Evan Thompson
The South Whidbey Record
A potential shakeup of the Cascade Conference could mean the end of the seven-school league.
Cascade Conference President Jason Frederick and Emerald City League President Kim Eng recently confirmed that King’s and Cedar Park Christian high schools have applied to transfer to the Emerald City League. Both officials declined to specify why the two schools are seeking to move, and the athletic directors at King’s and CPC did not respond to correspondence seeking comment.
Whatever the reasons, Frederick said there could be a hefty fallout for the Cascade Conference if the two class 1A school’s applications are accepted, perhaps even resulting in the conference’s collapse.
“If they leave,” Frederick said, “there’s a chance our league wouldn’t stay together.”
The Cascade Conference currently includes seven schools: Archbishop Murphy, Cedarcrest, Cedar Park Christian, Granite Falls, King’s, South Whidbey and Sultan.
If King’s and CPC leave, “I guess we start looking for some place else to go …,” Granite Falls athletic director Joey Johnson said. “At that time, I think we’re going to have to all get together and talk about it. There’s been some talk, but not anything definite right now. I think we’re kind of just waiting to see what happens.”
Said Sultan athletic director Scott Sifferman: “I think all of the schools that are currently in the conference are aware of the situation and are preparing for possible next steps.”
The Emerald City League has nine schools located in the greater Seattle area: Annie Wright, Bear Creek, Bush, Eastside Prep, Forest Ridge, Northwest, Overlake, Seattle Academy and University Prep.
Asked how the potential additions of King’s and CPC could benefit the Emerald City League, Eng said she could “think of a lot of positives that could come from this move.”
“They bring great athletic programs, they bring great athletic directors,” Eng said. “We have good relations with them. They have facilities and many sports teams at the sub-varsity level. They’re competitive.”
Eng said the Emerald City League could accommodate all of the two school’s sports except for football.
If King’s and Cedar Park Christian leave, South Whidbey and Sultan would be the only Class 1A schools left in the conference. Archbishop Murphy, Cedarcrest and Granite Falls are 2A schools.
Herald writer Cameron Van Til contributed to this report.
