Community Sports

Sports Beat: Soccer teams wrap up successful seasons

Peninsula (15-2-2) reached the Class 3A girls soccer state tournament quarterfinals with a 3-0 win over Bonney Lake on Friday, Nov. 11. But the Seaawks’ impressive season ended with a 3-0 loss to Shorecrest the next day.

The fifth-seeded Seahawks ran into a juggernaut in Shorecrest (18-1-1), which had outscored opponents 63-4 on the season.

Peninsula’s Brylee Edmondson prepares to drive the ball in a district playoff game. Bryce Carithers

“It’s hard to see your players play their final game. However, we made it to the elite eight this year which is the furthest that any PHS team has ever made it in the state tournament on record and hasn’t been accomplished since 1984,” Peninsulas coach Kim Demianiw said. “We had an undefeated league season, SSC co-champions, finished second in the district tournament, and made it to the elite eight in state. A pretty good list of accomplishments.”

Peninsula graduates four seniors and will miss the leadership shown by midfielders Stella Demianiw and Violet Portteus, defender Campbell Stegeman and forward Ryan Quilio.

“I am confident that this team will be very competitive in the coming years,” coach Demianiw said. “They are a relatively young team that is very talented and versatile, with strong leaders who are ready to take the team back to the state tournament.”

The Peninsula soccer team after finishing second at districts. The team had its best finish in school history by reaching the final eight of the state tournament.

Sixth seeded Gig Harbor ( 14-2-2) lost its state opener, 2-1, to Seattle Prep. The Tides scored when Elizabeth Hayes was taken out in the box and Sami Huber rocketed a penalty kick to the net. But Prep held on to advance while ending the Tides’ successful season.

“The senior group was like family,” Gig Harbor coach Katie Bennett said. “I’ve had Sammy Huber, Anne Seim and Haley Burris since they were freshman on the JV team when Stephanie Cox was still head coach. Addy Seher joined us after an ACL injury or she would have been there too. This group has been such a huge part of mine and my children’s lives. It has been so fun to watch them grow and they are the role models that you want.”

Gig Harbor graduates goalie Jordan Flaherty as well as Gracie Gilliam, Hailey Paul, Riley Peschek and MaryAnn Berosh. The seniors won three South Sound Conference titles, two district titles and made three state tournament appearances.

“We have a big group of starters returning and a lot of girls knocking on the door from the JV team too,” Bennett said. “It will be great to see them work through the off-season and continue to bond as a team.”

The Gig Harbor soccer team finished as South Sound Conference co-champions and reached the state tournament with a record of 14-2-2.

Peninsula still alive at state volleyball

The opening day of the Class 3A state volleyball tournament at the Yakima SunDome brought mixed results.

Seventh-seeded Gig Harbor (16-7) fell to 10th-seeded Ferndale in the opening round, 3-1. The Tides’ season ended later on Thursday, Nov. 17, with a 3-0 consolation round loss to Kelso.

Coach Slade Klein will lose six talented seniors: Brynn Fortner, Samantha Heim, Julia Rockstorm, Ava Engelland, Camryn Kelly and Jenna Pitts. The Tides were two points away from an SSC co-championship, finished second at districts and earned the seventh seed at state.

Peninsula (19-2) earned an opening round victory over Lynnwood, 3-0, before dropping into the consolation bracket with a 3-1 loss to Bishop Blanchet. The Seahawks played Friday, Nov. 18, against Ferndale. They could still finish as high as fifth.

Peninsula coach Katrina Cardinal diagrams a play. Bryce Carithers

PHS diver Post fourth at state

Peninsula junior diver Makenna Post finished fourth at the state swimming and diving tournament in Federal Way with 327 points. All three competitors who finished ahead of her at state were seniors.

Gig Harbor freshman Kaitlyn LaTendresse finished ninth in the 200 intermediate medley.

Check out next week’s Sports Beat with more on state volleyball, local cross country runners trying for national advancement, cheerleading competitions and a look ahead to winter sports.

Peninsula’s Makenna Post with her district championship medal. Post went on to finish fourth in the state diving championships. Contributed