Boys Basketball: Omar Parker

What are your goals for the 2022/2023 basketball season?

Our goal each year is to maximize our potential and be the best team we can be.  If we can accomplish that one goal, then finishing atop the Kingco Conference and SEA-KING district will be by-products and in turn take this team to Tacoma for the State Tournament.

If you had to describe your team this year in one word, what would it be?

Together. This team is going to be very fun to watch because they are unselfish, work well together, and get along on and off the court.

What is your favorite team tradition?

I love Thanksgiving break when we are together, and play in front of parents and friends for the first time.  I love our newest tradition of bringing back former players during school breaks for the holidays and having them compete in a real game against our current team. As the season nears an end, I enjoy senior night, and of course, I love going to postseason playoffs, which we have not missed in 11 years!!

What is your favorite part about coaching?

The kids.  Being able to share basketball and so much more with our student-athletes is something that I feel lucky to be able to do.

Drill Coach: Poulson

What are your team goals for the 22/23 season? 

Our main goal is to do better at state than we did last year. We got fourth in military, and second in kick, so we are hoping to improve one of those categories.

What is your favorite memory from the season so far? 

The football game against Lake Washington. It was senior night, which was fun. Then we also had mini camps, so we had all the little girls dancing with us which was fun as well!

What goes through your head while watching your dancers compete? 

I am nervous. I think back to all the stuff we’ve been working on in practice and hoping that goes well, because there’s always skills that are hit or miss. I’m just holding my breath hoping that everything hits. After the routine is over, I can get excited about that stuff.

If your team could have a dance battle with a teacher at liberty, who would it be?

Mrs. Hafferty! 

Wrestling Coach: Chris Harlin

What are your goals for the 2022/23 season: 

Our goal is to have a good time and compete; however, our end goal is to get people to state.

What made you want to start coaching? 

I had finished college and wanted to stick around wrestling.

How long have you been wrestling? 

I have been wrestling since I was 12 years old.

What events are you most looking forward to? 

We are looking forward to wrestling tournaments in Edmonds Woodway, Lake Washington, and Lindbergh.

What is your favorite team tradition? 

Our team breakdowns at the end of every practice where we slow clap it in, speed it up, and then break.

If you could wrestle any celebrity, who would you pick? 

Chris Pratt.

Cheer Coach: Camille Wright

What are your goals for the 2022/23 season?

My goal every year is that we all feel like a team with each other. This year our biggest goal is communication and making sure we are being transparent with each other. I feel because we’ve created that goal, we’ve been able to do that 150% more than last year.

How do you feel the team has improved this year compared to last year?

We have a team that is experienced, and because we are all together for a year or two, we know what each other’s strengths and weaknesses are. We have been able to build on those, and we’ve been able to get more done regarding stunting and feeling more unified.

What is your favorite crowd involvement chant?

Trucking

If you could choose any Friday night theme, what would it be?

Blast From the Past

Boys Swim/Dive Coach: Gabby Smith

What are your goals for the 2022/2023 swim season?

The goals for the 2022/2023 season are team unity and good sportsmanship. The girls team won the sportsmanship award this season, and it would be cool if the boys could too.

Should people try out for the following swim seasons?

Swim is an awesome opportunity for students because it is a non-cut sport! We do however have a limit of 50 swimmers due to pool space and safety. It is also strongly encouraged that if you come out for swimming you can swim the length of the pool with legal freestyle.

What inspired you to start coaching? 

As a former Liberty Highschool swimmer, I really looked up to my coaches (Ms. Daughters and Duggan). When I heard about the coaching opportunity, I wanted to create a fun team environment, like what I got to participate in.

Who is a teacher that you look up to?

A teacher that I look up to is Ms. Daughters. She has so many qualities that I admire and try to embody.

Gymnastics coach: Lyss Holt

What is your favorite part about the gymnastics season?

My favorite part about the gymnastics season is watching the girls become confident in their routines and supportive of their teammates.

What are your goals for the 2022/2023 season?

We would love for our whole team to make districts this year.

What made you want to start coaching?

I have been coaching for 12 years and there’s nothing comparable to how incredibly rewarding coaching has been.

If you could only choose one gymnastics event (bars, beam, mat, etc.) what would you choose?

Definitely beam! I split the beam once as a kid and made sure to practice it enough to never do it again. Ever since splitting the beam it has been my most confident event.