Paly waterpolo teams head to playoffs with high hopes

Girls', boys' teams compensate for weak start to season by finishing strong

posted November 9, 2009

by Pablo Morales of Campanile

Mark Havilk

Team captain and senior driver Bobby Abbott maneuvers around an opponent in a 7-11 Paly loss against Los Altos High School on Oct. 15. The Viking boys struggled this season, losing eight games to league opponents.

The Palo Alto High School Varsity water polo season is coming to an end with both boy's and girl's water polo teams attempting to make a strong push into the postseason.

Both teams had emotional roller coaster seasons filled with elation and disappointment.

The girls' waterpolo team has learned a lot this season from a variety of different experiences, including losses to Henry M. Gunn High School to blowout wins against Mountain View High School.

Junior Lori Krakirian recounted the team's less than satisfactory experience at the beginning of the season and compares it to the current improved state.

"Earlier in the season against Los Gatos [High School] we played really passively, we didn't take control of the game like we should have," Krakirian said. "We are a lot more focused now, especially in practice."

This increased amount of focus during practices has improved team performance and chemistry.

"We work well as a team, we go out and have fun and have great chemistry," Krakirian said.

Injuries and illnesses have been contributing factors to some of the losses during the season.

"We've had a lot of sick and injured people," Krakirian said. " This has contributed to our struggle because it affects so many things, like missing players during practice means we don't practice with them and can't get used to their style of play."

Krakirian commends the team for being well-rounded.

"[Junior] Anna Glaves has started shooting more and is becoming a better player, and [junior] Rachel Harrus is a strong player in the pool and sets up a lot of amazing plays," Krakirian said.

A surprise standout this season has been senior attacker Ally Shorin.

"Since the Gunn game Ally has gotten so good," Krakirian said. "The team was expecting her to have a breakout season and she is just peaking at the right time. I'm expecting great stuff from her in leagues and the Central Coastal Section playoffs."

Sophomore Skylar Dorosin is confident that the team will be strong despite the departing seniors.

"Even though we're losing seniors, we'll be great because we can overcome their loss," Dorosin said. "The juniors turning into seniors and the underclassmen becoming more experienced will help us step up our game. I personally think we are the best team in the league this season and we will be the best team next season ,too."

Meanwhile, the boys' team approaches the end of the season with more downs than up. The Vikings finished with a 4-8 league record and are hoping to make it into the playoffs.

"Since we've gained experience throughout the course of the season, our underclassmen have improved,"

sophomore goalie Daniel Armitano said.

"We are better players now because we work harder during practice. I am definitely looking forward to strong performances by them if we make the playoffs."

The team has expectations to make it to CCS and get second or third in league.

Armitano expects senior captain Bobby Abbott to carry the team into the postseason.

"Bobby is really good and as an experienced senior, he will continue to lead the team," Armitano said. "He is really good on offense and defense."

However, the team will be able to count on other strong players to guide them to victory this postseason.

"Aaron [Zelinger] is taking more of a role in team playing and leadership. He is doing good things for the team," Abbott said. "Bret [Pinsker] is stepping up as a freshman. He helps the team a lot."

Armitano says the team's chances will depend on the team's chemistry during playoffs.

"We are very close, we are comfortable enough to joke around with each other and especially the coaches," Armitano said.

The team is hoping to emulate some of its better games throughout the season.

"We played pretty well in our game against Gunn even though we lost," Armitano said. "We showed a lot of composure and team playing."

Another time the team displayed its improvement was in its performance at the Roche Tournament.

"If we play like we did in those situations, we will be pretty good in the postseason," Armitano said.