Hornets Finish Third at State

The Enumclaw High School Girls Water Polo Team took third place at the Washington State Girls Water Polo Championship on Saturday, May 19.  The Hornets lost a heartbreaker in the semi-final, losing 5-6 to Curtis, but beat Auburn Mountainview 14-6 in the final round to claim third place.  The Hornets' loss to Curtis was the Hornets only loss to a Washington team during the season.

Saturday's semi-final meeting against Curtis was a close, physical game, with neither team holding more than a one point lead throughout.  The game was tied 1-1 after the opening quarter, and 3-3 at halftime.  The Vikings held a 5-4 advantage at the end of three periods, but the Hornets tied it again just 22 seconds into the final quarter.  With the game tied 5-5 throughout the final period, the Hornets scored on a last second shot at the end of regulation, but officials ruled the shot was not taken before the final buzzer, and the game went into overtime.

Neither team scored in the first overtime period, but Viking Hannah Holly put Curtis ahead in the second overtime for the win.

In Enumclaw's final game, the Hornets faced league rival Auburn Mountainview for third and fourth place,  The Lions got off to a fast start, with center Avalon Lanz scoring four goals in the first quarter, for a 4-3 Lion lead.  Enumclaw regrouped in the second period, with goals by Katie Larrea, Bailey Sexton, and Hayley Sonneson, for a 6-5 Hornet lead at halftime.

In the second half it was all Enumclaw, with the Hornets taking an 11-6 lead after three quarters, before closing the game with a 14-6 Enumclaw win.

The Hornets finished their season with a 24-2 record.  Enumclaw's only regular season loss was at the hands of a club team from Chehalem, OR, and their only loss to a Washington State team was the semi-final loss to Curtis.


The Hornets' success is remarkable, in part, because they have done it with only nine players on their roster – seniors Annie Birklid and Hannah Kinniburgh, juniors Allie and Katie Larrea, and Bella Davenport, sophomore Megan Lesmeister, and freshmen Bailey Sexton, Hayley Sonneson, and Madi Woodall.

Water polo has six field players and a goalkeeper playing, so the Hornet squad has only two subs on their best day.  Most high school teams have 12-15 players on their roster.

The Hornets had six players named to East Division All-League Teams, and four players named to All-State Teams:

State Defensive Player of the Year – Allie Larrea
First Team All State – Katie Larrea
Second Team All State – Megan Lesmeister, Hannah Kinniburgh
Honorable Mention All State – Allie Larrea

First Team All League – Allie Larrea, Katie Larrea, Megan Lesmeister
Second Team All League – Annie Birklid, Hannah Kinniburgh
Honorable Mention All League – Bella Davenport

Hornet Coaches Bob Averill & Ken DeMan were named East Division Coach of the Year, and Washington State Coach of the Year.

Gig Harbor beat Curtis 9-7 in the Championship game.

Final State placing:

1. Gig Harbor
2. Curtis
3. Enumclaw
4. Auburn Mountainview
5. Auburn Riverside
6. Lakes
7. Emerald Ridge
8. Peninsula

Hornets Win, Advance to Semi-Finals

The Enumclaw High School Girls Water Polo Team traveled to University Place on Friday, and won their 23rd game of the season, to advance to the State semi-final game, against Curtis, on Saturday, May 19th, at noon.  The winner of that game will advance to Saturday night's Championship Game, at 6:00 p.m.

The Hornets beat the Peninsula Seahawks 23-4 on Friday, chalking up their third straight win in the State tournament.  Hornet Allie Larrea scored just ten seconds into the game, and the Hornets never looked back, leading 4-1 after one quarter, 10-2 at halftime, and 15-2 after three quarters, before ending with the 23-4 final score.

Katie Larrea led all scoring with eight goals, while twin sister Allie scored six.  Annie Birklid and Bella Davenport scored three goals each, Hayley Sonneson scored two, and Hannah Kinniburgh scored one.  Goalkeeper Megan Lesmeister had 15 saves.

photo by Nik Stopsack

Click here to view Nik's slide show of Wednesday's action at State.

Enumclaw Advances to Second Round at State

The Enumclaw Girls Water Polo Team won two games in the first round of State tournament play on Wednesday, at Lakes High School, to advance to the second round of the tournament on Friday, at Curtis High School.

The Hornets beat Lakes, 23-2, in a 4:10 contest, and beat Puyallup 23-9 at 8:50.

Against Lakes, Katie Larrea led all scorers, with 10 goals.  Allie Larrea scored four, Hannah Kinniburgh and Bella Davenport scored three goals each, and Hayley Sonneson, Bailey Sexton, and Madi Woodall scored one goal each.

In the Peninsula game, Katie Larrea again led all scorers, with six goals.  Sonneson, Davenport, and Kinniburgh scored four goals apiece, Allie Larrea scored three, and Sexton added two.

The two wins advance the Hornets into the second round of play as the #1 seed from Group B, where they will face Peninsula, the #2 seed from Group C at 5:20 on Friday, at Curtis High School, in University Place, WA.  A win on Friday would advance the Hornets into Saturday's semi-final game, at noon, at Curtis High School.

Six Hornets Named to All-League Teams

The South Sound Girls Water Polo League has announced All-League selections, and six Hornets have been named to All-League teams.  Allie Larrea, Katie Larrea, and Megan Lesmeister were named to the East Division First Team, Annie Birklid and Hannah Kinniburgh were named Second Team, and Bella Davenport received Honorable Mention.  Enumclaw coaches Bob Averill and Ken DeMan were named East Division Coach of the Year.

Complete listings of all All-League selections are listed below.  Congratulations to all and Good Luck at the State tournament.

