk got aggressive and had no difficulty scoring over Providence defenders in the 2^nd quarter. Sophomore guard J.J. Gray got into the ledger in the 3^rd quarter with a series of athletic moves and contested jumpers that found nothing buy nylon.

Entering the 4^th quarter, Tulalip led 57-26 and showed no signs of slowing down. Over those last ten minutes of play, five Hawks contributed buckets to seal the 76-43 trouncing. Davien led all scorers with 31 points, J.J. scored 15 points, and Tokala added 14 points.

In attendance for this matchup was President of the Northwest 1B League, Lindsey Elliot. She shared her excitement pregame for being able to witness the talent of Tulalip’s basketball team she’s heard so much about.

Following the victory, Lindsey said, “It’s phenomenal watching the 1B programs who have developed such talented athletes now be receiving the adulation that they deserve. As fans are learning this year with the meteoric rise of tribal teams like Tulalip and Lummi, the overall skill and style of play of the 1B game has been elevated to a new level.

“Seeing the Providence gym be filled with home fans, away fans, and just fans of the sport who wanted to watch a fun basketball game is so huge. Because the student-athletes and the coaches who are working with them are putting in so many hours behind the scenes that don’t get recognized enough,” she continued. “So when the community comes out, fills the stands, and cheers on our wonderful athletes, it’s honoring the work the kids and coaches are putting in. There are so many dedicated to the growth of our league and I, for one, think this is only the beginning of many exciting years to come.”

Lady Hawks start off season 1-0

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

The Tulalip Heritage girls basketball team returned to the court for the 2024-2025 season on December 5 in an away game vs. the Shoreline Chargers. Many of the core players from last season are back, plus some key additions to give the Lady Hawks more depth and more skill sets for head coach Sabrina Moses to work with.

“We’ve added several new players, including Aylani Lewis. She’s just a freshman, but has the game of a much older player. She’s a true point guard who can control the tempo of our offense and get us into sets that her teammates are comfortable with,” said coach Sabrina. “She’s joining her sister Raylee who played with us last year.

“Also returning are sisters Lilly and Isabelle Jefferson to fortify our defense. I can always count on them to give full effort every minute they are on the court, which gives us an intensity we need.”

Controlled tempo on offense and intense defense were both on display by the Lady Hawks in their dismantling of Shoreline. Aylani’s effectiveness with the ball in her hands was evident from the jump. She scored 12 points in the 1^st quarter by blowing by much larger defenders and scoring layups over their outstretched arms. Meanwhile, Heritage’s defense was wreaking havoc. The girls were jumping passing lanes and hounding Chargers ballhandlers into one turnover after another.

After one quarter of play, Tulalip led 16-2. They stretched that lead to 22-5 at halftime. In the 3^rd quarter, Lady Hawks forward Laniyah Moore made the most of a couple well-timed offense rebounds and scored on back-to-back high percentage shots.

The Lady Hawks were rolling until an unfortunate moment of friendly fire when Aylani and fellow guard Audrielle Mclean both went for a loose ball and collided at full speed. The collision resulted in both players exiting the game; Audrielle with a forehead cut that required 5 stitches and Aylani with concussion-like symptoms.

Without their top playmakers, the Lady Hawks held on for a well-deserved 34-18 victory. Aylani led all scorers with 15 points, while Laniyah and big sister Raylee both added 6 points each.

Following the season opening win, Lilly shared, “It felt really good to get this win. For me personally, I worked a lot on my shooting and dribbling to be more confident in games. Last year, I looked to pass lot. Now, I’m looking to shoot and handle the ball more, when the team needs it. It paid off tonight after losing Audrielle and Aylani, I was asked to play point guard. It helped for me to get to the areas I like to shoot, and I made a couple buckets in that 4^th quarter. It just feels good to be undefeated

———————————————-

Without several starters, Lady Hawks fall to Darrington

The Lady Hawks produced a valiant effort on the evening of December 9. In their second straight road game to the start the season, the Heritage girls played the Darrington Loggers extremely shorthanded. In fact, they were down three starters; both Lewis sisters and Audrielle Mclean.

