Spectator's Guide to Water Polo

Water polo is a great sport, and is fun to watch, but is even more enjoyable if you understand what's going on. This handbook is something I found when my daughter played water polo in high school, and is a great introduction to the sport for players, parents, and spectators. It does a great job of explaining fouls, putting the ball in play, advantage, and officials' signals, in an understandable way.

We encourage all new players, and their parents and supporters, to read this handbook during their first season of water polo. It will help you understand and enjoy the game.

You can download the Spectator's Guide to Water Polo here.

All-State Teams Announced

The All-State Teams from the South Sound Boys Water Polo Tournament have been announced.

Offensive MVP – Peter Hammer, Curtis
Defensive MVP – Garrett Venema, Curtis

Coach of the Year – Denny Piccolotto, Curtis

First Team:
Josh Musick, Enumclaw
Bryan Diebag, Auburn
Peter Hammer, Curtis
Derek Litts, Curtis
Alex Marcoe, Rogers
Max Spaulding, Rogers
Garrett Venema, Curtis

Second Team:
Travis Culp, Enumclaw
Garrett Hall, Enumclaw
Kendall Ray, Auburn
Zac Baker, Curtis
Justin Jones, Rogers
Quinn Moody, Curtis
Jacob Parkin, Rogers

Honorable Mention:
Zach Petersen, Enumclaw
Blake Morgan, Auburn
Stephen Creed, Auburn Mountainview
Drew Sleezer, Auburn Mountainview
Nick Anthony, Wilson
Matt Archer, Lakes
Peter Baldridge, Curtis
Leavitt Castro, Lakes
Max Cockle,Puyallup
Richard Miller, Rogers
Justice Nichols, Wilson

Winter Programs Start

With the conclusion of the Boys Water Polo State Tournament last weekend, and the Girls Swim and Dive State Tournament this weekend, we look forward to the start of Winter aquatic programs.

The EHS Boys Swim & Dive Team will begin practicing on Monday, November 15, at the Enumclaw Pool after school. All water polo boys are encouraged to join the swim team, if they aren't taking part in another sport.

Girls Winter water polo workouts will start on Thursday, November 18 at the Enumclaw Pool. Workouts are on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. throughout most of the Winter.

Workouts will be supervised by coaches, but will be a drop-in, "open gym" format, led by veteran high school players. All workouts are open to high school and middle school aged girls interested in learning and improving water polo skills and conditioning. Cost is $3 per workout.

Puget Sound Polo will be offering two programs this winter, both at Lakes High School:

High School Girls Program –
This program is for all high school girls in grades 9-12 on Monday and Wednesday nights, from 7-9, and begins Monday, November 29th. It is a great way for athletes to get into shape for the upcoming high school season.

Youth Polo Program –
This is an introductory program aimed at teaching boys and girls in 5th-8th grade the sport of water polo. Program is Saturday mornings from 11-12:30, and begins Saturday, November 13th.

For more information, check out pugetsoundpolo.com

Four Hornets Named to All State Teams

Four member of the EHS Boys Water Polo Team were named to All-State Teams at Saturday's State Water Polo Championships.

Goalkeeper Josh Musick earned a First Team All-State award, Garrett Hall and Travis Culp earned Second Team All-State honors, and Zach Petersen was awarded Honorable Mention honors.

Hornets Beat Wilson & Auburn to Take Third

Enumclaw's Boys Water Polo Team beat teams from Wilson High School and Auburn High School to capture third place at Saturday's Washington State Boys High School Water Polo Championship, held at Rogers High School in Puyallup, WA.

In Saturday's first game, the Hornets faced a tough Wilson team that had beaten the Hornets twice during the regular season. Enumclaw started quickly, on goals by Bennon VanHoof and Garrett Hall, to take a 2-0 lead after one quarter. Wilson scored in the second frame to narrow the lead to 2-1 at halftime.

Thomas Petersen and Travis Culp added goals for Enumclaw in the third period, and Hall scored on a penalty shot to give Enumclaw a 5-1 advantage after three quarters. VanHoof added another Hornet goal early in the final period, and Wilson added three scores late in the game, for the final 6-4 score.

In the final game of the Hornets' season, the Enumclaw team squared off with Auburn, a team they had split one-point victories with during the year. This time around, Enumclaw earned a convincing 7-3 win. In the Hornet win, Hall scored four goals, VanHoof scored two, and Logan Ross scored one.

Curtis High School won the state championship, in a 9-7 win over Rogers; Enumclaw claimed third, and Auburn fourth. Wilson beat Lakes, 16-4, to take fifth place. Lakes finished in sixth, Auburn Mountainview took seventh, and Puyallup finished in eighth place.

Enumclaw Rebounds, Beats Puyallup 14-3

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team rebounded from Thursday's opening round loss to Curtis, to beat the Puyallup Vikings 14-3 on Friday, at the Washington State Water Polo Tournament at Rogers High School, in Puyallup.

The Hornets got on the scoreboard first, midway through the first quarter, on a goal by Garrett Hall, and increased their lead later in the period when Thomas Petersen scored with 56 seconds left. Puyallup trimmed the gap, scoring with 14 seconds left in the opening period.

The Hornets stretched their lead in the second quarter, scoring six goals, four by Hall. In the third quarter, it was Travis Culp's turn – he scored three in the period, while Logan Ross added one. The Hornets held a 12-3 advantage at the end of three quarters.

The Hornet defense held the Vikings scoreless in the final period, while Will Cooper and Will Skelley each added a goal for the Hornets.

The Hornets face Wilson on Saturday morning, and will face another opponent in the afternoon, based on the early game's results.

Hornets Lose in Round One of State

The Enumclaw Boys Water Polo Team lost their first game of the State Tournament to Curtis, 9-2, at Rogers High School, on Thursday, November 4.

Curtis scored first, three minutes into the game, but Thomas Petersen evened the score at one a minute later. Hornet Garrett Hall put the Hornets on top with a goal with three minutes left in the opening period before the Viking defense stopped the Hornets.

The Hornet defense kept the Enumclaw squad in the game to the end, but the Hornet offense couldn't get on track against a stingy Viking defense.