State Tournament Schedule Announced

Three teams advanced from last Saturday's Wild Card Tournament, to join nine other teams to make up Washington State's 12-team State Tournament.  Peninsula, Lakes, and Mount Tahoma advance from the Wild Card Tournament to join Gig Harbor, Enumclaw, Curtis, Emerald Ridge, Auburn Mountainview, Wilson, Puyallup, Auburn Riverside, and Stadium at this weekend's tournament, held at Lakes, Rogers, and Curtis High Schools.

Lakes finished the Wild Card Tournament as the #2 Wild Card, and start the tournament in Group B.  As a result Group B will play their opening round at Lakes High School.  Group B consists of Enumclaw, Puyallup, and Lakes.  The Hornets open group play against Lakes at 4:10 on Wednesday, and face Puyallup at 8:50 on Wednesday.  Friday's games times will be determined by the results of group play.

The Enumclaw Hornets finished regular season play with a 20-1 overall record, with their only loss to a visiting Oregon team.  Enumclaw went undefeated (12-0) in league play, and captured the East Division title.  The Hornets are making their seventh straight trip to the State tournament.

Enumclaw’s success is remarkable, in part, because they have done it with only nine players on their roster – seniors Annie Birklid and Hannah Kinniburgh, juniors Allie and Katie Larrea, and Bella Davenport, sophomore Megan Lesmeister, and freshmen Bailey Sexton, Haley Sonneson, and Madi Woodall.

Water polo has six field players and a goalkeeper playing, so the Hornet squad has only two subs on their best day.  Most high school teams have 12-15 players on their roster.

Hornets Win East Division

photo courtesy Brenda Sexton

The Enumclaw High School Girls Water Polo Team clinched the East Division Championship of the Girls Water Polo League on Monday, May 7, with an 18-7 win over Auburn Mountainview.  The win clinches the Hornets a berth in the State water polo championship tournament, held May 16-19.

The Hornets were undefeated (12-0) in league play this season, and have an 18-1 overall record, with the team’s only loss coming to a club program from Chehalem, OR.

Enumclaw’s success is remarkable, in part, because they have done it with only nine players on their roster – seniors Annie Birklid and Hannah Kinniburgh, juniors Allie and Katie Larrea, and Bella Davenport, sophomore Megan Lesmeister, and freshmen Bailey Sexton, Haley Sonneson, and Madi Woodall.

Water polo has six field players and a goalkeeper playing, so the Hornet squad has only two subs on their best day.  Most high school teams have 12-15 players on their roster.

In Monday’s game, the Hornets stretched a 4-2 first quarter lead to 8-3 at halftime, and 13-3 after three quarters.  Scoring for Enumclaw were Katie Larrea with eight goals, Allie Larrea with six, Hannah Kinniburgh with two, and Bailey Sexton and Annie Birklid with one goal each. For Auburn Mountainview, Amanda Nuttall and Avalon Lanz each scored three, and Savanna Christenson scored one.

The Hornets travel to Tacoma’s Wilson High School tomorrow for a 5:30 game, and host Puyallup at 4:30 on Thursday.

Girls Water Polo Team Gets National Press

The EHS Girls Water Polo Team has garnered some national press, in a story on this week's Total Waterpolo.  EHS Coach Bob Averill was interviewed regarding the success of this year's team and their recent win over defending State champion Gig Harbor.

"For the past couple years the girls water polo team at Gig Harbor (WA) has been the state's best. On April 25 Enumclaw, with only nine girls on the roster, ended Gig Harbor's 46-game winning streak and placed themselves among the favorites to win the state championship."

The Hornets are currently 17-1, with their only loss at the hands of the Chehalem, OR team.  Enumclaw is in first place in the East Division with three games left in their regular season, and begin State tournament play on Wednesday, May 16.   The first round of the State tournament will be played at Lakes High School, in Lakewood, and Rogers High School in Puyallup.  Tournament play will continue on Friday and Saturday, May 18 & 19, at Curtis High School, in University Place.

Hornets Keep Winning

The Enumclaw Girls Water Polo Team continued their winning ways on Friday, May 4, with a 18-1 win over the visiting Auburn Trojans.  The game had been scheduled for the Auburn Pool, but was played out at the Enumclaw Pool because of mechanical problems at the Auburn facility.  The win improved the Hornets' league record to 11-0, and their overall regular season record to 17-1.

Scoring for Enumclaw in the win were: Allie Larrea, with eight goals; Katie Larrea with four; Hannah Kinniburgh with three, and Annie Birklid, Haley Sonneson, and Bailey Sexton with one goal apiece.

The Hornets host Auburn Mountainview at 7:30 on Monday, to determine the East Division Champion.  Enumclaw wraps up their regular season with non-league games on Tuesday, at Wilson, and Thursday against Puyallup.

The Hornets begin State tournament play on Wednesday, May 16, at a site to be determined.

Friday's Game Moved From Auburn to Enumclaw

Friday's water polo game has been moved from Auburn to the Enumclaw Pool, due to mechanical problems at the Auburn Pool.  Game time will still be 7:30 p.m.  Due to the last minute change, there will be no charge for admission.

Hornets Improve to 16-1 With Win Over Peninsula

The EHS Girls Water Polo returned to Gig Harbor on Thursday to face Peninsula, and returned with a 15-3 win over the Seahawks.  The win improved the Hornets' league record to 10-0; their overall record is 16-1, with their lone loss coming to the Chehalem, OR team.

Hornets scoring in the win were – Katie and Allie Larrea with five goals each, Hannah Kinniburgh with three, and Bailey Sexton and Haley Sonneson with one goal each.  Megan Lesmesiter gathered 11 saves.

The Hornets travel to Auburn on Friday to face the Trojans in a 7:30 contest.