SK athletic medicine team claims seventh-straight title

Pat Olsen is sporting a bit of a new hairstyle these days, thanks to Kristine Siler.

Olsen made a bet with the South Kitsap senior concerning last weekend’s state athletic medicine competition in Ferndale. The bet? If Siler won the individual title, Olsen would shave his head.

Siler came through on her end, Olsen made good on his promise and the South Kitsap Athletic Medicine team came through for the seventh-straight year, claiming the title.

“I’ve got a kind of colder look going on now,” Olsen joked of his new do. “It was feeling pretty cold this morning when I got out in the wind.”

But the cold chill was well worth it, he said. The Wolves took their seventh-straight title with a 1,465-1,399 point differential over Wenatchee.

Siler was crowned the individual state champion, finishing just one point in front of teammate Brittany Miller.

Siler, a senior, scored 301 points, while Miller, also a senior, tallied 300.

The Wolves placed eight in the competition’s top 32, including Michelle Krischel at fifth, Katie Finnie at sixth, Caty Fairgrieve at 14th, Melina Stayton 24th, Erin Carpenter 28th and Amanda Galla 32nd.

“I thought it was pretty difficult this year,” senior Michelle Krischel said. “There were some things on there that I had never seen before. So I thought it was tougher than last year. But we still did pretty good.”

The test is made up of a written portion that has 100 multiple choice questions and then a demonstration part in which the contestants must answer questions orally while demonstrating certain techniques, such as taping or wrapping or building splints for broken bones or stabilizing torn ligaments.

Olsen said 235 varsity students participated, with the average scores on the written test ranging in the high 50s to lower 60s.

He said his group scored well into the 70s and 80s.

“They really stepped it up. They really did,” Olsen said. “It shows me that a lot of them were studying on their own.”

Miller was also named top senior, taking that honor by combining her score with her grade point average.

South also scored well in the junior varsity division. The Wolves had six kids place in the top 10, led by Maggie Shaffer.

Justine Thayer was second while Katie Tanori took fourth.

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