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HISTORY OF BAGGATAWAY BOWL

Harbor Fire Lacrosse Association

Gig Harbor Boys High School Lacrosse

Peninsula Boys High School Lacrosse

History of The Baggataway Bowl

Honoring the Game

The Harbor Fire Lacrosse Association, founded by Craig Wickstrom, Ken Uddenberg and Tino De La Rosa, brought the sport of lacrosse to Gig Harbor, WA in 2009, offering teams for both boys and girls in 3rd to 8th grades. Ken Uddenberg, Marc Kemp and Kelly Bland coached the first 7th/8th grade boys team in 2009. The following year, in 2010, Marc and Kelly started the boys high school team which served both Gig Harbor and Peninsula High Schools. Over the next three years, Ken Uddenberg (2011), Tracy Lyon (2012 & 2013) and Tom Olson (2013) joined the high school coaching staff.

The initial group of 19 high school boys grew to a roster size of over 60 by 2013. Over the course of its first four years, the team finished with a record of 36-25, claimed two conference championships, earned four 1st round playoff appearances, and had 7 players earn All-Conference honors.

Prior to the start of the 2014 season, the league’s governing body (Washington High School Boys Lacrosse Association) mandated that conglomerate clubs split, so separate teams were created to align with Gig Harbor High School and Peninsula High School. As a result of this split, the GHHS team was moved to Division I. Marc Kemp, Kelly Bland, and Tom Olson continued to coach the GHHS team while Tracy Lyon and Rusty Wilder assumed leadership of the PHS team.

In the spirit of the Apple Cup and the Fish Bowl, the Baggataway Bowl was established to commemorate the common origin of the two squads, to celebrate their natural rivalry, and to honor the heritage of The Game. “Baaga`adowe” is the Ojibwe word for the Native American game we know as “lacrosse,” a name prescribed in 1636 by French Jesuit Missionaries. Native Americans considered Baaga`adowe to be “The Creator’s Game,” a divine gift, and in turn they played the game with great reverence to honor The Creator, heal the sick or injured, resolve disputes, and prepare warriors for battle. The Baggataway Bowl was envisioned as an annual event between the GHHS and PHS teams to honor their common history and the heritage of the sport. In keeping with the tradition of The Creator’s Game being played to heal community members, The Bowl may be dedicated to a player who is sick or injured, or to honor an ailing member of the lacrosse community.

The victor of the Baggataway Bowl is awarded “The Fire Stick” trophy. The Fire Stick is a symbol of the Harbor Fire Lacrosse Association, players, coaches, and families who divided into two proud clubs, and of baaga`adowe itself. The head was custom dyed and strung by Coach Marc Kemp in the original red and black colors of HFLA. The more traditional stringing materials and wood “Crooked Arrows” shaft pay homage to the Native origins of the game. It is intended that the Fire Stick shall pass to the winner after each contest in perpetuity.

Results:

2014: PHS 8, GHHS 7 OT

2015: GHHS 11, PHS 10

2016: GHHS 9, PHS 4

2017: PHS 17, GHHS 9

2018: PHS 13, GHHS 7

2019: PHS 12, GHHS 8

2020: Season cancelled due to pandemic

2021: PHS 17, GHHS 1

2022: PHS 14, GHHS 13 

2023: PHS 13, GHHS 5