Without their primary ballhandlers, sisters Lilly and Isabelle Jefferson were asked to step up and run the offense. Playing against a Logger’s defense consistently applying full court pressure, the sisters were regularly forced to dribble around multiple Darrington defenders just to get the ball up court. The constant pressure made it difficult for the Lady Hawks to execute their sets, let alone produce an unhindered view of the basket to attempt a shot.

Undermanned and outgunned, the Lady Hawks trailed 5-28 at halftime, and ended up losing 13-47. Isabelle led the Lady Hawks with 4 points.

Even in an emphatic loss there are always positives. With the injuries, several players got extended run. One such player was freshman Janiesha Zackuse. She scored her first Lady Hawk point with a made free throw. Something she knew made her family who made the hour-long venture to watch her very happy.

“It felt pretty good to play so much. I’m tired out now though,” admitted Janiesha post-game. “We had a lot of supporters in the stands. It’s pretty awesome to see everybody who drove all this way to watch us play.”

Hawks begin 24-25 season with emphatic win

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Last season, the Heritage Hawks basketball program exceeded even the loftiest of expectations. They began the season (1-3) while developing their on-court identity with a mix of stout senior players and phenomenally talented freshman. Once they found their rhythm and groove, they also discovered their winning ways. Their midseason turnaround culminated in a 2^nd place finish at Districts, 3^rd place finish at Tri-Districts and, ultimately, the boys fell just one win short from a State Tournament bid.

The Hawks are returning a number of players from that (17-9) squad, including the starting backcourt of J.J. Gray and Amare Hatch who are both sophomores now. They are joined by a plethora of new faces who are eager to carve out impactful roles on a team primed to build off last season’s success.

“We’re looking to accomplish all around growth for the program, and to continue developing our boys for what we hope is another lengthy post season run. Of course, this year we want to make it all the way to State,” shared Heritage head coach Shawn Sanchey. “It’s been so exciting being able to watch our program grow and to receive so much support from our community. When we’re winning in front of packed crowds, it really doesn’t get much better than that.”

The 24-25 season officially kicked off on Thursday, December 5, when Tulalip travelled to Shoreline High School for an away game against the Chargers. It was less a game and more a coming out party for the new-look Hawks.

The J.J. and Amare pairing as playing making combo guards who can just as easily stroke a 3-pointer as they can beat their man off the dribble and finesse in a layup, scored 19 points in the early going to give their team a commanding 34-5 lead. This pleased the many Heritage fans who journeyed south to swarm the Shoreline gymnasium.

In the 3^rd quarter, newcomer Ziggy Myles-Gilford did his best Dennis Rodman impersonation by gobbling up every loose rebound and scoring off high percentage shots in the painted area. The Tulalip forward accounted for 14 points and nearly as many rebounds in that third frame. With the game all but a wrap, Coach Sanchey unleashed his bench players to have their fun during the 4^th quarter.

After the decisive 75-19 season opening victory, guard Amare said, “Our on-ball defense was on point tonight. I don’t know how many steals we ended up with, but it was a lot, that’s for sure. I think our team chemistry is already at a good place because so many of us have been playing together in Native tournaments. All those extra games and reps have gotten us comfortable with each other’s games. We want to be better than we were last year and this first W is just the start.”

In total, ten Heritage boys registered a bucket in the blowout win. Ziggy led all scorers with 20 points.

————————————————–

Hawks chop down Loggers, 90-46

With more Tulalip fans in attendance than Logger fans, the energy was more befitting a home game for the Heritage boys playing in Darrington. Chants of “Tulalip power!” rang out early and often as the Hawks break neck pace led to a 26-13 first quarter lead.

The long ball wasn’t falling, or any jumper for that matter, but it didn’t matter because the Hawks couldn’t be denied from getting to the basket whenever they wanted. Both Hawks forwards, Ziggy Myles-Gilford and Tokala Black Tomahawk, controlled the glass and routinely corralled offensive rebounds to give their team additional offensive possessions. The two Hawks bigs combined to score 25 points in the 1st half and were a big reason why Tulalip led 47-26 at halftime.

