Lake Stevens rivalry week when in high gear with games against Glacier Peak that had the students and athletes of Lake Stevens High School ready to go. The intensity is clear with Glacier Peak’s tough rivalry, and the stakes are high.
Although Glacier Peak is one of the bigger rivalries now it wasn’t always this way. Monroe and Snohomish were the bigger rivals back in the day before Lake Stevens joined the 4A division.
In 2008, Glacier Peak High School opened. With another Snohomish school being opened, that ultimately killed the rivalry between Lake Stevens and Snohomish due to lack of competition.
“Ironically, Glacier Peak, if you were to ask people, would now be our biggest rivalry,” retired wrestling coach Brent Barnes said.
The rivalry is more than a game. It’s a fun competition between two competitive schools who are always showing out for the love of the rivalry. The two schools like to trash talk online prior to the game, which makes it all the more fun.
“It’s a rivalry,” added senior Cruz Frothingham. “Everyone expects us to win and we have not lost in a while. It’s still good to have a rivalry, it’s something to look forward to.”
Frothingham may like Glacier Peak students as people, but during gameday, rivalry is what it is all about.
“The intensity is at its highest on the field and court,” football player Kenny Buckmiller said.
“Both teams give it their all. It’s always a competitive game with a crazy atmosphere. Beating Glacier Peak is like getting your dream job. It is always a good day when you beat GP no matter what,” football and basketball player Brian Tilghman said.
“It’s very electric, very emotional and everybody’s locked in,” Buckmiller said.
In the weeks leading up to the rivalry match intensity at practices is much higher. Despite the intense rivalry and trash talk between teams, athletes maintain focus on their respective games.
“It’s rivalry, it’s not just trash talk or hate it’s just both teams being competitive and seeing who’s on top.” Buckmiller said.
