Twice as nice

Joseph Boo

NEWPORT BEACH - For Newport Harbor High’s frosh/soph girls water

polo team, this season has been almost exactly the same as last year, so

there is nothing to complain about.

The Sailors started off this season 11-0. They repeated as the champions

of the El Toro tournament Jan. 8, defeating Irvine, 5-4.

In the next two games, the Sailors defeated Irvine again in their Sea

View League opener, 5-2, and El Toro, 6-1. Newport has now positioned

itself as the favorite for its second straight league title.

“I don’t know how long this is going to last,” Newport Harbor frosh-soph

Coach Les Cutler said, “but these girls are rather capable of doing it.”

The fast start is a pleasant surprise for a team with only one sophomore,

but the freshmen have acclimated themselves pretty well.

“These girls went through a good summer program,” Cutler said. “through

the Newport youth program, they had some experience coming into high

school.”

Three freshmen and one sophomore impressed enough to start working out

with the varsity team. Ashley Wight, who leads the Sailors with 29 goals,

17 of them in the El Toro tournament, Ashley Parole and goalie Raelyn

Ritchie are in the same pool with the varsity players, along with

sophomore Amber Braly.

“At first, it was a quite a challenge for them,” Cutler said. “I think

they were afraid, since they were freshmen. But they were holding their

own pretty well.”

Not to say that the rest of the team isn’t capable. Ritchie’s backup,

Candace Taylor, although playing at the novice level, came through in the

El Toro tournament, with 11 saves.

Paige Lansing is second on the team in goals scored. Her and Tiffany

Manderino came through on defense for Newport. And Alexandra Anderson

scored four times at El Toro. Jennifer Scharfe, Peggy Beebe, Katie

Adnoff, Katie Robinson and Katie Kerstner fill out the Sailors.

Just as important as the win against Irvine in the El Toro championship

game was the second victory over the Vaqueros.

“Our first priority is to win league,” Cutler said. “If we have a chance

of repeating, we have to beat Irvine.”

Halfway into the season, Irvine’s two losses, and of course, Newport’s

unbeaten record, makes the Sailors a prohibitive favorite.

“It’s going to be a challenge, but I accept that challenge to hold the

girls well motivated,” Cutler said of keeping the momentum. “And the

girls are capable, because they have pretty good knowledge of the game.

Barnett likes the players to be students of the game. As long as they’re

students and have fun, it’ll be OK.”