West Seattle’s Senior Class Leaves Legacy Of Leadership

Now in his third year as head coach—and seventh season overall with the West Seattle High School football program—Anthony Stordahl credits this year’s senior class with driving one of the most meaningful cultural shifts he’s seen in the program during his tenure. With 19 seniors on the roster, Stordahl said their leadership has reshaped how the program operates, both on and off the field.

“I think the culture of this team has drastically changed since their freshman year. We didn’t really have much of a culture as far as success, and off the field, there really wasn’t much either, with kids not going to class,” said Stordahl. “Since these kids, all of that has changed, and it really changed the way that the program operates. They get guys in the weight room during the off-season and hold each other accountable in the hallways for getting to class. This group took control of this team and made it theirs by being leaders.”

Stordahl is quick to call this year’s senior class the best group of leaders he’s worked with during his time at West Seattle.

“They are definitely the best group of leaders,” said Stordahl. “When we voted for captains, we actually ended up with too many people selected, so we had to have a second vote.”

“They are the most committed group to the program, but more so to each other, and helping each other on and off the field,” he added.

According to several of his players, the leadership qualities that they possess are a direct result of the example that Stordahl sets as both a mentor and a coach.

“He is definitely a great coach, but he is a great guy first and foremost, and that really matters. He knows every position in and out, and I think the personal relationship that he has with a lot of guys is very special because it shows that he cares, and that is really important to every single person on this team,” said Jack Freeborne, a senior three-year varsity starter and two-time captain for West Seattle.

Ford Fitterer, West Seattle’s 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, said Stordahl is more than just a coach — he’s someone players can turn to for anything, and under his leadership, Fitterer says he’s always felt genuinely cared for.

“You can go to him to talk about anything, not just football, and he is always there to support you. I remember he told me he is more interested in making us become respectful young men than good football players, and that made me realize how much he cares for us, and I know he will always care for us even when we graduate,” said Fitterer.

Stordahl describes Sorin Smith as one of the most respected players on the team. But for Smith, that respect goes both ways, and he holds his coach in equally high regard.

“He is a really compassionate guy. He loves his players more than he loves the game, I would say, and he is just the type of guy that is there for anyone,” said Sorin Smith, one of the most respected players on the team according to Stordahl. “If you need something, he will help you, lunch money, whatever, he will help you, and he is just really a great mentor.”

Stordahl says what makes this senior group special isn’t just their performance, but their initiative. He points to small but meaningful decisions that reflect their leadership.

“On game days, all the kids on the team have to wear a shirt and tie, and that was not the coaches that did that, it was the seniors that decided that. Our culture now is to be more respected, and to pay attention to little details like that,” Stordahl said. “None of the coaches told them to do it; they just knew that that was a way to show that we are not just unified but show that they were to be respected in the hallways.”

“They are not afraid to voice their opinion and advocate for themselves,” added Stordahl. “I had some tough conversations with a couple of these seniors last year where they were letting me know where I could do better, and I tremendously respect them for that. They can be open and speak to me freely, so it is such a special relationship for me with them.”

Although it’s only Week 3 of the season, Stordahl admitted it will be incredibly difficult to say goodbye to this senior class when they graduate.

“This group is so special. This group constantly shows me, my family, and others’ love. The amount of love that exudes from this group is crazy, we are truly one big family, and it is hard to recreate that and I am going to miss it tremendously,” Stordahl said. “Luckily, we still have quite a few more games to go this season, because it is going to be tough when that final game hits.”

Stordahl says a strong family bond sets the foundation for the team’s philosophy, which he describes as “Believe, Prepare, Execute” — BPE — a mindset he hopes players utilize long after high school football.

“Knowing that if they believe in what they are trying to accomplish, and they truly prepare for it, and put that preparation into action, they can be extremely successful at whatever it is,” said Stordahl.

Looking ahead, Stordahl hopes the underclassmen continue to uphold the standard that is being set by this year’s senior class.

“When you talk about these programs in Metro, you have schools like O’Dea that have this commitment to excellence, and there is no reason why West Seattle can’t have that same commitment,” said Stordahl. “These seniors are really the ones that are putting us in a position to continue to have this commitment to excellence, and I hope the underclassmen take from them that they can be known as a program committed to that [excellence].”

Beyond football, the program has instilled lifelong lessons in players like Fitterer, who learned firsthand the value of work ethic, especially coming into high school as an undersized football player.

“I came in high school very undersized, and I learned from this team that if you put your mind to anything, you can succeed. And that is very important in life, not just through football,” said Fitterer.

Throughout his time as a Wildcat, Smith said the biggest lesson he has learned is that respect is earned and not given.

“Sometimes you just really have to work your tail off to earn the respect from your peers to gain their trust. I also like coach Stordahl’s motto, BPE,” said Smith. “You have to believe in yourself, prepare, and execute with confidence, and that is what I want to carry with me.”

One piece of advice that Fitterer and his senior teammates want to pass on to the underclassmen is to trust the coaching staff and keep working hard.

“I say this because this is the best coaching staff the school has ever seen,” said Fitterer. “Another thing is that I want them to be better than we were. I always want teams to step up each year, and we have done a great job of that ever since coach Stordahl became our head coach, and I want their senior year to be as special as ours is going to be.”