Dad, son battle on different sides in today’s Mud Match

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Mud Match, the annual golf showdown between crosstown rivals Cascade and Everett, and it will feature a father and son looking to come out on top.

The problem is only one of them can.

Darrell Olson, the coach at Everett, leads his Seagulls against his son Chris Olson, a senior captain at Cascade, in the Mud Match today at 3 p.m. at Legion Golf Course.

“It’s developed a little bit of competition around the dinner table and a little trash talking,” Darrell Olson said.

Said Chris: “We did a little smack talking around the house. We have some fun with it.”

It will be the final Mud Match for Chris, who has never lost an individual match in the tournament that pits each teams’ No. 1 golfers, No. 2 golfers and so on down the line against each other. He said that while it was nice to be the medalist for Cascade last year — each teams’ low scorer gets a medalist trophy — Chris wants to finish his high school career with another Bruins’ victory.

“This is the 30th year of the Mud Match,” Chris Olson said. “Cascade has won it the majority of the time. We need to get that trophy back for Cascade.”

Last season provided the ideal finish for the elder Olson, whose team won for just the seventh time in the match’s history.

“Last year I had the best of both worlds. My son was the match medalist and we won the Mud Match,” Darrell Olson said. “It was a great night at the dinner table. That’s my best scenario. That’s a win-win.”

Chris ended up at Cascade through a combination of chance and a pretty big decision. While he was in seventh grade, the Everett School District redrew the boundaries, putting him in Cascade territory. He had friends going to Everett, as well as Jackson and Cascade High Schools, but in the end decided to be a Bruin.

“That’s where all my friends were going,” he said.

The Everett coach said he never tried to recruit Chris away from his school. Once he was a Bruin, that decision was final as far as Darrell was concerned.

“I didn’t want to pull him. He was elected captain (of the golf team) his junior year,” Darrell said. “It would not have been fair. He’s had a really good experience at Cascade. There’s nothing bad about him playing there. I would have loved to have had him, but that’s where he belongs.”

Darrell was fulfilling a comment he had made when Chris was younger. While making his decision, Chris remembered something his parents told him.

“I remember my parents telling me, wherever you go we’re going to support you,” Chris said. “But whatever school you go to freshman year, that first school you step foot on, you’re going there for four years. We’re not going to play the transfer game.”

Darrell Olson said even though he’s not his coach, Chris will still ask him for advice from time to time. And Darrell is quick to determine what kind of advice Chris is seeking.

“I try to be really careful in that I’ve really backed off lastly the last couple years,” Darrell said. “I try to be there as a sounding board. If or when he asks for advice I say, ‘Do you want coaches’ advice or dad advice?’”

The Bruin captain still has some friends on the Everett golf team. The Seagulls finished ninth at state prompting one of Chris’ friends on the team to point out that if Olson was there, “Man, we’d be stacked.”

Despite that fact, Chris looks on his years at Cascade very fondly.

“I have no regrets,” Chris said. “I honestly love Cascade.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Silvertips forward Carter Bear fields questions after the Detroit Red Wings selected him 13th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles on June 27, 2025. (Photo courtesy Natalie Shaver / CHL)
Two weeks after Draft, Silvertips’ Bear still can’t believe it

The Red Wings’ first-rounder reflects on draft night and his experience at Detroit’s development camp.

Storm flies too close to the Sun, loses in an upset

Connecticut snapped a 10-game losing streak to beat Seattle 93-83 on Wednesday morning.

Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees flips his bat after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in New York. (Evan Bernstein / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Raleigh, Judge heat up homer race at Yankee Stadium

In the battle of baseball’s biggest sluggers, Aaron Judge… Continue reading

Seattle Seahawks linebackers Derick Hall (58) and Boye Mafe (53) celebrate a defensive play during the 2024 season. (Rio Giancarlo / Getty Images / The Athletic)
Season to reveal long-term plans for Seahawks linebackers

The Seattle Seahawks selected edge rusher Boye Mafe with… Continue reading

Silvertips defenseman wins U20 Ball Hockey World Title with Canada

Rylan Pearce helps Canada win gold at the ISBHF U20 World Championships in Slovakia.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) makes a catch against San Francisco 49ers defensive back Rashard Robinson (33) in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer / Bay Area News Group / Tribune News Services)
Sports psychologist changed Seahawks’ Doug Baldwin’s outlook

The former receiver overcame intense emotions during his player career

Paolo Banchero, Orlando agree to max contract extension

The former O’Dea star could earn up to $287 million over five years.

NHL players, owners vote to ratify 4-year CBA

Notable changes include an 84-game season starting in 2026, shorter contract terms.

AquaSox outfielder Carson Jones gets settled in the batter's box during Everett's 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 6, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox show progress, but drop fifth straight to Canadians

Jones’ go-ahead, 3-run homer is spoiled in 4-3 loss to wrap up homestand.

Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday, April 18, 2025, in Toronto. (Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Three Mariners added to MLB All-Star Game

Major League Baseball announced today that Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez,… Continue reading

George Kirby (68) of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at T-Mobile Park on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenne / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Pirates finish historically bad offensive series in Seattle

Similar to the first two games of the series, the… Continue reading

Seattle Storm forward Alysha Clark (32) and Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) guard each other during a free throw in a WNBA basketball game between the Aces and the Seattle Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena Friday, June 20, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter / Las Vegas Review-Journal / Tribune News Services)
Storm uses third-quarter thunderbolt to down Liberty

Rookie Dominique Malonga scored 11 and took over in the third quarter for Seattle.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.