Community Sports

Sports Beat | Water polo teams dominating their divisions

Both local boys water polo teams are submerging opponents at an impressive pace. Gig Harbor (9-2) is tied atop the state’s Division One rankings, while Peninsula (11-0) is ranked No. 1 in the Division Two rankings.

Division One favorites

Tides coach Alana Ponce knows what it takes to win a state title, since she won three of them as a player at Gig Harbor. She feels her current team has a real chance to win the D-1 state crown in a few weeks after finishing third last season. Curtis and Bellevue are Gig Harbor’s main competitors.

Gig Harbor goalkeeper Sam Petrie. Photo couresy of Gig Harbor water polo

A major reason for Gig Harbor’s success this season is goalie Sam Petrie, who has a wide wingspan, impressive kick out of the water and lightning-quick reflexes.

Junior center Owen Moore leads the offense with 35 goals, trailed closely by sophomore attacker Whitaker Filbey with 31 goals. Both have excellent swimming speed in transition, strong arms and high accuracy on their scoring attempts.

Whitaker Filbey is second in goals scored for Gig Harbor. Photo courtesy of Gig Harbor water polo.

New state rules have quickened the pace of play, but Gig Harbor’s defense has been physical and cohesive. The Tides have surrendered just 76 goals in 12 games.

Division Two unbeatens

Across town, the Seahawks hope to win the state Division Two title and thus qualify to play in Division One category next season.

Third-year Peninsula coach Ben Douglas, who played club water polo at San Jose State, grew up around a pool deck. His father coached high school water polo for 35 years in central California.

Douglas is excited about his junior-dominated group, which plays with aggression, speed and plenty of emotion.

Those emotions were on display when the Seahawks beat Puyallup in overtime by one goal in the Seahawks pool and celebrated by splashing water all over themselves and their coach.

The Seahawks later won a rematch over the Vikings, again by one goal. The two teams could meet again in the Division Two championship at Rogers High School on Nov. 10.

The Peninsula water polo team lifts goalkeeper Oliver Salter on their shoulders after a tournament win. Photo by Ben Douglas

Junior center Cullen Stitt averages six goals per contest. He is creative around the goal, quick to the ball and consistently draws double teams.

“Cullen is a fantastic kid who is the heartbeat of our team,” Douglas said. “He has definitely been consistent and come through with goals late in games. He’s a big-moment player.”

Senior Travis Buell is another top scorer.

“Travis has a great arm and has made several clutch shots,” Douglas said. “He uses a strong leg kick to get high out of the water and is definitely a complement to Stitt as a lethal inside-outside threat.”

Keeper is key

The Seahawks have a good one in the cage in junior Oliver Salter, whom the U.S. Water Polo Association selected for its Olympic development program.

“It’s rare to see a player with Oliver’s work ethic,” Douglas said. “He has definitely bought into the sport. … He has stopped countless three-on-ones and saved us on penalty shots many, many times.”

Douglas added that all seven starters make the Seahawks dangerous. “You can have studly players on your team, but it’s seven guys playing together that are ultimately going to win tough games.”

If the Seahawks finish in the top three at the Division Two tournament, they will compete in the Division One state tournament at the Curtis High School pool Nov. 11 through 13.

Big football matchups

Both local football teams have enormous matchups in their final regular-season contests, with divisional titles on the line for the winners.

Peninsula (5-2, 4-0) lost its first two games this season, but has reeled off five straight wins since. The Seahawks have defeated four Nisqually Division opponents by an average of 25 points per game.

They face Lakes (6-1, 4-0) for the Nisqually Division championship at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Roy Anderson Field.

Gig Harbor also rebounded from some early-season troubles to win four consecutive games by an average of 18 points, including an impressive victory at Lincoln.

Gig Harbor center Rylon Clarence. Photo by Vincent Starr

The Tides play at Mount Tahoma (4-3, 4-0) for the Narrows Division championship at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23.

The teams appear evenly matched, on paper.

Gig Harbor: Turnover margin

So what could be the deciding factor in these games?

Gig Harbor coach Jeff Scoma, who keeps his pregame comments as tight as a full house on a poker player’s chest, said: “I want our team to play fast and confident on offense and defense, but really it’s about the ball. No turnovers (on offense) and our defense creates turnovers.”

That formula worked for the Tides in a 31-28 win over Lincoln on Oct. 2. Gig Harbor didn’t turn the ball over and intercepted two passes in Abe territory, including one in Lincoln’s end zone to preserve a victory.

Peninsula head coach Clay Mauro is more of an open book type, but is clever enough to only say what he wants an opponent to hear.

Peninsula: Unpredictable offense

To Mauro, a key against Lakes is his team being unpredictable on offense.

Peninsula running back Thomas Marzano. Photo by Ed Johnson

“We need to show multiple sets, move their defenders around and be varied in our pass- and run-game packages,” Mauro said. “We need to throw a lot of darts on the wall, make them think and hopefully slow down their team speed.

“On defense we need to limit big plays from their skill-position players, but just as important as either of those is that we don’t over-hype this game in our heads.

“Remember we’re already winners,” Mauro said. “We got blown out in our first two games (by opponents with a combined 13-2 record) but we completely turned it around. We just don’t want the game to feel too big. They put their pants on one leg at a time just like us, so I hope we go out, play loose and have fun on senior night.”