South Kitsap's Degarimore caps historic season with discus state title, West Sound record

TACOMA — Setting school and West Sound track and field records. Landing a college scholarship. Claiming multiple league and district titles.

For South Kitsap's Grace Degarimore, her senior season with the Wolves continued to produce unforgettable moments Thursday during the first day of the Class 4A/3A/2A state championships at Mount Tahoma High School.

The overwhelming favorite in the girls 4A discus event, Degarimore secured her first-ever state title with a winning throw of 164 feet, 8 inches. That stands as the best throw in West Sound history and nearly set a new 4A meet record. It was Auburn's Tracie Millett who reached 164-10, all the way back in 1987.

"My footwork felt good and the release and the whip felt really good," said Degarimore, who'll compete for Utah Valley University after graduation. "I knew it was going to be up there. I just didn't know if it was going to be over 160."

Degarimore had the best throw of her career in the first round with a throw of 161-4. That mark blew away the rest of the field and, with first-place all but assured, put Degarimore in position to chase Millett's record. Her throw of 164-8 came during the sixth round. It was the final throw of the event and worth the wait.

"That's a game-changer," Degarimore said.

Placing fifth in the discus as a sophomore, Degarimore PR'ed at state last year with a throw of 141-9, but lost out on a possible title when Bothell's Haedyn Bambolo reached 146-11 on the final attempt of the event. The runner-up finish left Degarimore craving another shot at top honors this spring. She set a preseason goal of reaching 150 feet.

As it turned out, Degarimore surpassed that distance numerous times during the regular season while breaking the former West Sound record (146-1) set by Central Kitsap's Pono Fuiava in 2019. Colleges began to take notice of Degarimore's success and a scholarship offer from Utah Valley arrived in April after she hit 159-5.

"I was so nervous that I wasn't going to get anything," she said.

Guided by experienced South Kitsap throws coach Shelby Jackson, Degarimore continued to crave discus reps in training prior to the postseason, feeling that another distance breakthrough could be on the horizon. She won the South Puget Sound League title with a mark of 142, then took first place at districts with a mark of 146-2.

Degarimore picked the perfect time to break the 160-foot barrier.

"It's so cool to see her blossom," South Kitsap track and field coach Paul Zimmer said.

This summer, Degarimore expects to compete at Nike Nationals and the Junior Olympics in discus, where she can "hopefully hit 170." Yet there's more work to be done at state for the Wolves' standout. Degarimore is seeded first in 4A girls javelin and second in 4A girls shot put. Adding another title or two would be a bonus.

"I feel really great," Degarimore said. "I've got two more days to go."

Several other West Sound athletes added medals on the first day of state, including Bremerton's Rylee Wheaton. The top seed in the 2A girls shot put finished second with a mark of 38-2.25. R.A. Long's Kathryn Chapin won the event at 39-7.5.

North Kitsap's James Rebman placed third in the 2A boys javelin at 172-0; South Kitsap's Lauren Laws took fourth in the 4A girls 1,600 in 4:58.45; Bremerton's Dallin Anderson placed seventh in the 2A boys 1,600 (4:18.47).

In the 2A girls 1,600 race, East Valley of Spokane's Logan Hofstee won with a time of 4:51.29 to break the 2A meet record of 4:53.27 set by Kingston's Ruby Roberts in 2010.

Among the West Sound competitors scheduled for events Friday is Bainbridge pole vaulter Ella McRitchie, who is seeded first among 3A girls.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: South Kitsap's Degarimore caps historic discus season with state title