LEAP (Leadership through Education, Activities, and Personal Development), is a student leadership group comprised of student leaders from WIAA member schools throughout the state. Student representatives are involved with WIAA events, meetings and community projects, and have the unique opportunity to be the voice of Washington’s 225,000+ student-participants.
For more information see the WIAA LEAP Committee Program page.
STAYING IN THE GAME – BY NIK HUSARIK, EMERALD RIDGE (’25) There’s 2 minutes till halftime. You’re winning by a couple points. The other team gets a steal. Suddenly it’s a fast break and you can’t let the other team score a basket. You sprint down the court and leap with a last effort
HIGH SCHOOL BURNOUTS – BY GRACIE PHAM, DAVIS (’24) Statistics show that a little over 7% of high school athletes continue to play at the college level of athletics after high school. With about 8 million high schoolers participating in sports throughout the United States, the amount of opportunities there are available to those
MENTAL HEALTH IMPORTANCE- BY JOSEPH EARL, CHIEF LESCHI (’25) As a team-sport athlete, I have made many lifelong relationships with people who were complete strangers before our connection through sports. Relationships that become more than just on the field or on the court. Having healthy and comfortable relationships with teammates and coaches makes it
STARTING SOMEWHERE – BY CHEYENNE SHEWELL, ELLENSBURG (’25) There is no doubt that sports change lives. Sports have changed mine and I am not even done yet. With sports, everyone starts at a different point. Some kids start as soon as they can walk, some in elementary school. But some kids do
REFLECTIONS OF A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE – BY TURNER VAN SLYKE (’24) It’s time to move on. This won’t be the last time life whispers these words, but as a 17-year-old on the brink of life beyond high school, it feels like the first. I’ve always lived in Walla Walla, Washington, in the
IMPORTANCE OF HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS FOR TEENAGERS – BY JOEY LURIE (’24) High school sports are one of the most powerful opportunities for personal growth and community building. These sports and teams extend so far beyond just physical activity, but they play a crucial role in shaping the character and well-roundedness of teenagers.
EATING DISORDERS IN ATHLETES – BY LUKA KAWAHARA (’24) I struggled with disordered eating habits my first two years of high school. Competing in both wrestling and track, I became aware of the importance of nutrition and how it affected my performance. This realization transformed into a hyperfixation on nutrition, leading to disordered
EMBRACING YOUR WHY – BY MYA MORALES, SUNNYSIDE (’25) Many high schools embrace the concept of “School Spirit.” aspiring to create the ideal high school experience, the dream that everyone has thought of when growing up. They hold events and pep assemblies where students have the opportunity to express their enthusiasm with
THE IMPACT OF CLUB SPORTS ON YOUNG ATHLETES – BY KARA MA, THE BUSH SCHOOL (’25) Playing sports has always been a significant part of my identity and daily routine. Ever since I was five years old I have found myself drawn to the game of basketball. The speed, liveliness, and comradery that
WHY SPORTS? – BY BRYN BECKMAN, RAINIER (’25) A regular high school basketball game comprises four eight-minute quarters, with a typical season having twenty games. A regular football season consists of 10 games with four 12-minute quarters. A volleyball season is made up of 16 matches, all of which are determined by
YOUNG FEMALE ATHLETES DESERVE FEMALE COACHES! – BY RYLEE ALOISIO, FRANKLIN PIERCE (’24) Almost all male athletes have male coaches, so why don’t all female athletes have female coaches? I believe that young female athletes deserve female coaches because having a strong female role model and someone who believes in you means
WHAT IF? – BY MADISON HULL, RENTON (’25) What if you decided to join a sport on a random Monday? What if you decided to alter your life with one decision? What if you wanted to try something new for once? When it comes to school sports, I will always be an
WHY DOES INCLUSIVITY IN SPORTS MATTER? – BY ROCKY SRINIVASAN, EASTSIDE PREP (’24) In this article, I would like to explore a topic that’s not only close to my heart but also a key focus of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) – the crucial role of inclusivity in high school sports, with
MIDDLE BLOCKING BARRIERS – BY ALEX BESTEMAN, INTERLAKE (’24) Entering my first year of high school, I was confident I wanted to play volleyball—not only did I love the sport, but before my arrival I caught word of a rumor that “Interlake volleyball is getting a 6’2 freshman!” While I am not actually 6’2
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