May 28, 2025
ISSUE 22
50¢
IT'S IN THE CLASSIFIEDS
Hunting for a job? In the market for a new home? Have something to sell? Turn to the Classifieds in The Dispatch and at dispatchnews.com
Eatonville sends 4 to state after district championships By Skip Smith Contributing Writer
COURTESY DEANNA ANDERSEN
Eatonville’s Bailey Andersen poses with Head Coach Alex Christensen after securing a 7th place finish at the 2A Girls Tennis State Tournament—capping off a standout season with a medal-winning performance.
Cruisers make history at 2A State Tennis Tournament By Skip Smith Contributing Writer
The Eatonville High School girls tennis team made a long-overdue return to the spotlight this past weekend at the 2A State Tennis Championships, held at the Nordstrom Tennis Center on the University of Washington campus. Senior Bailey Andersen and the doubles team of seniors Lillian Bickford and Alayna Meyer battled through stiff competition, representing the Cruisers with grit, composure, and history-making performances. For the first time in two decades, Eatonville had not one, but two entries reach the second day of the state tournament. It was a breakthrough moment for the program — one head coach Alex Christensen called “the cherry on top of the sundae” after years of grinding to reach this level. Bickford and Meyer opened their run on Friday, May 23, with a straight-sets victory over Chief Sealth’s Kennedy and Rasmussen, 6-2, 6-4, showcasing sharp communication and steady baseline play. The win advanced them to the quarterfinals, where they ran into a dominant Columbia River team. Emma Lungwitz and Sydney Dreves — the eventual state runners-up — handed the Eatonville duo a tough 6-1, 6-0 loss, dropping Bickford
TENNIS, 3
Four Eatonville High School track and field athletes are state-bound following standout performances at the 2A West Central District 3 Championships, held last weekend. Leading the way were senior Ethan Carter and junior Taylor Johnson, who each captured district titles in their respective events, repeating as champions after also claiming titles the previous week at the 2A South Puget Sound League Championships. Carter took home the gold in the pole vault, solidifying his dominance in the event and punching his ticket to the WIAA 2A State Track & Field Championships, which will be held May 29-31 at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma. Johnson, competing in the ambulatory division, continued her impressive season with a first-place finishes in the discus. She also qualified for state in the ambulatory shot put with a first-place finish.
TRACK, 4
COURTESY GEOFF OLSON
Eatonville's Ethan Carter soars his way to another 1st place finish in the pole vault last week at the district championships. Carter would claim the district crown with a vault of 15'0".
Eatonville HS senior Jaiden Sobczyk signs with Simpson University By Skip Smith Contributing Writer
From a young boy fishing with his Grandpa Jeff to a trailblazing high school senior building his own bass fishing team, Jaiden Sobczyk’s journey has come full circle. The Eatonville High School senior officially signed with Simpson University to compete on their collegiate bass fishing team, taking his passion, leadership, and angling talent to the next level. He also makes history as the first student in Eatonville High School history to receive a college scholarship for fishing. For Sobczyk, the decision to sign with Simpson is more than just about fishing — it's about faith, family, and future. “Committing to Simpson felt like the perfect fit for me both academically and athletically,” Sobczyk said. “Their strong faith-based environment aligns with how I was raised, and the small class sizes remind me of Eatonville. On top of that, getting to compete at a high level and be part of a close-knit fishing team was everything I
COURTESY STEVI SOBCZYK
Eatonville High School’s Jaiden Sobczyk makes it official, signing his national letter of intent to fish collegiately for Simpson University. He’ll join the Red Hawks fishing team and continue his passion at the next level. was looking for.” Jaiden’s love for fishing began at age three, during family visits to his grandfather’s place. Those early memories sparked a lifelong passion that only grew stronger with time. “I connected with fishing instantly,” he said. “Later on, when we lived on Canyon Lake in California, I’d be out all day with locals, catching big bass and catfish. At the time, I didn’t even realize how big some of
those fish were.” After moving back to Washington, Jaiden never let go of that fishing rod. But it was around eighth grade when his interest shifted specifically to bass fishing. That’s when the true grind began: endless YouTube tutorials, experimenting with baits and techniques, and long days out at Ohop Lake with his best friend Jason. “Our moms would drop us off early and Jason and I would fish all day,” Jaiden recalled. “We didn’t know everything, but we learned through trial and error and had a blast doing it.” At age 15, Sobczyk got his first taste of competitive fishing when a family friend invited him onto a bass boat. “That trip changed everything,” he said. “He told me about a local bass club—but I had to be 16 to join. I waited, and once I was old enough, I got nominated and voted in.” Jaiden didn’t stop there. When he realized Eatonville High School didn’t have a bass fishing team, he decided to create one himself. With help from contacts like the Washington State High School Bass Tournament Director, he navigated the process — organizing meetings, recruiting students, and finding adult boat captains. “It was a brand-new idea for the school,” Jaiden explained. “There was no playbook. But I asked questions, stayed persistent, and
SOBCZYK, 4