30th Anniversary
Highline Premier FC was formally established in 1996, building on decades of local soccer in the Highline area. Over time, programs evolved, leadership changed, and the club persisted through growth and challenge.
A Club That Endures
The club’s strength has always come from its community. Volunteers, families, and players carried the club forward through periods of transition.
In recent years, Highline Premier FC has invested in structure, coaching, and long-term stability to support future generations.
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Highline Premier FC History Through The Years
1970s–1980s | The Foundation of Competitive Soccer
Youth soccer in the Highline area gained momentum as local teams emerged, each leaving a lasting mark on Washington’s soccer landscape. The Aviation West boys’ team, coached by Kim Duke, became a powerhouse, reaching the Washington State finals nearly every year and advancing to regionals in alternating seasons. Other standout teams, including the BC Stars, led by Steve Lewis, a talented girls' team coached by Sally Yoker, and the Heat, guided by Jim Bloomstine, helped shape a thriving soccer culture. These early teams set the foundation for a competitive and structured approach to youth soccer in the region.
1990s | The Birth of Select Soccer in Highline
As youth soccer evolved, clubs across Puget Sound began forming select-level teams, providing players with higher levels of training and competition. Recognizing this shift, Highline Soccer Association voted to establish select soccer within its structure. The result was the formation of HSA Heat for boys and HSA Eagles for girls, with Kim Duke overseeing the boys' side and Laura Lewis leading the girls' program. These teams allowed players to compete at a more advanced level while remaining connected to their local communities. The groundwork for what would eventually become Highline Premier FC was being laid, ensuring future generations of players had access to elite soccer pathways.
2000s | Unification and Club Development
The early 2000s marked a turning point as the girls' teams officially joined the Highline Heat club, creating a more cohesive competitive structure for the region. To further enhance player development, Darren Sawatzky was brought in as Coaching Director, playing a key role in shaping the club's training methodology during his tenure. Around this time, Highline Premier worked alongside Highline Soccer Association to establish a structured select-level program, providing a clear developmental path for young athletes. As the demand for elite competition grew, the club continued to refine its structure, leading to the eventual formation of Highline Select, a separate program under the Highline Soccer Association umbrella.
2010s | A New Identity and Competitive Growth
As Washington youth soccer expanded, Highline Premier FC embraced new opportunities to compete at a higher level. The club transitioned into the newly formed Washington Premier League (WPL), ensuring access to consistent, high-quality competition. In 2015, Highline Premier rebranded, introducing a new logo that reinforced its evolving identity while honoring the history of the Heat and Eagles programs. This shift symbolized the club's long-standing commitment to excellence, uniting its past with its future. As the club continued to build on its legacy, it remained dedicated to offering players an elite, community-driven soccer experience that emphasized development at every level.
2020s | Independence and Growth
With deep roots in the Highline community, the club entered the 2020s with a focus on sustainability and expansion. Even through the challenges of the pandemic, FC Highline emerged stronger, preserving its core players and ensuring financial stability. By 2023, the club had grown exponentially—expanding from 10 teams and 120 players to over 30 teams and more than 400 players in just three years. To support this unprecedented growth, FC Highline restructured, reinforcing its leadership and operations to provide a better experience for families and players. In 2023, the club took a further step forward, legally becoming FC Highline, legally separating from Highline Soccer Association and standing on its own for the first time in its history.
2026 | 30 Years and Beyond
In 2026, Highline Premier FC marks thirty years of competitive soccer in the Highline community. What began with the Heat and Eagles programs and grew through decades of volunteer leadership, dedicated coaches, and committed families continues to evolve. The club now supports more than 30 teams and hundreds of players across the region while remaining rooted in the same communities that built it. As the next chapter begins, the club continues to expand opportunities for players through participation in leagues such as the Regional Club League and the Elite Academy League, alongside the introduction of a refreshed club crest that honors the history of Highline soccer. Thirty years after the first competitive teams formed in the area, the mission remains the same: provide strong coaching, meaningful competition, and a community where players can grow through the game.