Bellevue boys advance to 2016 state title game
After two straight wins to open the 2016 state tournament, the Bellevue High School boys water polo team has punched its ticket to a the 2016 state championship game, to be held Saturday night (Nov 12th) at 7:00pm at Curtis High School. 2016 marks the sixth straight year and seventh time in eight years that the Wolverines have qualified for the state title game.
Standing in their way is an all-too-familiar foe: the Curtis Vikings. Including 2016, Bellevue will have faced Curtis in the state title game four times in five years, with Bellevue coming out on top in 2012 and 2014 and Curtis in 2015. Needless to say, the rivalry runs deep.
Last year, the Vikings toppled the Wolverines in a thrilling overtime nailbiter. Curtis won 9-7 in overtime despite trailing by one goal with less than 10 seconds left to play in regulation. 2016 promises to be another epic game as the two squads appear to be peaking at the right time once again.
Despite losing 2015 State Defensive MVP and National Team member AJ Rossman during the summer to California, Bellevue showed its resilience by storming its way to a Kingco Division title and Regional I Tournament title. At the state tournament, the Wolverines beat a young but talented Bainbridge Island team 17-3 on Thursday night, led by senior Mario Abdel Shahed’s career-high nine goals. On Friday night, the Wolverines topped Roosevelt 13-4. The balanced attack was led by senior Cameron Hayes and junior Jack Witham’s three goals apiece. Junior goalie Ethan Wlaschin posted twelve saves in three quarters of action to anchor the stout defense.