Looking Ahead to Fall Sports at SAAS

By Asha Dean, Director of Outreach for Student Experience

Monday, August 25 marked the start of fall athletics for the 2025-2026 school year, and enthusiasm is high. “I am always excited for the kids to return to campus, their energy, and the community building that happens with fall sports,” says Cathy Schick, Seattle Academy Athletic Director. Here, Cathy shares a bit about what lies ahead for the Cardinals on the fields, courts, and courses. 

Enthusiasm and participation is again high for the fall. “We have five middle school boys soccer teams! There is solid participation across both divisions, in all the sports and, as a department, this gets us excited,” says Cathy. This will be year five of Cardinal Council, a leadership opportunity for Upper School students to continue shaping the athletic experience at SAAS. In Middle School, the focus is on the continued growth of developing student-athletes by encouraging participation and exposure to the variety of sports.

Year two in the Metro League. “I believe the biggest asset about being in year two in the Metro League is that our community and specifically our coaches know what to expect. We also know from last year that SAAS can compete at the Metro 3A level,” says Cathy. Last year, the Varsity Volleyball team finished strong enough (12-2 in league play) to move into the Mountain Division of the league.

Fallapolooza preview. Fallapolooza, a community-wide event celebrating fall sports at SAAS, is bigger than just athletics. “It really is the early community builder across the board and kicks off the year,” Schick says. This year's Fallpolooza will be Friday, September 19 at Starfire Sports Complex.

Looking ahead. Pickleball will be a recognized club in the Upper School, with the home field being Miller Playfield, and tryouts will become part of the culture for Upper School sports, Cathy says. Note there will be one “non-cut” sport per season as an option for student-athletes. Sports that will not have tryouts (no-cuts) are Cross Country in the fall, Wrestling in the winter, and Track & Field in the spring. These changes were made after thoughtful discussions in order to provide the most effective environment for growth, skill-building, and competition for our student-athletes, while also providing pathways to player development and participation.

Keep connected. To stay informed about scores and to access the athletic calendar, fans can check out the SAAS Athletic Page. @saascardinals is the official Athletic Department Instagram page and covers all teams, with captivating glimpses into each sport.