Neighborhood sports activities
Peninsula's Elektra Higgins and Gig Harbor's Taylor Sletner are among the many prime contenders on the nationwide cross nation championships on Saturday, Nov. Eight at Solar Willows Golf Course within the Tri-Cities.
Higgins ran the state's fourth-fastest time this yr, however beat Washington's second- and third-place runners, the Rodriquez sisters of Mercer Island, in a Nike-sponsored occasion three weeks in the past. She appears to be like to be peaking after successful the West Central District title.
Electra Higgins
Sletner additionally has elite velocity and stamina. She holds the state's seventh quickest time and gained the inaugural Puget Sound League championship this season. Sletner will run with Tide teammate Lejla Carlsson, who holds the 11th-fastest cross nation time within the state.
All will compete on the hilly terrain of Solar Willows' 5,000 meter course. The forecast requires temperatures of 52 levels, with neither rain nor wind as obstacles.
Native boys groups are unlikely to win a person or staff championship, however the Tides will earn staff factors with prime rivals Gavin McKeegan, Joey Campbell and Joshua Miner. Peninsula sends prime runners Tessa Hoff and Joshua Cashion.
Taylor Sletner of Gig Harbor. Photograph by Dennis Browne
Tides win district swimming title
The Gig Harbor ladies swim staff (13-1) gained the West Central District III Class 3A swimming and diving championship Nov. Four at Mount Tahoma Excessive Faculty. At the very least one swimmer scored in all 12 occasions for the Tides, who earned 307 staff factors. Gig Harbor certified swimmers for each occasion besides the 50 freestyle.
District champions included two-time winner Kaitlyn LaTedresse within the 200 and 500 freestyle; the 200 freestyle relay staff of LaTedresse, Brooklyn Discovered, Jenna Nelson and Eva Dahlin; and the 400 freestyle relay staff of LaTedresse, Beau Ensminger, Nelson and Dahlin.
Peninsula positioned third at districts with 177 factors, simply behind Silas' 198 factors. The Seahawks despatched swimmers to state in seven occasions.
Seahawks state qualifiers embody Lee Gjertson within the 50 and 100 freestyle; Kate Henkel within the 100 backstroke, Reese Miller within the 200 and 500 freestyle, Ryan Garrels within the 200 freestyle and Jordan Givot in diving.
The state swimming championships are Nov. 14-16 on the King County Aquatic Heart in Federal Manner.
Gig Harbor swimmers, district champion.
Each native colleges on the state water polo event
The Gig Harbor water polo staff performs within the D2 state event on Nov. Eight and 9 at Rogers Excessive Faculty. If the Tides end within the prime three of the D2 event, they may advance to the D1 event Nov. 13-16 at Curtis Excessive Faculty.
They gained't be the one native staff trying to advance. Peninsula has steadily climbed the D2 rankings and likewise earned a spot within the D2 state championships.
Peninsula is led by first-year head coach James Isom, who has led his staff to a 9-Three report. Their solely losses had been to Gig Harbor (twice) and Silas. They avenged the Silas loss by defeating the Rams Eight-7 on November 1st.
Brody Mock of Gig Harbor. Photograph by Mike Kelly
Isom had his work lower out for him early because the Seahawks needed to substitute 5 starters from final yr. He leaned closely on seniors Henry Moore, Tyler Givot and Garrett Sale, who confirmed appreciable management over newcomers Owen Moore and Cullen Stitt, who made a right away influence.
Isom additionally likes his new goalie Zack Ruckle. He's by no means performed water polo earlier than, however Isom says he's a fast research and a giant motive for the Seahawks' success.
“Our enchancment has been spectacular, though the dynamic has modified dramatically and it's been a season-long course of, however I feel the fellows are peaking on the proper time,” Isom mentioned.
Peninsula wonders 'what if' after playoff loss
Peninsula (Four-6) earned a berth within the district soccer playoffs and a visit to face Kennewick (7-2), however misplaced a recreation that was a lot nearer than the ultimate rating of 29- 9 on November Eight.
Peninsula began off on the unsuitable foot, muffling the kick-off. The Lions recovered on the Peninsula 20-yard line and scored a landing 4 performs later.
However due to the Seahawks' stingy protection, these had been the one factors the seventh-ranked Lions would rating within the first half.
Quarterback Mana Smythe absorbed a bodily deal with and was crushed to the turf on Peninsula's opening possession. He stayed on the bottom for some time, however identical to he did time and time once more, the senior acquired up.
Smythe isn't the largest cat on the sphere, however he's smarter and more durable than a two-dollar steak. He must be remembered as among the best rivals the Seahawks have ever had on the quarterback place.
After the Seahawks protection compelled a three-and-out, the Peninsula offense went down the sphere behind three runs by Kobe DeJohnette. The final of the three runs was an eight-yard landing. Peninsula missed the additional level, making it 7-6.
After that rating, it was Kennewick's flip to get away with the kickoff. However Peninsula's offense stalled, and the Seahawks missed a 42-yard discipline objective.
Seahawk junior defensive deal with Royal Charles, who has performed excellent soccer this season as a two-way lineman, sacked the Kennewick quarterback on the subsequent possession. The Lions lengthy snapper then despatched the ball over the pinnacle of his punter, giving the Seahawks first and objective on the Kennewick five-yard line.
However three straight hits into the tooth of the line of defense produced no yards. The Seahawks' Talen McDonnell related on a 23-yard discipline objective for a 9-7 halftime lead.
Regardless of holding a considerably shocking halftime lead over the favored Lions, the Seahawks will surprise what may have been. That they had the ball contained in the Lions' 10-yard line twice within the second quarter, however got here up with simply three factors.
Kennewick capped a drive late within the third quarter, capped off with a 20-yard landing cross to take the lead. A two-point conversion made it 15-9 late within the third quarter.
The Seahawks had just a few possibilities within the fourth quarter, however holding penalties erased at the least two lengthy passing features.
Kennewick prolonged the result in 22-9 with Four:47 left within the recreation on a 6-yard scoring cross.
Peninsula's final gasp might have been when Smythe hit Trever Bingham for a protracted achieve on the Kennewick 39-yard line. However the officers referred to as Peninsula guard Dylan Bina for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and ejected him from the sport, wiping out the lengthy achieve.
The Lions broke the sport open with a 25-yard landing run that made the ultimate rating 29-9.
The loss ends Peninsula's season and the highschool careers of many Seahawk seniors who left all the pieces they’d on the sphere recreation after recreation. These senior standouts embody Smythe, DeJohnette, Carson Zimmermann, Jake Akiskalian, Wyatt Abrigo, Hayden Bundy and Prince Charles, amongst others.
Royal Charles will anchor the Peninsula offensive and defensive traces subsequent season. File photograph by Bryce Carithers