Let the games begin!
Highline High School Tennis Coach Scott Babcock cut the ribbon at a very small, very wet ceremony on February 26 to mark the completion of six new purple tennis courts at the Sunnydale site. Tennis players Graham Luethe and Emily Vorng (both Class of 2022) held up the ends of the ribbon tied to their rackets.
After speeches cut short by a downpour, Athletic Director Lori Box ('85) challenged Scott, who is marking his 26th year of coaching tennis and teaching band, to a match. Graham and Emily squared off. And alumni matches were played by Dave Larson ('69), Julie (Fenton) Kemp ('81), Jim Kemp ('81) Eric Todd ('99) and Jacqueline Kemp ('16). Finally, Lori also played Highline's Director of Athletics Phil Willenbrock. No word on who won!
When Will the Courts Open to the Public?
For this spring and at least part of summer, the courts will be used by the tennis team only. The new courts will open to the public during daylight, non-school hours once the Highline High School construction project reaches a phase called "substantial completion," which is estimated to be mid July.
Currently the site is under the control of the general contractor. The contractor is allowing student athlete practice and some competitions to occur. The district will take over control of the new campus and the tennis courts from the contractor when the high school construction project reaches substantial completion. At that point the courts will open to the public (assuming no rollbacks in COVID reopening phases), during daylight, non-school hours, and outside of times when the courts are reserved for league competition.
For more photos, visit our March 1, 2021 Facebook post.