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SPORTS
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Ambassadors of the game: Boys’ Lacrosse goes to Russia (cont.) use during the scrimmage,” said senior Will St. Mary. Players for the Islanders and the Russian club teams played with and against each other in the scrimmages. “My favorite part of the Russia trip was competing against the Russian lacrosse players because they made the sport more fun, challenging, and interesting for us to play against,” Donnie Howard said. Playing lacrosse was not the only thing the team did in Russia. They toured museums and watched a dance performance at a traditional Russian folk show. The team also participated in a mock Russian Special Forces training session in which they were taught how to throw knives and shoot a bow and arrow. They even participated
in an exercise commonly used by the KGB, in which each person has to hit a target with a throwing knife. Failure to do so would result in an intense push-up workout. “The whole team had a lot of fun. I think throwing knives was everyone’s favorite,” senior Max Thilen said about the activity. The trip to Russia was a great opportunity for the team to hone their skills, experience new cultures, and be ambassadors to the growing sport. The athletes were grateful for this chance to travel and spread their knowledge to an unlikely country. “I feel like it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Friendlander. “It was all about the game, and I loved it.”
The Boys’ Lacrosse team poses with young Russian players after hosting a clinic
Photo Courtesy Will St. Mary
Your comprehensive guide to the 2017 MIHS fall sports season Grady Short editor in chief
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Boasting a large and talented senior class, Mercer Island’s volleyball team is as strong as ever. Standout seniors Kelly Behrbaum, Adara Hamilton, Tess Hendelman, Jillian Quinn, and Lindsey Lovsted hope to win a state title this fall.
CROSS COUNTRY
With six captains and a massive amount of members, the co-ed Cross Country team has a number of impressive runners. Seniors Mary Rose Vu and Chloe Michaels, both captains, set the pace for the team along with upcoming junior Maggie Baker. “Cross country is a remarkable sport,” said Vu. “To all the athletes and artists alike who are interested in living life to the fullest and pushing themselves beyond their bodies’ limits, join the MIXC family.”
BOYS’ TENNIS
Coming off a first-place finish at the state tournament last spring, the boys’ tennis team aims to repeat this feat, led by confusingly-named co-captains Christian Anderson, Christoph Schmidt-Warnecke, and Christopher Elliott. Junior Zach Chew, last year’s KingCo singles champion, hopes to help the team win their eighth straight championship.
BOYS’ GOLF
Some of this year’s volleyball seniors on the court.
Photo courtesy Christina Hendelman
BOYS’ ULTIMATE
In its second year of existence, the boys’ Ultimate Frisbee team is poised for success, according to captain and senior Aidan Dobson. The up-and-coming sport of ultimate frisbee is cementing its reputation at Mercer Island High School. Standout players Garrett Leung, Tyler Shanahan, and Leo Lollie round out the junior-heavy squad.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Sister duo Jessie and Jackie Stenberg captain the soccer team along with college commit and senior Kendall Riley. “This upcoming season will be very different from last year with a new coach and many new players,” said Jessie Stenberg, “but I’m excited and can’t wait to start playing!”
Co-captains Zack Gottesman and Maverick Emerson hope to lead their squad to victory. “We don’t have a single standout player,” said Gottesman. However, he noted that the team of 16 has more depth and overall skill than ever before, saying that “there are solid golfers from the top of varsity to the bottom of JV.”
BOYS’ FOOTBALL
Seniors Nikhil Nayar and Jaeden Pritchard, and junior Cole Miller are leading the football team this year. Wide receiver and defensive end Griffin Emmanuels is optimistic about the team’s prospects. “I really do think it’s going to be a special season,” he said.
Make sure to support these sports at their first home games: FOOTBALL September 8 vs. Liberty GOLF Jamboree August 31 Twin Rivers Golf Course TENNIS September 11 vs. Skyline CROSS COUNTRY September 13 vs. Interlake Luther Burbank Park VOLLEYBALL September 6 vs. Interlake SWIM AND DIVE September 7 vs. Juanita Mary Wayte Pool
GIRLS’ SWIM AND DIVE
SOCCER September 7 vs. Arlington
BOYS’ WATER POLO
Compiled by Grady Short and Sophie Poole. Game times subject to change.
Captained by seniors Tess Ritcey, Caroline Harkins, Lauren Ralph, and Ellie Williams, the girls’ Swim and Dive team hopes to make a splash this season.
Seniors and captains Sammy Vacca, Carson Coe, Daniel Kavesh, and Sam Nair are planning for a successful season. “We should be one of the top contenders to win state,” said Coe. “We have a solid team this year.”
Photo courtesy Jackie Stenberg Junior soccer players Emily Arron, Ashley Rudd, Jackie Stenberg, and Jordan Snyder.