In WIAA Class 4A boys basketball, Tim Kelly’s success was unmatched.

He’s the only coach in state history to lead different programs to multiple WIAA championships — three at Curtis High School and two at Lincoln of Tacoma.

When he retired nearly 17 months ago from Curtis, he left with 581 victories — most ever in the 4A ranks.

And for nearly half of his 32-year coaching career, Kelly battled Stage 4 prostate cancer, which he died from Monday at his home in University Place. He was 65.

Kelly, who retired after the 2024-25 season, said the physical damage cancer had taken on his body was too much to handle, especially his mobility.

“It was physically challenging,” Kelly said in a private setting with a couple of reporters at the time. “It really came down to — I wasn't able to coach like I'm used to coaching."

Kelly won his three 4A championships at Curtis in 2013, 2022 and 2023. Prior to that, he led Lincoln to back-to-back 4A titles in 2001 and 2002.

His five career 4A titles is tied with Garfield’s Al Hairston for most in Washington state history.

In 2010 — a year before his cancer diagnosis — Kelly became the youngest inductee into the WIBCA hall of fame.

Kelly is survived by his wife, Gini; and his two daughters, Annie and Katy.

Been a while since you’ve attended a high school football game in your backyard?

If you live in Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Whitman or Asotin counties, VarsityWA can help by identifying 10 exciting players at programs nearby to follow during the fall season.

Read more

Been a while since you’ve attended a high school football game in your backyard?

If you live in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, San Juan or Island counties — essentially much of WIAA District 1 — VarsityWA can help by identifying 10 exciting players at programs nearby to follow during the fall season.

Read more

As summer high school football in Washington begins to wind down, VarsityWA spent the past week pointing out players to watch in each WIAA classification for the upcoming fall season.

Here are the links to the Class 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A, 2B and 1B rankings:

4A RANKINGS

3A RANKINGS

2A RANKINGS

1A RANKINGS

2B RANKINGS

1B RANKINGS

Now that VarsityWA has finished its positional breakouts and class rankings leading up to the 2026 season of Washington high school football, it’s time to look at things in a different way.

By classification.

Final one up — ranking 20 standouts from 4A football.

Much like the selection process for the VarsityWA Preseason 100, preseason positional rankings and preseason class rankings, the criteria for the classification rankings is a mixture of what a player has already accomplished individually, team success and offseason recruiting buzz:

Read more

Now that VarsityWA has finished its positional breakouts and class rankings leading up to the 2026 season of Washington high school football, it’s time to look at things in a different way.

By classification.

Next up — ranking 20 standouts from 3A football.

Much like the selection process for the VarsityWA Preseason 100, preseason positional rankings and preseason class rankings, the criteria for the classification rankings is a mixture of what a player has already accomplished individually, team success and offseason recruiting buzz:

Read more

Now that VarsityWA has finished its positional breakouts and class rankings leading up to the 2026 season of Washington high school football, it’s time to look at things in a different way.

By classification.

Next up — ranking 20 standouts from 2A football.

Much like the selection process for the VarsityWA Preseason 100, preseason positional rankings and preseason class rankings, the criteria for the classification rankings is a mixture of what a player has already accomplished individually, team success and offseason recruiting buzz:

Read more

Now that VarsityWA has finished its positional breakouts and class rankings leading up to the 2026 season of Washington high school football, it’s time to look at things in a different way.

By classification.

Next up — ranking 20 standouts from 1A football.

Much like the selection process for the VarsityWA Preseason 100, preseason positional rankings and preseason class rankings, the criteria for the classification rankings is a mixture of what a player has already accomplished individually, team success and offseason recruiting buzz:

Read more

Now that VarsityWA has finished its positional breakouts and class rankings leading up to the 2026 season of Washington high school football, it’s time to look at things in a different way.

By classification.

Next up — ranking 20 standouts from 2B football.

