The San Benito High girls water polo program was close to not being able to field a team this season. That’s what makes the Haybalers’ year all the more impressive.
San Benito improved to 11-3 overall and 7-1 in Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division play after a 21-5 whipping of visiting Salinas on Oct. 1.
“We were at a point where it was touch and go for a little bit,” Balers first-year coach Fred Latimore said. “But we’ve been able to work things out and the girls have really rallied around each other to turn things around.”
Have they ever. One only has to look back at the first day of practice to see how far San Benito has come. On a mid-August day, just four players showed up for practice. Latimore, who coached at Gilroy High the previous three years, wasn’t officially hired as the new San Benito coach until a week or two before the first day of practice.
While the coaching uncertainty led to a lot of unease surrounding the program, Latimore credited four returning starters—Grace Larson, Karlie Sanchez, Ceily Hepner and Shannon Stephens—for getting the word out on campus that there was going to be a water polo season after all.
“The first day of practice was rough and a little scary,” said Larson, a senior driver who scored a career-high 13 goals against Salinas. “It was a little discouraging when you looked at it, and for a very short time I thought, ‘Do I really want to do this? Of course I did.’ It’s really exciting to see the progress we’ve made, but we’re definitely not at our peak yet.”
San Benito’s record is even more impressive when you consider it rarely—if ever—has had its full roster together for one practice. Since the boys and girls water polo teams have to share one pool, the girls usually don’t practice until 5:30 p.m. Some of the players have work commitments or other things they need to tend to later in the day.
“We’ve actually yet to practice as a full team because there’s always one or two people missing,” Larson said. “I think that’s kind of why we’re having troubles with plays because we haven’t been able to do it together all at once.”
However, Larson was optimistic that the squad was headed in the right direction, noting the improvement she’s seen from the team to work as one unit.
“We’re all working together more, especially in this (Salinas) game,” she said. “Even from our game two days before this, we’re a completely different team. We talked more and knew what we had to do and applied all of the things we’ve been doing in practice to the match.”
In addition to Larson’s 13 goals against Salinas, Hepner had four goals and Stephens three. Latimore said Larson has done everything to help her teammates improve and then some.
“Grace is like a general in the pool,” he said. “I look to her for leadership and the ability to make plays. She never disappoints in that aspect. When she gets the ball, she’s going to make something happen. Whether it’s a score or drawing the defense to her where she can assist one of her teammates on a goal, Grace is an absolute dual threat on offense and defense.”
Meanwhile, Stephens has spearheaded the Balers’ stout defensive performance.
“Shannon has been our defensive standout all season,” Latimore said. “I can count on her because of her length and her pool IQ. As our hole defender, Shannon uses her length to her advantage and really makes it more difficult for teams to get what they want on offense.”
The Balers have also received strong contributions from goalie Kelsee French and Catherine Nordstrom. Larson will continue to be the team’s offensive force, having worked hard in the off-season to improve her game. Larson focused on improving her bounce shots and being more aware of where everyone is in the pool.
“I’m definitely a lot more confident with my shot and with what I’m doing,” she said. “I was practicing three to four hours a day in the summer, and that has made me comfortable with everything I’m doing.”
