Highlanders building program
The Piedmont High School girls water polo team has been building throughout the season, looking to turn talent into wins.
The Highlanders are 6-10 on the season, 1-4 in West Alameda County Conference play.
The team has 11 players with eight seniors, according to coach Georgia Lewis.
“We were pretty stagnant at the beginning of the season,” Lewis said. “We didn’t really know what to do. We were frozen when we got the ball. Getting motion around a dropped defense.
“I want us to play more cohesively. Right now we have individual skills. I have no doubt that the girls want to work together. We need to communicate and have more cohesive drives and run successful plays.”
Senior Sydney Olsen has been strong at outside and center defender.
“She’s just always cool, calm and collected and ready for what she needs to do,” Lewis said.
Senior Rachel Young has been a top outside shooter.
“She’s a great post up player, she makes really smart passes on offense and she can play anywhere on defense,” Lewis said.
Esme Krumins is a junior playing on the side.
“She is a really smart offensive player,” Lewis said. “I like her taking outside shots and making drives.”
Senior sprinter Abigail Jacoby is another team leader.
“She’s fast,” Lewis said. “She’s always good for a speedy counter and helping back to stop the counter on defense. She can take the shots on the worst angle and still succeed.”
Multiple players have gotten time in goal. Olson, Celeste Dickason and Zoe Waitkus are among the group. Freshman Havia Leonard has never played before but Lewis said she is very enthusiastic. Sophomore Mara Pisani is the only freshman back from last season.
“She’s got a great shot,” Lewis said of Pisani. “She really stepped up in the Berkeley game and I was really pleased with that.”
Piedmont got a nice 12-6 win over Clayton Valley on October 18 at a local tournament. The Highlanders went 1-2 on the weekend. The Eagles got a bit of revenge on October 20 with a 9-7 victory.
Piedmont got its lone league win on October 14 at San Leandro, 13-6.