Enumclaw faces the fourth seed from the West Division, Puyallup, at 3:30 on Friday.

State Tournament Bracket

Enumclaw Opens State Tournament Thursday Against Curtis

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team opens the Washington State Water Polo Tournament on Thursday, at 3:30, against Curtis High School. Curtis is the second seed from the West Division, while Enumclaw is the third seed from the East Division.

Both teams will continue play on Friday and Saturday.

Enumclaw Closes Regular Season with Win

The EHS Boys Water Polo Team finished their regular season on Friday with a 16-10 win over Peninsula.

The Hornets started all six seniors – Josh Musick, Travis Culp, Garrett Hall, Zach Petersen, Will Skelley, and Cory Larsen – in the field, and junior Braden Dedrick in the goal. Enumclaw got off to a slow start, with Peninsula scoring five goals in the opening period; Hornet Garret Hall scored two, and goalkeeper Josh Musick, playing in the field, scored one in the first quarter.

Enumclaw got organized in the second and third quarter, outscoring the Seahawks 7-4, to take a 10-9 lead into the final quarter. The fourth quarter was all Enumclaw, led by Garrett Hall's four goals, and a goal each by Will Cooper and Logan Ross. Peninsula added one more for the 16-10 final score.

The Hornets will continue play next week, at the South Sound State Water Polo Tournament, held Thursday through Saturday, November 4-6, at Rogers High School, in Puyallup, WA. The Hornets open play on Thursday against Curtis, at 3:30.

Hornets Finish League Play With Win

The EHS Boys Water Polo Team finished league play on Tuesday with a 10-8 win over Auburn Riverside at the Auburn Pool. The Hornets finished with a league record of 9-3, and third place in the East Division of the Puget Sound Water Polo League.

Hornet Bennon VanHoof scored in the first minute of play, to put the Hornets up 1-0. Riverside scored midway through the opening period, to tie the game, but senior captain Travis Culp put Enumclaw ahead for good with a goal late in the first quarter.

The Hornet offense increased their lead in the second quarter, with three goals by VanHoof, and two by senior captain Garrett Hall. Enumclaw held a 7-2 lead at halftime. Hall and VanHoof each added a goal in the third period, to give the Hornets a 9-3 advantage after three quarters.

Riverside rallied in the final quarter, scoring five, but couldn't make up the Hornet lead. Sophomore Mason Culp added to the Enumclaw lead early in the period, for the final Hornet score.

The Hornets close out the regular season on Friday, against Peninsula, before heading to the state tournament next week, at Rogers High School in Puyallup.

Enumclaw Beats Puyallup 12-5

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team beat the Puyallup Vikings, 12-5, in a non-league contest held Saturday afternoon at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center.

Senior Hornet Cory Larsen was the first to score, on a fast break in the first minute of play. Senior Garrett Hall put the Hornets ahead 2-0 midway through the opening quarter, and Josh Morman put the Vikings on the board a little over a minute later. Enumclaw's Bennon VanHoof added to the Hornet lead in the last minute of the quarter, giving Enumclaw the 3-1 edge at the end of the first period.

Enumclaw added to their lead in the second quarter, on goals by Mason Culp, Josh Musick, and Gabe Sales. to give the Hornets a 6-1 lead at halftime.

The Vikings scratched back within two goals, scoring three early in the third period, but the Hornets added one goal in the third, and five in the final period, to finish with the 12-5 win.

Scoring for Enumclaw were: Bennon VanHoof, with four goals, Garrett Hall, Mason Culp, and Josh Musick, with two goals each, and Cory Larsen and Gabe Sales with one goal apiece.

The Hornets close out the regular season next week, with a road game against Auburn Riverside on Tuesday, and a home game on Friday against Peninsula.

The Hornets have an 8-3 league record, and a 10-6 overall record, and will finish the season at the state tournament at Rogers High School, November 4-6.

Olympic Development Program Tryouts

The Pacific Northwest Olympic Development Program (ODP) Tryout sign up is currently available. USA Water Polo's ODP serves as the primary feeder system for USA Water Polo’s Junior and Youth National Teams. The foundation of the program is a systematic approach to athlete, coach and referee development through a year round training program that focuses on long term development.

These tryouts are for Boy's 11th grade and under, 9th grade and 8th grade and under. This is an excellent opportunity to get exposure to national team coaches and become familiar with skills that will elevate your game.

Tryouts will be held on November 20 and 21, at Salvation Army Kroc Corps Community Center in Salem, OR, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information, contact Bekki Lyon at blyon@usawaterpolo.org or click here.

Auburn Beats Enumclaw in Defensive Battle

The Auburn Trojans beat Enumclaw's Boys Water Polo Team on Thursday, October 21, in a game that featured tough defense by both teams. Both teams were held scoreless for the first five minutes of the game. Auburn's Blake Morgan put Auburn on the board with 1:20 left in the first quarter, putting Auburn ahead 1-0 at the end of the period.

Morgan scored again on Auburn's first possession of the second quarter, to put the Trojans up 2-0, but Enumclaw's Logan Ross put Enumclaw on the board with three minutes left in the first half; Enumclaw trailed 2-1 at halftime.

Hornet Bennon VanHoof tied the game with a goal two minutes into the third period, and Enumclaw took the lead on a Garrett Hall goal with 2:13 left in the third period. Auburn scored twice more in the third period, to put the Trojans ahead 4-3. Neither team was able to score in the fourth period.

Logan Ross, Garrett Hall, and Bennon VanHoof each scored one goal in the Hornet loss. The Hornet defense gathered 19 steals, led by Hall's seven, and four by goalkeeper Josh Musick. Musick also tallied 16 saves.

The Hornets host Puyallup on Saturday at 12:30, and finish league play at Auburn on Tuesday, against Auburn Riverside.

Hornets Improve League Record to 8-2

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team improved their league record to 8-2 with a win over the Stadium Tigers, 15-10. The Hornets are currently tied for first place in the East Division with Auburn and Wilson.

