Girls water polo: Future bright for Mustangs

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Costa Mesa High girls water polo coach Ann-Marie

Krenik found out about her job position three weeks before the season

started, but it hasn’t taken her long to realize what type of team she

has.

With the help of co-coach Mike Whitman, a former aquatics standout at

Costa Mesa, Krenik is building a solid program that will enter the Golden

West League next year. But, first things first, the Mustangs are ready

for this season.

“We have improved 100% from the first game up to now,” said Krenik, a

first-year coach, who teaches eighth-grade language arts for Mesa. “The

girls have pulled together as a team and they are going to be a force to

be reckoned with. I think (teams like Corona del Mar) will be surprised.

We are not going to be as easy to play against as they thought.”

Krenik, who earned her degree at Cal State Fullerton, usually coaches

swimming, but is quickly adapting to water polo. She will coach the Costa

Mesa junior varsity and freshman swimming teams this spring.

Whitman, who recently helped guide the Golden West College men’s water

polo team to a state championship, has been coordinating several drills

during practices and has been instrumental in the Mustangs (4-7)

improvement process.

“He has been doing an awesome job with the girls,” Krenik said of

Whitman.

Mesa, which missed the playoffs last year with a 2-3 record in the

Pacific Coast League, has been led by senior team captain Ashley Wright.

The future looks quite bright for the Mustangs as players like junior

Allison Gravis and sophomore Jessica Steenhard will be back for Mesa in

its new league next year. In addition, sophomore goalie Gina Paulhus

gains experience with each game.

“Allison Gravis is our workhorse,” said Krenik, who plans to remain as

the Mustangs coach next year. “She works hard as far as hustling goes.”

COSTA MESA HIGH GIRLS WATER POLO

Ashley Wright Sr.

Allison Gravis Jr.

Candice Carpenter Sr.

Gina Paulhus So.

Katie Axton Sr.

Jessica Bunnell Jr.

Sarah Douglas Sr.

Allyson Harris Fr.

Veronica Leeper Jr.

Tiffany Ness So.

Quyen Nguyen So.

Shirley Peng Sr.

Celinda Sandoval Jr.

Jessica Steenhard So.

Katie Thorsness Jr.

Co-coaches: Ann-Marie Krenik and Mike Whitman