Yesterday, the Port Townsend High School auditorium hosted a powerful and intimate event in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, featuring guest speaker and renowned poet Gary Copeland Lilley. The event, organized by the school’s Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) club, was held during 7th period and included two sessions: one for freshmen and sophomores and another for juniors and seniors.
Gary Copeland Lilley, originally from North Carolina and now residing in Bremerton, Washington, is an acclaimed author of eight poetry collections, including The Bushman’s Medicine Show and The Hog Killing. His work has appeared in numerous anthologies and journals, and he is a recipient of the DC Commission on the Arts Fellowship for Poetry as well as a Cave Canem Fellow.
The BIPOC club’s student leaders introduced Mr. Lilley, weaving quotes from Dr. King into their speeches and highlighting King’s legacy of equality, compassion, and justice. “Each of our introduction speeches individually spoke about how people should treat each other,” said Destini Rosas, a club member. “I thought us taking a small quote and then expanding off the quote was really important.”
Mr. Lilley’s presentation featured readings of his poetry, with a thoughtful selection of pieces tailored to each group. “I appreciated that he read some poems to one group and other poems to the other group,” said Destini. “He would talk about the previous poem when introducing the next. Overall, it went really well. Students were really interested, with most staying even after school was out.”
The BIPOC club also had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Lilley before the event. During this reception, the students learned more about his work and process. “He’s written multiple poetry collections, which I thought was super impressive,” said Livia Lee, another BIPOC club member. Destini added, “He didn’t tell us exactly what his new book was about, but it was a really important piece of introducing him and getting to know him better. He read some poems off of his new upcoming book to us”.
The event served as a meaningful tribute to Dr. King’s legacy, as students reflected on his teachings and connected them to the themes in Mr. Lilley’s poetry. “In our introduction, we spoke about Dr. King and his accomplishments,” said Livia. “It was a great way to frame the event.”
The BIPOC club—a vital and growing presence at Port Townsend High School—continues to foster community and inclusivity among students of color. “It’s a place where people of color can come to create a community and safe space,” explained Livia. “This club is a great place for people to share their experiences, show their identity, and uplift one another.” Destini emphasized the club’s importance in a predominantly homogenous town: “We really want to continue after we graduate, and we're hoping that students in the future will come together the same way we did."
Yesterday’s event was a poignant reminder of the power of words, connection, and community in honoring Dr. King’s enduring legacy. Thanks to the BIPOC club’s leadership and Mr. Lilley’s inspiring presence, the students of Port Townsend High School were given a memorable and meaningful experience to reflect on the values of justice, equality, and compassion.
The East Jefferson Rivals Wrestling team has had an eventful and impressive season, filled with intense matches, strong individual performances, and team camaraderie. From closely contested dual meets to standout tournament finishes, the Rivals have proven themselves as a team of resilience and determination.
A Tough Battle Against Cascade Christian
On January 7, the Rivals traveled to Puyallup for a highly anticipated Nisqually League dual meet against the Cascade Christian Cougars. The team knew this match could determine the League Championship and came in prepared for a battle. Despite their efforts and a well-thought-out strategy to win 7 of the 14 matches, the Rivals narrowly fell short, losing 46-35.
There were several memorable moments in the meet. Caleb Johnson, wrestling at 132 pounds for the first time this season, secured a dramatic third-round pin against Mason McManemy, showcasing sheer grit and determination. Additional pins by Manaseh Lanphear Ramirez, Grady White, Ethan Perovich, and Rylen Kruse kept the Rivals competitive throughout the event, even taking the lead heading into the heavyweight bouts. However, a hard-fought match by Mason Iverson against a state-ranked opponent didn’t end with the needed pin, leaving the team just short of victory.
"We are incredibly proud of the effort and heart our team showed," said Coach Stephen Grimm. "The support and encouragement they gave each other during the match exemplify what wrestling is all about."
Success at the Bainbridge Island Invitational
Just days later, on January 11, the Rivals competed in the 16-team Bainbridge Island Invitational, facing larger schools in the 2A, 3A, and 4A classifications. Despite being the only 1A school, the Rivals achieved a 5th-place finish, an incredible accomplishment for the team.
