Scott Swanson
Of The New Era
Their numbers may be depleted but that won’t stop the Sweet Home water polo squad as they get ready for the new season.
After both the boys and girls teams made it to the state playoffs last year, where they were eliminated in the first round, the Huskies were looking very much like a co-ed team this year €“ particularly on the girls side €“ at press time.
“At this point we’re several players short of being able to field a squad,” said Coach Craig Martin.
The Huskies have four girls, seniors Cheryl Wilson and Sami Webb, junior Katie Turner and sophomore Emily Claborn. It takes seven players to be able to put a team in the water and Martin said he really needs at least 10 or 12 to be able to keep that many players in the pool.
“At seven, with no subs, if someone fouls out, you’re playing a girl down,” he said. “That puts you at a significant disadvantage. That happened last year with the girls on several occasions.”
The good news is that nearly all the players are coming in with experience, on both sides.
“Right now, everyone we have out has played at least one or two years with me except for one freshman,” Martin said.
Webb and Wilson were both all-conference second-team picks last year. Missing this year is Niccole Simmonds, a first-team all-conference pick, who is serving as team manager after suffering a shoulder injury.
On the boys side, the Huskies had seven players out as of Friday: senior third-year players Alex Stupin, Derek Jaques and goalie Brandon Courteau; senior second-year player Josh Liskey, junior second-year players Jake Johnson and Cory Martin, and sophomore Elric Benson, also back for a second season. Martin said he expects Sten Weld, another sophomore, to be back as well.
“The exciting thing is that most of our starters from last year have returned,” he said.
Courteau and Martin have experience at the Junior Olympics and club levels, which, Craig Martin said, “helps with experience and in game play.
“They provide leadership in game situations,” he said.
Martin noted that the dominant team in Oregon finished 23rd out of 48 teams in the Junior Olympics in California.
He is also enthusiastic about newcomer Michael Moser, a freshman who “has good skills, a lot of motivation and a rocket of an arm,” Craig Martin said. “He’s not necessarily a water polo athlete. He comes to practice, gives 100 percent every day, has desire. He watches better players and says ‘What do I have to do, coach, to be like them?’ It’s refreshing.”
Cory Martin was a first-team all-conference selection last year. Jaques, Courteau and Stupin were all all-conference honorable mention picks last season.
Craig Martin said he expects South Albany and West Albany to be the two strong programs, though “they are probably not as strong as before.” He said he expects the Huskies to be competitive with Corvallis. Last year they split with Corvallis and South Albany, and it was their win over the latter that kept the Rebels out of the state tournament.
“Those teams are always tough,” Martin said of the Albany schools. “They have a lot of returning players and they have club players who play year-round.”
On the girls side, all four players are competitive swimmers, which will help them compete in a co-ed situation. Claborn is new to water polo, but Martin said the fact that she has been a competitive swimmer “bodes well for her picking up the sport.”
“At this point we can play a combined team with four ladies right now,” he said. “Even playing all-boys teams, I think we can be competitive with the skill level of the ladies, particularly the returners.”
He said the Huskies are showing good chemistry already.
“One thing I see with this team, for the first time, this team is really bonded after playing together three years,” Martin said. “I haven’t seen this strong of team chemistry this early in the season, with everybody working, motivated, trying to improve individually and at the same time helping the team improve”
The Huskies open their season against West Albany Monday, Sept. 13, at the Albany pool.
Water polo team members include, in front, from left, Cheryl Wilson, Emily Claborn, Sami Webb and Katie Turner. In rear, from left, are Cory Martin, Jake Johnson, Brandon Courteau, Micheal Moser, Josh Liskey, Alex Stupin and Elric Benson. Not pictured are Derek Jaques and Sten Weld. Above is Coach Craig Martin.