Spring Sports 2011

With drenching track meets and golf matches and frequently rained out tennis matches and baseball games, the Grizzlies competed resiliently and enjoyed success on the court, track, field, and green.

Baseball

The “Growls” baseball team (a combined team of Bear Creek Grizzlies and Overlake Owls) had a fantastic season, ultimately falling one game short of winning the Emerald City League Championship and moving on to the district tournament. The team finished with an overall record of 12–7 (9–3 in league.) Senior Lucas Peterson led the team with a .518 hitting average and earned all-league honors. Peterson was also invited to play in the Westside all-state consideration game. Junior Aaron DiGenova was a huge contributor, hitting .414 and leading the team with nine steals during the course of the season. Senior Chris Pedersen also had a strong season, batting .313 with a .500 on-base percentage and low strikeout ratio of 5%.

Track & Field

Eighteen Bear Creek athletes placed in the top four at the Sea-Tac League Championships to advance to the district track meet. Seven of the sixteen Bear Creek athletes who qualified for the State championship meet won Sea-King District 2 Championships: Morgan Rial, 400M, junior Joy Twentyman, 3200M, junior Madelyn Magee, high jump, and senior Josh Firminger, junior Lucas Fernandez, junior Mark Phillips, senior Nigel Saw, boys 400M relay. Rial’s time of 60.69 set a new school record in the 400M.

At the 2B State Track & Field Championships, the Grizzlies came home with plenty of medals, including a second consecutive State Championship in the high jump from Magee. Magee jumped 5’8”; the highest of any girl in any classification at a state championship meet this year. Firminger took second place in the 400M, eighth place in the 200M, and fifth place in the 400M relay along with teammates Saw, Fernandez, and Phillips. The boys 400M relay team set a new school record, 45.41, in their preliminary race at the State meet. Rial placed third in the 400M, seventh in the 200M, and third in the 400M relay along with junior class teammates Elizabeth Fernandez, Danielle Isbell, and Halle Coleman. At the conclusion of the season, the Redmond Reporter named Morgan Rial Female Athlete of the Year for her accomplishments in soccer, basketball, and on the track. Coach Wright was named Sea-Tac 2B Boys Track Coach of the Year.

Golf

This spring the Bear Creek boys golf team successfully completed a “title sweep,” winning a League Championship, District Championship, and a 2B State Championship! Senior Will Stansell led the Grizzlies with rounds of 79 and 86 at State, placing sixth overall, followed by senior Gannon McCahill who shot an 82/86, placing eighth. Sophomore Ricky Olson and junior Jake Imam also contributed team points, placing 17th and 20th respectively in a field of 80 boys. Senior Conner Morgan also participated in the State tournament. At the end of the two-day tournament, the Grizzlies finished with 111 team points, beating out DeSales High School who finished with 82 points. Coach Cheever was named 2011 Washington State Coaches Association Boys Golf Coach of the Year.

On the girls golf team, sophomore Morgan Cadigan finished a strong season, placing second at league, third at districts, and sixth at the State tournament with rounds of 89 and 93.

Tennis

The girls and boys tennis regular season culminated in May at the Emerald City League Tennis Championships at the Amy Yee Tennis Center. Several Grizzlies represented Bear Creek and battled their way through the tournament. Seniors Jenny Price and Amy Hammond both won their first singles match and moved on to the second round. Jenny Price ultimately advanced onto the district tournament, earning first team all-league honors along the way.