March 4, 2014
Champions were crowned this past weekend in girl's high school water polo in the CIF-San Diego Section. In the CIF-San Diego Section, in Carlsbad topped Granite Hills 16-3 for the Division 1 title. Valhalla doubled up Westview 8-4 for the Division 2 title, and The Bishop's School defeated La Jolla 9-5 in Division 3.
See below for more details on each match with local news report.
CIF-San Diego Section - Division 1
Carlsbad 16 Granite Hills 3 - From San Diego Union Tribune
There's nothing like a championship three-peat for Carlsbad senior Katrina King.
With four goals and 10 steals, King guided the top-seeded Lancers past Granite Hills 16-3 for their third straight crown in the San Diego Section Division I girls water polo final at La Jolla High's Coggan Pool on Saturday night.
"It's just an honor to be here again," said King, a fourth-year varsity member bound for San Diego State. "It's so nice to end (high school competition) on a good note with this win."
The Lancers (17-12) turned back No. 3 Granite Hills in its first final to finish with a 51-5 scoring edge overall against three playoff foes.
"It's our coaches (headed by Greg Horman)," King said. "They're amazing, and our team is really close. Everyone just works together and gets the job done."
New to the title run was freshman Taylor Onstott, who did her part with three goals and two assists.
"This is so unbelievable. I can't describe the feeling," said Onstott, who watched the Lancers play before making her prep debut. "My teammates really supported me, so it was an easy transition playing on varsity. I had a lot of fun."
In taking a 5-1 halftime lead, Carlsbad allowed the Eagles (18-6) to score only on a penalty shot. While Granite Hills goalie Mia Harris finished with nine saves, the Lancers' Savannah Manley had to make just two with the help of a swarming defense.
"We're taught to play an all-around game," King said, "so we do whatever we can."
Summer Switzer-Smith added three goals for Carlsbad, which won its eighth title overall.
CIF-San Diego Section - Division 2
Valhalla 8 Westview 4 - From San Diego Union Tribune
Senior Colleen Ratcliff got Valhalla going with three early goals in the San Diego Section Division II girls water polo final. Classmate Lauren Adams finished it off with 13 saves in goal.
The top-seeded Norsemen, coming off two straight runner-up showings, topped Westview 8-4 to claim their second championship in four years at La Jolla High's Coggan Pool on Saturday.
"The fact that we got runner-up the last couple of years, we wanted to come with a bang," said Ratcliff, who helped Valhalla take a 4-1 edge at 41 seconds into the second quarter. "This is amazing. We worked so hard together all year, three hours a day of practice, and it really paid off."
The Norsemen (28-4) scored on the game's first shot by Bailey Herron and never trailed in recording their third victory in as many meetings with No. 3 Westview (21-12) this season.
Adams especially exerted control when the teams went scoreless over a spell of 14:49 until the Wolverines' Mari Ranj scored the first of her two goals to close the deficit to 4-2.
"It feels really good when the ball hits your hand," said Adams, who stood out after missing last season's playoffs due to illness. "It's just an empowering moment."
Jasmine Miller helped with three steals and a goal for the Norsemen.
"We love each other so much," Adams said. "Sometimes, our team's strong personalities would clash, but that's the thing with friendship."
Freshman goalie Abby Bilmes made seven saves for Westview, which played in its first final.
Valhalla finished unbeaten against section schools this season, including 10-0 in the Grossmont Hills League.
CIF-San Diego Section - Division 1
The Bishop's School 9 La Jolla 5 - From San Diego Union Tribune
Bishop's senior Jill Bushman made sure the Knights' girls water polo title reign continued in the rain.
Bushman scored five goals to help propel top-seeded Bishop's past La Jolla 9-5 for their fourth consecutive San Diego Section Division III championship Saturday at the Vikings' Coggan Pool.
There was a steady and sometimes heavy downpour for the fourth consecutive final between the schools.
"The rain made it more dramatic," said Bushman. "That's good. There was a lot of emotion, and we stepped it up."
No. 2 La Jolla closed within 6-5 on freshman Ciara Franke's second goal with 6:16 left. Then Bushman responded by scoring twice within a minute to re-establish control.
Bushman and Natalie Chun completed their prep careers by playing on four title teams for Bishop's (25-6), which matched a school record championship streak (2004-07).
"This was our goal, and we wanted it really badly," Bushman said. "We believed in all our teammates, and we had a decisive victory. I was feeling good, so I just kept shooting."
Bishop's also claimed its second win over La Jolla (23-6) since falling to the Vikings for the first time ever this season.
Sophomore Natalie Grayson added two goals and an assist for the Knights in their 17th straight final.
"This is all something really special," said Grayson. "From the start of the season, Coach (Doug Peabody) always says, 'Process, process, process.' Then we got here and did it."
