Bainbridge Girls Capture Historic State Championship
On May 30, 2026, the Bainbridge High School girls water polo team made history.
With a thrilling 7-6 overtime victory over four-time defending state champion Curtis High School, the Spartans captured their first Washington State Championship in 22 years, finishing the season undefeated and cementing their place among the greatest teams in program history.
For the Bainbridge Island Water Polo Club community, this championship represents much more than a single game or season. It is the culmination of years of work by athletes, coaches, volunteers, families, and supporters who have helped build one of the strongest water polo communities in the Pacific Northwest.
In a storybook twist, Head Coach Kristin Gellert led the Spartans back to the top of the podium 22 years after winning the school’s last state title as a Bainbridge High School senior herself. Her leadership throughout the season earned her State Tournament Coach of the Year honors and serves as a powerful reminder of what makes Bainbridge water polo special: athletes who grow up in the program, give back to the next generation, and continue building the culture that shaped them.
The championship game itself was unforgettable. Facing a Curtis team that had won the previous four state championships, Bainbridge battled through regulation before freshman Harper Rich scored the overtime game-winner to secure the 7-6 victory and bring the state title back to Bainbridge Island.
Rich was named State Tournament MVP, leading a group of Spartans who earned statewide recognition for their outstanding performances:
First Team All-State Tournament
- Harper Rich (Tournament MVP)
- Audrey Keigley
- Ruthie Screen
Second Team All-State Tournament
- Allie Poulson-Houser
- Margaret Everett
Honorable Mention All-State Tournament
- Evie Atchison
While these honors celebrate individual achievement, everyone connected to Bainbridge Water Polo Club knows that championships are built long before athletes reach the high school varsity roster.
They begin in the shallow end.
They begin with young athletes learning to eggbeater for the first time, attending their first Splashball practice, traveling to weekend tournaments, and discovering what it means to be part of a team. They are built through thousands of hours in the pool, early morning practices, car rides to games, volunteer shifts, fundraising efforts, and the unwavering support of families who believe in the power of sport to shape young people.
Many of the athletes who contributed to this championship have spent years developing within Bainbridge Water Polo Club, progressing through age-group teams while learning from coaches who invested in their growth both as athletes and as people. Along the way, they were inspired by the players who came before them and became role models for the athletes who now look up to them.
That is the true legacy of this championship.
For every young player currently wearing a Bainbridge Water Polo Club cap, this team has shown what is possible. For every coach who has volunteered time on deck, every parent who has worked a tournament table, every alum who has stayed connected to the program, and every supporter who has cheered from the stands, this championship belongs to you too.
The 2026 Spartans did more than win a state title. They demonstrated the strength of a community, the value of long-term athlete development, and the incredible things that can happen when a club and high school program grow together over generations.
Congratulations to Head Coach Kristin Gellert, Tournament MVP Harper Rich, the entire Bainbridge High School girls water polo team, and the Bainbridge Water Polo community.
One of the most memorable sights of the championship weekend wasn’t in the pool—it was in the stands.
Bainbridge supporters showed up in force, creating a sea of Spartan gold that could be seen from across the deck. Friends, families, alumni, youth athletes, coaches and community members packed the stands, bringing unmatched energy and support to the championship game.
As the championship match stretched into overtime, the noise from the Bainbridge faithful never faded. Every goal, defensive stop, and possession was met with cheers that reminded the athletes they were never alone in the water.
The players have shared again and again how much that support meant to them. Seeing the stands filled with a gold rush of familiar faces gave them extra motivation when the moments were biggest and the pressure was highest.
State Champions. Undefeated. History Made.
