Kitsap teams compete against other West Sound squads at 7 on 7 tourney
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, July 16, 2025
The Bainbridge Spartans, North Kitsap Vikings, Central Kitsap Cougars, and South Kitsap Wolves competed in the Battle at the Bay 7 on 7 Tournament July 12 at Bainbridge High School, allowing each coaching staff to get a better look at their players in preparation for the upcoming football season.
The Spartans were the only team out of the four to make it to the championship bracket, while Central Kitsap won the consolation bracket. The tournament hosted twelve different teams from different classifications, including teams from Stadium, Anacortes, Puyallup, Fife, Mount Tahoma, Sumner, Foster, and Decatur, as well as the aforementioned Kitsap teams.
“I’m just trying to put guys into position to make plays to see if they can make plays,” CK coach Mark Keel said. “They all want to win, but I’m just like, ‘hey, we need to see who can play.”’
Less than two months from now, teams from across the West Sound area will be competing in week one games. Currently, during the summer time, teams are hosting seven-on-seven scrimmages to allow coaching staffs to get a closer glimpse at their players and allow them to earn quality reps.
Bainbridge coach Daniel Schoonmaker notes that the seven-on-seven passing league allows for multiple teaching opportunities.
“It gives the quarterback the ability to make his reads and see the game in a little bit of a different way, build chemistry with his receivers, and gives the defense and defensive coaches a chance to really focus on pass coverage,” he said. Schoonmaker went on to note that the Battle at the Bay tournament allows for “great schools” to compete against each other, allowing for a higher level of competition for Kitsap teams.
Sumner won the 4A state championship and Anacortes won the 2A state championship in 2024, allowing for the other teams participating in the tournament to play against teams they normally don’t get to play against.
“It’s nice to come out here and show, you know, [our] kids different talent than what they’re used to, maybe seeing on the island,” Schoonmaker said. “I just appreciate the other teams that came out to be a part of this today.”