Hawks players explaining the subtle complexities of Rez ball to an open-minded referee.

In the 3rd quarter, the 3 ball finally started to go in for the Hawks shooters. Amare Hatch, J.J. Gray, and Deveyon Wells each made a 3-pointer to help extend their team’s lead. Up big, 77-35, to begin the 4th quarter coach Shawn inserted his bench players to get in on the scoring frenzy.

Stunned Logger fans even got to witness a couple Ziggy dunks, tomahawk style. His dunks were just the cherry on top of his career night 30 points and 20-something rebounds enroute to Tulalip securing a 90-46 win.

The unbeaten (2-0) Hawks received additional scoring from Amare who chipped in 15 points, while J.J. and Tokala each added 13 points.

Culture-fueled cheer power

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Cheerleading is recognized for an energetic blend of athleticism, teamwork, and performance. Beyond the glittering pom-poms and dazzling routines, youth cheerleading serves as a platform for empowering young girls, largely driven by women leaders who act as mentors, coaches, and role models.

At its core, cheer promotes physical fitness and discipline. These benefits to a youth’s physical wellbeing are good, but even better are the emotional, spiritual, and psychological impacts. The high energy, choreographed activity instills critical life skills such as teamwork, communication, and resilience. Girls learn to work collaboratively toward common goals, celebrate collective achievements, and navigate setbacks with grace and determination.

Central to this empowering experience are the women who lead cheerleading programs, like Tulalip’s own Sheena Oldham and assistant coach Tara Granquist who together lead Lady Hawks cheer. As coaches and mentors, they hold a unique position to influence and inspire the next generation of young women. Through their guidance, they strive to model leadership, strength, and perseverance.

“We basically started this program from scratch after a few girls came to me during my day job with Youth Services and said ‘We want to cheer, but there are no on Rez options’,” explained cheer coach Sheena. “I reached out in-person and online to every family I knew that might be interest in signing up their daughter or daughters. At our first practice, we had maybe 8 or 9 girls total. A couple months later, we had 42. Enough to form two teams of different age groups (5 to 8-years-old and 9 to 12-years-old).

“From day one, I’ve wanted our program to be about more than just nailing a routine. It’s about our girls learning to support each other and finding confidence in who they are. Getting them to come out of their shells and breaking them of their shyness by building up their confidence levels and helping them find their voice. We even had a few troublemakers that clearly didn’t have an issue using their voice who we challenged in the best kind of way by getting them into leadership roles. Now, their voices help advocate for their teammates and for woman all across Indian Country.”

For young girls, cheer squad can be a safe space where they can explore their feminine identity and develop a strong sense of belonging as part of a shared sisterhood. Cheer’s emphasis on community involvement also allows girls to see firsthand the impact of their efforts. From cheering on school teams to participating in community projects, cheerleaders often become ambassadors of positivity and encouragement, learning the importance of giving back.

The young flock of Lady Hawks amplified their voices and took their united effort for giving back to the next level during their NCYFL Cheer Showcase performance. Held during mid-November at Anacortes High School, the Lady Hawks coaches and cheerleaders proved they could pay tribute to Native American Heritage Month during their performance while openly advocating for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

The jam-packed Anacortes gymnasium went completely silent as hundreds of cheer spectators took in the Lady Hawks routine. Equal parts cultural pride, social advocacy, and in sync pom-pom maneuvers, the girls wowed onlookers when their hip-hop music abruptly cut out and was replaced with a live drumming and singing of Antone George’s MMIW anthem.

Concluding their awe-inspiring performance, cheerleaders Persaeus Fryberg and Laveigha Merritt read the following statement: “MMIW means Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. The song you just heard was created by Antone George of the West Shore Canoe Family in 2019. The U.S. Department of Justice found that Native American women face murder rates that are much higher than the national average. Four out of five of Native women are affected by violence. Our purpose of singing and dancing this song is to bring awareness to our sisters who are no longer here to speak for themselves.”

