Five outstanding PT swimmers have earned the opportunity to compete at the prestigious state swim meet this Friday at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, led by longtime Rivals Coaches Peter Braden, Mazy Braden, and Shannon Gray. This year’s team features a mix of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers, and each athlete has contributed significantly to the team’s success.
The athletes who will represent Rivals Swimming at the state meet are:
- Stella Bosley – 400 Freestyle Relay
- Serena Hanbey-Perless – 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay
- Akeyla Behrenfeld – 400 Freestyle Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay, 100 Freestyle, 50 Freestyle
- Ursula Schmidt – 400 Freestyle Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay
- Bella Ferland – 200 Freestyle Relay
Leadership and Team Spirit
Among the standouts, Akeyla Behrenfeld and Serena Hanbey-Perless, both seniors, have been instrumental in helping younger swimmers adjust to the demands of competitive swimming. Serena reflected on her role as a senior leader. "I feel like just being a senior on the swim team you know how our coach coaches. We can also give insight into the basics of swimming and tips. Also just juggling school with the sport, we help out a lot of the younger students with their classes," she said.
Akeyla echoed Serena’s sentiments, sharing her approach to mentoring. "Leading through positive example and helping others on stroke technique and continued improvement," she said. Both athletes' dedication to their sport and their teammates has been an invaluable asset to the team’s success.
Support and Camaraderie
Ursula Schmidt, a second-year swimmer, has also benefited from the guidance of Akeyla and Serena. "This year was really fun meeting new people but I've also been working on my stroke, which Serena and Akeyla have been a huge help with. They've been inspiring us to be better people both in and out of the water," Ursula shared. Her growth in the pool has been evident, and she credits her senior teammates for their guidance.
Bella Ferland, a key member of the 200 Freestyle Relay, spoke about how the team has made this year particularly memorable. "Being able to not just practice swimming but also having fun together through things like having potlucks, playing water polo, etc., has really helped separate all of the hard work," Bella said. The sense of fun and camaraderie has made for a positive team environment, one that has contributed to their success.
Stella Bosley, another relay team member, summed up the team’s sentiment: "They pretty much said it all." Her quiet confidence reflects the unity and drive that has propelled the team to new heights.
Schoolwide Send-Off for State
To show their support and send the swimmers off in style, the entire school will gather for a special send-off at the end of this Thursday’s pep assembly at 3:00 pm. Students and staff alike are encouraged to cheer on the team as they head to the state competition. It’s a great chance for the Redhawk community to come together and show their pride in these talented athletes as they take on the best in the state.
Looking Ahead to State
With their sights set on state, these athletes are not only focused on individual achievements but also on their continued growth as a team. Their shared experiences and the leadership from the senior swimmers have fostered a strong sense of community, both in and out of the pool.
As the team heads into the state meet this weekend, PT Swimming fans can look forward to seeing these talented swimmers compete at the highest level. The hard work, dedication, and spirit that they’ve shown throughout the season will undoubtedly shine through as they take to the water in Federal Way.
Good luck to all our swimmers as they represent Rivals Swimming at the state meet!
Over the Veterans Day weekend, the Port Townsend High School food service team seized an incredible opportunity to expand their culinary skills with a hands-on cooking class at Atrium Kitchen, located in Seattle’s renowned Pike Place Market. Led by Chef Traci, the session offered an immersive learning experience filled with fresh insights, teamwork, and a touch of Seattle’s vibrant culinary culture.
The class focused on essential knife skills and advanced cooking techniques, all aimed at enhancing the team’s ability to prepare delicious, scratch-made meals for PTHS students. Experimenting with new recipes, the staff gained inspiration for menu updates that promise exciting and flavorful additions. In line with the school’s commitment to quality, they also built valuable connections with local farmers at the market, reinforcing their farm-to-table approach to meal preparation with high-quality, fresh ingredients.
Beyond honing kitchen skills, the day provided memorable experiences that strengthened team camaraderie. A particularly unforgettable moment came when the group joined in on Pike Place Market’s famed fish-throwing tradition, bringing a bit of local flavor and fun into their learning experience.
The weekend proved to be an excellent opportunity for the team to bond and grow together, ensuring that they bring even more energy and enthusiasm to their daily work at PTHS. Each new skill they bring back to the kitchen contributes to a mission of serving students nutritious meals crafted with care and expertise.
With these valuable new skills and renewed team spirit, the food service team is excited to continue providing Port Townsend students with meals that are as wholesome as they are delicious!
Miranda Ramsey, a senior at Port Townsend High School, recently undertook a unique and delicious endeavor for her senior project. Combining her love for baking with her commitment to supporting her school, Miranda baked an array of treats—including chocolate chip and pumpkin cookies, brownies, and banana bread—and sold them to eager theater-goers during intermissions of the PTHS Players’ production of Little Shop of Horrors. All proceeds from her bake sale are being donated to support the PTHS Culinary Class, led by teacher Jen Kruse.
For Miranda, the project was a new challenge. While she was familiar with each recipe, preparing baked goods in such large quantities was a new experience, pushing her culinary skills to new heights. Additionally, managing rapid cash transactions during busy intermissions required Miranda to think on her feet and develop efficient handling skills—a task she navigated with ease and confidence.
This project is part of a school-wide tradition at PTHS, where all seniors complete a senior project as a graduation requirement. These projects allow students to explore personal interests while contributing positively to the community. At the end of the year, each student presents their project to a community panel at Fort Worden, showcasing the skills and experiences they gained along the way. Throughout the year we'll be sharing examples of student's senior project work as they complete this important part of their high school experience.
Miranda’s dedication to both her project and the culinary program exemplifies the spirit of PTHS students. Her work has not only brought joy to the community but will also support the resources available to future culinary students.
- Wednesday, 11.13 from 1:30 - 3:15 pm: Staff UDL Strategy Groups at PTHS
- Thursday, 11.14 from 2:42 - 3:00 pm: Pep Assembly in the Gym
- Thursday. 11.14 at 3:00 pm: Swimming Team State Send-Off
- Monday, 11.18 from 3:30 - 4:15 pm: Cabinet Team Meeting in Mr. Dow's Classroom
- Wednesday, 11.20 from 1:30 - 3:15 pm: Teacher PBL Project Work & Conference Prep
- Wednesday, 11.20 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm: PTHS Family & Community Campus Tour
- Thursday, 11.21 from 1:10 - 4:00 pm & 5:00 - 7:00 pm: PTHS Conferences in the Gym
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