The Hornets rattled off five goals in the first four minutes of play, before finishing the opening quarter with a 6-2 advantage over the home team. Both teams scored three goals in the second quarter, giving the visiting Hornets a 9-5 lead at halftime. Enumclaw outscored the Tigers in the third period, 3-2, and the two teams played even in the final quarter, to the 15-10 final score.

Bennon VanHoof was high scorer for the Hornets, with eight goals. Thomas Petersen scored two, and Garrett Hall, Travis Culp, Zach Petersen, Braden Dedrick, and Gabe Sales each scored one. Goalkeeper Josh Music had 16 saves in the Hornet win.

The Hornets host league co-leader Auburn on Thursday at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center, in a game that could determine the East Division champion. Enumclaw will compete in this year's state playoff at Rogers High School, November 4-6.

photo courtesy Tracy Arnold

Hornets Lose to Bellevue, 16-10

The Enumclaw Hornets lost to second ranked Bellevue on Saturday, October 16 at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center.

The Hornets scored on their first possession, on a goal by Garrett Hall, 26 seconds into the game. The Wolverines charged back, scoring four in the opening quarter, for a 4-1 lead at the end of the period. Enumclaw added three quick goals in the first three minutes of the second quarter, two by Hall, and one by Bennon VanHoof. But Bellevue added four of their own in the next three minutes, and three in the last minute of the half, to take a 12-5 advantage at halftime.

The two teams played close in the third period – Bellevue scored four, Enumclaw added three – and the Hornets outscored the visitors 2-0 in the final quarter for the final 16-10 score.

Hornets Garret Hall scored five goals in the loss, Bennon VanHoof scored four, and Travis Culp scored one.

Bellevue is currently ranked second in the Washington State High School Water Polo rankings; the Hornets are ranked seventh. Enumclaw travels to Stadium for a league game on Tuesday, and hosts Auburn on Thursday, in a game that could determine the league champion. The Hornets host Puyallup next Saturday at 12:30.

Curtis Beats Enumclaw

The Enumclaw Bigh School Boys Water Polo Team traveled to Mt. Tahoma High School, in Tacoma, WA, to face the fifth ranked, and defending state champion Curtis Vikings on Thursday, October 14. The Vikings beat the visitors 19-5.

Curtis scored on their first possession, and the Viking defense frustrated the Hornets early, and held Enumclaw scoreless for the first quarter. Bennon VanHoof scored midway through the second period to get the Hornets on the scoreboard, and VanHoof, Garrett Hall, and Mason Culp scored during the third quarter. Hall added one more for the Hornets in the final quarter.

The Hornets host the second ranked Bellevue Wolverines on Saturday, at 12:30, at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center.

photo courtesy Tracy Arnold

Enumclaw Gets Past Mountainview

The Enumclaw Hornets fought back an inspired Auburn Mountainview team on Tuesday, October 12, narrowly beating the Lions 7-6.

The two defenses held the opponents scoreless for the first four minutes of the game, until Mountainview's Arnold Hunter broke the deadlock on a goal from two meters. A minute later, Garrett Hall scored for Enumclaw, to tie the game at 1-1.

Hornet Travis Culp scored two goals in the second period, and Zach Petersen and Hall added one each, to give Enumclaw the 5-2 edge at halftime. But the Lions hung around, scoring three goals in the third quarter, and holding the Hornets to two, to close the gap to 7-5 in the final period.

In the final quarter, both team's defenses locked down. The Lion defense held the Hornets scoreless in the final seven minutes, but Enumclaw's defense limited the Lions to only one goal, for the final 7-6 Hornet win.

Scoring for Enumclaw were Hall, with three goals, Travis Culp with two, and Zach and Thomas Petersen with one goal apiece. For Auburn Mountainview, Arnold Hunter scored three, and Brady Gardner, Kim John, and Colin Lampert scored one each.

The win improves the Hornet's record to 7-2 in league play. Enumclaw faces two top-ten teams in the next four days. The Enumclaw boys travel to Mt. Tahoma High School to take on fifth ranked Curtis on Thursday. On Saturday the Hornets host the state's second ranked team, Bellevue, in a 12:30 contest at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center. The Hornets are currently ranked seventh in the Washington State High School Water Polo Rankings.

photo courtesy Tracy Arnold

Enumclaw Beats Kentridge 10-7

The EHS Boys Water Polo Team beat Kentridge, 10-7, on Friday, October 8, at the Covington Aquatic Center. The win improves the Hornets record to 7-3, with a league record of 6-2.

The Hornets scored quickly, with goals by Thomas Petersen and Travis Culp in the first quarter, but Kentridge got on the board with two minutes left in the period. The Hornets kept scoring, adding two goals in the second quarter, and five in the third, and held the Conquerers to two more goals in the third period. The Hornets took a 9-3 lead into the final period.

Kentridge played tough in the fourth quarter, scoring four, while Enumclaw added one, for the 10-7 final.

Scoring for Enumclaw were Bennon VanHoof and Garrett Hall, with four goals each, and Travis Culp and Thomas Petersen with one each. Goalkeeper Josh Musick had 15 saves and five steals in the win.

The Hornets host league rival Auburn Mountainview on Tuesday, October 12, in a 4:30 game at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center.

photo courtesy Tracy Arnold

Hornets Lose to Wilson 8-5

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team lost their second league game of the season in a home game Thursday afternoon, October 7.

Wilson got off to a fast start, scoring three goals in the first quarter, to take a 3-0 lead into the second period. Hornet Bennon VanHoof scored 11 seconds into the second quarter, to close the lead to 3-1 at halftime.

The third period saw more offense, with Wilson adding four goals, and Enumclaw scoring twice in the quarter. The Hornets challenged Wilson in the fourth period, adding two goals, but the Rams held off the home team, and added one goal of their own, for the final 8-5 score.

Scoring for the Hornets in the loss were VanHoof, with three goals, and Garrett Hall and Zach Petersen with one goal each.

The Hornets travel to the Tahoma Pool tomorrow to face Kentridge in another league game. The Hornets are 5-2 in league play, and 6-3 overall, and are in second place in the East Division.

