Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1542879
WINTER / SPRING 2026 31 Athletic Members bring fierce competition and camaraderie to Seattle sports scene BY M A E F O L S O M J A C O B S O N P H OTO S BY Q U I N N TO O M E Y W hen "Athletic" is your middle name, you better have game. e Washington Athletic Club has proven that for 95 years, and for the past two decades, our Athletic Member Program has lied Club competition to a new level. Twenty years ago, when then-Vice President of Athletics Wayne Milner noticed the high level of competition at other private clubs, he knew the WAC needed to attract serious athletes if we wanted to compete in the upper echelon of club sports. "e WAC has always supported amateur ath- letics," says Wayne, now Chief Operating Officer. "We started the Athletic Member Program to attract younger members to represent the Club with pride and to get our name out in the com- munity as winners." e story begins in part with Tim Wang, one of the WAC's first recruits and a Club member to this day. Tim played basketball at Pacific Luther- an University and was invited by a friend to a pick-up game at the WAC. Aer some hoops and an interview, Tim joined the first class of WAC Athletic Members. "It felt so luxurious," Tim recalls of those early years. "I wasn't used to a gym having a lobby." In 20 years, Tim has seen the Athletic Member Program expand from basketball to nine sports and nearly 300 members. "Seeing the investment the Club puts into the program is amazing," Tim says. "It's a testament to the dedication and commitment the Club has to infuse younger athletic talent into the WAC." at talent includes Shannon Reader, Emily Prentice, Cole Johnson, Julian Avila, Karl Keane, and Stephen Connolly. ese former collegiate athletes all represent the Club in their respective sports. ey all pay dues, are evaluated for eligi- bility annually, and were selected for the program based on recommendations and an interview with the Athletic Member Review Committee. In return for their skills on the court, field, pitch, and beyond, Athletic Members get to train at the WAC, face off against other private clubs, and represent the WAC in regional and nation- al competitions. ese six—a selection of the diverse and talented athletic members we have— share what it's like to wear the WAC wings. CONTINUED ON PAGE 32 IN IT TO WIN IT