By: Gowri Sunil
Opinion Editor
After an impressive season last fall, the Los Gatos High School Boys’ and Girls’ Water Polo Teams return to the pool, ready for another competitive season. Already off to a strong start, the teams intend to build its momentum and surpass last year’s success.
The girls opened their season with a decisive victory against Gunn High School on Sept. 8, ending with a score of 15-4. Senior captains Danielle Doepke and Rhiannon McColley lead the team and both made important contributions to the game, with Doepke scoring four goals and McColley adding three goals and two assists.
This year, the girls’ team faces the challenge of rebuilding without several of last year’s key players. Despite this, senior Anna Roos remains optimistic, sharing that “so far our games have been pretty good, and we’ve been working really well as a team to gain back what we’ve lost.” Roos believes that as long as the Wildcats work together and maintain close bonds, they can excel against stronger teams. McColley added that “water polo is a small community, and our teams reflect that. It’s what makes LG waterpolo such a special community.”
The boys’ team also delivered a crushing victory against Gunn, finishing with a score of 24-3 as sophomore Pasha Heidari finished with eight assists. Also crucial to the team’s success are this year’s captains, senior Richard Runge, a guard, and junior Dominic Hwang, the goalkeeper.
Just two days after their victories against Gunn, both teams faced tougher matchups against Los Altos High School on Sept. 10. The girls remained neck-and-neck with Los Altos throughout much of the game, until Los Altos pulled ahead at the end of the third quarter for a 9-7 win. Throughout the close game, McColley countered Los Altos’s offense with nine steals, while in the goal, senior Annabelle Doepke held them off with an impressive eight saves.
The boys’ team also faced their rivals head-on, eventually falling 10-11 to a strong Los Altos team. After exchanging the lead for much of the game, the team finished short by just one goal in the final quarter. Reflecting on their performance, junior Xander Kersten described the game as “very intense and very close,” adding, “sadly, we just barely missed it, but we’ll get them next time.” Despite the loss, he remained confident in the team’s potential. Having graduated four of their six starters the prior year, Kersten acknowledged that it has “been a little bit hard to get back into it.” However, he pointed out, “We’re still pretty decent, and I think we still have a shot at winning leagues.” Indeed, following their close defeat, the boys faced Stevenson High School the very next day, bouncing back with a strong 17-12 win.
After several key players graduated last year, the Wildcats are adjusting to their new lineup while continuing to perform well against challenging teams. With much of the season awaiting, both teams remain focused on having a successful season.
(Sources: Maxpreps)