Homecoming Parade 2010

Thanks to the hard work of the team and several parents, the EHS water polo programs were well represented in this year's Homecoming Parade. Thanks to Brenda Sexton from the Enumclaw Courier-Herald for the photo.

Enumclaw Beats Auburn Riverside 11-5

The Enumclaw Hornets Boys Water Polo Team beat Auburn Riverside 11-5 on Tuesday, October 5 at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center.

Riverside kept the game close during the opening quarter, with a 2-2 tie after six minutes of play. Hornet Goalkeeper Josh Musick gave the Hornets the lead at 3-2 on a shot from the Enumclaw goal with 22 seconds left in the period.

The Enumclaw defense limited the Ravens to one goal each period for the remainder of the game, while the Hornet offense added multiple goals each quarter. Scoring for Enumclaw were Bennon VanHoof with four goals, Travis Culp, Zach Petersen, and Josh Musick with two each, and Garrett Hall with one goal.

The Hornets are tied at first place in the East Division, with five league wins and one loss. Enumclaw faces co-leader Wilson on Thursday afternoon at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center.

Earlier Start to Friday's Game at Kentridge

Friday's water polo game at Kentridge, originally scheduled for a 9:20 start, has been re-scheduled. The game between the visiting Enumclaw Hornets and host Kentridge will start at 7:30 on Friday, October 8. Warm up will start at 7:00, and the JV teams will play after the varsity game.

Kentridge is currently in fifth place in the East Division, with a 3-3 league record, but is coming off a recent 10-8 upset over Wilson. Enumclaw is tied with Wilson for first place in the East, with a 4-1 league record, and host Wilson on Thursday afternoon.

Hornets Beat Auburn in Four Overtimes

The Enumclaw Hornets beat the Auburn Trojans 9-8, in the fourth overtime period of their contest on Thursday, September 30.

Auburn started strong, scoring three goals in the first quarter, while holding the Enumclaw squad scoreless. The Hornets got on the board in the second quarter, on goals by Travis Culp and Garrett Hall, but the Trojans kept marching, scoring three in the period, for a 6-2 Auburn advantage at halftime.

Enumclaw went on a scoring spree in the third period, with goals by Hall, Bennon VanHoof, and Thomas Petersen, and tied the game at 6-6 early in the fourth quarter on a Hall goal. Auburn responded with a goal with four minutes left in regulation, but VanHoof tied it up at 7-7 with 54 seconds left.

Both teams were scoreless in the first three-minute overtime, and the two teams traded goals in the second overtime, forcing the game into sudden death overtime. Again, the two teams were shut out in the first sudden death period; Hall scored on a lob over the Trojan goalkeeper 92 seconds into the fourth overtime period for the win.

Scoring for Enumclaw were Hall, with four goals, VanHoof with two, and Travis Culp and Thomas Petersen with one goal apiece. On defense, the Hornets tallied 15 steals, and goalkeeper Josh Musick gathered 37 saves. The game had 38 minutes and 32 seconds of playing time, and lasted nearly 90 minutes.

The win improves the Hornets league record to 4-1, and their season record to 5-2. The Hornets' JV squad plays in Auburn again on Saturday, in Auburn Riverside's JV tournament. The Enumclaw varsity will host Auburn Riverside in a league game on Tuesday, October 5, at 4:30.

JV Tournament Saturday at Auburn

The EHS Junior Varsity Boys Water Polo Team will compete in a JV tournament on Saturday, October 2, at the Auburn High School Pool. Competing in the tourament will be JV teams from Auburn Riverside, Curtis, Emerald Ridge, Enumclaw, Kentridge, Peninsula, and Rogers.

Games will consist of four six minute quarters, using a running clock.

9:00 AM Enumclaw vs Emerald Ridge
9:40 AM Kentridge vs Curtis
10:20 AM Enumclaw vs Rogers
11:00 AM Auburn Riverside vs Emerald Ridge
11:40 AM Kentridge vs Peninsula
12:20 PM Enumclaw vs Curtis
1:00 PM Kentridge vs Emerald Ridge
1:40 PM Auburn Riverside vs Rogers
2:20 PM Enumclaw vs Peninsula
3:00 PM Auburn Riverside vs Curtis
3:40 PM Kentridge vs Rogers
4:20 PM Auburn Riverside vs Peninsula

Enumclaw Beats Stadium 11-6

The EHS Boys Water Polo Team beat Stadium 11-6 on Tuesday, September 28, in a home game at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center.

The Hornets scored early, after a Stadium exclusion foul, 96 seconds into the opening quarter, on a goal from five meters by sophomore Bennon VanHoof. Senior Garrett Hall increased the lead to 2-0 later in the period, but Stadium scored with 18 second left in the quarter, after a VanHoof exclusion foul, to narrow the lead to 2-1.

The Hornets controlled the second quarter, adding four goals and holding the Tigers scoreless.

Enumclaw increased the lead in the third period, on goals by VanHoof and Braden Dedrick, while limiting Stadium to a single goal. In the final period, Stadium fought back, scoring four goals, while Enumclaw scored three.

Scoring for the Hornets in the win were Garrett Hall, with four goals, VanHoof with three, and Braden Dedrick, Gabe Sales, Logan Ross, and goalkeeper Josh Musick with one goal each. Musick also gathered 26 saves.

The Hornets travel to the Auburn Pool on Thursday for a league game against the Auburn Trojans. Game time is scheduled for 6:30.

New Water Polo Blog Online

An anonymous group of water polo fans has launched a new blog to follow and rank high school water polo in Washington State.

http://washh2opolorankings.blogspot.com/

Their goal is "to generate more interest and discussion about a great
sport that appears to be waning a bit at the high school level. . . (and) to
be fair and informed while keeping the discussion positive. Hopefully,
the blog will receive some insightful comments that will help the ranking
become more accurate as season progresses."

"Comments on the blog are welcomed but need to be positive and clean."

We encourage Enumclaw water polo fans to follow the new blog, and contribute positive comments. We support all methods of promoting water polo in the area.

