WIAA Unveils 2024-25 Service Award Winners to be Honored at May 7 Hall of Fame ceremony

RENTON, Wash. (April 22, 2025) – The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) is excited to announce this year’s 2024-25 Gareth Giles and Chee Chee & Curt Bruskland Service Award Winners.

The following honorees will be presented with their award at the WIAA’s Hall of Fame Ceremony taking place at the Olympic Club at Lumen Field in Seattle on Wednesday, May 7. Tickets are available for purchase now, and the deadline to purchase is Thursday, May 1.

2024-25 GARETH GILES AWARD WINNERS

• Jim Meyerhoff, Puyallup
• Britt Atack, The Northwest School

Annually, the Representative Assembly selects nominations of persons who, by service to the ideals and purpose of the WIAA Representative Assembly, exemplify the leadership and dedication given to all students and member schools by Gareth Giles. The selection criteria include:

1. A minimum of five years of service as a Representative Assembly member and/or WIAA Board member and/or Representative Assembly standing or special committee member.
2. Leadership in the WIAA legislative process and procedures.
3. Positive services in the resolution of problems.
4. Dedication and loyalty to the WIAA and the implementation of WIAA rules among the schools of the nominees’ WIAA District.
5. Consistent promotion of the purposes of the WIAA in giving first consideration to the activity programs and participating students.

2024-25 CHEE CHEE & CURT BRUSKLAND AWARD WINNERS

• Cindy C-Wilson
• Mike Dunwiddie
• Jay Rydell

This award is presented to the individual(s) who exemplify the ultimate in service to the WIAA, either to the state association office or to WIAA member schools. These individuals have exhibited caring and kindness through their service that were a hallmark of the Brusklands.

To read more about this year’s Hall of Fame event, click the link below…

WIAA REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY PASSES SEVEN AMENDMENTS; SANCTIONS GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL AND ADJUSTS TRANSFER ELIGIBILITY

RENTON, Wash. (April 21, 2025) – The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Representative Assembly voted to pass seven amendments—effective August 1, 2025—the Association announced Monday, April 21.

“I am incredibly thankful for the membership’s hard work throughout this amendment cycle, and the WIAA is excited to welcome a new activity to the Association. We’re thankful to the Seattle Seahawks and James Neil for their leadership in helping bring Girls Flag Football to this point, and we look forward to continuing that partnership as the sport grows statewide,” Executive Director Mick Hoffman said. “This process has highlighted the leadership and dedication of athletic administrators from across the state, who have spent months engaging in thoughtful discussions and collaboration. Their commitment ensured the amendment process was both inclusive and effective, and we’re proud to move forward with changes that reflect the voices of our member schools.”

OSBORN & TESFAMICHAEL HIGHLIGHT 2025 SMART CHOICES AWARD WINNERS

RENTON, Wash. (April 11, 2025) – The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), Gesa Credit Union, and the Dairy Farmers of Washington announced Macy Osborn of West Valley (Spokane) High School and Rahwa Tesfamichael of Auburn High School as the $5,000 recipients of the 13th annual Smart Choices Scholarship, Friday.

In addition to the two $5,000 scholarships, Gesa Credit Union and the Dairy Farmers of Washington teamed up to provide eight $1,000 scholarships:

Bryn Beckman – Rainier
Dexter Delaney – Liberty Bell
Cameron Downing – Olympia
Nikolas Husarik – Emerald Ridge
James McAnally – Colfax
Aidan Nguyen – Mountain View
Nancy Ta – Lindbergh
Brynn Williams – Tenino

“Each year, we continue to be inspired by the remarkable students who are recognized through the Smart Choices Scholarship,” said WIAA Executive Director Mick Hoffman. “This year’s recipients exemplify what it means to lead with integrity, resilience, and a heart for service—both in competition and in their communities. We are proud to support their continued success as they take the next step in their academic and personal journeys.”

WIAA Announces Class of 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees

RENTON, Wash. (April 3, 2025) – The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) has officially announced its inductees for the WIAA Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Continue reading for more information on this year’s inductees, the luncheon ceremony, ticket information, and additional details.

This year’s Hall of Fame class, consisting of five new inductees, will be honored at the WIAA 2025 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Luncheon on Wednesday, May 7. New this year, the Hall of Fame luncheon will take place in the Olympic Club at Lumen Field in Seattle.

Stay tuned for more information on scheduling and tickets, which will go on sale April 7. Tickets must be purchased by May 1.

RENTON, Wash. – Below you will find information on the 2025 proposed amendments to the WIAA Handbook, all of which were submitted by 5+ member schools or the WIAA Executive Board. Discussions around the language and content of each proposed amendment by the WIAA Representative Assembly took place during Winter Coalition on Monday, January 27th. An updated summary of amendments following revisions made at Winter Coalition, accompanied by detailed text for each amendment dated Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, can be found linked below.

Revisions are highlighted in yellow on the amendments summary and throughout the detailed full text.

VOTING TIMELINE
The WIAA Representative Assembly will vote on the proposed amendments from April 9-18, 2025.

ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
The Representative Assembly is comprised of 53 (35 high school, 18 middle level) school administrators from each of the six WIAA districts. The Representative Assembly votes on the proposed amendments, and the voting delegates are typically proxy voters, aligning their vote with the opinions of their league and WIAA District.

For an amendment to pass, 60 percent approval is needed from voting members of the Assembly. A total of 32 votes are needed for a middle-level/high-school amendment to pass, while 21 votes are needed for a high school amendment to pass and 11 votes are needed for a middle-level amendment to pass.