When the two elder Lady Hawks dropped the mic, they and their squad of red hand wearing cheerleaders were met with a thunderous applause. Both coaches and several cheer moms greeted the girls with gigantic, warm embraces as they exited the gymnasium and received their cheer medals.

Head coach Sheena valiantly held back tears while lofting praise on her team. “I’m so extremely proud of each and every one of our girls. Seeing them out there in front of so many people and not missing a beat, it’s just an amazing experience. They’ve worked so hard to reach this point and to see all that hard work pay off with a performance and reception like that is, well what else can it be, it’s epic!”

At a time when positive female role models are more important than ever, youth cheerleading stands out as an illustrious lane for nurturing leadership and, in the case of Tulalip’s Lady Hawks, cultural empowerment. The women at the helm of these programs and the girls they are entrusted with are creating ripples of change. One squad, one routine, and one cheer at a time.

Past vs Present

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Heritage High School hosted the latest rendition of its volleyball alumni game on the evening of October 29. The game brought together past and present players and coaches in a spirited atmosphere designed to celebrate the legacy of the school’s Lady Hawks program. With every spike, serve, and rally, the gym pulsed with energy as alumni relived their competitive days while reminding the community they may be the old heads, but they ain’t washed.

The nearly two-hour event was more than just a game; it was a fun, laugh-filled reunion for Lady Hawk alumni spanning 12 years worth of graduating classes. Team Alumni consisted of Krislyn Parks, Nina Fryberg, Cassandra Jimicum, Santana Shopbell, Martie McLean-Fryberg, Katia Brown, Deandra Grant, and Anndraceia Sicade. As they mingled with each other and current players pregame, friendships were rekindled and new bonds were made.

“It’s incredible to see how many former players still have that strong connection to their time as Lady Hawks. I’m so excited for them to get this time on the court again,” said Tina Brown while sitting front row, courtside as she did for over a decade. She served as Heritage High School volleyball coach from 2006 to 2018. “I’m super proud of them because a lot of them are moms now. They are showing their kids and their community they still know how to play, work hard and, most of all, have fun.”

Beyond the fun and social aspect, the alumni game offered memorable experiences for current players. For these young athletes, interacting with alumni who once wore the same jerseys adds a personal touch to their time as Heritage athletes.

The event also provides an opportunity for fundraising, with a variety of sports attire from past Lady Hawk seasons sold to support the volleyball program’s fund needed to purchase new jerseys and equipment. Several alumni were thrilled to rummage through past jerseys in search of ones they once wore and contribute to the program that helped shape their high school years.

The actual on-court game, while lighthearted, saw competitive play from both alumni and current players. The alumni team, with players ranging in age and experience, demonstrated resilience, proving that their passion for volleyball had not waned over the years. The spry and agile 2024 Lady Hawks took the opening set 25-16. As many adults know, the first set is more a warm up to get them old bones and achy joints moving again. Once the alum heated up, their competitive fire burned bright.

Team Alumni dominated the second set 25-14 and set the tone that they were here to win, too. The 3^rd set was dead even as the score was tied 5-5, 10-10, and 15-15. In the clutch, it was the old heads who pulled away and won 25-18. That same formula played out in the decisive 4^th set. The score was again tied up repeatedly 8-8, 15-15 and even 20-20. It seemed all too fitting that in the end it was current Heritage assistant coach Nina Fryberg who served Team Alumni to the 25-22 win. Game. Set. Match.

“I felt this weird nostalgic feeling wash over me when I first walked through the gym doors because I haven’t been here in so long,” admitted 2021 alum Martie post-game. “It was definitely weird and cool to look across the net at the current Lady Hawks who are the younger versions of ourselves. Throughout the match, I’m watching them and listening to them and just being reminded of all these high school memories and former Lady Hawk teammates. Even though my graduation wasn’t the long ago, it’s funny how quick I forgot some of those moments that made playing so worthwhile. I’m so grateful to be able to play in this alumni game and am already looking forward to next year.”