Much like the selection process for the VarsityWA Preseason 100, preseason positional rankings and preseason class rankings, the criteria for the classification rankings is a mixture of what a player has already accomplished individually, team success and offseason recruiting buzz:

Read more

Now that VarsityWA has finished its positional breakouts and class rankings leading up to the 2026 season of Washington high school football, it’s time to look at things in a different way.

By classification.

First up — ranking 20 standouts from 1B football.

Much like the selection process for the VarsityWA Preseason 100, preseason positional rankings and preseason class rankings, the criteria for the classification rankings is a mixture of what a player has already accomplished individually, team success and offseason recruiting buzz:

Read more

4A SPSL powerhouse Graham-Kapowsin outlasted some of the state’s best programs, including two-time defending event champion Lake Stevens, Anacortes, Bothell, Kennedy Catholic and Lincoln of Tacoma, for the championship.

The four semifinalists were Graham-Kapowsin, Lake Stevens, Anacortes and Roosevelt.

Others participating included Blaine, Cedarcrest, Foster, Moses Lake, Prosser, Snohomish and host Lakewood.

Here are 50 photos from the tournament:

Read more

ARLINGTON, Wash. — Except for a sizzling two-week stretch in 2019, Graham-Kapowsin High School hasn’t really created winning ways in offseason football, particularly at 7-on-7 passing tournaments.

And in their showings at the end-of-summer Lakewood Cougars championship 7-on-7 passing tournament that attracts some of the biggies of Washington high school football, the Eagles have usually exited quietly from the tournament, ready to resurface when the fall season began.

Almost out of the blue Saturday, the 4A SPSL powerhouse came alive to become the last team standing to win its first Lakewood tournament.

Read more

As summer high school football in Washington begins to wind down, VarsityWA spent the past week pointing out players to watch for the upcoming WIAA fall season.

Here are the links to the preseason freshman, sophomore, junior and senior rankings:

CLASS OF 2030 RANKINGS

CLASS OF 2029 RANKINGS

CLASS OF 2028 RANKINGS

CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS

Now that VarsityWA has completed its positional breakouts leading up to the 2026 season of Washington high school football, it’s time to break it down in another way.

By classes.

Final one up — seniors from the class of 2027.

Read more

Now that VarsityWA has completed its positional breakouts leading up to the 2026 season of Washington high school football, it’s time to break it down in another way.

By classes.

Next up — juniors from the class of 2028.

Read more

Sometimes, it just doesn’t work out.

People move on. Parents find work elsewhere. Players want to try something different. And coaches are left to constantly update their team rosters.

With the 2026 Washington high school football season set to kick off with games in six weeks, here are seven notable offseason transfers that could have a positive impact for players — and their new programs — this fall:

Read more

Now that VarsityWA has completed its positional breakouts leading up to the 2026 season of Washington high school football, it’s time to break it down in another way.

By classes.

Next up — sophomores from the class of 2029.

Read more

Now that VarsityWA has completed its positional breakouts leading up to the 2026 season of Washington high school football, it’s time to break it down in another way.

By classes.

And first up — freshmen from the class of 2030.

Read more

As summer high school football in Washington begins to wind down, VarsityWA spent the past two weeks pointing out players to watch for the upcoming WIAA fall season.

Here are the links to the Preseason 100 and positional rankings:

100 PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB RANKINGS

RB RANKINGS

WR RANKINGS

TE RANKINGS

OL RANKINGS

DL RANKINGS

LB RANKINGS

DB RANKINGS

ATH RANKINGS

Over the past couple of weeks, VarsityWA has published positional breakouts leading up to the 2026 season of Washington high school football.

Final one up — multi-positional athletes.

Much like the selection process for the VarsityWA Preseason 100, the criteria for the 10 multi-positional athletes is largely based on what a player has accomplished at what is considered his primary position in his respective classification — individually and with team success.

Recruiting buzz played a factor as well. Only players with previous WIAA varsity experience were eligible for selection.

Input from coaches and media was also heavily considered:

Read more