Royal School District

Royal Softball punched its ticket to the WIAA State Tournament the hard way, grinding through the long road of the district bracket and refusing to let the season end. Every elimination game tested this group’s toughness, and every time the pressure rose, the Knights answered. Now Royal heads to state as the #8 seed and opens tournament play on Thursday against #9 Klahowya in a true winner-take-all matchup. The stakes are immediate: lose and the season is over, win and advance to face defending powerhouse and #1 seed Montesano. The bracket is unforgiving, but this team has already proven it knows how to battle when everything is on the line. The Knights have fought through adversity, leaned on each other, and earned every step of this postseason run. Now they get the opportunity to keep writing their story on the biggest stage in Washington softball. One game. One chance. Keep fighting

Royal Baseball is headed to the WIAA State Tournament, and the Knights know the challenge in front of them is as steep as it gets. After battling their way into the state field, Royal now turns its attention to a first-round showdown with the tournament’s #1 overall seed, Montesano, on Saturday. There are no second chances now. From the opening pitch forward, it’s simple: win and advance, lose and the season ends. The bracket may not have done the Knights any favors, but this team has spent the season earning respect the hard way. They’ve battled through adversity, competed against tough competition, and put themselves in position to play on the state stage. Now they’ll get the opportunity every underdog wants: a shot at the top seed with everything on the line. State baseball always produces a few storms no one sees coming. Royal plans to bring the thunder.

Royal Boys Soccer is heading into the WIAA State Tournament after battling their way to a 4th place finish at Districts and earning the #7 seed in the state bracket! The road ahead won’t be easy, but this squad has spent the entire season proving they belong among Washington’s best. The Knights open state play on Friday at 5:00 PM against Elma in a loser-out matchup. Survive and advance is the name of the game, as the tournament remains single elimination through the Semifinals. With a win Friday, Royal would move on to face powerhouse #2 seed Vashon in the quarterfinal round. This team has shown grit, chemistry, and relentless effort all season long, and now they get the chance to chase something special on the biggest stage. Pack the sidelines, bring the noise, and let’s back the Knights as they make their state tournament run!

Royal’s lone representative at the WIAA State Tennis Championships is ready to take the court! Cael Orth earned his trip to state after an outstanding postseason run that saw him finish 2nd at the District Tournament and qualify for the WIAA 1A Boys Singles State Championships. State tennis brings together some of the best competition from across Washington, but Cael has proven all season that he belongs among the top players in the state. He’ll compete May 22-23 at the Yakima Tennis Club, representing Royal with grit, composure, and determination. Good luck at State, Cael!

The Royal Knights Track & Field team heads to Cashmere on Friday, May 22, for the District Championships with a chance to qualify for State. Boys Qualifiers • Troy McCullough – 100m, 400m • Brycen Fitzhugh – 110m Hurdles, 300m Hurdles • Boys 4x100 Relay – McCullough, Fitzhugh, Torres, Jenks • Boys 4x400 Relay – Fitzhugh, Torres, Ruvalcaba, McCullough • Abel Garcia – Shot Put • Manny Ruvalcaba – High Jump, Long Jump • Dane Larsen – Pole Vault • Maxwell Frank – Triple Jump Girls Qualifiers • Rebecca Carlson – 400m • Maggie Frank – 100m Hurdles, Javelin, Long Jump • Justine Fitzhugh – 300m Hurdles, Triple Jump • Yanise Rincon – 1600m • Girls 4x200 Relay – Freeman, Carlson, Fitzhugh, Wardenaar • Girls 4x400 Relay – Frank, Wardenaar, Fitzhugh, Carlson • Marlen Hernandez – Discus • Sarah Freeman – High Jump, Pole Vault • Lauren Wardenaar – Javelin, Triple Jump Good luck to all of our Royal Knights athletes and coaches as they compete for a spot at State!

Congrats to Jill Allred, our April student athlete of the month! Jill is a standout 1A softball player across the state as both a pitcher and a hitter. She has surpassed 730 career strikeouts this season, setting a new school record, and is one of the strongest hitters on the team, batting .515 as our leadoff hitter. She is a three-year captain and a great leader on the team. Jill is respected by opponents and well known by coaches, teams, and umpires as one of the best 1A pitchers in the state, not only for her performance but also for her sportsmanship, positive attitude, and competitive spirit. She has been instrumental to Royal softball’s success all four years as a starter, including a state championship in 2024 when she pitched every inning of the season, as well as last year’s fifth-place state finish, where she also pitched every inning. Jill holds numerous school records, including the strikeout record, which continues to grow as the season progresses.