Just like volleyball, the local high school water polo league has shuffled drastically in the transition from the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League to the Tri-County Athletic League. In the biggest local twist, the Scotts Valley Falcon girls have been assigned to a different-tiered league than the San Lorenzo Valley Cougars.
The Cougars will be placed into the Tri-County Mountain League, consisting of Soquel, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Gilroy, Carmel, Salinas and Stevenson high schools.
The Falcons will compete in the Tri-County Valley League consisting of Aptos, Monterey, Harbor, Santa Catalina, Christopher, Alvarez, Notre Dame and Watsonville high schools.
“Everything got thrown amok,” Cougar head coach Wally Brondstatter said. “It’s good in a way in that we will get a bunch more league games, but we will see how it pans out for the playoffs in the long run.”
San Lorenzo Valley
– Last year: 6-1, co-champions with Santa Cruz
The Cougars’ talent keeps filling the pool, as returning first-team all-league player Cameron Kellogg is back in the water with a new fellow hole player, junior Marissa Petras. The two have helped keep the pressure on, as the Cougars are undefeated thus far with a 2-0 record.
Haley Smith and Emmy Digirolamo are set as the SLV drivers along with senior Sarah Sargent, who is the only senior starter on the young but talented team. Taylor Friend, the Cougars junior goalkeeper, is a returning all-league player herself and is third in the area in saves with 19 through two games.
SLV plays next at home at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, against San Benito High School.
Scotts Valley
– Last year: 0-0, junior varsity team only (did not field a varsity team)
Scotts Valley sits at 2-2 in league play this year with wins over Alvarez and Watsonville high schools. Their losses are to Monterey and Aptos, but the Falcons look to stay afloat near the top of the league in a bid to earn a Central Coast Section playoff berth.
Senior Aria Leonard leads the Falcons with 17 goals in three games and is getting loads of help from fellow seniors Julia Pini, Kelsey Van Valen and Elizabeth Von Hanaulter.
Also in the mix are sophomores Meredith Barton and goalkeeper Hannah Freeman, who is one of the area’s leaders in saves in this, her rookie season.
“Aptos is really going to be our toughest challenge in the Valley league,” said Falcons coach Mike Ayers. “This restructuring should end up working out to our advantage. Our girls should be able to swim with the best in this league.”
The Falcons play next at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, at Harbor High School.
