What kind of rider is soon-retiring Cindy Adsit on the rugged WIAA trail? 'A champion for all'

Longtime WIAA assistant executive director is going into the association's hall of fame Wednesday, then will leave her position for good after 2026-27 school year

At the end of the 2026-27 school year, WIAA assistant executive director Cindy Adsit - who is the longes-serving active state association executive in the country - will retire after 40 years (she is completing 39th year). She is also part of the WIAA hall of fame class inducted Wednesday in Snoqualmie. (Todd Milles / VarsityWA)

RENTON, Wash. — In her childhood days, Cindy Adsit was drawn to horses, even though she was warned to stay away from them.

What small-town Montana girl wouldn’t be?

“I always found a way to be around them,” she said, “even when I was told not to.”

Fast forward 60 years later, and it’s obvious from how she’s navigated the bumpy terrain of being a Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) assistant executive director, she would have been a smooth rider.