Community Sports

Sports Beat: Peninsula rallies for water polo win over Gig Harbor

The Fish Bowl boys water polo match between rivals Peninsula and Gig Harbor on Sept. 14 was an intense, one-point contest that saw the Seahawks complete a thrilling six-goal comeback to knock off the previously unbeaten Tides.

Peninsula could have gone away quietly after falling behind by a wide margin. Instead they changed strategy, tightened the defense and rattled the nets until they had escaped the Tides’ pool with a hard-fought, 13-12 victory.

Peninsula celebrates a 13-12 win over Gig Harbor. Photo by Mike Kelly

Great shape

Water polo requires athletes to be in excellent physical condition. One only has to think of how difficult it is to tread water for a few minutes in a backyard pool to understand the endurance required.

These athletes do that for 32 minutes — as well as sprint-swimming up and down the pool while trying to pass, catch and shoot a ball into a net. Add to that the physicality of being held and grabbed under water and you have one of the most demanding high school sports.

Both schools have rich water polo traditions. Gig Harbor has produced many state championship teams, but it was coach Carter Gilmore’s Seahawks that refused to lose and took the conference lead with the come-from-behind victory.

Grant Huston of Gig Harbor prepares to fire a shot against Peninsula. Photo by Mike Kelly

Gilmore said the Sept. 14 game was the first time in 10 years Peninsula beat Gig Harbor in boys water polo. Marcus Reum led the Seahawks in scoring against the Tides.

Gig Harbor coach Alana Ponce, a four-time state champion for the Tides before playing at George Washington University, described an intense match between the rivals and gave the Seahawks credit for their victory. She and her team are already looking forward to a rematch on at 5:15 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Peninsula pool.

Girls soccer: Seahawks unbeaten in league

The Peninsula (5-1, 5-0 South Sound Conference) girls soccer team is atop the league standings, with Gig Harbor (4-1-1, 4-1) close behind.

The Seahawks, who shared a conference title with the Tides last season, collected two shutout wins this week — 4-0 over River Ridge on Sept. 19 and 1-0 over Timberline on Sept. 21. They sit atop the SSC by virtue of Gig Harbor’s 1-0 loss to Capital on Sept. 19.

The Seahawks defeated Capital by the same score on Sept. 7, when Ella Coates used a nifty move and rocket shot to score the unassisted game-winner. Peninsula and Gig Harbor face each other Tuesday, Sept. 26, at Roy Anderson Field.

The two teams played twice in the 2022 regular season, with both matches resulting in ties. The Seahawks won a third matchup in district playoff action.

Makena Getts of Peninsula in a game played in 2022. Photo by Bryce Carithers

Seahawks leaders

Peninsula coach Kim Demianiw credits her team’s chemistry and defense while pointing to senior captains Emma Krueger and Addi Sebren for their inspired play. Freshman defender Alex Cichanski has been a welcome addition at center back and Maya Rodgers has been solid at left back. The defense and talented sophomore goalkeeper Brooklyn Finch have not allowed a goal in league play.

Peninsula’s scoring attack is balanced, although both Hailey Shride and Coates have notched hat-trick games already. Forwards Makena Getts and Nora Sutherland are dynamic scorers who have to be accounted for, while Demianiw credits senior captain Sydney Nickles with being the “calm that the team needs every day.”

Demianiw said of the upcoming showdown with Gig Harbor: “There is always a lot of hype created when we play our crosstown rival. However, it’s just another game that we prepare for like every other game. Our keys to victory are to go out and play our game and focus on our strengths.”

The game is a must-see for local soccer enthusiasts and will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, at Roy Anderson Field. Spectators should arrive early. Last season’s games between these teams were at capacity.

Volleyball: Local schools look like contenders

Both local volleyball teams are winning easily and on a crash course toward a big Oct. 5 meeting.

The defending league champion Peninsula Seahawks (4-0), No. 5 in WIAA’s Class 3A RPI rankings, defeated Capital and Yelm by identical 3-1 scores this week. Gig Harbor (5-1, 4-0 SSC) is No. 14 in the RPI and swept both River Ridge and Central Kitsap this week.

Joining the local schools as South Sound Conference contenders are the North Thurston Rams, also undefeated in the league and ranked No. 2 in the RPI. The Seahawks are at North Thurston at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26. The Tides get the Rams on their home court at 7:15 p.m. Oct. 3.

Tennis: Gig Harbor knocks off Peninsula

The Tides’ tennis courts were alive with action on Wednesday, Sept. 20, when Gig Harbor faced off against Peninsula in a battle of teams near the top of the South Sound Conference. The Tides handed the Seahawks a 4-1 defeat as No. 1 singles player Rylan Coovert defeated Adam Massary (6-0, 6-2) and Hugh Vicente won the second singles match (6-2, 6-3).

The match of the day was at first doubles, where the Tides rallied to win. The Tides team of Jaren Simler and Braden Smee lost the first set 2-6 to the Seahawks duo of Tyler Ahrens and Thomas Cardinal. Simler and Smee changed strategies and won 7-6 (7-5) in a second-set tie break and then blanked Peninsula 6-0 in the third set. The Tides’ second doubles team of Jonah Eilers and Luke Jolibois remained undefeated on the season with their easy 6-0, 6-2 victory.

Today’s football action

Both local football teams are in action tonight, Sept. 22.

• Gig Harbor (2-1, 1-0 SSC) — fresh off a 21-20 Fish Bowl victory and looking for a three-game winning streak — host Capital (2-1, 1-0) at 7 p.m. at Roy Anderson Field.
• Peninsula (0-3, 0-1) plays North Thurston (0-1, 2-1) at 7 p.m. at South Sound Stadium in Lacey in a must-win game for Peninsula to stay in contention for the SSC championship.