Collegiate Polo Starts Oct. 2 in Eugene, OR

The 2010 men's season of the Northwest Division of the Collegiate Water Polo Association begins play on October 2 and 3, when the University of Oregon hosts the first tournament of the season, at Amazon Aquatic Center, in Eugene, Oregon. Competing in the Northwest Division this uear will be men's teams from Central Washington University, Oregon State University, Seattle University, University of Oregon, University of Washington, Washington State University, and Western Washington University.

The season will continue when Central Washington University hosts the second tournament, on October 16 and 17, in Ellensburg, Washington. The Northwest Division Championships will be held on October 30 and 31 at Washington State University, in Pullman, Washington.

For more information, click here.

Hornets Finish 2nd at Auburn Tournament

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team finished second at the Auburn Water Polo Tournament, held September 24 and 25 at Auburn High School. The Hornets won their first four games, to advance to the championship game, but lost the title game to Auburn, 6-5.

Enumclaw won both of their Friday games, beating Auburn Mountainview 8-5 and Emerald Ridge 14-4.

Saturday's action had the Hornets squaring off with Auburn Riverside in an 8:45 game. The Hornet defense took control, and held Riverside scoreless for three and one-half periods, until the Ravens scored their lone goal with 3:18 left in the game. On offense, Travis Culp scored two, and Garrett Hall, Bennon VanHoof, and Gabe Sales each scored a goal for the Hornets.

In their second game on Saturday, Enumclaw faced Rogers, who had beaten the Hornets earlier in the season. Enumclaw got their revenge, beating the Rams 7-5 in the rematch. Scoring for Enumclaw were VanHoof, with four goals, and Travis Culp with three.

The Hornets then faced Auburn in Saturday's Championship Game at 4:15. Both teams were undefeated in the tournament.

The Hornets scored first, on a goal by Hall 45 seconds into the game, but Auburn tied it up 49 seconds later. Hall scored again later in the period, after an Auburn exclusion foul, but Auburn tied it again with 45 seconds left in the opening quarter.

Enumclaw took the lead in the second period, with goals by Thomas Petersen, VanHoof, and Hall, and held the Trojans to a single goal, to take a 5-3 advantage into halftime. Auburn rallied in the third quarter, scoring two goals, to tie the game at five, and shut out the Hornets for the rest of the game, to take the 6-5 win.

Hornets scoring in the Championship Game were Garrett Hall with three goals, and Thomas Petersen and Bennon VanHoof with one goal each.

The tournament had teams from nine schools, including Auburn, Auburn Mountainview, Auburn Riverside, Enumclaw, Emerald Ridge, Kentridge, Lakes, Peninsula, and Rogers.

Auburn High School won the Championship, with Enumclaw claiming second. Finishing third was Rogers. Auburn Mountainview finished fourth, and Lakes finished in fifth place.

The Hornets return to league play on Tuesday, with a home game against Stadium High School, and return to Auburn for a league game against the Trojans on Thursday. The Hornet JV finish the week with a JV tournament at Auburn High School.

Enumclaw 2-0 After Day One of Tournament

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team won both of their games on Friday, September 24, the first day of the Auburn School District Water Polo Tournament.

The Hornets beat Auburn Mountainview in their first game of the day, 8-5, and followed with a win over Emerald Ridge later in the afternoon, 14-4.

Against Auburn Mountainview, senior Garrett Hall was the Hornets' top scorer, with five goals. Also scoring for Enumclaw were Gabe Sales, Bennon VanHoof, and Logan Ross, with one goal each. Goalkeeper Josh Musick tallied 14 saves and two assists in the win.

In Enumclaw's second game, against Emerald Ridge, VanHoof was the high schorer, with six goals. Hall added five, Travis Culp scored two, and Will Cooper scored one goal. Musick had seven saves and two assists.

The Hornets continue tournament play on Saturday, facing Auburn Riverside at 8:45, and Rogers at 1:15.

Auburn Pool Hosts Water Polo Tournament on Friday & Saturday, Sept. 24, 25

Enumclaw Win Improves League Record to 2-1

The EHS Boys Water Polo Team beat a strong Auburn Mountainview squad on Tuesday, September 21, at the Auburn pool, to improve the Hornets league record to 2-1.

The Hornets got off to a fast 2-0 lead against the Lions, on goals by sophomore Bennon VanHoof, and senior Garrett Hall in the first two minutes of the game. But Mountainview came back to tie the game after a Hall exclusion foul, and a penalty shot by Hunter Arnold. The Lions took a 3-2 lead on a goal with three second left in the opening period.

Mountainview then went on to score on their first possession of the second quarter, for a 4-2 advantage. The Hornet offense took charge for the rest of the period, scoring five unanswered goals, before Mountainview added one more with 14 seconds left in the half. Enumclaw held a 7-5 lead at halftime.

The teams played even through the third period, each adding three goals, for a Hornet 10-8 advantage at the end of the third quarter. In the final period the Hornets held Moutaiview scoreless, and added two goals from VanHoof, and one from Hall, for the 13-8 final score.

High scorer for Enumclaw was VanHoof, with seven goals. Also scoring for the Hornets were Hall, with three goals, Thomas Petersen with two, and Travis Culp with one.

The Hornets face Mountainview again on Friday, in a non-league game at the Auburn School District Water Polo Tournament. Game time against the Lions is 3:45, the Hornets then face Emerald Ridge at 6:00 Friday.

The win improvs the Hornets' league record to 2-1, and the season record to 3-2.

Hornets Improve to 2-2

Enumclaw's Boys Water Polo Team improved their record to 2-2 after a 15-9 win over Lakes High School on Saturday, September 18, at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center.

The Hornet win came after Enumclaw exploded for a ten point second half, led by senior captain Garret Hall, with four second half goals, and sophomore Bennon VanHoof with five. The two teams had played even in the first half, with the score knotted at five at the intermission. But the Hornets took command early in the third quarter, scoring four goals in the period, and limiting the Lancers to just two scores.

The Hornets went on to add five more goals in the final period, and held Lakes to two, for the final 15-9 score.

