Spartans still sterling after perfect water polo weekend

Not even magical powers sported by the likes of a wizardly whiz like Harry Potter could stave off the amphibious assault of the Spartan boys varsity water polo team last weekend. The sounds of one of the popular franchise’s sorcerous sequels filled the Bainbridge Aquatic Center late last week, drifting into the Ray Williamson Pool from the adjacent Float and Float Movie Night party next door, floating over the team’s Friday night match against Newport like the intonation of some kind of magic spell.

By Luciano Marano • November 2, 2015 6:36 pm
Spartan boys water polo team captain Jem Bullock splashes and scrambles for the ball during last Friday’s match against Newport High.
Spartan boys water polo team captain Jem Bullock splashes and scrambles for the ball during last Friday’s match against Newport High.

Not even magical powers sported by the likes of a wizardly whiz like Harry Potter could stave off the amphibious assault of the Spartan boys varsity water polo team last weekend. The sounds of one of the popular franchise’s sorcerous sequels filled the Bainbridge Aquatic Center late last week, drifting into the Ray Williamson Pool from the adjacent Float and Float Movie Night party next door, floating over the team’s Friday night match against Newport like the intonation of some kind of magic spell.

It must have been an invincibility spell, because the Spartans emerged from that fight up 8-7 over their guests, and went on to do it again the very next day in a rare weekend home match against Kentridge, 11-8 BHS.

The successive wins at home brought the team’s season record to 14-1. The island squad remains undefeated in league matches.

Rounding out their season at home this year, the Spartans hosted South Kitsap on Wednesday, Oct. 28 and, in their final outing of the regular season, Curtis High on Thursday, Oct. 29.

In Friday’s 8-7 nail-biter against Newport, goals were scored by Miles Hogger (four), Harrison Shinohara (two), Sam Kapel (one) and Sam Chapman (one).

In Saturday’s 11-8 match against Kentridge, goals were scored by Jem Bullock (seven), Hogger (two), Shinohara (one) and Mason Ogden (one).

Spartan Head Coach Kristin Gellert said the team was playing the best they had all year and things were looking as good as possible as the postseason schedule came into focus.

Next weekend, she explained, the team will travel to the regional tournament at Rogers High School.

“Our West League will match up against the top four in the North [Roosevelt, Bellevue, Mercer Island, and either Newport or Shorewood depending on their game Oct. 27],” she said.

The top four from regionals move on to state, which is the following weekend, Nov. 14 and 15, at Curtis High School.

The team was set up as well as they could be going into the year’s final matches, the coach said.

“As first seed in the West, we’ll start play against the North’s fourth seed — either Shorewood or Newport,” Gellert said. “It’s a double elimination tournament. We have a decent shot at making it to state, but no game there will be easy.”