Spartans Fall Just Short Against Defending State Champs

The Bainbridge Island Spartans boys high school water polo team came within a single goal of toppling the defending state champion Curtis Vikings on Tuesday night, ultimately falling in a hard-fought 11–10 contest.

From the opening sprint, the Spartans matched Curtis stride for stride, refusing to let the Vikings pull away.

Offensive Highlights

• Lucas Cuellar-Carpenter and Beckett Lipton each netted 3 goals, keeping constant pressure on the Curtis defense.

• Jonas Frizsche, Sky Hart, and Calvin Cox each tallied 2 assists, showing the Spartans’ commitment to a balanced, team-oriented attack.

Defensive Standouts

• Ryan Rich anchored the defense with an impressive seven steals, frustrating Curtis attackers throughout the night.

• Oren Screen was a force in the cage, recording 8 blocks while also adding 2 steals.

After the game, Rich reflected on the team’s effort and what comes next:

“The game against Curtis was a tough 11–10 loss, but I am proud of how we stayed close the entire way and held strong on the drive defense against a heavy drive team. Moving forward, we’ll focus on sharpening our conditioning and working our center play to be ready for when we face them again later in the season.”

Looking Ahead
The Spartans will hit the road for their next matchup, traveling to face Kennedy Catholic this Thursday, September 18. With the confidence gained from going toe-to-toe with the state champions, Bainbridge aims to turn lessons learned into a statement win.