The San Lorenzo Valley girls water polo team will likely improve on its 1-6 2008 record in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League on the strength of goaltender and captain Johanna Coker.
“I believe she’s the best goalie in the league,” head coach Wally Brondstadder said. “She’s a senior, and she’s been there.”
The team also has a host of returning stars in Savannah Prather, Sarah Mount, Lauren Smith and Leah Fisher.
Brondstadder also has high hopes for freshman Cameron Kellogg, the first ninth-grader he has seen on varsity during his time with the program.
Kellogg is one of a host of freshmen who have joined the program this year, making the future a bright one for the team.
“We’re going to be competitive in league and nonleague matches,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a fun year, and I’m looking forward to the varsity playing up to the level they can play.”
The team opened ITS season 2-2 in the Los Altos Tourney last weekend.
The San Lorenzo Valley boy’s water polo team also has high hopes, despite having only 22 boys to fill out the junior varsity and varsity teams.
“We have enough to field both teams,” head coach Matt Troxell said.
The varsity team has three returning seniors from a year ago.
Seniors Jeremy Kersten and Aiden McCown are team captains and stand out on this year’s squad, which hopes to improve on a last-place finish in the SCCAL in 2008.
“They are the most knowledgeable and most willing to shoot,” Troxell said.
The captains are joined by returner Johnny Vollers and goaltenders senior Tyler Kahle and junior Matt Petras.
“Our focus is on the counterattack,” Troxell said. “If we can get the counterattack down, that’s going to be our biggest key to winning games.”
