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Girls Water Polo Wins C.I.F.
By
Spencer Green, Sports Editor
El Segundo High School’s Girl’s
Water Polo team has had an amazing season, and has put in plenty of
time and effort in the hopes of beating as many opponents as
possible. Well, all of the work has paid off for them, because they
are now the Division VI CIF champions.
After a long
season of victories, and winning League, the girls’ team made it to
the big show: the CIF championship match against the Saddleback High
School Roadrunners. This final match of CIF took place on Tuesday,
February 27, at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.
Before
the game began, everybody rose to listen to Sophomore Zack Reed sing
the national anthem. After that, all of the players from El Segundo
and Saddleback lined up next to the pool, and were introduced
individually.
And then the game began. The first quarter began with Junior Chelsea
Kemp winning the sprint and getting the ball for her team. Before
the first quarter was even halfway over, the Eagles had shot several
times and scored three. The first goal of the game belonged to
Junior Elle Quane, who got an assist from Senior Rachel Jarvis. The
next two goals belonged to Senior Coral Kemp, who got both of her
assists from Sophomore goalie Haley Cox. The quarter went by quickly
after that, with Saddleback scoring a single goal.
The
second quarter started the same as the first, but this time it was
Coral who won the sprint for her team. With the first possession,
Coral scored with an assist from Jarvis. Moments later, Coral passed
the ball to her younger sister Chelsea, who promptly slammed it
home. The sister-attack did not end there, as the next goal came
from Coral with an assist by Chelsea. A short time later, Junior
Jacque Combs scored on a penalty shot against the Saddleback goalie.
Shortly after that, Chelsea scored once more, this time with an
assist from Combs. And so the second period ended, with the Eagles
leading 8-1.
The
third quarter started with the Eagles at a strong lead. Once more,
Coral won the sprint to start the period. Soon after the period
started, the Saddleback offense scored their second goal. But the
Eagles avenged Saddleback’s goal with one of their own. Combs
delivered this goal, with an assist from Senior Ashley Cordobes.
Towards the end of the third quarter, Quane pounded home another
goal, with the help of an assist from Coral. This quarter ended with
the Eagles leading, 10-2.
Fourth period
started with Chelsea winning her second sprint of the game. After a
few possessions, the Lady Eagles scored once more, with Quane
scoring off of an assist from Coral. Soon after that, the
Roadrunners fought back with two goals of their own. The score now
read 11-4, but not for long. In a final wave of offense against the
Roadrunners, Coral scored twice more, with the first assist from
Junior Madison Renfro, and the second from goalie Cox. The Eagles
fought valiantly after these final two goals, but the Roadrunners
were able to score two of their own. The final score of the game was
13-6, with the Eagles proudly becoming the Division VI CIF
champions.
The
Eagles did tremendously well, with Kemp scoring six goals, Quane
scoring three, and Chelsea and Combs scoring two each. Assists were
provided by Cox and Coral with three each; Jarvis with two; and
Chelsea, Combs, Cordobes, and Renfro with one each. Every player
brought something to the table, and this truly was a team victory.
Senior Jenna Johnston agreed with this, saying, “Winning CIF was
fun, and the whole team got to participate, so it was a team win.”
The
players were all proud of their achievements. As Senior Caitlin
Briney said, “We definitely bonded, and we’re all really close. We
have excellent team chemistry, and that’s helped us to do well this
season.” The sense of camaraderie pervaded the team, as Chelsea
said, “I’m proud of my teammates, because we’ve formed such great
bonds. Because of our ability to work so well together, we were able
to win.”
The
weekend after the CIF championship game, the Eagles team
participated in the Masters Water Polo Tournament in Irvine. The
Eagles did well in this tournament, managing to beat the Division IV
champions, the Cabrillo High School Conquistadores, 12-11.
Unfortunately, the Eagles then faced the teams from Agoura and
Whittier. Agoura, the Division II champion, beat the Eagles 16-2,
and Whittier, the Division III victor, beat El Segundo 10-2.
After the tournament was over, the Eagles’ record stood at 28-7.
Such a season has not occurred for years, and this definitely was a
memorable one.
Season scoring tallies stand at 115 for Coral; 90 for Quane; 38 for
Combs; 35 for Jarvis; and 22 for Chelsea.
The Lady Eagles had a few more achievements at the end of the
season, as CIF honors were bestowed upon the players and coach.
Coral was named “Division VI Player of the Year,” and coach Scott
Garinger was named “Division VI Coach of the Year.” Quane and Combs
were selected for First Team CIF, Chelsea and Jarvis were selected
for Second Team, and Cordobes was selected for Third Team.
Congratulations to the Lady Eagles on their League and CIF
victories, and best of luck for next year!
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