Island of champions

Mercer Island High School (MIHS) athletes unleashed their talent and racked up a host of 3A state championships in the lacrosse, tennis and track realms over the action-packed, season-ending time period of May 23-25.

LACROSSE

In boys lacrosse, the locals beat Bellevue, 11-6, on May 25 at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila to notch the team crown.

Finishing their season with an 18-0 in-state record, the Islanders received four goals from Dylan Shobe, three from Peyton Jordan, two from Matthew Loeser and one apiece from Bryce Galgon and Clark Koopman. Jordan added two assists and Lucas Rosato, Laken Hykes and Loeser had one each.

“This championship win was a team effort from top to bottom. The seniors played their best game to date, the juniors and sophomores were strong all over the field, and the call-ups we’re energetically cheering for their teammates for the entire game. They all truly embodied the ‘team-first’ mentality,” said head coach Ian O’Hearn.

Shobe said that his talented teammates and friends truly had an affinity for each other when they hit the lacrosse field.

“It’s rare for everyone on one team of 20-25 teenage guys to love every one another on the team, but that was the perspective of everyone on the team. Nothing can beat a team of friends who are ready to take a punch for the guy next to them,” he added.

Sticking with lacrosse, the Islander girls beat Seattle Prep, 12-11, to win the state crown on May 17 at Starfire. On the girls state championship scene, all varsity programs — just under 50 total — compete for the title.

Leading the way for MIHS in the final match were Erica Kierstead with six goals, three ground balls and three draw controls; Camilla Manfredo with nine draw controls and one goal; Lulu Carr with three goals; and Chelsea Cho with two goals.

“The championship game was a battle against a strong squad from Seattle Prep. Our team showed an immense amount of poise and resilience in the way they fought to the end and ultimately won. Given how many new members and role players we had on this team, their achievement is a true testament to their hard work and dedication. I couldn’t be prouder of this group — it was truly special,” said head coach Lyndsey Gillis.

TENNIS

In girls tennis, the Islanders won the state team title and sisters Sarah and Rachel Garton grabbed the state doubles championship with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over a duo from Lakeside on May 25 at the Vancouver Tennis Center.

Sisters Violet and Mia Kinney placed third in doubles, and sportsmanship award winner Chloe DeGracia swung through to the semifinals and placed sixth in singles. The Gartons and the Kinneys faced off in the semifinals with the Gartons prevailing, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. The Kinneys then beat a Seattle Prep team, 6-3, 6-4, to take third.

On the boys’ side at state, the Islanders placed second in the team standings on May 25 in Vancouver. In doubles action, Sam Dilworth/Connor Leung took second and Gian Manhas/Nathan Wen snagged third. In the final, Dilworth/Leung lost to a Lakeside duo, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (4-7). To grab third place, Manhas/Wen beat a Seattle Prep duo, 6-2, 6-3.

For the Garton sisters, they said the keys to their success were encouragement, trust in one another and themselves, positivity and communication on the court. These crucial components on their side of the net generated their best tennis and contributed to a fun and memorable experience.

“This is especially important as sisters because we are more likely to be critical of each other, but also feel more comfortable leaning on each other for support during difficult matches,” Sarah said.

Added Rachel: “I love having someone else out there with me, especially when we got down and were able to help each other with strategy or boost our confidence. As siblings, it’s very easy to be honest with each other, but just working together and supporting each other helped us the most.”

The girls netters also won the district and league team championships earlier in May.

TRACK AND FIELD

At the boys and girls state track and field championships on May 24-25 at Mount Tahoma Stadium in Tacoma, Sophia Rodriguez won the girls 3,200 race in 10:17.53, Owen Powell won the boys 800 race in 1:52.33 and Eloise Newman won the girls 100 hurdles in 15:45. Newman also placed sixth in both the girls 100 dash (12.76) and girls 300 hurdles (46.66).

The seeds were sown at the start of the season for Newman to commence traversing her path to state victory. She set that goal and went for it.

“I then worked with my family and coaches on planning how I would accomplish winning and what work it would take to get there. I am lucky to also have a lot of support from my family, team and coaches who are there to help me see my goals be fulfilled,” she said.

On May 23, Powell and Sophia Rodriguez dominated the state 1,600 runs with first-place finishes. Powell ran a 4:07.90 and Rodriguez ran a 4:48.69.

Sophia Rodriguez took the Reporter through her mental journey of what it took to achieve success at state: “I would say going into the important races, I always have to calm myself down and remember that all the work is put in and now I just have to execute. Especially when it is super high level of racing, only caring about the win, I focus on only the win and not the time. Having said that, I get quite nervous, so my teammates, family and coaches all help me recenter and focus on having fun because this is the fun part of the season.”

Also on day one for the Islanders, Victoria Rodriguez finished third in the 1,600 with a 4:53.67 and Aaliyah Khan placed fourth in the girls triple jump with a 36-10.5. On day three, Aaliyah Khan took second in the girls long jump with a 17-11 1/4 and Victoria Rodriguez placed fifth in the girls 3,200 run with a 10:38.46.

Other results for the Islanders were: Bodie Thomas, seventh in the boys 3,200 run; Quinn Shavey, eighth in the boys 400 dash; Alisha Khan, eighth in the girls javelin; and Ahad Khan, 11th in the boys long jump. For the full set of times and marks, visit: https://pntfo.trackscoreboard.com/meets/523024/events

In the team standings, the MIHS girls took second and the boys tied for ninth. Earlier in May, the girls won the district championship.

Mercer Island High School’s girls tennis players at the 3A state championships, from left to right, Sarah Garton, Rachel Garton, Chloe DeGracia, Mia Kinney and Violet Kinney. Photo courtesy of Kevin Leung