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.