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.