UNIVERSITY PLACE – A 1-2 final record in the recent regional tournament ended the awesome Spartan boys water polo season Saturday, Nov. 7 at Curtis High School in University Place.
It was a disappointing end to a fantastic season, as the Spartans will not advance to state.
The island squad entered the postseason with a 15-2 overall record, having lost to only Curtis and Puyallup.
“Unfortunately, we missed out on the state tournament by one point against the No. 2 ranked Roosevelt,” Spartan Head Coach Kristin Gellert said afterward. “Our guys played so great and with our senior Jem [Bullock] being ejected from the game early in the second quarter, the younger guys rallied and managed to stay in the game until the very end, which is very promising for next year.”
The Spartans’ first of three games, Friday, Nov. 6 against Newport High, ended with a 12-10 loss — though Bainbridge did mount a comeback from a 4-10 deficit at the start of the fourth.
Down but not out, BHS came back strong in their second match on Saturday to crush Wilson High, 16-8.
Goals were scored by Bullock (six), Will Thompson (three), Harrison Shinohara (two), Sam Kapel (two), Mason Ogden (one), Sam Chapman (one) and Miles Hogger (one).
Later that day, in their third and final match of the contest, Bainbridge played “an intense match” against Roosevelt High, Gellert said.
Roosevelt ultimately won 9-8.
Goals were scored by Shinohara (four), Jack Kapel (one), Chapman (one), Hogger (one) and Sam Kapel (one).
“This weekend ends a just incredible 2015 season for the Spartan boys,” Gellert said. “The teamwork and intensity these athletes brought to the pool every week was a joy to watch.”
Several Spartans found themselves awarded spots on the All Division teams as well. Bullock, Shinohara and Muir were named to the first team; Jack Kapel and Thompson to the second team; and Chapman earned an honorable mention.
Gellert, who was pregnant throughout the season, gave birth just two days before the tournament, but still managed to coach through the event.
