Community Education Sports

Fish Bowl fans (mostly) OK with new venue, tighter security

“I’m sorry you’ll have to walk around,” a woman in a safety vest told several teens Saturday as fans arrived at Mt. Tahoma High School stadium for Fish Bowl 2024.

The separation of fans — Gig Harbor Tides’ boosters on one side of the stadium, Peninsula Seahawks’ faithful on the other — was part of a new safety platform Peninsula School District put in place for the “friendly rivalry” football game. Fish Bowl, a beloved tradition for more than four decades, last year devolved into mayhem that was a near riot.

Mt. Tahoma’s stadium, with seating for 5,000, has more than double the capacity of Roy Anderson Field at Peninsula High School, where the game has always been played. The new venue is a key piece of the safety plan.

“It didn’t really feel like Fish Bowl as much but I’m sure it’s going to be good,” said Hunter Parris, a junior who plays offensive and defensive line for the Tides, as he was warming up. “I mean, we’ll get used to it. I’m sure it’ll be alright.”

Security personnel at Fish Bowl 2024 check with incoming fans to make sure they’re on the correct side of the field. Peninsula School District kept fans from Gig Harbor High and Peninsula High separated as part of a security plan for the game Sept. 7, 2024, at Mt. Tahoma High School. Photo by Christina T. Henry

No co-mingling of fans

A couple hours before kickoff, Wendy Malich, the school district’s new athletic director, huddled with district staff to go over a security plan that’s been months in the making.

The district pulled in five Tacoma Police officers and 10 event staff provided by Mt. Tahoma High to beef up its own security detail. That included two district security officers, two security guards and 20 administrators officially working the game. Plus, all elementary and middle school principals were asked to help with crowd control as needed.

Malich reviewed how fans were to be corralled in stands on their respective sides of the field, with no access to the sidelines as in past years. Mt. Tahoma staff would monitor the gates.

“They will not let Gig Harbor and Peninsula people cross over,” she said. “That’s the reason why we’re doing parking for Peninsula on that side, parking for Gig Harbor on this side. We just feel that that’s the best use of our space right now to kind of just figure out how this is going to work after past Fish Bowls. I won’t say last year. I’ll just say past Fish Bowls, all right?”

Peninsula fans cheer during Fish Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Mount Tahoma Stadium in Tacoma. Photo by Bryce Carithers

Fans were also subject to restrictions established by the Washington State Interscholastic Activities Association’s Puget Sound League, including no hand-held signs, full face paint or masks, bags larger than 5 ¼ inches by 4 inches or noisemakers among other rules.

Students approve tighter security

Most students interviewed at random gave the district props for putting a tight rein on the game and for moving it to Mt. Tahoma.

“I just like how safe it is this year,” said Xavier Weigand, a junior at Gig Harbor. “Last year was crazy, some fights and a lot of kids doing some bad decisions, and I think this should be a lot better.”

His buddy, sophomore Cam Richardson, welcomed an environment that was “more compact and controlled.” He appreciates efforts to curb intoxication at the game.

“It’s a different environment, but we’re just glad to have the game,” said Thomas Gillam, a senior and Peninsula High’s ASB vice president. “I mean, it’s very different to see us not on our Roy Anderson Field. But I love the sport. I love the game. So, just to have it is great.”

Tacoma Police officers were part of security staffing at Fish Bowl 2024. Peninsula School District stepped up safety protocol for the annual football game, which was held Sept. 7, 2024, at Mt. Tahoma High School. Photo by Christina T. Henry

“I really respect the decision that was made by the Peninsula School District admin,” said Jeannie Hewitson, a junior and varsity Peninsula cheerleader. “I feel like it’s a safer environment for every single person included in Fish Bowl, and it will really benefit our community in the long run.”

Parents, not so much

Reviews among parents interviewed at random were mixed.

“It’s a little bit of a drive, but it’s a nice view,” said Michael Ulrigg, whose daughter attends Peninsula. “It looks like they took a lot of precautions and made sure that everybody was safe and had an enjoyable environment to watch the football game.”

