Bainbridge High School senior Spencer Evans is a bit of a throwback to the athletes of yesteryear – the players who take the challenge of any sport that’s offered, and strive to be more than just a participant.
The three-sport letterman – excelling at three different sports through his or her high school career – is a virtual unknown in high schools anymore.
In today’s prep world, specialization – an eagerness to hone abilities in a single sport – and year-round competitive play through “select” teams have erased the seasonal aspect of athletics and now allow non-stop development in one focus sport.
If any free time remains, the availability of alternate activities have kept some athletes from trying new sports in their “off-season.”
For Evans – whose athletic endeavors include varsity basketball, football and lacrosse – variety has been a key ingredient to success.
He recently signed a letter of intent to play collegiate lacrosse for the University of Denver Pioneers. According to Denver coach Jamie Munro, the diversity of skills polished over the years by Evans made the Spartan senior stand out in the crowd.
“As a lacrosse player, (Evans) is going to be as athletic as anybody out there,” Munro wrote in an article for AllLacrosseAmerica.com News.
A cut above
A look back at a moment in his sophomore year gives insight into Evans’ athletic heart.
Evans hoped to make the Spartan varsity basketball squad as a 10th-grader, but an ankle sprain during the first few days of tryouts forced him to prove his ability on the JV court.
He took the challenge to heart, hitting double-doubles (double figures in scoring and rebounding) for several games. In one contest, he rattled the hoop for 32 points and 16 rebounds.
The next game, Evans took a hard elbow to the eye, opening a large cut along his eyebrow.
“We had the home white jerseys, blood was all over,” Evans said, recalling the evening.
He was hustled to the doctor and the cut was closed with 14 stitches, and Evans got the OK to return to the game.
Wearing a borrowed jersey, he returned to the court in the second half, and managed to score six points.
A few days later, varsity coach Jeff Eller showed up during one of Evans’ classes to place a varsity gym bag on his desk – ceremoniously advancing the sophomore onto the varsity squad.
“You deserve it,” Eller told him.
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On the football field, Evans recently finished another strong season, making the All-Metro honorable mention list for his play on both sides of the line – as an outside linebacker and as a running back.
A team captain, he ended his home grid career in great fashion with a four-touchdown effort in the senior finale at Spartan Stadium.
In the STX
Evans started playing lacrosse as a seventh grader at Woodward, and probably never dreamed it would be the sport that would end up helping pay for his college education.
Ironically, he did not even play lacrosse in the spring of his freshman year – the only Spartan sporting season he has missed his high school career.
Fortunately for Bainbridge, Evans donned the gear for the next season, and has played varsity midfield ever since.
It was Erik Smith, the father of his lacrosse teammate Adam Smith, who started pitching Evans’ name to various lacrosse all-star camps and national coaches.
After making all-state and all-star traveling teams following his sophomore and junior high school seasons, Evans was picked last summer to participate in the national STX Blue Chip camp in Baltimore, Md.
There, he played with the best preps in the nation for a couple of hot, humid days in June.
On his way back to Washington, Evans visited the University of Denver and a few other schools. On July 4, just a couple days after college coaches can start contacting high school seniors-to-be, Evans heard from Munro.
A little over a month ago, he made it official by signing a letter of intent.
“I never thought I’d be able to play college lacrosse,” Evans said.
Evans said he has never really questioned going with three sports in high school rather than focusing on one – though, he said, some coaches tried to persuade him to specialize.
“It’s easy to get burned out on a sport,” Evans said, emphasizing the need for a little athletic diversity. “I figure if you can do it (play three sports), do it.”
Evans said his only regret, which became more obvious when he faced the top players at the STX camp, was that he did not work out with weights more through high school.
“Luckily, I got by athletically,” Evans said of his experience at STX.
“A lot of kids at Bainbridge don’t realize how important (weight training) is.”
Thanks, Mom
Like every athlete, sometimes it’s the unsung supporters behind the scenes who deserve some credit.
Evans feels the supportive strength of his family in mom and dad, Ty and Randy, and three siblings – twin sister Alex and another set of twins, Harry and Natalie, age 12.
“Mom has always really motivated me,” Evans said.
Evans is also generous with his gratitude for folks like Smith and other the key players in his life – Pee Wee coach Hal Cook, who gave Evans a love for football; and lacrosse coaches Ryan Painter and Jack Visco.
“We have the best coaches in the state,” he said.
