The Mercer Island boys soccer team advanced to the state playoffs for the third consecutive year with a 2-1 victory over Bainbridge Island at Ingraham High School on Saturday. But the game was just one of three consecutive victories during loser-out playoff contests for the Islanders last week.
While the 3A KingCo track and field championships were good to nine Islanders who advanced to districts, the meet as a whole was a step backward for the boys team.
Chasing its 27th state title, the Mercer Island girls tennis team came through the 3A KingCo tournament with two doubles teams and one singles player qualifying for the district meet on May 7 at Skyline. And while the Islanders didn’t grab a No. 1 seed, the five players are one less than the limit for one team, keeping the dream of another state title alive.
Both the Mercer Island boys and girls lacrosse teams will play during their respective state playoff semifinals, thanks to dominating victories last week.
Erica Hill is Mercer Island’s Hilary Swank character in “Freedom Writers.” Hill lights fires under high school students with her passions for English and running.
The Mercer Island girls golf team tied for the highest number of athletes, four, to qualify for districts during the 3A KingCo medalist meet on May 7 at the Snohomish Golf Course.
It wasn’t the way they envisioned walking off the field at Memorial Stadium. Watching the Bainbridge Island boys lacrosse players in a pig pile at the 50-yard line. Spartan fans cheering and screaming in glee.
During preseason play, Mercer Island girls lacrosse team coach Megan Elston called 2007 “a rebuilding year.” After all, the team had lost a lot of starters and its long-time head coach Sara Milo.
For the third consecutive year, Chris Winterbauer, Trevor Fulp and Chris Bailey will represent Mercer Island boys tennis at the state tournament. But for the first time, the threesome will do it as defending champions and in Eastern Washington.
The Mercer Island track and field team did not have its best season this year.
One hot day last week wilted the Mercer Island girls tennis team’s chances at the high school’s 27th state title, as the tandem of Amelia Carpenter and Michelle Zemplenyi were the only Islanders to make the state cut. The doubles team finished fourth in districts at Lower Woodland Park, qualifying them to play in the state tournament in Eastern Washington this weekend.
Wil Nelp stood on the Renton Stadium soccer field and took off his jersey in disgust. He was frustrated, exhausted and emotional following the Islanders’ 3-0 season-ending loss to Hazen on May 15. The senior soccer player knew when he stepped to the sidelines his high school career was over.
Only two schools have had their names etched into the girls’ water polo state trophy since its inception in 1990. Mercer Island had a chance to break the tie with Bainbridge Island, each taking the title eight times in the last 16 years. But an old KingCo rival spoiled the party Saturday morning at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
