The varsity girls water polo team’s season is coming to a close. In league play, the girls took down the Ponderosa Bruins, the Del Campo Cougars and the Antelope Titans but fell to the Bella Vista Broncos, the Whitney Wildcats, and the Oakmont Vikings. At 3-3, the team currently sits in fourth place in league and will compete in the league finals tournament to have a shot at the playoffs.

According to coach Paul Stewart, much of the team’s success can be attributed to standout sophomores Shannon Young and Anne Hoppes. Both combine to average almost five goals per game and are the team’s top two leading scorers, Hoppes having 54 goals and Young with 33.

Young also doubles as one of the team’s goalies and has spent some games in the goal as opposed to scoring on offense.

Young feels that her vision in the pool during games is key to her play.

“I feel like I make a lot of things happen like moving the ball around and seeing things play out,” Young said.

Hoppes recognizes her contributions to the team, but also feels that all of the girls work together in order to achieve success.

“I feel that I am a big part of the team but I feel this year it’s everybody, and everybody helps the team,” Hoppes said.

Stewart is excited to see how the two progress and looks forward to when they will lead the team next year.

Hoppes is also impressed with the team’s progression since last year and feels that this year’s team exhibits much more experienced play.

“I am extremely ecstatic about how far the team has come, because last year a lot of times we were losing games and really down for the count, and we had players who were just learning the game,” Hoppes said.

In order to advance to the next stage of playoffs, the team must place well in the league finals tournament and Stewart feels confident in the team’s ability to continue on.