“The last time I played as a Lady Hawk I was a high school senior and one of the oldest on the team, but now I’m like a fresh alum and one of the youngest on the team. That perspective helped calm the nerves and relax me so I could just go out there and play and pump up my teammates,” added fellow 2021 alum Krislyn. “I’m really hoping to see more alumni games back because they really do so much good here in our community.

“Whether its basketball or volleyball, having official alumni games or even just open gym style where former players can come and reconnect with the game and the current players helps build community,” she added. “It’s so important that our high school kids feel supported. We all have such busy lives, but it was important for us to make the time and actually prioritize this next generation just like how we were supported.”

As the evening concluded, players past and present left Francy J. Sheldon gymnasium with more memories and hopefully newly formed connections that will last well beyond that final match point.

Lady Hawks celebrate ‘Senior Night’ with a W

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

The Tulalip Heritage volleyball program recently held its ‘Senior Night’ in a memorable home matchup with Evangel Classical School. Community filled the stands of Francy J. Sheldon gymnasium to celebrate the on-court growth and achievement of three Lady Hawks seniors – #6 Kayleena Follestad, #7 Elizabel Ramos, and #16 Laniyah Moore.

Prior to the match’s opening game, each senior was shouted out by team co-captain Raylee Lewis and took to center court. There, they were met by family, flowers, and hand-made signs full of admiration and well wishes.

Senior Elizabel said her favorite part of senior year is “getting to meet amazing people a.k.a my friends and having a class that showed me how to be an assistant for elementary teachers.” She shared her plans after high school are to “become a nurse midwife.”

Fellow senior Laniyah said her favorite part of senior year is “the morning circle, it’s pretty cool. And meeting new people and friends.” When considering life after high school, she shared, “I’m not entirely sure just yet, but I do want to go to college and I think law school sounds pretty interesting.”

All those positive vibes created by the ‘Senior Night’ festivities carried over into actual gameplay. The Lady Hawks came out firing on all cylinders. In the first set, they took an early 10-3 lead over Evangel, extended it to 15-6, and ended up taking it 25-12.

As they’ve been doing all season long, the Lady Hawks were all smiles and cheers, but this time there was just a little extra oomph in all their attacks. Their bumps were crisp, their sets well organized, and their spikes were actually finding their way through the defense and resulting in resounding points for the home team. Of course, this got the home crowd fired up at the prospect of getting a much-needed win.

Chants of “Tulalip power!” rang out through both the 2^nd and 3^rd sets while the girls continued to execute and score at will. They took a 16-8 lead before claiming the 2^nd set 25-15. Then, followed that up with a 5-0 lead in the 3^rd set. Senior Laniyah caught fire with her serves and connected on several aces. This allowed the Lady Hawks to repeatedly perform their choreographed ace celebration that got bench players, cheerleaders, and fans to echo “Ace, ace, ace!”

Behind the impressive serve game, Heritage vanquished Evangel 25-8 in the 3^rd set and earned a well-deserved 3-0 match W. It was a fairytale ending for the inspiring Lady Hawks team celebrating their seniors on their home floor.

“It felt really good to get a win on my senior night. It would’ve sucked if we lost,” admitted ace machine Laniyah after the victory. “I like serving. It’s one of my favorite parts of playing volleyball and something that I’m just naturally good at. I’m just happy to get the win because we’ve been working together so well and our teamwork is starting to pay off.”

“We have so much love for our seniors and, as a team, you could really tell with the energy and extra motivation we brought tonight just how much we wanted to get the win for them,” added co-captain Raylee. “Our last game vs. Lummi, we went to five sets and almost won. We’ve been getting better each game and know this is something we can build on to really end the season strong.”

The Lady Hawks will wrap up their season of enthusiasm and memory-making with back-to-back home games on October 23 and 24. Both matches scheduled for a 5:00pm start.

