The Washington High School varsity tag team has been on a tear throughout the season, going 12-2 and currently topping the leaderboard of the Mission Valley Athletic League. Ending the season on a 7 match win streak, the Huskies varsity tag team emerged victorious Thursday against Granada, thanks in no small part to the efforts of standout parkourist and team captain, Sarah Lee.
Lee, a senior at Washington, has been a key member of the team since her freshman year, and her skills were on full display during the match. She led the team in both offensive and defensive plays, scoring several crucial points with an almost extraterrestrial ability of evasion and making several late key tags.
“Sarah is an incredible player,” said Huskies varsity tag head coach, Johnny Kim. “She has a great sense of the game, and she’s always willing to put in the extra effort to help her team succeed.”
Lee’s passion for tag began at Glenmoor Elementary School, where she discovered the sport during PE class. Lee quickly fell in love with the thrill of the chase the sport would give players.Since then, she’s been honing her skills and competing in local and regional tournaments.
“Tag is such a fun and dynamic sport,” said Lee. “It requires quick reflexes, strategic thinking, and teamwork, which makes it really exciting to play.” She also went on to say,, “I love the adrenaline rush I get when I’m playing. It’s such a fast-paced game, and you have to be quick on your feet to avoid getting tagged. I also love the strategy involved. It’s not just about running around and trying to avoid getting tagged. There’s a lot of teamwork and communication involved, and you have to be able to think on your feet.”
Lee’s talents on the tag field have not gone unnoticed. She’s been scouted by several colleges, and hopes to continue playing at the next level. When asked about her offers, she said, “I’ve received offers from a few schools across the country. There’s a school in Texas, one in Pennsylvania, and another in California. They all have strong tag programs, so I’m really excited about the possibilities.” Lee does plan on competing at the next level, ready to face the new challenges it will bring her head on.
For now, however, Lee and her teammates are focused on the rest of the season. They hope it will culminate in a North Coast Section Division-II title, or possibly even bigger.
Having gone 6-0 in league play, the Huskies have locked up the number one spot in MVAL, which also clinched a spot in the North California Section in Division-II. If they are able to capture an NCS title, they will vie for the Division-II California Interscholastic Federation championship, a state title.
“It would mean everything to us. We’ve been working towards this all season, and it would be an amazing feeling to achieve our goals. It would also be a great way to show our school and community that we’re capable of achieving great things.” she said about their chances of winning both titles, this would make them the first of any MVAL team to take state. Only time will tell if the glass slipper fits.
“We’ve got a great team this year,” said Lee. “We’re all working hard and supporting each other, and I think we have a real shot at winning it all.” She also said this regarding the upcoming playoffs, “We’re going to keep the train going, we’re going to go harder and harder every match. We really, really want this.”
With veteran players like Sarah Lee leading the charge, the Washington High School varsity tag team is still chasing glory.
Dylan Mabunga is a sophomore at Washington High School. He was born in San Jose, California, and moved to Fremont when he was two. This is his first year with the Hatchet. Topics he is interested in include world events, sports, and movies and video games. Dylan enjoys playing basketball, video games, and hanging out with friends. Dylan is unsure of what he wants to do in the future, but currently is planning on going to college and is unsure what to major in.