This holiday season, lions are dreaming of something sweeter than sugarplums: Sports! Lakeside currently offers 26 varsity sports, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t athletes-to-be hoping for something new on the docket in 2026. To understand the odds of this wish coming true, I spoke with Chris Hartley, director of athletics. The only Metro League sports not already offered at Lakeside are gymnastics, which would require a massive and expensive facilities overhaul; bowling, which seemed “less athletic” to the department; and softball, which Lakeside used to have but lost popularity in recent years with the additions of GX ultimate and girls lacrosse in the spring. Most potential sports, such as boys volleyball, are not offered by WIAA (the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association), meaning it is difficult to find a league to compete in. Still, Mr. Hartley says the athletics department listens to all propositions. There are also other ways for new sports to gain traction: for example, in the past, dance teams have been run as clubs, with practices during ACT and performances during halftime.

Tatler asked the student body what sports they want to see next year. Ranging from reasonable to near impossible, it might just take a little bit of holiday magic to bring them to life. Sports are listed in order by the number of requests.

Cheer

Badminton

Ski bus

Sailing

Fencing

Softball

Paintball

Rock climbing

Gymnastics

Hockey

Jiujitsu

Boys flag/girls tackle

Boys volleyball

Pickleball

Esports

Synchronized swimming

Boxing

Ferret-legging

Archery

Cricket