Mt. Tahoma, across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge from Peninsula School District, is 13 miles from Gig Harbor High and 16 from Peninsula High.

Courtney Lowmon, whose son Jack plays for the Tides, isn’t happy with the move.

“I think it decreases the amount of attendance that we’re gonna see, because not everybody wants to cross the bridge to come to the game,” said Lowmon, who’s on the team’s football parent committee. “It was a shame that we weren’t able to do concessions because of the new venue, because that is a lot of where we raise our money for the football.”

John Vernon cheers a touchdown by the Gig Harbor High School Tides’ football team during the fourth quarter of Fish Bowl 2024, on Sept. 7, 2024, at Mt. Tahoma High School. Photo by Christina T. Henry

“I think it’s a travesty that we’re playing on a Saturday, two o’clock in Tacoma. We’ve broken tradition,” said Eric DeWitt, in a Fish Bowl 2015 T-shirt. “The security is a lot better. That’s the only thing that I could see that’s a plus.”

Good sportsmanship PSAs

Before kickoff, the announcer gave a friendly and upbeat PSA, reminding fans of WIAA rules about unsportsmanlike behavior. Officials have the right to stop the play and issue warnings as they see fit, or to eject players, coaches and/or fans as warranted.

In a new twist, ASB leaders from both schools came on the field to read a sportsmanship pledge.

ASB leaders from Gig Harbor and Peninsula high schools address the Fish Bowl crowd before kickoff. They urged fans to cheer for their team, but not against the other. They ended their address by offering a cheer for the opposite side. Photo by Vince Dice

Student leaders have been instrumental in setting the tone not only for Fish Bowl, but for competitive events in general, said Moose Jenke, one of two new security officers the district hired last year.

“They’ve come together and they said, ‘Look, this is a privilege to be here,’” Jenke said. “We’re gonna make it fun and safe, and everyone wants to enjoy their years at school, and they’re gonna make that happen. So really, hats off to the kids on both sides.”

Things heat up

The first half of the game progressed pretty much as district officials had hoped, with a few toes over the line here and there. Overall, however, decorum was observed.

Things started to heat up during the second quarter, when the Seahawks intercepted a Tides pass and and then scored the game’s first touchdown.

Coaches, team captains, athletic directors and other administrators meet with game officials during a stop in play. Photo by Vince Dice

Around the end of the second quarter, officials stopped the clock and called coaches and captains onto the field. Malich said it was a “DEI warning” to address derogatory comments. The term includes anything that could be considered harassing or inappropriate, as per WIAA regulations.

The refs flagged Peninsula for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Fans’ intensity on both sides built up during the fourth quarter, especially after Gig Harbor scored two touchdowns in quick succession, bringing the score to 14-10, Tides.

With six minutes left on the clock, officials stopped play again for another warning.

A work in progress

Malich was on the field shortly after the call.

“I got out there a little late, but the official said there was a lot of stuff, a lot of things being said, but they were charging the Peninsula team with the offense. But they just said, clean it up, or we’re gonna stop the game,” she said. “I’m a little disappointed. You know, that’s disappointing that we have those calls because they’re not a good reflection on everything.”

Peninsula School District administrators were part of security staffing at Fish Bowl 2024. Peninsula School District stepped up safety protocol for the annual football game, which was held Sept. 7, 2024, at Mt. Tahoma High School. Photo by Christina T. Henry

Overall, however, Malich thought the game went “fantastic.”

She’s especially eager to continue the work of student leaders and to establish a “Captains’ Council” of students in athletics and activities to further a climate of healthy competition in Peninsula schools.

“I’m going to keep working on this,” Malich said. “I’m just excited to work with them. They’re so smart, and so good.”

Gig Harbor held their lead as the game wound down to beat Peninsula 14-10.

Gig Harbor fans cheer during Fish Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at Mount Tahoma Stadium in Tacoma. Photo by Christina T. Henry