Girls water polo looks to repeat title run

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, April 27, 2005

The Bainbridge girls water polo team is back in the pool after taking the title in last year’s state championships.

With a strong returning squad of swimmers, the Spartans are capitalizing on experience, and a challenging out-of-state schedule as well, to compete among the 24-team Washington field.

With five seniors on the team, coach Jeff Clark builds on their strength: slowing down and then shutting down their opponents’ attack. Bainbridge aligns six “field” players in front of a star goalkeeper; one center and five outside “drivers” are poised to make a fast break, playing off the resilient defense.

“Our strength is our defense,” says Clark. “We are very defensive minded. But we have good team speed, as well, and can score.”

At the heart of it, are their five seniors. Two-year varsity polo player Erin Clune, is joined by Jackie Sugden, Emma Mueller and Sarah Gleason, all in their first year.

“Sarah knows how to swim,” Clark said of Spartan standout swimmer Gleason who is adapting well to the new sport. “With her speed, she really complements our mix.”

Leading the seniors and anchoring the defense is goalkeeper Valerie MacKinnon, in her third year with the program. She was named state MVP at her position at the 2004 tournament, and earned first-team all-state honors.

Although Clark touts the Spartan defensive cohesion, they do not lack on attack. Starting center Christie Russell links up with fellow junior Anne Scott, a central defender whose swimming speed helps her power up the pool and pour in the goals. Scott leads the team in scoring this year; both girls were second-team members of the all-state squad last year.

Other starters include sophomore Heather Schuler and Katie Hallett, in her second year in the game and a stalwart on the Bainbridge swim squad.

Bainbridge is off to a good start, with their only loss to a Washington team coming against Mercer Island, by a score of 8-6, while missing eight varsity players because of the holidays.

“It should be interesting when we play them next,” Clark said in low-key fashion of their rematch at Mercer on May 16.

Having traveled to an Oregon tournament this year, and with plans for their annual summer expedition to Hawaii, Team Ray faces a full spectrum of competition that hones them under fire – typically 90 teams from around the U.S. as well as internationals.

With nine more matches remaining in the regular schedule of high school play, before the postseason winds up water polo action at the state championships Memorial Day weekend, there’s still much whitewater to be stirred up.

The Spartans host two key matches at 3:30 p.m. at the Ray Williamson pool this week. They square off against Bellevue tomorrow, with Eastside Catholic on a crusade to the island April 29.

Bainbridge, 13-6 overall, leads the Lewis & Clark division of their 24-school league, competing for postseason position. Twelve teams qualify to enter the championship tournament scheduled for Memorial Day weekend.

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Splish splash

Girls water polo remaining schedule. Home matches are at Ray Williamson Pool; KCAC denotes King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

April 28 vs. Bellevue, 3:30

April 29 vs. Eastside Catholic, 3:30

May 4 Newport @ KCAC, 8:30

May 11 Cowlitz @ KCAC, 8:30

May 13 vs. Shorewood, 3:30

May 16 @ Mercer 3:30

May 18 Sammamish @ KCAC 8:30

May 20 vs. Newport, 3:30

May 21 @ Shore Club (time TBA)

May 27-29 State Cham­pion­ships at KCAC