On January 14th, our varsity Girls Water Polo team faced Garden Grove HS in their league opener as well as senior night. As the game commenced you could tell that today was the day. The pool was filled with lots of positive energy, and you can see it in the players. They had an excellent game all around with defense keeping it well defended in the back and offense putting away lots of goals. In the first quarter we noticed a great start into the game by #8 Emma Chagallon lighting up the scoreboard making it 1-0 early on. The goals continued to come as we had 3 more goals from #5 Zoey Ochoa. After that we had another goal from Emma Chagallon making it the 2nd of the night for her. We then had 1 goal from #3 Heaven Contreras. Last but not least we had a goal from #11 Selene Hernandez to top off the half. Goalie Jayden Starr Smith had a great half as well as she had 8 blocks in the first 2 quarters! The girls showed their dominance letting everyone know that they’re the big ones in the league.
Third quarter began and the girls had a huge lead against Garden Grove of 7-0. With a couple of minutes into the game the BP girls were knocking on the door with a lot of opportunities making the lead even bigger. That then cost them with a goal from Garden Grove taking the shutout Jayden-Star was looking for on their senior night. The next play would lead to a goal from Mikalea Prieto bringing the score to a 8-1 lead. Next goal came from #5 Zoey Ochoa assisted by #3 Heaven Contreras. The game somewhat started to go back and forth creating chances from both teams but nothing too exciting. Until the ball was played to #5 Zoey Ochoa once again with a defender on her and her back towards the goal with an outstanding shot no one would expect without looking at the goal assisted by #3 Heaven Contreras bringing the score to 10-1. With the last minutes of the third quarter left the girls were able to end it with a score of 11-1 another goal by #3 Heaven Contreras and assisted by Selene Hernandez.
To start off the 4th quarter the Buena Park water polo girls started strong and with everything they had. Especially with Jayden Starr hoping to put up a goal on the scoreboard from the half. Her shot came really close then picked off by the opponent and Garden Grove was a counter attack. With Jayden on the center of the field she had no worry to get back and receive a goal. The counter attack wasn’t quick enough to catch the girls from Buena Park but indeed was really close as Jayden was forced to make a great save. The ball went back up top to #5 Zoey Ochoa who created another goal with her special move, shooting backwards without looking at the goal bringing the score 12-1. The next play Garden Grove responded with a goal that could not be blocked by BP’s goalie now making it 12-2. This then forced the coach for the Buena Park team to make some substitutes bringing on #6 and #2. Minutes later #5 Zoey Ochoa was able to put two more goals on the scoreboard ending the game with a huge win of 14-2. At the end it was a successful night for the girls especially on their senior night expanding their first place lead in the league.
INTERVIEWS:
Senior Jayden Starr Smith:
Alex: Who am I here with today?
Jayden: Jayden Starr Smith.
Alex: What position do you play in water polo?
Jayden: I’m the goalie.
Alex: Okay…. So how do you feel that your four years of high school water polo is coming to an end ?
Jayden: I feel sad but I’m ready to start a new journey in life.
Alex: What was the greatest lesson you have learned throughout your these four years?
Jayden: I think the greatest lesson I learned is to take my losses with a great result and make a better image than losses.
Alex: What did high school water polo mean to you?
Jayden: It made a lot of great friendships for me and it also helped me with a lot I didn’t know I needed help with.
Alex: Thank you for your time.
Senior Selene Hernandez:
Alex: What position do you play in water polo?
Selene: I play Utility and attacker.
Alex: Throughout these four years what was the greatest lesson youve learned ?
Selene: I think not to take anything personal.
Alex: What did high school water polo mean to you?
Selene: It meant a lot because it taught me a lot of new things and I also got to meet a lot of people.
Alex: How do you feel that your four years are coming to an end?
Selene: I feel really sad just because I’m not sure if I’m going to see all seven girls continuously throughout the years like after high school.
Alex: Thank you for your time.