Hawks score season-high 58 points on Darrington, up to #7 in WA State rankings

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

The coaching staff of Heritage High School’s (5-0) football program had a midseason matchup with the Darrington Loggers (3-1) circled on their calendars for weeks now. They knew it would be the first real test for the new-look Hawks who continue to put the prep football world on notice, one win at a time.

Darrington is well-known for their run heavy, power formations that contrasts greatly to the 3- or even 4- wide receiver sets that are ideal for Heritage’s electric quarterback J.J. Gray’s natural play making abilities. The battle of skill vs. will would determine if Heritage would remain among the state’s unbeaten teams, and force the rankings makers and high school scouts continue keeping an eye on the Tulalip Reservation.

“This season has been our redemption tour. We’ve beaten several teams that we haven’t beaten in a long, long time,” explained Heritage Athletic Director and Hawks head coach Lonnie Enick. “For us, it goes beyond previous wins and losses. Before the season, our team got zero recognition, not even an honorable mention as a team to look out for. Now that we’re undefeated and beaten several good teams, we finally got a number next to our name, and we know that all it will take is one loss for that to go away.

“Every week, our boys are getting better and better. Our coordinators do a great job of coming up with schemes that put our players in the best position to succeed. That didn’t just happen overnight. Most of our players have grown up watching Willy and Deyamonta play football and basketball or have been coached by one of them at the Boys and Girls Club or in an all-Native tournament. All that time and commitment to player development and team strategy is playing out now before the whole community. It’s beautiful. When we built this field, that was the dream; for our community to be able to come out and be proud of what they see and to cheer on that next generation,” Lonnie added.

And cheer they did! Those in attendance from the greater Tulalip community and those who ventured from Darrington were treated to an instant classic hosted at the Tulalip Youth Complex. There were touchdowns galore as both teams maximized every possession and did everything they could to put points on the board.

Tulalip’s offense, defense and special teams each scored a touchdown in the early going. First, J.J. Gray, playing safety, recovered a Darrington fumble and ran it back 55-yards for a touchdown. He later set the crowd ablaze when he torched Darrington of a 75-yard kickoff return for his second touchdown. Add in a direct snap to Ziggy Myles-Gilford for a 5-yard rushing touchdown and the home team was up 24-8 late in the 1^st quarter. Cue chants of “Tulalip Power!” from their adoring fans.

Down by multiple scores, Darrington continued to chug along with one run after another after another. Their coaches were intent on playing their ground and pound style regardless of time and score. To their credit, all the pounding began wearing out Heritage’s defense. Already down a couple starters, they lost two starting defensemen Kane Hots and Lennox Luong during the 2^nd quarter. Using this to their advantage, Darrington pounded that rock until, before you knew it, the score was tied 30-30 at halftime.

In the 2^nd half, the Hawks proved their style of play could ultimately win out vs a traditional power team. Quarterback J.J. Gray led an unstoppable air raid offense, wherein he routinely found his wide receivers Ziggy and James Diaz for highlight making touchdowns.

Here’s the 2^nd half scoring breakdown:

#3 J.J. Gray with a 30-yard pass to #33 James Diaz. (38-30)
- Darrington responds. 38-38
#3 J.J. Gray with a 45-yard pass to #33 James Diaz. (44-38)
- Darrington responds. 44-44
#3 J.J. Gray with a 1-yard rush. (52-44)
- Darrington responds. 52-50
#3 J.J. Gray with a 45-yard pass to #15 Ziggy Myles-Gilford. (58-50)

With just 3:30 left to play in the 4^th quarter, Darrington had possession was once again marching down the field with one rushing attempt after another. They were intent on tying the game. Until that is, the Hawks defense rose to the occasion. After nearly two and a half hours of real time tackle football and the endless slew of hits to take down Darrington ballcarriers, Heritage’s defense came up with a game-sealing stop. Ziggy and #51 Ryland Dumont combined for a backbreaking tackle that led to a Darrington fumble, recovered by none other than J.J. Gray.

In possession of the ball with two minutes remaining, the Hawks were able to go into victory formation and bask in the cheers of the home crowd. As has been the case after every home win, a procession of fireworks lit up the Tulalip Bay sky when the game clock read all zeros. Still undefeated, Heritage moved to (6-0) on the season.