Hornet Garret Hall led all scorers with eight goals in the game. Also scoring for Enumclaw were Bennon VanHoof, with five goals, and Travis Culp with two. Scoring for Lakes were Matt Archer, with five goals, Zach Essein with three, and Chris Edgecomb with one.

The win improves the Hornet record to 2-2 for the season. Enumclaw travels to Auburn on Tuesday for a league game against Auburn Mountainview.

Enumclaw Beats Kentridge 9-4, Improves League Record to 1-1

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team beat Kentridge 9-4 in a home game on Thursday, September 16. The win improves the Hornets league record to 1-1.

The Hornets scored on their first possession, on a goal by senior captain Garrett Hall, and took a 2-0 lead on sophomore Bennon VanHoof's goal midway through the opening period. Kentridge tied the game at 2-2 after scoring twice within a minute of the Hornet's second goal. Hall added another goal for Enumclaw with 42 seconds left in the quarter, for a 3-2 advantage.

The Hornets defense tightened in the second and third periods, holding Kentridge scoreless until four minutes into the fourth quarter. Enumclaw took a 7-2 lead into the final period, with three goals by VanHoof, and one by Hall, in the second and third quarters.

Hall and VanHoof each scored goals in the final period, and Kentridge managed two more goals in the final three minutes, for the 9-4 final score.

For the Hornets, VanHoof scored five, and Hall added four goals. Senior goalkeeper Josh Musick had 12 saves in the win.

The Hornets will host Lakes in a non-league game on Saturday, September 18, at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center. Game time is 12:30. The Hornets next league game is at the Auburn pool on Tuesday, September 21, against Auburn Mountainview High School, at 7:30.

Hornets Lose Heartbreaker to Wilson

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team lost a close game to league rival Wilson on Tuesday, September 14, 9-8.

The Hornets started slowly, scoring only three goals in the first half, and allowing Wilson to score five. But the Hornets tightened their defense in the second half, and had goals from four separate players, to tie the game at 8-8 with 36 seconds remaining in the game on a goal by senior Garrett Hall.

Wilson had an attempt with seven seconds left that was stopped by Hornet goalkeeper Josh Musick. With time running out, Musick shot on the Wilson goal, but came up just inches short. Wilson fired one more into the Enumclaw goal as time ran out, for the 9-8 win.

EHS 2010 Schedule

Enumclaw Boys Lose Season Opener to Rogers 14-5

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team lost their first game of the 2010 season, 14-5, to the Rogers Rams on Thursday, September 9.

Rogers took a 2-0 lead in the first few minutes of the opening quarter, but Enumclaw came back with two goals by senior Garrett Hall to tie the game 2-2 at the end of the first period. Rogers scored three goals in the second quarter, while Hornet Bennon VanHoof scored one, keeping the Hornets within two at halftime.

Rogers went on a scoring spree in the third quarter, with four goals by Jason Jones, and one by Jacob Parkin, while the Hornet offense could only muster a lone goal by VanHoof.

In the final period, the Hornets held Rogers scoreless for the first three minutes, but the Rams threw in four more goals in the final four minutes, while Hall scored one more for the Hornets with 76 seconds left in the game.

The Hornets travel to Stadium High School on Saturday for a jamboree, and face Wilson at Foss High School on Tuesday for their first league game of the season.

Hornets Finish Seventh at State

The Enumclaw High School Girls Water Polo Team finished the third day of play at the State tournament with a win over the Auburn Mountainview Lions. With the win, the Hornets claimed a seventh place finish at the State tournament.

Enumclaw began the tournament on Wednesday with a loss to the eventual State Champion Gig Harbor Tides, 16-1. The Hornets continued play on Friday, with a 7-3 loss to third place finisher Auburn Riverside, and closed out the tournament on Saturday with an 11-8 win over Auburn Mountainview.

Kelsey Sonneson scored the lone goal in Wednesday's loss; Lindsay Bowden, Erin Stucker, and Annie Birklid each scored a goal in Friday's game. In Saturday's win over Mountainview, Bowden and Stucker each score five goals, and Ali Ballard added one.

Gig Harbor was crowned State Champion with a win over defending State Champion Curtis in Saturday's championship game. East Division Champion Auburn Riverside finished third, Stadium finished in fourth place, Wilson finished fifth and Rogers High School finished in sixth place.

The Hornets finished in seventh place, and Auburn Mountainview finished eighth.

Enumclaw seniors Lindsay Bowden and Shaye Hogerhuis were named to the All State Honorable Mention Team.

The Hornets finished the 2010 season with a 13-9-1 record, seventh place at State, and their fifth consecutive trip to the State Tournament.

Enumclaw and Stadium Advance to State

The Enumclaw Hornets and Stadium Tigers finished first and second in Saturday's State Qualifying Water Polo Tournament, held at the Auburn High School Pool. Both teams now advance to next week's Washington State Water Polo Championship, held on May 19, 21, and 22 at the Rogers High School Pool in Puyallup, WA.

In Saturday's first game of the tournament, Enumclaw defeated Stadium 9-8. The game was close throughout, with the score tied on seven occasions, and neither team holding more than a two goal advantage. The Hornets took the lead for good with 15 seconds left, when junior Kelsey Sonneson scored from five meters out. Scoring for Enumclaw in the win were: Erin Stucker with three goals, and Ali Ballard, Lindsay Bowden, and Sonneson with two goals each.

In the second game of the tournament, Stadium beat Puyallup 12-11, and in the final game the Hornets clinched a State berth by beating Puyallup 18-10. Scoring for Enumclaw in the final game were Bowden and Stucker with six goals each, Sonneson with three goals, Ballard with two, and Rachel Deonigi with one.

The Hornets first game at the State Tournament will be on Wednesday at 6:00, when Enumclaw faces the number one seed from the Bridge Division, Gig Harbor, at Rogers High School in Puyallup. Tournament play will continue on Friday and Saturday.

Enumclaw-Sumner Game Still to be Re-Scheduled

The Enumclaw High School Girls Water Polo Game at Sumner, originally scheduled to be played on Monday, April 19, has been delayed due to mechanical problems at the Sumner pool. The two teams are working to schedule a make-up date, and will announce the new date as soon as possible.

