Pirates Finish Memorable Winter Sports Season

As we look back at winter sports this season and the Pirates and start spring sports for the year, Vashon has made its presence felt in the world of high school sports. The boys basketball team finished their regular season with a 13-7 winning record, earning a spot in the state playoffs for the first time in over 14 years. Vashon’s wrestling team, the Rockbusters, also had an amazing season, sending 10 wrestlers to the state tournament, including David Ryland, Ronan Reed, Rafael Escovedo, Jacob Lawerence, seniors Oliver Pinkney, Tavin Gilvert, Hazel Nielsen, and Alara Demir, first year wrestler freshman Cedar Henderson, and defending state champion senior Lena Puz. Lena defended her state title for the second year in a row, something that only one other Vashon girl wrestler (Sylvie Shiosake, 2007-2008) has been able to do.

As the winter season winds down and transitions into spring, athletes said that this year was about more than just wins and losses — it deepened bonds, tested perseverance, and set goals for a stronger return next year. 

For Mateo Villavicencio, a first-year wrestler, the season's defining moment came in a dramatic duel versus East Jefferson.

“I pinned my opponent three times, despite some technical issues with the first two pins,” Villavicencio said. 

But Mateo emphasized that the season’s value extended beyond individual highlights. The long rides and shared playlists, he noted, became vital parts of the experience and helped form the team's identity.

“I’ll miss the travel and camaraderie at meets; those shared moments going to and from competitions were unmatched,” Mateo said. 

The sophomore also described how wrestling reshaped his approach to effort and resilience. 

“This being my first year, wrestling reshaped how I think about hard work and perseverance,” Villacicencio said.

Senior wrestler Lena Puz did what many high school athletes dream: not only did she win the state tournament, but she came back the next year and defended her state title senior year. For most athletes, winning state would be their highlight of the season, or maybe the work leading up to the championship. Most. 

“At state, we had to wait around in these really uncomfortable chairs, and we started goofing off. I remember David started brushing Oliver’s hair. Those kinds of things were highlights of the season for me,” Lena stated.

Lena expressed that, “it’s gonna be hard not seeing my teammates every day” Puz stated, showing her love for her team and the brother and sisterhood that the sport creates. For some athletes, the individual achievements were the defining moments of the season. First year wrestler Cedar Henderson reflected on pushing through her mental barriers. In her very first year of wrestling, Cedar qualified for state. Breaking those mental barriers was the key to victory and a spot in the state tournament. 

“I was really proud of the mental space I got myself to when I won my match to go to state,” she said. 

She also expressed how wrestling has reshaped her competitive edge in sports.

“It’s also learned to help me be more competitive, which is something I used to struggle with before,” Cedar stated.

Like Mateo, Cece Guenther — a senior captain on the girls basketball team — put team growth and camaraderie at the center of her season reflection. With a small roster that included several newcomers, Guenther said that watching her teammates grow and improve was the most memorable part of the year. 

“Our team is really small, we have eight girls on the team, including two who had never played before. Watching them grow and improve has been really awesome,” she said. 

When asked about what she will miss most about the season, her response was almost identical to Mateo’s, highlighting the team's growth and the friendships made.

“I’ll miss playing every day after school, but what I’ll miss most is bonding with my teammates — riding in the vans, listening to music, and laughing together,” Cece said.  

The boys basketball team finished their season with a strong 13-7 record and earned a spot in the state playoff bracket for the first time since 2012. After their first post-season run 14 years later, sophomore Pierson Guenther reflected on his season. 

“I’ll be doing Running Start next year, so I will miss playing with a smaller team,” he said. Vashon High is known for its small student body, and for sports teams, athletes create lasting friendships and bonds.

“I’ll miss the team dinners and when we had a white elephant type deal. Those moments were really fun,” Pierson stated.

As the final buzzer sounds on basketball and the final whistle blows in wrestling, this winter season will be remembered for more than just wins and losses. These athletes demonstrated grit, discipline, and teamwork, showing the true spirit of high school sports. 

While the season has ended, the lessons in resilience the Pirates learned on the court and the mat will last forever. Our wrestling and basketball teams have fought through every challenge and earned their spot in the state playoff tournaments. We look back with pride on their achievements and look forward to the promise next year. Congratulations to both teams on a stellar season; we can’t wait to see what these athletes will achieve next!

SLAM. The Rockbusters wrestling team celebrates senior night against Cascade Christian. Vashon sent 10 wrestlers to state this year. Photo courtesy of Tyson Davis.

SWISH. The boys basketball team during a home game they won against Northwest. The Pirates had a strong 13-7 regular season and earned a playoff berth for the first time since 2012. Photo courtesy of Alara Demir.