The deep collaboration between Chimacum and Port Townsend high schools’ athletic programs has been ever-present since merging over a year ago through teamwork, sharing spaces, and sharing sports successes, but now, the East Jefferson Rivals will have a new logo and uniforms to showcase that partnership.

“It started with a shared decision between the districts to move forward. From there, the two athletic directors took some feedback, and then we worked with the branding arm of our uniform supplier to fine tune the ideas that we had,” said Philip Mackey-Moseley, Port Townsend High’s athletic director. “Once we had a couple of versions, we shared mock-ups with the booster clubs and some athletes to get their input and feedback. Finally, we put the two final designs to the student bodies in both high schools to vote on. Based on the vote and their comments, we made some final tweaks before settling on the designs,” he added.

Both Chimacum and Port Townsend school districts first announced the new look to parents earlier in March, with images of two brand-new Rivals logos and three uniforms between the cheer team, football team, and soccer teams.

The color scheme and logo choice reflects a brand representing both schools, yet possesses its own identity for the athletics program.

The Rivals program worked together with athletic branding design company VIP Branding to create the new look, and the uniforms will be manufactured by popular athletic brand Nike. Additionally, both school districts’ administrators worked together for the design process and planning, and the final appearance was voted upon by both schools’ associated student bodies.

Many elements of the logos and apparel denotes the collaborative spirit between Port Townsend and Chimacum, from the color choice to the meshing of the Cowboy and Redhawk mascots for the logos.

“Our combined colors and logo signify our commitment to continued collaboration on athletics,” Mackey-Moseley said. “Students from both districts have benefited from the creation of the East Jefferson Rivals and we are invested in continuing to provide opportunities.”

Both new logos contain the head of the Redhawk and the spurs of the Cowboy, along with the classic Chimacum blue and Port Townsend red worn by both schools’ athletic teams for decades. The designs beckon a new era for high school sports in Jefferson County, and solidify plans for the two schools to continue joining forces in the athletic space for years to come.

“I like it. I think it all got voted in by the students from what I understand, so they must like it, and I’m good to go with that,” said Ben Lozano, head coach of the Rivals baseball team. “I think it will be good; I’m looking forward to it.”

Although the Rivals athletics program has only revealed the jerseys for cheer, soccer, and football so far, the program plans to obtain new outfits for all school-sponsored sports under the Rivals name next year.   

Moving forward, both school districts are aiming to design and purchase new uniforms for all sports teams to wear next year, and incorporate the new branding and look, Mackey-Moseley said.

The upgrade to new jerseys for all teams will prove much more costly than the typical budgeting amount for uniform replacements in a given year, and it will cost approximately $61,000 to achieve, according to the Rivals athletics program.

Both school districts have already been fundraising for the East Jefferson Athletic Fund to purchase the uniforms, and hope to have enough for every team by the 2022-2023 academic year.

Last summer, the Port Townsend High School and Chimacum High School Alumni Associations held a golf tournament at the Port Townsend Golf Course, hosted by the Port Townsend Golf Club Players’ Club and sponsored by the Port Townsend Paper Corporation Union Local ASW 175, that raised $6,500 for the East Jefferson Athletic Fund, according to the Rivals athletic program.

Another joint alumni golf tournament fundraiser will be held June 11 to raise more money for the program. 

Although jerseys for all school-sponsored sports are still in the works, the athletic program, school officials, coaches, and players alike are excited to put the new gear on next year and further collaborate under one team name.