Despite tough schedule, BHS football has lofty goals this season
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, August 27, 2025
The Bainbridge Spartans football team faces one of the toughest schedules in the entire Olympic League this upcoming season, but that’s not stopping the program from wanting to accomplish some big goals.
Bainbridge finished 8-3 in 2024 with a 5-1 record in the OL, suffering losses to back-to-back state champion Anacortes, Tumwater (which finished 2nd at state), as well as falling to league rival North Kitsap. This year, they are set to play Anacortes and Tumwater again in the first two weeks of the season.
The Spartans also had 18 seniors graduate, which made up nearly half of the varsity team last season. Nonetheless, head coach Dan Schoonmaker noted that the Spartans have another “decent-sized” senior class for this season, but a lot of sophomores and juniors will be starting for the team this year.
Junior Nate Putman has been named the starting quarterback for the Spartans. Last season, Putman threw for 1,063 yards with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Putman came in last year when Bainbridge’s senior quarterback at the time, Jack Brown, suffered an injury. Schoonmaker said the Spartans are expecting “big things” out of him this year.
“We think he’s a real deal quarterback,” Schoonmaker said. “I think he’s set for a big junior year.”
Bainbridge senior captain Rowan Meek, who plays defensive back and wide receiver, said that the team has been putting a lot of work in to make sure they stay competitive in the OL. The team took a trip to Orange County, CA, where they participated in seven-on-seven drills. Meek noted the experience of the trip was a “blast” and really brought the team together.
Meek said the mentality the football program has implemented over the offseason has been to get 1% better each day. He said that consists of trusting your teammates and ensuring that everyone is on the same page. Meek said there’s no problem the team can’t deal with.
“The program has really put that in every single player’s mind, and we truly believe that,” Meek said. “So it’s hard for me to say that there’s going to be a challenge or a setback.”
