Eagles Take First in National Sports Medicine Championship

Further cementing their tradition of excellence, the students on the Issaquah High School (I.H.S.) Sports Medicine team recently won first place in the national championships. This is the team’s 12th time as the AACI (American Academic Competition Institute) National Champions. 

“All of these students are so amazing, and I could not be more proud of them,” said I.H.S. teacher Todd Parsons, who leads the team with fellow sports medicine teacher Joseph Nguyen. “Their work ethic, relentless tenacity towards excellence, and overall approach to being a Sports Med Family is just so humbling to be a part of. It has been such an honor to be their guide on the journey of seeking personal greatness.” 

All 15 members of the team placed in the top 25 for individual scores in the nation, earning “High School All-American" status — a feat that Parsons described as “mind-boggling amazing!” The national competition is held virtually, with the top five teams from each state invited to compete. 

The individual national champion, I.H.S. senior Lorelai Beernink, described the moment they found out that their team placed first in the country: “It’s always a great feeling knowing that your classmates and teachers are as dedicated to something as you are. I love the class and the competitions, and I am so happy that all of us get to succeed together. I was very proud of our team in that moment, and I continue to be.” 

Beernink said she loves sports medicine in general because it’s ever-changing. She is headed to the University of British Columbia to study Kinesiology, and hopes to become a physical therapist. “As a high schooler, I know that I definitely do not know even 10% of what I’ll need to know to work in this field but I am so excited to continue learning and growing throughout my entire career and life in general,” Beernink said. “This field is always developing and changing, which makes it an endless source of enrichment. These competitions are an amazing way to apply what we learn in the class, challenge ourselves, and make mistakes that help us learn even more.” 

Fellow senior and teammate Sakura Yamawaki said she was “filled with pride” at the team’s accomplishment. “As team captain for the past two years, getting to see my teammates grow in their confidence for their ability and knowledge has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this program for me, and seeing the looks on their faces during awards ceremonies will always be the cherry on top,” Yamawaki said. “This to me, more than the title itself, was the highlight of finding out about my team's placement.” 

She said she loves that sports medicine has helped her clarify what she wants to do in the future, but that it also taught her the value of diligence and perseverance. “ ... the competition itself really showed me what my personal best can do, and has helped me realize the fulfillment that I gain from working hard towards my goals, no matter the outcome.” 

In another sports medicine opportunity, Yamawaki, Beernink and two teammates, Isabel Su and Oliver Lambert, also traveled to Las Vegas to compete in the Anatomage National Tournament, where they earned sixth place. Anatomage is advanced 3-D medical visualization technology. 

In the fall, Yamawaki is headed to the University of California, Berkeley to study chemistry. “Though all of the anatomy knowledge that I had drilled into my head over competing for the past three years will certainly make college (and maybe medical school?) easier, I think that the skill that will serve me most throughout these next four years is definitely the work ethic that I have learned as a member of the Sports Med program,” she said. “This program has truly helped me grow my appreciation for learning and hard work, and I know that this will be invaluable going into college.” 

 

In the photo at top: Members of the Issaquah High Sports Medicine 2025 team at the state competition, where they also took first place.