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Three years. Three championships. Three trophies. On November 1, the Washington High School Varsity Girls Water Polo team clinched their third consecutive MVAL championship win in a dominant performance against James Logan High School, showcasing their determination and skill. With this season’s win, they cemented their place as one of the most successful athletic programs at Washington, marking another achievement in their continuously growing legacy. The victory also adds to a proud tradition that stretches back to Washington’s past MVAL three-peats from 1999-2001 and again from 2015-2017.
This year’s MVAL championship game took place at Newark Memorial High School in November. Before the game, the team took time to relax and get in the zone outside on the basketball courts, blasting music and stretching to get ready for the game. Once they got in the water though, it was all business. The first quarter was an intense battle between the two teams. Washington’s goalie, #1 Ava Huggins, made excellent blocks, shutting Logan out. In the last two seconds of the same quarter, a gorgeous goal was scored by #18 Jhanavi Venkataramana.
The second quarter was equally intense, with #13 Ceceilia Doeschot scoring a 5-meter (penalty shot) that she drew by pushing the ball under water on Logan’s goalie. Another score came shortly after, when Venkataramana made a beautifully executed counter attack, helped by #9 Ava Ellsworth. Near the end of the quarter, Logan retaliated with a crosscage lob, making the score 3-1 at the half. The third quarter, much like the first, was a raging battle as both teams struggled to run effective offenses due to suffocating defense. However, taking advantage of a hole in Logan’s defense, Venkataramana completed her hat trick with another crosscage goal!
The fourth quarter was the most exciting, with the most goals scored. The quarter started off with Logan finding enough space to make a hard set shot, making the score 4-2. The Huskies were able to respond quickly with an iron hard shot block from Doeschot that got the momentum back on Washington’s side. Soon, she was able to steal the ball and pass it to #11 Taylor Thompson as she sped to a wide open counterattack goal. Logan, beginning to get desperate, sent their goalie out of the cage so she could help with offense. This backfired when Venkataramana’s shot ricocheted off the goalpost and was pushed in by #17 Rebecca Spivey. The Huskies didn’t wait long to strike again, with Washington taking advantage of Logan’s 7 man attack once more. Ellsworth, forcing a turnover, threw the ball to Spivey who scored with Logan’s goalie nowhere in sight. The last minute saw Logan rally enough to get one final goal, but it didn’t matter, and Washington claimed victory 60 seconds later.
Winning the trophy again wasn’t the only thing familiar to the players, as they were also facing James Logan High School, the same team they’d played in finals for the last three years. The two teams met each other once before the MVAL finals in the regular season. The matchup ended with Washington winning 16-5 on their senior night. Their next meeting went much like the first, with Washington walking away with a 7-3 victory. Washington and Logan have battled for the league title for years, something that only fueled the schools fierce rivalry. Freshman Taylor Thompson says, “It’s always exciting to face Logan, [and] winning our senior night game against them was one of the highlights of the season.”
One of the key factors that sets Washington’s girls water polo team apart from others in the league is their team dynamic. The players attribute much of their success to the bond built of respect and communication that they share. The team is an incredibly close-knit group that has built lasting friendships strengthened through team bonding events, creating positive relationships inside and out of the pool. “One of the biggest reasons I think our team is successful is how well we get along and communicate,” states first-year player, Liliana Anaya. This sentiment is echoed by Abby Stewart, a junior and 3rd year player, who noted the team’s compatibility and appreciation for each person’s contribution to the team, saying “our team is very strong in so many different aspects. Whether it’s shooting skills, speed, or good defense, we are able to work together and succeed against other teams. We’ve also had a crazy good goalie which really gave us a great advantage.”
Despite their success in recent years, the team knows the road ahead won’t be easy, especially with several key senior players graduating. However, the team has remained optimistic, something Stewart emphasized when interviewed. “We had a motto this season that was repeated so often that it was printed on to a shirt that our coach, Scott Harvey, proudly wore,” she says. “Our motto was ‘baddies not babies’ and it was eventually turned into a cheer. It really helped us create a fun positive atmosphere when we were stressed out in games.” For first year player Taylor Thompson, the team’s resilience was essential to her own development throughout the season: “[The season was] a lot of fun. All the girls were very nice, and I had a great time. I’m looking forward to next year.”
Lily Spivey is a junior at Washington High School and has lived in Fremont her whole life. This is her first year working on The Hatchet and she hopes to cover current events, pop culture, and student life. Lily spends most of her free time reading, listening to music, and hanging out with friends. She’s also been on the varsity swim and water polo teams since her freshman year. In the future, she hopes to become a pediatrician and have a house near the coast.