The Hornets have four games schedule for the week of April 26, so are unavailable for a make-up the cancelled game before May.

Gig Harbor Beats Enumclaw 11-4

The Gig Harbor Water Polo Team came to Enumclaw on Saturday afternoon, and beat the Enumclaw Hornets 11-4 in a non-league contest.

The game started as a defensive battle, with only one goal scored in the first quarter, by Gig Harbor's Lauren Biggs. Hornet junior Erin Stucker tied the game at one, early in the second period, but Lora Donaldson, Biggs, and Shae Purdue combined for four additional goals in the second quarter.

Stucker and Lindsay Bowden scored three goals in the second half, but the Gig Harbor offense and pressure defense proved to be too much for the tired Enumclaw squad, playing their fourth game of the week.

The Hornets travel to Sumner on Monday for a league game against Sumner, and host Auburn Mountainview on Friday in a league game that could determine State tournament seeding for the two teams.

The Hornets are currently in second place in their division, with a 5-1 league record; the Lions are in third place with a 3-3 league mark. The first two teams in each division earn an automatic trip to State; third place teams play a one-day playoff to determine the final two teams.

Hornets Win Against Auburn Trojans

The Enumclaw High School Girls Water Polo Team won their fifth game in a row on Wednesday, beating the Auburn Trojans 16-2 in a league game held at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center.

The Hornets controlled the game from the opening sprint, scoring on their first possession, on a goal by Lindsay Bowden nine seconds into the game. The stingy Hornet defense, led by goalkeeper Shaye Hogerhuis, held the Trojans to one goal in each half; the Enumclaw offense had six players score, led by Bowden's seven goals.

Also scoring for Enumclaw were Ali Ballard, with three goals, Kelsey Sonneson and Erin Stucker with two goals each, and Rose Johnson and Annie Birklid with a goal apiece.

The Hornets travel to Gig Harbor on Friday to face the Peninsula Seahawks in a league game, and host the Gig Harbor Tides in a non-league game on Saturday at 12:30, at the Enumclaw Pool.

Hornets Improve to 4-1 With Win Over Emerald Ridge

The Enumclaw High School Girls Water Polo Team beat Emerald Ridge 13-11 on Monday, April 12, to improve their season record to 4-1.

The game started slowly, with the first goal coming two and a half minutes into the game, on a fast break by junior Erin Stucker. The Hornet defense held the Jags scoreless through the opening period, to hold a 1-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Enumclaw's offense roared to life in the second quarter, adding seven goals, while limiting Emerald Ridge to a single goal, taking an 8-1 advantage at halftime.

Emerald Ridge rallied in the second half, scoring ten goals while the Hornets added another five, keeping the game close.

Senior captain Lindsay Bowden led the Hornets' scoring, with six goals. Junior Ali Ballard added four goals, Erin Stucker scored two, and Rachel Deonigi added one.

The Hornets host Auburn on Wednesday for a league contest, and travel to Gig Harbor for a game with Peninsula on Friday afternoon, before hosting the Gig Harbor Tides on Saturday at 12:30, as part of the Enumclaw Aquatic Center's April Pools Day event.

Enumclaw beats Auburn Mountainview 9-8

The Enumclaw High School Girls Water Polo Team improved their season record to 3-1 on Thursday. April 1 by beating Auburn Mountainview 9-8 in an evening game at the Auburn pool.

The Hornets took the lead early, eight seconds into the game, on a fast break goal by junior Ali Ballard. Senior Rachel Deonigi scored on Enumclaw’s next possession and the Hornet offense gained a 5-0 lead before the end of the first period.

The Lions chipped away at the Hornet lead, scoring three goals in the second quarter, one in the third, and four in the final period, including three in the final two minutes, to keep the game close.

Enumclaw scoring was led by Rachel Deonigi, Ali Ballard, and Alina Van Ruff, with two goals each. Lindsay Bowden, Erin Stucker, and Kelsey Sonneson added a goal each for the Hornets.

Senior goalkeeper Shaye Hogerhuis had 12 saves, including stopping three of four five-meter penalty shots. Several other players added to the defensive effort, with nine steals by Bowden, five by Stucker, and four each by Van Ruff and Sonneson.

Hornets finish first week with 2-1 record

The Enumclaw High School Girls Water Polo finished their first week of play for the 2010 season with a 2-1 record last week.

On Monday, March 22, the Hornets suffered an opening game loss to Auburn Riverside, 10-7. Enumclaw scoring was led by junior Erin Stucker, with three goals, and senior Breanna Flaquinti, with two. Rachel Deonigi and Annie Birklid each added a goal.

The Hornet team traveled to the Auburn pool on Tuesday to face the Auburn Trojans, and brought home a 12-3 win over the Auburn team. The Trojans kept the game close for the first half, trailing Enumclaw 5-3 at halftime. But the Hornet defense tightened to keep Auburn scoreless in the second half, while four Hornets scored in the second half, to seal the win.

Hornets scoring were Stucker, with six goals, Kelsey Sonneson, with four, and Ali Ballard, and Flaquinti with a goal apiece.

Enumclaw finished their first week of competition with a 24-2 win over Sumner on Friday in the Hornets’ second home game. All of the field players who suited up on the varsity squad scored against the Spartans, led by senior Lindsay Bowden’s six goals.

Ali Ballard and Alexis Firlotte each scored three goals, and Alina Van Ruff, Rachel Deonigi, Erin Stucker, amd Kelsey Sonneson each scored two. Scoring one goal each were Annie Birklid, Breanna Flaquinti, Logann Erskine, and Hannah Kinniburgh.

The Hornets are currently in second place in the East Division of the South Sound Girls Water Polo League, behind Auburn Riverside. The top two teams in each division earn automatic berths in the State tournament, held May 19 through 22 at Rogers High School in Puyallup.

