Despite finishing runner-up to Gilroy in the Tri-County Athletic
League championship earlier this month, the San Benito girls water
polo team was still well represented when the league announced its
year-end awards, with the Haybalers earning seven all-league nods,
including three first-team selections.
HOLLISTER
Despite finishing runner-up to Gilroy in the Tri-County Athletic League championship earlier this month, the San Benito girls water polo team was still well represented when the league announced its year-end awards, with the Haybalers earning seven all-league nods, including three first-team selections.
Caitlin Schafer, Hannah Smith and keeper Marieke Liem were each named first team all-TCAL for the Balers, who finished 18-7 overall this year, while Jeanett Rodriguez, Rachel Estep and Lauren Lango were selected to the league’s second team. Anna Dickson was named to the TCAL’s Richard Chamberlin Sportsmanship Team.
It was Schafer who led San Benito in the pool on both the offensive and defensive ends. The sophomore scored a team-high 96 goals, pocketed a team-high 86 steals, and dished off a team-high 27 assists this season for San Benito.
In two seasons on the varsity team, Schafer has already compiled 137 goals, 173 steals and 75 assists.
Meanwhile, first-team selection Hannah Smith contributed 68 goals for the Balers in 2010, while also adding 18 steals and six assists. In the cage, Liem, who only played nine games for San Benito this season, still managed to earn a first-team nod after making 105 saves — or 11.6 saves per match.
San Benito’s three first-team selections was second most in the TCAL, behind only league-champion Gilroy’s four first team nods, which included Michelle Shields, Lauren Rhodes, Devan Lauber and Chelsea Hill.
Hill, the Mustangs’ hole set, was also named Most Valuable Player in the TCAL this season, while Sean LaGuardia earned Coach of the Year honors.
Other first team selections included Stevenson’s Claire Margolis, Caitlin Stuewe and Sarah Gonzales; Rachel Davidson of Salinas; and Riley Bertucio of Santa Catalina.
San Benito also had three second-team selections, including Rodriguez, Estep and Lango, the team’s hole defense.
Lango, often assigned to cover the opponents’ best player, finished with 16 steals and had 15 goals for the Balers, while Rodriguez contributed 68 steals, 20 goals and eight assists. Estep, meanwhile, had 38 steals, 18 assists and 17 goals this past season.
The three Balers were joined on the second team by Gilroy’s Nicole Nelsen and Leah Ailes; Allie Loomis of Santa Catalina; Monterey’s Colleen Mayone and Caitlyn Costa; Salinas’ Tenney Shaffer and Dana Meyenberg; and Carmel’s Chris Cate and Francis Atkins.
Lastly, San Benito’s Anna Dickson was named to the TCAL’s Richard Chamberlin Sportsmanship Team, an award that was given out to one member from each school, including Michelle Shields of Gilroy; Sarah Gonzales of Stevenson; Sydney Clark of Salinas; Chelsea Sanford of Carmel; Rae Gregory of Santa Catalina; Allison Short of Monterey; and Trinity Siraski of Watsonville.
Santa Catalina, meanwhile, was awarded the team sportsmanship award.
After compiling a 7-1 record during the regular season and earning the No. 2 seed for the TCAL Tournament, San Benito defeated Santa Catalina (16-3) and Stevenson (11-4) before falling to Gilroy in the league’s title match, 5-2.
The runner-up finish still qualified the Balers to the Central Coast Section Division I Championships, where it earned the No. 10 seed and squared off against No. 7 Los Gatos. But falling behind by a single goal in the waning moments of that opening round contest with Los Gatos, the Balers couldn’t find the equalizer late and suffered a 6-5 defeat as a result.
Schafer finished with two goals in that match, while Rodriguez, Smith and Estep each provided one goal apiece, and the keeper Liem had 21 saves.
Tri-County Athletic League Awards
MVP — Chelsea Hill, Gilroy
Coach of the Year — Sean LaGuardia, Gilroy
School Sportsmanship — Santa Catalina
First Team — All-TCAL
Michelle Shields, Gilroy; Lauren Rhodes, Gilroy; Chelsea Hill, Gilroy; Devan Lauber, Gilroy; Marieke Liem, San Benito; Caitlin Schafer, San Benito; Hannah Smith, San Benito; Claire Margolis, Stevenson; Caitlin Stuewe, Stevenson; Sarah Gonzales, Stevenson; Rachel Davidson, Salinas; Riley Bertucio, Santa Catalina.
Second Team — All-TCAL
Nicole Nelsen, Gilroy; Leah Ailes, Gilroy; Lauren Lango, San Benito; Jeanett Rodriguez, San Benito; Rachel Estep, San Benito; Allie Loomis, Santa Catalina; Colleen Mayone, Monterey; Caitlyn Costa, Monterey; Tenney Shaffer, Salinas; Dana Meyenberg, Salinas; Chris Cate, Carmel; Francis Atkins, Carmel.
TCAL Richard Chamberlin Sportsmanship Award
Michelle Shields, Gilroy; Anna Dickson, San Benito; Sarah Gonzales, Stevenson; Sydney Clark, Salinas; Chelsea Sanford, Carmel; Rae Gregory, Santa Catalina; Allison Short, Monterey; Trinity Siraski, Watsonville.
