Young water polo team takes on challenges
By Hector Trujillo
The Scripps Ranch High School girls water polo team is off and swimming this season after already playing the first three matches against Santa Fe Christian, Mission Bay and La Jolla High.
“We have an awesome group of young women that are dedicated to improving their skills individually and as a team,” said head coach Brad Oestreich. “I feel we have outstanding team chemistry.”
The next match is scheduled for Jan. 4 against University City High School, the same team they fell to by a score of 13-5 to end last season when Scripps Ranch had a 5-10 overall record (3-2 in league games).
The team’s toughest competition this season is expected to be Mission Bay, which they will play again on Jan. 25; and Patrick Henry High School, which they play on Feb. 1.
“This year we are young and looking to continue to develop,” Oestreich said. “Most teams we are playing have been together for years and have been working with their coaches for years. Our goals are to continue to play high quality water polo and represent Scripps Ranch High School to the best of our abilities.”
The varsity team captains are senior Charlotte Moore with junior Sydney Deitz and sophomore Olivia Dummer. Freshman Hailey Demarest and junior Anna del Lorrell serve as JV captains.
One of the biggest obstacles for the season is getting pool space since the City of San Diego shuts down the Falcons normal pool – Ned Baumer Swimming Pool near Miramar College – for a month right in the middle of the season. This makes it a struggle to find pool space for the girls team to practice and turns into a disadvantage versus schools that have their own pools.
This year’s varsity squad will be looking to seniors Lily Frisbie and Sydney Deitz to protect the goal, with the field players consisting of a younger group.
“There is a younger group of sophomores that have outstanding water polo skills that will be our field players,” Oestreich said. These players include sophomores Emily Konold, Abbey Leader, Chloe Kuperstein and Susan Pollard. Juniors Stella Tocanao and Michelle Avergoon will also have responsibilities as they play in the field.
The team currently works out five days a week in an outdoor pool, and practices consist of a swim set, skills work and scrimmaging.