Spring Polo at the Enumclaw Pool

The Enumclaw Pool will have supervised "open-gym" style water polo workouts throughout the Spring, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. Workouts will be supervised by Enumclaw High School water polo coaches, and are open to all middle school and high school age boys. Workouts cost $3 each and will be held on the following dates:

Tuesday, February 23
Monday, March 1
Thursday, March 4
Monday, March 15
Wednesday, March 17
Monday, March 22
Thursday, March 25
Monday, March 29
Wednesday, March 31
Monday, April 5
Monday, April 12
Thursday, April 15
Wednesday, April 21
Monday, April 26
Monday, May 3
Thursday, May 6
Monday, May 10
Wednesday, May 12
Monday, May 17
Thursday, May 20

Girls Water Polo Starts March 1

The Enumclaw High School Girls Water Polo Team starts their 12th year of competition on Monday, March 1. The team will practice after school at the Enumclaw Pool, and will host nine games at their home pool.

The Hornets will begin competition at a jamboree at Wilson High School on Saturday, March 13. League competition will open on Monday, March 22 when the Hornets host Auburn Riverside in a game scheduled to start at 4:30.

The Hornets are scheduled to play ten league games and nine non-league games during the 2010 season, and hope to end the season with their fifth consecutive trip to the State Tournament.

Water Polo Clinic at Auburn Pool

The Auburn Riverside High School Water Polo Program will be hosting their second annual Water Polo Specialty Camp on Friday, February 19 and Saturday, February 20. The camp is hosted by Auburn Riverside coach Mike Van Eaton, and will feature former U.S. National Team members Peter Sabbatini and Elyse Colgan. Both Sabbatini and Colgan played collegiate polo at Princeton University.

The clinic will offer position-specific instruction for goalkeepers, centers, center defenders, and drivers, and will consist of nine hours of in-water instruction over two days.

The first session will start at 6 p.m. Friday and conclude at 9 p.m. Saturday's instruction will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. All three sessions are included in the $75 price. The clinic will offer a $10 discount to a participating sibling.

For more information contact Mike Van Eaton at mvaneaton@auburn.wednedt.edu or Bob Averill at bobaverill@earthlink.net

Collegiate Women's Water Polo Tournament at Curtis High School

The University of Washington will host the second tournament of the Women's Northwest Division of the Collegiate Water Polo Association on February 13 & 14 at Curtis High School in University Place, WA.

The Women's Northwest Division of the Collegiate Water Polo Association is comprised of seven teams from Washington and Oregon, including Central Washington University, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Western Oregon University, University of Washington, and Western Washington University.

Tournament Schedule:
Saturday, February 13, 2010
9:30 OSU vs. Oregon A
10:40 Washington vs. WWU
11:50 WOU vs. CWU
1:00 Oregon B vs. Oregon A
2:10 OSU vs. WWU
3:20 Washington vs. WOU
4:30 Oregon B vs. CWU
5:40 WWU vs. Oregon A
6:50 WOU vs. OSU

Sunday, February 14, 2010
9:00 Washington vs. Oregon B
10:10 CWU vs. WWU
11:20 WOU vs. Oregon A
12:30 Oregon B vs. OSU
1:40 Washington vs. CWU

Otter Water Polo Tournament at KCAC

The Seattle Otters will be hosting their 14th Annual International Open Water Polo Tournament this weekend, on Friday, February 5 through Sunday, February 7 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, WA.

Masters water polo teams from Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, British Columbia, and Alberta will compete in three divisions – Women, Co-ed, and Open.

Locally, teams from Auburn, Puget Sound Polo, Seattle, and the University of Washington will be competing.

Tournament action will start at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and finish around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. Saturday's action will run from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Sunday's games will start at 7:00 a.m. and conclude around 3:30 p.m.

There is no charge for admission to the tournament.

Collegiate Water Polo Results

Two Plateau area athletes took part in a Northwest Division Collegiate Water Polo tournament last weekend, January 23 and 24, at Central Washington University, in Ellensburg, WA.

Sarah Henneford, a 2005 graduate from Sumner High School, and Brooke Flaquinti, a 2009 graduate from Enumclaw High School, play for the Western Washington University women’s water polo team. Henneford and Flaquinti both played for their high school teams for four years. Henneford is a senior at WWU, and a team captain; Flaquinti is a WWU freshman, playing her first year of collegiate water polo.

Henneford is the daughter of Dennis and Kathy Henneford, of Sumner, and will graduate in 2010 with a degree in Environmental Science. Flaquinti is the daughter of Annette and Joseph Flaquinti of Enumclaw, WA.

The WWU Vikings finished the weekend tournament with three wins and one loss.

In Saturday’s action, WWU started the tournament with a loss to the University of Oregon “A” team, 18-1, but beat Oregon “B” 8-6 later in the afternoon. On Sunday the Vikings beat Western Oregon 14-7 in the morning, and closed the tournament with an afternoon win over Central Washington University, 18-5.

The Northwest Division of the Collegiate Water Polo Associated has seven women’s teams, including two teams each from the University of Oregon, and teams from the University of Washington, Oregon State University, Western Oregon University, Central Washington University, and Western Washington University.

Currently, WWU is in third place in the Northwest Division, behind defending champion Oregon “A”, and Oregon State University.

The teams will take part in another tournament next month, hosted by the University of Washington on February 13 & 14, at the Curtis High School pool, in University Place, WA. The Northwest Division Championships will be hosted by the University of Oregon on March 6 & 7 at Willamalane Swim Center in Springfield, Oregon.

The division champion will represent the Northwest Division at the National Collegiate Water Polo Championships on April 23 through 25, hosted by the University of Arizona, in Tucson, Arizona.

Collegiate Water Polo Women's Schedule

The Collegiate Water Polo Association has posted the schedule for the Northwest Division of the CWPA Women's Water Polo League.

The Women's Northwest Division of the Collegiate Water Polo Association is comprised of seven teams from Washington and Oregon, including Central Washington University, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Western Oregon University, University of Washington, and Western Washington University.

Tournaments are scheduled for January 23 and 24 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA, and February 13 and 14 at Curtis High School, in University Place, WA. The Division Championships will be held on March 6 and 7 at Willamalane Aquatic Center, in Springfield, OR.