October 20, 2017
SPORTS
A new era — and coaching staff — for MIHS Girls Soccer
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Emily Yang staff writer
Mercer Island High School was pleased to introduce a new girls soccer coaching staff this year: James Valles, Celeste Stroup, and Natalie Weaver. As varsity coach, Valles has boasted an impressive start, maintaining a clean sheet for his first seven games. At the beginning of the season, Valles voiced plans of a direct playing style with high-pressing defenders in hopes of building an offensively strong team. His vision was clearly executed in initial weeks, tallying 25 goals and counting. As of October 12th, the girls are ranked first in their KingCo 3a bracket. Valles has coached for Seattle United, moving to high school soccer for the spirit and greater experience. Besides MIHS, James Valles coaches U13 girls and was named Coach of the Year in the Seamont League in 2013. Meanwhile, JV has held their own against tough teams such as Juanita and Arlington. Made up of a variety of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, its members see their team as a means to meet students from different grades and gain confidence both on and off the field.
Freshman Catherine Shurygailo said that her teammates “all understand how to make me feel welcome and a part of the MIHS family.” Stroup has focused on finishing in the final third and playing tactically rather than
technically. This led the girls to a win against Interlake - one that Catie credits to teamwork. JVC, led by Natalie Weaver, has also started the season strong. “We have not won every game … but the girls have really started to grow
A mock-up of the new plan for Seatle’s Key Arena -- a multi-purpose center for hockey, basketball, music concerts, and various events.
The Key to Renovating KeyArena Evan Dickstein staff writer
The City of Seattle and the Oak View Group have negotiated and agreed upon a memorandum of understanding to redevelop Key Arena into a new building fit for hockey, basketball, music concerts and events. Tim Leiweke, CEO and co-founder of the Los Angeles based Oak View Group, and former Seattle Mayor Ed Murray have agreed upon a memorandum of understanding to renovate KeyArena. The documents
Photo courtesy MIHS Girls Soccer
Varsity girls soccer for the 2017 fall season poses with their new coach James Valles.
have been submitted to the city council. Former Mayor of Seattle Ed Murray believes that the Oak View plan “is absolutely the best [arena deal] we’ve got.” The council will review all aspects of the Oak View Group’s plan and make the final decision by voting on December fourth, 2017. If approved, the rebuilding process will start, with the opening of the new arena scheduled for October 2020. Co-founder and CEO of Oak View Group Tim Leiweke has stated: “The completion of the MOU provides a level of certain-
ty that Seattle has never had before, and OVG, the City Council, elected officials and the residents of Seattle, must now turn our attention to the NHL and NBA and make it undeniably clear that we are more than ready for them to come to Seattle,”. The new arena will be privately financed and cost around 600 million dollars to be built. Ben Noble, the Seattle City budget director, has made it clear that he is confident the Oak View Group has the financial backing to support a project of this magnitude. The funding will come from pri-
as a team,” Coach Weaver said. While it is her first year coaching, Weaver’s goal is to encourage her players to continue with the sport - one she has participated in since the age of four. She hopes the season will boost her players’
Photo courtesy Sonics Arena
vate equity, debt financing from lenders, and federal historic tax credits. Oak View Group’s Seattle-based director Lance Lopes has stated, “We will take all the risk from the city. We will take care of the costs associated with whatever the impacts of this arena in this community”. They are also committed to spending 40 million dollars on transportation and 20 million dollars on for a community fund. Some people are estimating that the total cost of the project will exceed 750 million dollars by the time the are-
confidence and collaboration skills. By focusing not just on winning but also player development and teamwork, the new coaches are building a healthy environment of confidence and improvement. na is completely finished. During construction, They will also be paying for the relocation of local businesses that will be affected by construction. David Bonderman, a billionaire and potential NHL team owner, has put money into the building. He has also been seen multiple times in the city council building. Mayor Ed Murray has publicly said; “I do think the NHL will be here sooner than the NBA. But I think both of them will be here. I think this is the arena that will get us here.”. Everybody working with the project is very confident that this arena will draw an NHL and an NBA team to Seattle. The new arena will seat 18,350 people for a basketball game and 17,100 people for a hockey game, and 16,940- 19,125 people for a concert. They will also dig out the arena by 15 feet. This way they can keep the historic roofline of the arena intact. The Oak View Group will also be responsible for finding a hockey and basketball team for the stadium. Another proposal that has been submitted it to make a new arena in Sodo. This proposal also includes a renovation of KeyArena. The renovation would turn KeyArena into two smaller concert sites, a 500 seat theatre, and a covered amphitheater. This project would also be privately funded by a group led by the Nordstrom Family, Chris Hanson and others. There plan was once thought as the favorite but there memorandum of understanding is set to expire in December after being in circulation for more than five years.