The boys’ side had 11 scorers, with three wrestlers making it to the finals. Grady White won his second championship of the season at 157 pounds, while Manaseh Lanphear Ramirez and Silas Klontz earned hard-fought second-place finishes at 150 and 190 pounds, respectively. Other medalists included Rylen Kruse (3rd place, 175 pounds), Ethan Perovich (5th place, 175 pounds), Levi Donahue (5th place, 190 pounds), Mason Iverson (5th place, 215 pounds), and Aidan Powell (4th place, Heavyweight).
On the girls’ side, Savvy Grimm (105 pounds) and Gracee Liskee (120 pounds) went undefeated in the round-robin tournament, continuing their strong seasons. Gracee has recently earned a No. 8 state ranking in her weight class.
"The kids continue to improve and show what they've learned in the room every week," said Coach Jim Wilcox. "It’s great to see their hard work paying off."
A Dominant Win Against Vashon Island
On January 22, the Rivals traveled to Vashon Island for another Nisqually League dual meet, walking away with a commanding 69-12 victory. After losing the first two matches of the evening, the Rivals rallied with 12 consecutive wins, demonstrating their depth and determination.
Highlights included standout performances by Savvy Grimm and Gracee Liskee, who both stepped into the lineup to defeat male opponents at 106 and 120 pounds, respectively. Seniors Mason Iverson and Aidan Powell capped off the night with pins in the 215 and heavyweight divisions, bringing the team’s dominant showing to a close.
“It was a great night for Rivals Wrestling,” said Coach Cordell Johnson. “We brought 28 wrestlers, and everyone had the opportunity to compete. Hats off to Vashon Island for helping make that happen.”
Building Team Camaraderie
Amid the season’s challenges, the team took a well-deserved break from competition one Saturday, opting instead for a scavenger hunt, team games, and a spirited lip-sync contest. Moments like these have strengthened the bonds between wrestlers and created memories that will last beyond the mat. The winning lip-sync team included Levi Donahue, Zeke Banks, Finn Evans, Caleb Johnson, Ethan Perovich, Seth Nielsen, and Silas Klontz.
Senior Night and Upcoming Events
The Rivals will host their final dual meet of the season and Senior Night on Wednesday, January 29, at 5:00 pm in the PTHS gym against Life Christian Academy. Fans are encouraged to fill the bleachers to support the team as they honor their seniors and finish the regular season strong.
Looking ahead, the District Tournament will be held on February 8 at Life Christian High School, where the Rivals will compete for spots in the Mat Classic State Wrestling Tournament. With the team’s grit, determination, and progress this season, the Rivals are poised for an exciting finish. Don’t miss your chance to cheer them on!
Both photos in this article were taken by Nicole Johnson.
Tonight from 6:00-7:30 in the PTHS library and main hallway, students from Ms. Grace’s College in the High School English 101/ Advanced Placement (AP) Language and Composition course will present their final Real World Argument projects to families and community members. After a short keynote by one of the PT City planners, Adrian Smith, students will assume their stations and the audience will circulate to hear about their projects.
According to Ms Grace, “The goals for this semester’s course focused on making an argument to a specific audience for a specific purpose. I combined that goal with the school district’s focus on learning through a sense of place. One big thing happening in our city this year is the Comprehensive Plan for the next twenty years, so our learning focused on the housing crisis and what makes a city a great place to live. For the final projects, students chose a local issue, created an appropriate text to address that issue, and sent the text to its intended audience.”
When asked about his experiences in the class, Bryce Harbin said, “I think it was a great project. It was a great way to apply what we’re learning in class to the real world, and not only that but a bunch of students got to go out and interact with the community.”
Students will be presenting a variety of text types: public comment emails, speeches, brochures, news articles, letters to the editor, and more. They will also share their process, any results, and a reflection on their experience this semester.
About Port Townsend High School
Website: https://highschool.ptschools.org/
Location: 1500 Van Ness Street, Port Townsend, WA, USA
Phone: 360.379.4520
Non-discrimination statement
Port Townsend School District No. 50 does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, immigration status, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. The district provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:
Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator
Carrie Ehrhardt
1610 Blaine Street
(360) 680-5756
Title IX Officer:
Carrie Ehrhardt
1610 Blaine Street
(360) 680-5756
Section 504/ADA Coordinator
Shelby Macmeekin
1610 Blaine Street
(360) 379-4501
Title IX inquiries may also be directed toward the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR):https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html
