After a five-year absence, Dave Throop returns as head coach of the Islander Girls Water Polo Team. And with some distance from the program, in time at least, Throop arrives with a clean slate. “I told the kids this is a new team and a new season. They are going to get to show what they can do and prove themselves, while getting to know each other. This is a very atypical start to the season. Kids have come back who haven’t played for a while. We’re trying to find the right mix, flow, conditioning and so far, the attitudes of the kids have been great. We’re looking forward to bonding and growing as the season goes on.”
The Varsity program includes 15 players, which Throop broke down by class. “Our two seniors are Lauren Gauvin and Anna Hinz. We have a good nucleus of juniors and we have a core group of sophomores, who combined make up the bulk of the team. In the junior class we have Ella Farley who is one of our two main goalies. The other main goalie is sophomore Michelle Croteau. We are having an open competition for the position and their job is to work and support each other. One will get to play more and the other will continue to challenge. We have a lot of returning experience in juniors Farley, Emmie Muschek and Brooke Lee. Jordan Mickel is one of our other juniors who is looking to contribute. Our final junior is Laurel White, who is a transfer from Acalanes High School. She’s learning and will be in our Varsity training group.
In our sophomore class, in addition to Croteau we have Mary Penny, Sara Olson, who is Peter Olson’s sister, and Katherine Wastila, who is Matthew Wastila’s cousin. And we will have two more who will participate, including Cate Carlson who can develop into a good player and Grace Morgan, who is our sophomore class goalie. Her job is to assist and challenge the girls in front of her. And we have two freshmen in Sofia Goicoechea and Abi Reyes.”
“I’m still learning a lot that I forgot,” Throop said. “I like being around the kids and I like working and meeting with them one-on-one. Their attitudes are great, which is all I can ask. We’ll take some lumps because we play Newport and Murrieta early in the season. We’re slowly moving in the direction we want to be in during January and February. I think we’ll have opportunities when February comes around.”
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