“I like the high scoring shoot-outs because there’s so much action and every possession matter that much more when the score is close,” shared breakout wide receiver Ziggy Myles-Gilford postgame. “When I transferred to Heritage over the summer, it was so I could play basketball here. I wasn’t expecting to play football, but the coaches and my friends on the team, like J.J., talked me into it.

“Now, I feel like every time I touch the ball I have an opportunity to score. At my size and with my speed, I just feel like no one in this league can matchup with me one on one,” beamed the Heritage sophomore. Indeed, he’s already amassed quite the ledger of touchdowns, especially 40-yard plus highlights, that have helped propel Tulalip to #7 in the WA State rankings.

Bump, set, and enthusiasm

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Within the 1,743 square foot volleyball court at Heritage High School, the Lady Hawks continue to develop their bumping and setting skills. Normally, after bumping and setting comes spiking, but these girls the final ingredient of their on-court trifecta is enthusiasm. Unbridled enthusiasm to be exact. Plain, yet simple, and highly effective for making high school memories.

“We are just trying our best to be locked in during practice and in games. For me, I think being positive and focusing on the good things is an important, maybe the most important, part of life, not just sports,” explained Lady Hawks co-captain Lilly Jefferson. “You can see how its impacted our team, too, because regardless of the score we are doing our chants, cheering for one another, and actually enjoying the moments we get to celebrate.

“Being able to be loud and scream out of joy and excitement if my favorite part of sports,” continued the high school junior. “As the season went along, the more and more of my teammates started to join along and now almost the whole team cheers and lets out good emotion when something good happens or someone puts full effort on the court, like diving or really hustling to try and make a play. These are moments are worth celebrating, or in my case, screaming for.”

While doing their best to maximize enthusiasm during their team as volleyballers, the Lady Hawks have unlocked a truly refreshing perspective for those who witness them play. They are making the best kind of memories, built from a united mission to have fun regardless of what the scoreboard reads. This was evident at girls’ latest home game when they hosted Shoreline Christian on October 2.

After dropping a quick first set, 10-25, the girls played a back and forth second set that saw them trailing by only two points, 18-20, at one point. If it’s possible to will a team to victory simply through enthusiasm, then co-captains Lilly and Raylee Fryberg nearly did just that. They were the driving force that made sure they team came together after every point, win or lose, to clap it up, express positive platitudes, or let out a cheer-filled scream.

The super competitive second set ended up going Shoreline Christian’s way, but that didn’t stop the Lady Hawks from boiling over with that unbridled enthusiasm. Not even close. Before the start of the third set, senior Elizabel Herrera huddled up her team and mimicked the legendary “Whose got my back?!” chant made famous by the Seattle Seahawks vaunted Legion of Boom.

Those vibes carried over to the start of their third set. The Lady Hawks managed to jump out to a 9-8 lead and were still in the think of things while trailing 15-20. Ultimately, they dropped the third set and lost the match 0-3. Don’t tell them they lost though because they aren’t interested in the wins and losses; they are interested in making memories and building friendships.

“This is my first year playing volleyball,” admitted 17-year-old Elizabel post-game. “I’m so thankful for Lilly and Raylee for bringing me up and talking me into playing. I feel like I mess up so much and am still learning where I need to be and when, but they act like I don’t and that makes me want to keep on playing and getting better.

“This whole experience playing volleyball and being a Lady Hawk are good memories that I’ll be thankful later for. Really, I just want to smile and make others smile because high school is only four years and, me being a senior, I only have a few months left. So I want to smile as much as I can and make as many memories as I can before it’s over.”

The 2024 volleyball season is quickly coming to an end. Catch one last glimpse of bump, set, and enthusiasm when Heritage celebrates Senior Night on October 15. The Lady Hawks will be hosting Evangel Classical School in their final home game of the season.

