As Ballard High School's football players are hitting the gym hard this off-season, head football coach Joey Thomas released the first draft of the 2012 football schedule this week, preparing for one of Ballard's toughest schedules yet.
“This is probably one of the toughest Ballard football schedules in the last eight to ten years,” Thomas said in a statement. “We want to be the best. In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. In order to beat the best, you have to play the best.”
Ballard opens the season with the “Battle for Ballard” game as the Beavers play at Blanchet for the first game ever under the lights on the weekend of August 31st.
"We hope to start a great tradition for the Ballard community with this game,” said Thomas.
With the realignment of Kingco, Ballard now faces three of the perennial powerhouses in the conference—Skyline, Issaquah and Newport. Ballard’s conference play includes games at Redmond, Issaquah and defending 4A state champion Skyline. Ballard will host Garfield, Newport and conclude with Roosevelt in the 5th annual Anchor Bowl.
The Beavers are working hard in the offseason. Thanks to a grant from the Ballard High School Foundation the Beavers now have a strength and conditioning coach working with players in the weight room.
Community events are also being planned to fundraise and interact with the Ballard neighborhood.
The first event will be the second annual Students versus Staff Basketball game on Friday, April 6th at 6:00 p.m. at Ballard High School.
The game will build on last year’s successful event and include the cheer squad and the best pep band in the city.
This year’s event will feature a double header. The first game of the evening will pit the Seattle Fire Department versus the Seattle Police Department with the main event being BHS Student-Athletes versus BHS teachers and staff. The Students will try to avenge their loss from last year.
Any donated non-perishable food items will be given to the Ballard Food Bank.
For more details on the students versus staff event, visit http://files.leagueathletics.com/Text/Documents/3675/27798.pdf
