This year marks a prime year to be a Mariners fan. With the conclusion of the twenty-one-year playoff drought in 2022, excitement has built up for Seattleites. After years of near misses, rebuilds, and heartbreak, the Mariners have finally hit their stride. The team’s mix of young talent and veteran leadership has created a chemistry that feels electric. Players like Julio Rodríguez, Cal Raleigh, and Logan Gilbert have become local heroes not just for their stats but for their resilience and humility. This season’s success isn’t the result of luck or a few big-name trades; it’s the product of years of patience, player development, and a growing belief that Seattle can compete with baseball’s best.

Head coach Dan Wilson has emphasized grit and unity, promoting the idea that the Mariners are a group that never counts itself out. That mentality has fueled countless late-inning comebacks and close wins; the kind of baseball that keeps fans glued to their seats and students watching highlight reels on their phones between classes.

Sonja Rehkopf ’26, a lifelong Mariner’s fan, is ecstatic at their recent success. Rehkopf’s favorite player is Cal Raleigh. Her appreciation for him began in 2022 after his home run got the Mariners out of their drought. Being at that game, she commented on the excitement of the crowd.

Mariners’ fans bring the hype to T-Mobile Field. Rehkopf described games as being “much better” than watching online or on TV. Seattleites are able to enhance the experience of winning, making games a vibrant place to be.

Physics teacher and avid baseball fan Dr. Kipp, similarly, has been a big fan of Raleigh this year, calling him “obviously the MVP.” However, she also showed appreciation for Josh Naylor, claiming “he has provided that extra spark down the stretch and into the playoffs that the team needed.”

While being a Yankees fan at heart, Kipp has grown to love the Mariners and how they have brought Seattle, as well as Seattle Prep, together. “I’ve loved seeing all the support among students, everyone coming to school in their Mariners apparel, and I love just getting to talk baseball with students,” said Kipp.

Kipp has also played a vital role in bringing the school together around the Mariners. Keeping a tracker of Raleigh’s home runs on the whiteboard in the flex room, along with the Mariners’ magic number during the preseason, and also adding test questions regarding the projectile motion of a Mariners home run, Kipp has kept the baseball spirit alive.

Rehkopf reflected on the impact of wins and losses on her day in a positive light: “It’s worth going through the pain of losses to experience the happiness of wins.”