Women's Collegiate Season Opens Jan. 22

The Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) has released the schedule for the 2011 Women's National Collegiate Club Northwest Division. Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA will host both regular season tournaments on January 22-23 and February 12-13 before the division champion is crowned during the weekend of March 5-6 at the Osborn Aquatic Center in Corvallis, OR.

Comprised of Central Washington University, University of Oregon "A", University of Oregon "B", University of Washington "A", University of Washington "B", Western Washington University, Seattle University, University of Portland and Oregon State University, the nine teams will battle for the division title and a berth to the 2011 Women's National Collegiate Club Championship at the University of Notre Dame on May 6-8.

In the history of the division, Oregon has reigned supreme over the past six years as the Ducks are in the midst of a six-year winning streak (2005-10) and have won seven overall titles with the program's first championship in 2002. Former division member Simon Fraser University (2004) and Washington (1998-2001, 2003) also hold crowns.

For more details on game times, check out the CWPA web site here.

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.