The Viking Cup Soccer Tournament is unquestionably the biggest athletic event of the year in the North Kitsap area.
Since 1985, it has wowed soccer fans throughout Washington. From May 25-28, roughly 1,600 soccer players and a host of parents, family members and fans will converge on Poulsbo and Kingston for an exciting Memorial Day weekend full of all things soccer during the North Kitsap Soccer Club’s 23rd annual Viking Cup.
POULSBO — Preparations are currently underway for the most important meet of the season for the North Kitsap Special Olympics swim team. On April 28, 16 athletes finished in the top two in their respective events at regionals in Kelso, earning spots at the Special Olympics State Meet slated for June 1-3 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
“We went up against 12 counties in the western part of Washington state,” said North coach Darla Sargent. “Everyone on our team earned a gold or silver medal in their individual events to advance to the state meet. This is the first time our entire team is going to state.”
POULSBO — Thursday afternoon was the definition of rivalry game as the Kingston Junior High Cavaliers and Poulsbo Junior High Panthers likely faced off for one final contest in the history of the two schools.
Next year both will become middle schools.
PUYALLUP — It was the exclamation point on an thrilling win as Vikings No. 1 pitcher Kelly Wells excitedly threw his glove to the ground, before being mobbed by his teammates.
Wells went the distance and got the outs when he needed to, preserving North’s 6-3 victory against Graham Kapowsin on Saturday in the West Central District playoffs at Heritage Park in Puyallup.
PORT ORCHARD — The balls just didn’t fall in the right spots when they caromed off of the tennis racquets of the Vikings last week.
While a trio of tennis players from North Kitsap High School had the opportunity to show their skills at the Narrows League Tennis Tournament May 11 and 12 at South Kitsap High School, the team won’t be sending a representative to the West Central District Tournament this weekend.
PORT ORCHARD — Senior Cody Bradwell joined a growing cadre of athletes this week as he etched his name into the record books for the North Kitsap Vikings track and field team.
On the first day of the Narrows League Championships Wednesday, Bradwell set the North Kitsap High set school record in the 800 meter dash, with time of 1:55.69. He broke Dan Wold’s school record of 1:56.6, which was set in 1940. (Bradwell competed in the 800M final yesterday, but as of press time results were unavailable.)
POULSBO — North coach Nancy Williams didn’t think an undefeated season was possible — but was happy to be proven wrong.
When practice started in late February, Williams knew her JV fastpitch team would be good, but she couldn’t even envision a perfect season on the horizon when the dust settled this month.
TACOMA — While a strong offense put the Wolves ahead, an impenetrable defense sealed the win as South Kitsap eliminated North Kitsap from the Narrows League soccer playoffs Saturday.
The mixture was a potent one, cementing a 1-0 win and ending the Vikings season outright.
POULSBO — The last home meet of the track and field season is always a fun-filled affair, providing the final opportunity for senior athletes to perform in front of the hometown crowds.
They went out with a bang.
POULSBO — Tyler Sullivan’s face said it all. After striking out Wilson’s Derek Shirey with a fastball to end the game, he hurled his glove into the air and made a beeline for his coach.
The smiling Sullivan leapt into Vikings coach Jeff Weible’s arms near the dugout after North’s 5-4 comeback victory over Wilson Tuesday night in Poulsbo.
POULSBO — Josh Gilson rose to the occasion in the biggest game of his high school career thus far. The speedster was on the receiving end of two picture perfect crosses from Vikings right forward Zach Sampson, that Gilson converted into goals (10th minute, 35th minute) in the Vikings convincing 5-1 victory over Mount Tahoma Tuesday.
The goals helped cement the Vikes’ walk-away win of the Narrows League loser-out playoff game at North Kitsap Stadium.
POULSBO — North Kitsap junior Aaron Bilbao vaulted himself into the school’s record books on April 25 in Tacoma as he cleared 13 feet 7 inches in the pole vault.
The previous record was set by Ray Parson, who topped 13 feet, 6 inches in 1974.
What makes the feat even more impressive, is that Bilbao didn’t touch a pole until last year. Vikings assistant coach Bruce Swanson said he knew Bilbao had potential, but didn’t know was that he would realize it so soon.
POULSBO—Jordan Jewett’s line-drive single to left field off Mount Tahoma starting pitcher Ashley Denbrock’s first pitch of the game was a harbinger of the hitting clinic North put on before the hometown crowd Monday.
When it was finished, North pounded out 14 hits and scored nine runs in a much-needed 9-2 victory. Currently, North is in sole possession of third place in the Narrows League Bay Division with an overall record of 11-4 (8-4 league).
POULSBO — With a playoff berth already secured, North Kitsap soccer team’s eight seniors used Senior Night to leave one more lasting memory in the minds of the underclassmen and fans Monday night.
POULSBO — The North Kitsap Vikings soccer squad put another notch in its axe as it took a swing at the Gig Harbor Tides Thursday and walked off the pitch with a 3-0 shutout.
But the victory was more important than it might have appeared, pointed out Vikings coach Chris May.
POULSBO — It was the kind of game the North Kitsap Vikings baseball team didn’t take lightly. After a dismal performance in a loss against Mount Tahoma on Monday, the Vikings took out their frustrations on Bellarmine on Thursday, crushing the visitors from Tacoma 12-0 in five innings.
Vikings coach Jeff Weible said he wasn’t surprised by the outcome.
POULSBO — As a desperately needed gap in the clouds broke over the tennis courts, a loud enthusiastic, “North!” could be heard as the North Kitsap Girls Tennis squad prepared for what turned out to be the closest game of the season thus far.
North coach Terry Grimm was pleasantly surprised by the vigorous output the girls exhibited in their matches against South Kitsap.
POULSBO — One bad inning. In one of the biggest upsets of the 2007 season, Narrows League bottom feeder Mount Tahoma (4-14 overall), squeaked out a shocking 5-4 victory against first place North Kitsap (11-4 overall) on a sunny Monday afternoon in Poulsbo.
This wasn’t the result the North Kitsap Vikings baseball squad envisioned after trouncing Mount Tahoma 13-3 Saturday in Tacoma. Following the game, Vikings coach Jeff Weible declined to comment on his team’s loss.
POULSBO — North Kitsap spelled defense with a capital “D” Friday on its home diamond. The Vikings didn’t commit an error, putting forth a perfect fielding percentage (1.000), which proved to be the driving force behind their 7-1 victory over South Kitsap.
“Our defense kept us in the game,” said Vikings coach Bill Hobaugh. “It’s winning games for us right now.”
POULSBO — When the North Kitsap Vikings boys soccer team looks back on its 2007 season, it may be able to pinpoint a single game that served as a needed turn in its journey to success.
North’s performance against South Kitsap on Thursday night could be that kind of contest as players reflect on the year when it’s all said and done.
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