Strong post-season for KHS, NKHS

POULSBO — Teams from North Kitsap and Kingston high schools are advancing from district tournaments to vie for state titles. Here’s a recap of how our teams did last weekend — and what to expect for the upcoming championship games.

Boys basketball

The North Kitsap boys basketball team is ranked No. 8 in the WIAA RPI. The RPI, or Rating Percentage Index, is a statistical system used to comparatively rank teams. The purpose of the RPI is to seed teams into the regional and state basketball brackets.

Because of their high ranking, the Vikings have secured a regional berth, automatically putting them in state play in Yakima, whether they win or lose at regionals.

“It’s been an exciting month,” Viking Head Coach Scott Orness said. “We are Olympic League champions for the third year in a row and we are one game away from playing in the district championship for the second year in a row.”

To recap: The Vikings won their home game against Fife 46-41 on Feb. 10.

“Kohlten Mahitka and Kai Warren came up with big shots in the third quarter to give us the lead, each hitting two 3s,” Orness said of the game.

They played against Lindbergh Feb. 15 at Foss High School in the semifinals of the West Central District Tournament; their 51-49 win puts them in the championship game playing against Foss at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 18.

The Kingston boys basketball team is ranked No. 15 in the WIAA RPI. The Bucs won their away match against River Ridge High School 60-54, Feb. 10 by withstanding multiple runs and making big shots in the fourth quarter. According to Kingston Head Coach Ben Wisniewski, top performers included Gabe Gregory, 14 points and seven assists; Brett Spencer, 18 points; and Liam Young, 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists. The Bucs continued on in the West Central District Tournament, losing to Foss 92-70.

Kingston is scheduled to play Lindbergh at 1:45 p.m. Feb. 18 at Foss High School. A win would put the Bucs in third place.

Girls basketball

The North Kitsap girls basketball team is ranked No. 11 in the WIAA RPI. The Vikings won their home game against Fife 49-36 on Feb. 11. The Vikings faced Franklin Pierce at 6 p.m. on Feb. 16 at Foss High School; results were unavailable at press time. The winner will be in the district championship game Feb. 18, the loser will play for third or fourth place.

“I like our chances against Franklin Pierce,” Viking Head Coach Penny Gienger said. “They have one awesome player that we will have to focus on, but [I] feel that our team is better as a whole. Our team strength is how on any given night, a different player can and will step up.”

Swimming

The North Kitsap High School swim team competed at the 2A West Central Division III Swim/Dive District Championships Feb. 10-11. Five Vikings swimmers are moving on to state in a combined eight individual events: Brandon Anderson, 100 butterfly; Alex Chow, 500 freestyle; Matt Smith, 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke; Nathan Ramey, 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke; and Alex Stephanski, 200 IM and 100 breaststroke.

All three relay teams are also moving on to state: Brandon Anderson, Alex Chow, Spencer Grubb, Ben Moosmiller, Nathan Ramey, Matt Smith, Alex Stefanski and Matt Wooldridge, 200 medley; Brandon Anderson, Morgan Chapman, Alex Chow, Simon Hoke, Ben Moosmiller, Zach Slama, Matt Smith and Matt Wooldridge, 200 free relay; and Brandon Anderson, Morgan Chapman, Alex Chow, Simon Hoke, Nathan Ramey, Zach Slama, Matt Smith and Alex Stefanski, 400 free relay.

“We are looking forward to a strong showing and getting multiple kids in the top 16,” Vikings Head Coach Greg Braun said. “A few have great potential to be in the top eight to get on the podium. These guys have worked hard this year. It has taken them a while to get there, but they are starting to work together better as a team, rather than as individuals, and that is making us stronger.”

The Kingston High School swim team also competed at the 2A West Central Division III Swim/Dive District Championships on Feb. 10-11. State qualifiers: Ethan Fox, 200 IM and 100 breaststroke; Tim Gallagher, 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke; Bryce Hoffer, 50 and 100 freestyle; Nolan Platz, 200 IM and 100 breaststroke; and Quincy Walker, 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly.

“All total, we have 10 individual swims and three relays for the state meet,” Bucs Head Coach Mark VanHuis said. “Every single individual is currently seeded … to swim in finals on Saturday.”

Wrestling

The North Kitsap High School wrestling team competed at regionals on Feb. 11. Viking Holly Beaudoin (105) was the league and regional champion. Angel Collins (115) took third in the league meet and fourth at regionals. Ken Galsgaard took third in league and fourth in regionals. Adam Hammou took third at league and regionals.

“You only get what you work for,” Viking Head Coach Robert Gomez said. “We have a great foundation for wrestling at North Kitsap, and we will have two state champions.”

The Kingston High School wrestling team also competed at the regional meet Feb. 11. No players advanced to state.

“[This is the] first time in 26 years I haven’t have anyone at state,” Head Coach Britton Johnson said. “[It was a] disappointing season and post season.”

Gymnastics

The North Kitsap gymnastics team competed in the West Central Division III 2A/3A Gymnastics meet Feb. 11. Three gymnasts advanced to state.

“I am very happy to say Cassidy Cloward, Emily Langford and Rachel Lehmann all qualified for the state meet,” Vikings Head Coach Kris Goodfellow said.

Cloward finished seventh on bars and eighth on floor; she also qualified for state on vault. Langford placed 10th on beam and also qualified on vault. Lehmann qualified on bars and beam.

“The girls did a great job at both the subdistrict meet and the district meet last Saturday,” Goodfellow said. “I am very happy that the three qualified for state are juniors. They will be a strong core for the team next year.”

The Kingston gymnastics team also competed in the 2A/3A West Central District III meet Feb. 11 at Auburn Mountainview High School. Qualifying for state: Sophomore Aunika Kramer on vault, bars and beam; she placed fourth on both bars and beam. Junior Mikka Yamane took first place all-around with a score of 34.775; she advanced to state in all four events. Sophomore Annelise Pardee competed at the qualifying meet but did not advance to state.

“I think Mikka has a good chance of making finals on beam and bars,” Kingston Head Coach Sheila Moore said. “She is still trying to perfect a new vault, so we are preparing for next year on that, but last year she made finals on balance beam and took the eighth-place medal. Aunika’s best shot for finals would be the balance beam — she just needs to have a clean routine that day and no falls — which she is very capable of doing.”

The 2A/3A State Gymnastics Championships is Feb. 16-17 at the Tacoma Dome.

— Sophie Bonomi is a reporter for Kitsap News Group. Contact her at sbonomi@soundpublishing.com.