Special Olympics

The Bainbridge Island Golden Eagles Special Olympics Track and Field begins with an orientation meeting scheduled from 6-7 p.m. March 17 at the Bainbridge High School track.

The activity is open to all eligible athletes in the community. To be eligible, the athlete must have a valid, completed application for participation (AFP) and be at least eight years old. The form, as well as detailed application information, can be found at www.SOWA.org. The process involves getting medical professional input (on the form) and release by the athlete and the athlete’s parent/guardian, if needed.

Practices begin March 20 and meet every Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and every Wednesday 6-7 p.m. thereafter at the high school (rain or shine).

All interested athletes should ensure they have an AFP either on file with the coach (expires every three years) or bring the newly completed form to the first practice.

Bainbridge Island Rowing

Seventy-eight junior BIR members participated in an “Ergopalooza” Feb. 28.

Rowers raced on ergometers – or rowing machines – to 2,000 meters at Island Fitness.

“The primary goals were to get kids motivated, to have some competitive fun, and to teach pacing in a race environment,” BIR President Grant Dull said. “The race allows kids to see how their times stack up against their peers. And for some kids, the race gives them a time that can be used to secure a college scholarship.”

BIR will host teams from Orcas Island and Vashon Island in the first annual All-Island rowing regatta on March 14 at Eagle Harbor.

Races will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will finish at 12:15 p.m. The races will start opposite the Washington State Ferries maintenance facility and boats will travel east 1000 meters to finish off of Pritchard Park.

More than 130 junior rowers are expected to participate in the race. They will compete in boats of all sizes, including eight-oared shells down to single sculls.

Ergopalooza top three results by team:

Varsity boys: James Erving six minutes, 58 seconds, Garrett Gangmark-Strickland 7:02.6, Gabe Solsing 7:07.6

Varsity Girls: Taylor Gawlick 7:51.0, Katrina Kerrigan 7:56.4, Larkin Sheldon 7:58.9

Novice Boys: Robin Stewart 7:29.5, Gabe Lynch 7:38.4, John Harrington 7:48.9

Novice Girls: Elsa Brown 7:56.8, Micki Johns 8:04.6, Laurel Major 8:06.1

Bainbridge Island Ropeskippers

The Bainbridge Island Ropeskippers have returned from the 2010 U.S. Trials competition in Boise, where eight members of the team qualified to represent “Team USA” at the upcoming 2010 Rope Skipping World Championships and World Youth Tournament in England in July. Thirty-five countries will compete over a week.

The qualifiers from Bainbridge Island are: Kelsey Gonwick; Chloe Dolese; Abigail Harrison; Molly Harrison; Jessica Fay; Sarah Sharman; Amanda Stevenson; and Emily Applewhite.

Members of the Bainbridge Island Ropeskippers earned medals from the 2009 Nationals event.

Bainbridge Island Diving Club

The Bainbridge Island Diving Club hosted a dual meet with the Tualatin Hills Diving Club of Portland, Ore., Feb. 20.

Divers competed in Novice, Junior Olympic, and Senior events on both one-meter and three-meter springboards.

In the 11-and-under girls division, Cammy Rouser competed for the first time at the novice level and earned a second place silver medal for five dives performed in combination on both the one-meter and three-meter boards.

At the junior Olympic level, Georgina Milne placed first on one-meter earning a gold medal and earning a silver medal for second place on three-meter.

In the boys 13-and-under age group, Coleman Mitchell had a bronze medal performance on both boards.

In the girls 14-15 age group, Kittie Cooper placed second on both boards for silver medals on one-meter and three-meter.

Shannon Englebrecht took the gold medal on both boards with scores of 302.50 on the one-meter and 294.36 on the three-meter.

In the girls 16-18 age group, Koki Kresser earned silver medals on both boards while Lilia Paul took gold with scores of 268.75 on one-meter and 305.40 on three-meter.

The club travels to Beaverton, Ore. for the U.S. Diving Junior Olympic Region 10 Championships in March.