Top 10 ranked Heritage Hawks soar to another big win

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

After their 56-8 crushing of the Muckleshoot Kings the week prior, the unbeaten Tulalip Hawks entered week four of the regular season with a shocking #10 next to their name. In a super cool development, Tulalip’s early season success and torrid touchdown pace reached influencers within the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). In their weekly updated Top 10 rankings, the WIAA ranked Tulalip Heritage #10 in the entire state for 1B football.

“It feels amazing to be putting Tulalip on the map and letting the whole state know who we are,” declared starting cornerback and Heritage High senior Javohn Henry. “Our [football program] hasn’t been known in too long, but now we’re getting our name out there for all to see. Not just as footballers, but as proud Natives.”

The undefeated and #10 ranked Heritage Hawks hosted the Lummi Nation Blackhawks in another inter-tribal battle by the bay on Friday, September 27. It was expected to be a battle of contrasting styles, too, because unlike the razzle dazzle Hawks offense, Lummi’s primary strength is run-run-run with little to no passing in between.

In the first quarter, offense was a major struggle for both teams. Whether it was the frigid 50-degree temperature or just the nervousness from longtime rivals meeting for the first and only time this season on the Tulalip gridiron, or a combination of both, is difficult to know. What we do know is after one whole quarter of play the game was tied 0 to 0.

Early in the 2^nd quarter, Tulalip’s defense came up big with a 4^th down stop that gave the ball back to their offense. Inserted into the game for the first time was quarterback J.J. Gray. He immediately ignited the Hawks offense with a 45-yard completion to wide-receiver Ziggy Myles-Gilford. Four plays later, J.J. found his other wide-receiver Tokala Black Tomahawk in the back of the endzone for a 12-yard touchdown pass. Two-point conversion was good to give the home team an 8-0 lead.

Heritage’s offense was running on all high-powered cylinders again. Best encapsulated by an 80-yard catch and run from Ziggy later in the 2^nd quarter that got Tulalip’s home crowd on their feet and cheering enthusiastically at a team that has the talent to score on any given possession. That highlight was soon followed by another as J.J. used his agility and evasiveness to carve up the Lummi defense for a 50-yard QB scramble to the endzone. Midway through the 3^rd quarter, Tulalip led 24-6.

Taking a reprieve from play-calling duties, while Tulalip’s defense was on the field, offensive coordinator Willy Enick shared, “J.J. just really unlocks our offense. His ability to keep a play alive with his feet, his vision to keep his head up and look for his receivers, and his excellent ball placement gives our guys so much confidence to take their games to the next level. The first quarter being a bit of a struggle for us to move the ball and it being a 0-0 game was actually a gift for us coaches. It gave us an opportunity to remind the boys that being ranked doesn’t mean anything if you can’t continue to execute and perform like we know we can.”

The two sophomore sensations, J.J. and Ziggy, continued to execute their onfield connection as they wreaked havoc on would-be Lummi tacklers early in the 4^th quarter. On the cusp of the red zone, J.J. evaded multiple defenseman, actually managing to split two Lummi lineman who tackled one another instead of the Tulalip quarterback, and then lofted a perfect spiral to a wide-open Ziggy for a touchdown. Up 30-8 now, the chants of “Tulalip power!” started to ring out from the fans who knew the W was all but secured.

The Hawks defense continued to swarm tackle the larger Lummi ballcarriers and managed to force several turnovers via 4^th down stops.

“Our defense did good adjusting to the run-heavy play style,” reflected Heritage defensive coordinator, Deyamonta Diaz post-game. “We adjusted to a 4-man front and were still able to rally to the ball quickly. For us, that’s been a game changer because the 4^th down stops give our offense the ability to find rhythm. We also had different starters this week, so guys were able to get reps and be ready for when we have to go into our depth chart.”

Ultimately, the Hawks relied on their depth and high-octane offense to win another season-boosting rivalry game. The 36-16 victory over Lummi will assuredly keep Tulalip in the ranks of the top 10.

Next up, the boys will travel to Tacoma on Saturday, October 6, to take on the Charles Wright Tarriers. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00pm.