The water polo program lost a lot to graduation last season, but
are looking to build through a team-first approach
HOLLISTER
No one ever said that team chemistry is overrated. Simply believing in it is usually a requirement for any contending team.
But the loss of the star player, or the leading scorer, or the valuable netminder, or even something as underrated as varsity experience, often forces prep teams to take a different approach from year-to-year, and often take a much harder look at the team, its chemistry and the unit as a whole.
The boys and girls water polo teams at San Benito High School are in similar situations this season, having lost quite a bit in terms of graduating seniors last year. The Baler boys, for instance, lost leading scorers Jordan Schafer and Ryan Whiteside, as well as all-league selection Kyle Reuther, arguably the top goalie in the Tri-County Athletic League, among others.
The Lady Balers were in no better position with departing seniors, though, losing leaders Ronnie Stern and Sarah Kelso, not to mention Kelsey Russell, who was San Benito’s leading scorer and one of the top players – if not the top player – in the TCAL.
Replacing key players doesn’t happen often; it just forces teams to rethink their approach.
“I think we’ll be strong, but in different ways than we were last year,” said JT Temperino, who will play keeper for the Lady Balers this year in a two-goalie system with teammate Katie Thorpe.
“Last year, we had our main players that we knew were our strong points. This year, it’s a team effort.”
Lady Baler head coach Hayley Vandercook, though, said the loss of eight seniors from last year’s squad won’t have much of an effect on her current roster. With the exception of four returning varsity members, San Benito is a completely new team, Vandercook said, and will open the season with a different dynamic.
“We’re gonna try to run everyone through, keep everyone fresh and rotate throughout the game,” said Vandercook, who is in her second year at San Benito after leading the Lady Balers to a 15-11 overall record last season. “They’re definitely a lot closer and they’re much closer as a unit.”
Read the full story, which includes a preview of the SBHS boys water polo team, in Friday’s edition of The Weekend Pinnacle.
