FARMER ATHLETICS 
Building Champions in Life Through Sports
 
At Garden City Academy, athletics are far more than competition—they’re a leadership laboratory. We believe that the experiences on the playing field, court, and track serve as powerful opportunities for character formation and leadership development. 

From day one, GCA set a historic precedent—launching varsity athletics in our inaugural year, a first in Washington state history. That bold start reflects the spirit of our program: world-class coaching, a commitment to competitive excellence, and a focus on forming stronger men and noble women who are courageous Christian leaders ready to impact the world for good.

Our coaching staff is made up of Godly mentors that have very high-level experience in the sports they coach. They are all faithful followers of Jesus who invest deeply in the personal development of our student-athletes. Every practice, every game, every huddle is an opportunity to develop future leaders that will help shape our community for the better. 

VARSITY ATHLETICS
Competitive Excellence with Purpose

Our high school varsity athletic program utilizes our world-class coaches to develop Farmer 5Gs in our student-athletes: Grit, Grace, Gratitude, Grow, and Give. We compete in WIAA-sanctioned varsity sports as part of the Central Washington 1B League (District 5). Opposing fans will see Farmer student-athletets cheering one another on, praying with their opponents, taking care of the facilities, speaking with integrity, and ccompeting with every ounce of effort in them.

2025–2026 Varsity Sports:

• Fall:

  • Boys & Girls Cross Country (Head Coach: Eric Ballard)

  • Girls Volleyball (Head Coach: Sharon McPherson)

• Winter:

  • Boys Basketball (Head Coach: Addison King)

  • Girls Basketball (Head Coach: TBA)

• Spring:

  • Boys & Girls Track & Field (Head Coach: Eric Ballard)

Elementary Sports
Forming the Foundation
 
At GCA, we’ve reimagined youth sports to be a healthy, Christ-centered alternative to the often broken youth sports culture. Our program emphasizes character formation, leadership development, and fundamental athletic skills, all while protecting time for family life and spiritual growth. Practices are scheduled after school, making it ideal to protect evenings for families to be together.

Program Distinctives:

• Faithful, High-Caliber Coaching
  Every coach is a follower of Jesus, trained through our Farmer Transformational Coach Training, equipping them to mentor athletes in character, leadership, and faith.

• Multi-Sport Athletic Development
  Students can enjoy multiple sports throughout the school year without conflict or burnout. Early multi-sport experience supports stronger athletic development, greater creativity, and healthier engagement.

• Family-First Scheduling
  Practices are limited to two afternoons per week per sport, with minimal weekend commitments. This keeps athletics in their proper place—complementing, not competing with, family and faith life.

• Healthy, God-Honoring Culture
  From the sidelines to the locker room, our athletic culture values respect, encouragement, sportsmanship, and community. Parents, coaches, and players partner together to model Christlike behavior and create a safe and uplifting environment.

• Professional & Purposeful
  With experienced coaches and clear communication, the program is run with excellence and intentionality optimal for long-term athletic development. Organization and professionalism are hallmarks of every season.

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