Don’t take anything for granted when it comes to athletics at the high school level. Likely even more true for rural, smaller high schools where enrollment and money can mean the death and rebirth, and perhaps a stay of execution for a program.

A “Grand” Experiment?

Girls soccer in Grand Coulee? A grass roots effort from LRHS alumni helped make it happen. $2,700 was raised in August of 2016. Lake Roosevelt High School’s Raiders hit the pitch soon after. Earlier the school district had OK’d the start of the program with a budget they expected to be in the $21,500 range.

A bit of history for you: The school’s first win was September 13, 2016 3-0 over Manson.

Yes or No to a second year?

It wasn’t such a tough sell in June when the Grand Coulee Dam School Board voted to continue the Lake Roosevelt High School Raiders program. Thanks to local reporting from the The Star / GrandCoulee.com back in June 2017 we learn the details.

Soccer will continue to be part of the Grand Coulee Dam School District’s athletic program, the school board voted Monday night.

The girl’s soccer program was highly successful, Athletic Director Levi Seekins advised the board in a written memo. The program, which started last fall, had 18 girls turn out, and coaches are already involved in summer programs.

The board had approved soccer on a trial basis a year ago and were quick to vote to continue the sport.

“Soccer showed a lot of improvement as the year went on and we expect to do better this next year,” Seekins wrote.

Soccer Coach Casey Moore appeared at the board meeting, but the school board didn’t need any encouragement and had already voted to continue the sport.

(LRHS Raiders in all black) Bryn Chaffee beats Okanogan’s Gwen Painter to the ball during play at Okanogan, while Kylee Marchand backs her up. – Al Camp, Omak Chronicle photo

Raiders on the Pitch

So how are the Lake Roosevelt High School Raiders doing on the pitch since their program was extended? Last season they went 3-8 in the debut of the team. They also put 4 players on the Central Washington B League All Star squad.

In 2017 the LRHS Raiders bolted out to a 3-1 record. More recently they have endured tough losses. The Raiders are currently 3rd in the 7-school CWB League.

Grand Coulee is in the game. Let’s hope they continue to get the support they need to stay there.

Boys soccer under the shadow of the big dam? Well, this page looks promising.

Stay tuned.