San Benito water polo goalie was chosen to the elite CCS
All-Star Game
HOLLISTER
Katie Thorpe certainly made an impression on someone.
The San Benito High senior, who was recently honored with a first team selection in the Tri-County Athletic League, was one of only two goalies chosen to represent all of Division I at last weekend’s Pacific Zone Central Coast Section All-Star Game at Monta Vista High in Cupertino.
The high honor went out to roughly 25 water polo players in Division I, with Thorpe and a keeper from Monta Vista being the lone goalies selected to the elite all-star event.
Thorpe, who was the only goalie in the TCAL to be selected first team, was still surprised with her all-CCS honor, however. For one, she had no idea how she became nominated in the first place.
“Considering we didn’t play a CCS (playoff) game, it was a huge surprise,” she said. “I don’t know how other coaches saw me.”
The Lady Balers compiled a 7-1 mark in the TCAL this season, 14-11 overall, but missed a chance at competing in the CCS Division I playoffs when they lost to Stevenson by an 8-6 margin in the TCAL Championships, preventing Thorpe and her teammates from making much of an impression on the CCS coaches.
“I made first team all-league, but we didn’t play a single CCS game,” Thorpe said. “I didn’t even get to show what I had at a CCS game.”
Clearly, she made an impression on someone.
Although it’s unknown as to who nominated Thorpe for the CCS All-Star Game, it’s not much of a mystery as to why she was nominated. The senior keeper averaged 11 blocks per game this season, according to head coach Hayley Vandercook, and was arguably the top goalie in the TCAL as well.
“It is a great honor for Katie,” Vandercook said. “She got the recognition she deserved and she played great in the game.
“She definitely showed why she was chosen to be playing in the game. She took down shots from the best players in Division II.”
The Pacific Zone CCS All-Star Game pits the top players from Division I against those from Division II. Thorpe played in the first and third quarters — she recalls allowing five goals — and helped lead the D-I All-Stars past D-II by a narrow 11-10 margin.
“They were amazing,” she said. “Better than any guys game I’ve ever watched.
“I got in the pool to warm-up and I was like, “Oh my God.’ They were the best. These are the girls that are gonna be something in water polo.”
Salinas’ Heidi Vickery was the only other player from the TCAL to be chosen to the all-star event, while Vandercook was unaware of the previous time a Lady Baler was selected for the prestigious exhibition.
Last year, San Benito’s Jordan Schafer represented the Baler boys at the All-Star Game.
“I was super-shocked and surprised. I feel like I had a good season,” Thorpe said. “It was a huge honor to go on the CCS All-Star team.”
