2024 forecast for West Sound prep sports

With the end of 2023 approaching, hopefully everyone is enjoying some rest and relaxation during the holiday season. One of my final adventures before the new year arrives is a quick trip up to Victoria.

My only previous visit to British Columbia’s capital was back in 2010, when I hitched a ride with the Kitsap Pumas soccer club for a Premier Development League road contest against the Victoria Highlanders. I remember the team bus catching the ferry in Port Angeles then searching around downtown Victoria for head coach Peter Fewing, who traveled separately by float plane.

Two other things I recall clearly from that experience: The Pumas and Highlanders tied 1-1 in a fairly competitive game, and Kitsap player Cameron Hepple had a lot of difficulty crossing the border on the way back. Here’s what tripped him up: having three different passports — one from the United States, one from Canada and one from the Bahamas.

That little oddity made a mark on me, and along those lines I’m thinking about how the new year brings new opportunities for West Sound teams and athletes to make their mark. Some who have already achieved local sports glory will be celebrated Feb. 3 at the Kitsap Sports Hall of Fame ceremony at Kiana Lodge.

As far what notable happenings I see ahead in 2024, a few come to mind:

High schools on the move between WIAA classifications

I already touched on this subject a bit during during my winter sports preview, but 2024-28 reclassification (the way the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association groups schools, primarily for playoff purposes) is coming and there could be changes locally.

It appears Bainbridge will be sliding down from 3A to 2A, allowing the Spartans to be on the same level as all other current Olympic League 2A schools: Bremerton, Kingston, North Kitsap, North Mason, Olympic Port Angeles and Sequim. Bainbridge’s school board still needs to approve the move, but the only other alternative would be opting up and remaining at 3A. Since Bainbridge’s enrollment has been declining for years,