It was another successful year for Bainbridge individuals and teams in athletics.
A streak ends
The Bainbridge gymnastics team has done well over the lifespan of its regular season winning streak since it started in 2001. They won eight Metro League titles, two academic state titles and a team state championship in 2005.
But all things must end – and the end of Bainbridge’s 122-meet win streak came at the hands of rival Holy Names Jan. 8. The Cougars also beat the Spartans for the Metro League trophy four weeks later.
DiIorio is delightful
It was Will DiIorio’s time to shine.
The senior scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds per game for Bainbridge, winning the Metro League Player of the year. He also earned first team All-Metro and All-KNG honors and was an honorable mention for the AP 3A all-state team.
DiIorio also made the men’s basketball team at Washington State University as an invited walk-on. He has played in seven games so far this season.
McCarthy now part of history
Andrew McCarthy also shone brightly.
He won the first 500 freestyle state title in school history as a sophomore, setting a new school record in the process. McCarthy was also on the 400 freestyle relay team that set a new school record and helped the team place fifth. It’s the highest finish for a boys’ swim team at state in 14 years.
Now a junior, McCarthy recently competed in the Speedo Short Course Junior National Championships, earning top 50 finishes in his two events.
Carter puts name in record books
Sasha Carter had the best season ever for a Bainbridge girls’ tennis player.
She collected a treble of titles by winning Metro, district and state singles championships. Carter, who committed to Montana, became the first Bainbridge girls tennis player to win all three titles and the first to win a state girls singles title in 32 years.
Carter’s performance helped Bainbridge place second at state for its highest finish in 20 years.
Fastpitchers earn another trophy
Despite losing five seniors that led the team to its first state title in school history, the Bainbridge fastpitch team made it back to the state title game in 2010.
They won three games in one day due to a revamped schedule to deal with the rain. But they lost in the final to Sedro-Woolley,
Haylee Baker became the second Bainbridge player in three years to win the Metro League MVP.
Tommila a HOFer
The Bainbridge girls’ lacrosse program now has two coaches with Hall of Fame credentials.
Tami Tommila, who took over for Hall of Famer Laurie Usher in 1997, was selected to the Washington State Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
She earned her selection by leading the Spartans to four state titles and seven straight state championship appearances.
Jonson takes title
Though he missed the cut at the state tournament in May, Carl Jonson redeemed himself over the summer.
The future UNLV player shot a course record 64 in the first round of the U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifier Aug. 3. He won the tournament and qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship.
Though he missed the cut, Jonson helped the Bainbridge boys’ golf team to a perfect regular season and title wins in the Metro and district tournaments.
Swimmers place second at state
Tess Harpur said she nor the Bainbridge girls’ swim team had a good year last year.
They redeemed themselves in a big way this year, finishing second at the state meet to earn the team’s first trophy in two years.
Harpur also redeemed herself by taking second in the 100 butterfly and the 100 breakstroke. Both of her times were school records.
Diver Shannon Engelbrecht became the first freshman since school record holder Stephanie Whalen took sixth in 2002 to place at state. Engelbrecht placed fourth.
Gridders make playoffs again
Behind a strong and experienced offensive line led by Alec Grimm, the Bainbridge football team made the playoffs for the second year in a row.
Corey Touchette ran for over 1100 yards while Chris Bell filled in for an injured Carson Zajonic at quarterback. He played a spectacular game in the Spartans’ 45-42 win over Eastside Catholic Oct. 21 that cemented the team’s spot in the playoffs.
Though they lost to the eventual state champs in Bellevue, many members of the team earned postseason honors including Grimm, who was named to the Associated Press 3A all-state team as an honorable mention for the offensive line.