RENTON, Wash. – The WIAA is excited to welcome back the Seattle Seahawks as the presenting sponsor of the 2024 WIAA/Gesa Credit Union State Football Championships on December 6th & 7th at Husky Stadium on the campus of the University of Washington. Three games each day with the best teams in the state promises to deliver championship-level excitement.

RENTON, Wash. – As the football season enters the full swing and we look ahead to the State Football Championships in December, the WIAA is excited to announce that Guardian Sports is now the Official Football Safety Partner of the WIAA.

“We’re excited to expand our focus on student-athlete safety with this partnership with Guardian Sports,” WIAA Executive Director Mick Hoffman said. “All students need a safe place to play, and as we ramp up our efforts this school year, it’s impossible to miss Guardian Sports’ proven impact on safety. We’re seeing schools begin to increase usage of Guardian Caps, and it’s exciting to see this safety evolution.”

With over 20 years of material science research and a passion for player safety, Guardian Sports have created high-tech, science-backed products designed to benefit athletes. Their expertise led them to create the Guardian Cap in 2010, the organization’s most popular product, a padded, soft-shell layer worn on the outside of football helmets.

Guardian Caps are permitted for usage in games and practices throughout the season, per the NFHS’ playing rules. The WIAA encourages schools and school districts to consult with their risk managers to determine usage, as the Association does not have additional policies regarding usage.

“We are thrilled to be the official football safety partner of the WIAA,” Guardian Sports Founder & CEO Erin Hanson said. “We look forward to working together to enhance player safety and continuing our commitment to high school athletes across the state of Washington.”

Used by over 500,000 youth, high school and college athletes nationwide and mandated by the NFL in contact practices, their soft-shell technology has addressed a need in the market for impact reduction. Guardian Caps are proven to reduce impact and preserve helmets, while also being light, easy to take on and off, and they fit helmets of all sizes.

For more information about Guardian Sport’s mission and products, please visit their website at guardiansports.com.

RENTON, Wash. – After spending five months in the office as an intern, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) is excited to announce the hiring of Teagan Eldridge as Production Coordinator. Eldridge began his responsibilities as Production Coordinator on Monday, June 17.

“I’m excited to continue on the full time staff at the WIAA,” Eldridge said. “My internship was a meaningful experience and I thoroughly enjoyed my time, so staying on staff is incredibly exciting for me. Having new roles and responsibilities on the full time staff is exciting and I look forward to working with the WIAA staff and the membership. The WIAA and high school sports is a special place, and getting the opportunity to continue to work in this space is something I am very happy about.”

Back in February, Eldridge joined the office staff as an intern, working on various projects throughout the office in preparation for winter and spring State Championships. He gained valuable experience at seven State Championships, and his character fit seamlessly with the office staff.

As Production Coordinator, Eldridge oversees all mailing efforts, supply orders, awards orders, banner inventory, and all building maintenance. Eldridge’s position also plays a vital role in coverage of WIAA State Championships, assisting in social media and bracket management.

“We are very excited to welcome Teagan back in an enlarged role,” Executive Director Mick Hoffman said. “Teagan proved himself during his time as an intern and I’m very happy we could reward those efforts by bringing him onboard as our Production Coordinator. I have complete confidence that Teagan will thrive in this position and continue to contribute to the Association’s goals moving forward.”

This spring, Eldridge earned his Master’s degree from the University of Washington in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership. During his time in graduate school, Eldridge was a substitute teacher and coached middle school soccer in the White River School District. 

He received his undergraduate degree from Western Washington University in Health & Physical Education/Fitness in 2022. Eldridge is a graduate of Enumclaw High School, Class of 2018, and participated in soccer, track & field, and cross country.

To inquire about internship opportunities at the WIAA, contact Andy Knapp & Sean Bessette for more information.

RENTON, Wash. – The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Representative Assembly voted to pass 14 amendments effective August 1, 2024, the Association announced Monday.

The Representative Assembly is comprised of 53 (35 high school, 18 middle level) school administrators from each of the nine WIAA districts. For an amendment to pass, 60 percent approval is needed from voting members of the Assembly. A total of 32 votes are needed for a middle-level/high-school amendment to pass, while 21 votes are needed for a high school amendment to pass and 11 votes are needed for a middle-level amendment to pass.

In total, 27 amendments were proposed this year and the 14 that passed will go into effect next school year. In addition to those amendments, two WIAA Executive Board positions were voted on. Scott Chamberlain (Shelton, District 4) and Russ Waterman (Eastmont, District 6) were re-elected to their positions on the Board.

Amendment #10, focused on reducing minimum practice requirements in all high school sports except football and gymnastics, had an individual vote for every sport. Each sport earned enough votes to pass. Amendment #14 did not count to the list of passed and total amendments as a special committee has been approved to review the Association’s transfer rules ahead of Representative Assembly next school year.

READ: An Update on the Ongoing Conversation Surrounding The WIAA’s Transfer & Eligibility Rules.

RENTON, WASH. – Over recent days, conversation surrounding the WIAA’s transfer and eligibility rules has expanded. The WIAA is evaluating its current transfer and eligibility rules with the goal of sustaining fair and equitable competition. The Association wants to ensure these rules align with Washington State law and best fit our student-athletes and their families. The WIAA has no interest in creating a “transfer portal” resembling the NCAA’s current model. 

Ultimately, the WIAA’s goal is to determine what changes, if any, need to be made.

“Our Board and membership have always been very thoughtful regarding any rule change,” WIAA Executive Director Mick Hoffman said. “This process is another example of that intentional and thorough work.”

Continue reading for more information and links to valuable resources.