Our History

The first L.E.S.T. was held in 1962 at Concordia University-Portland with four Portland area schools (St. Paul-Sherwood, Trinity-Oregon City, Trinity-Portland, and Martin Luther-Portland). This first gathering involved a boys’ basketball tournament. A few years later a volleyball competition was added for the girls. As word of the tournament spread, schools from outside of the Portland area (Idaho, Montana, California, Southern Oregon, Nevada, and Washington) began traveling by car, train, plane, or bus to participate in the L.E.S.T. In the early years, Luther Hall was transformed from a classroom building to a dormitory for visiting teams. Over time additional activities and competitions (now including over 20 individual and/or team events) were added. 

Concordia University-Portland hosted its last L.E.S.T. in February of 2020. Thanks to many faithful Lutheran schools and generous donors from around the Pacific Northwest, Montana, Idaho, British Columbia, and California the L.E.S.T. lives on. The L.E.S.T. went virtual in April of 2021 due to the Covid pandemic but became ‘live’ in February of 2022 in the South Puget Sound region. Participating schools now work collectively to operate this tournament with the guidance and support of a tournament director, hosting L.E.S.T. events at numerous locations in and around Tacoma and Lakewood, WA, with Concordia Christian Academy, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Pacific Lutheran University, and Pierce Community College currently serving as primary locations. 

Our Philosophy

L.E.S.T. Northwest is based on the value of Christian education that emphasizes the love and praise of God, and the thankful use of personal talents and service to others. The primary goal of L.E.S.T. Northwest is to provide an organized structure to promote fun, skill development, fair play, and fellowship among Lutheran elementary school youth through academic, athletic, and artistic activities. 

The tournament offers a variety of individual and team events that facilitate participants’ emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual growth. Participation and maximal involvement for each school is encouraged. It is the position of the L.E.S.T. that participation in competition can facilitate optimal growth and development. By focusing on doing one’s best, instead of overemphasizing winning, it is hoped that competition will promote a positive feeling of self-worth, along with lifelong participation in academic and recreational activities. 

General Guidelines

Details on all the various events of L.E.S.T. Northwest are included throughout this website. They are also explained in detail in the tournament manual, which may be viewed here:

L.E.S.T. Northwest Manual

Some of the services and facilities provided for the tournament are donated. However, there are awards, rental fees, special contest adjudicators’ honorariums, referee compensation, and miscellaneous expenses associated with the tournament. To help defray these expenditures, a ‘Participation Fee’ is assessed to each school participating in L.E.S.T. Northwest. Additionally, tournament passes are required for all persons over the age of 18 attending a spectator event (i.e.: basketball, cheer, dance, drama, knowledge bowl, music, bowling, etc.). These passes may be purchased at participating schools before arrival at L.E.S.T. Northwest, or at L.E.S.T. Northwest with a slightly higher rate. One-day passes will also be available on site. The income from tournament passes allows us to keep school participation fees lower than would otherwise be necessary. No one is making a profit off of L.E.S.T. Northwest.

Schools may be permitted to enter two separate teams in the basketball tournament. Entry of a second team is dependent upon the number of schools entering, and availability in the schedule. A second team will not be permitted to enter if it eliminates the single participation of a team from another school.

To be eligible to enter a second basketball team a school must: 

1. Have teams that play separate schedules throughout the year. These separate teams are not to be created purely for L.E.S.T.
2. Pay an additional entry fee for each additional team. This fee is due upon registration and is non-refundable. 
3. Submit team rosters with two distinct lists of players (switching or floating players back and forth between the two teams does not meet the intention of this third criteria).  

If any of the above criteria are not met, schools may still be permitted to participate in exhibition games (not advancing in brackets) to fill out tournament brackets. 

A determining factor in bracket placement for schools entering multiple teams is based on enrollment in the 5^th – 8^th grades of the entering school. A breakdown of the criteria for divisions is further described in the basketball section of this tournament manual. 

Guidelines for participation in academic and athletic events, as well as criteria for contest evaluation, are also detailed in the appropriate sections of this website. 

Schools may make application for participation in the L.E.S.T. Northwest by completing the Registration Form. The following dates are set to expedite the registration process: 

• December 6, 2024 – General Registration deadline. 
• December 13, 2024 – Deadline for most Event Registrations.
• January 16, 2025 – Deadline for remaining Event Registrations.
• For specifics on when each event’s registration is due, visit the Registration Page.