Matt Phelps
Mercer Island Reporter
Changes are a part of sports from season to season. But the changes that the Mercer Island girls water polo program have gone through are enough to fill three or four years. The team will enter the 2008 campaign with its third head coach in four years, and it will split time between a new and old home pool, face the emergence of a new team that could be the Islanders’ biggest hurdle to winning state and major turnover in its roster.
“We only have five returning players, and over half the players have never played,” said Islander senior Emma Peterson. “But as long as we play our best, we will be fine.”
Mercer Island only suffered two losses last year, both to Newport. The second loss came in the state finals, as the Knights prevented Mercer Island from winning its ninth state title in eight years.
“The kids are definitely focused on getting back at Newport,” said new Islander coach Bekki Lyon. “I think this rivalry will last a few years.”
Another team, a new team, is on the horizon. Many Eastside players have come together to form the Eastside Catholic/Sammamish team. But the road to state still goes through the Island.
“Last year we were really disappointed, but I think it has given us more drive,” said Peterson.
Lyon is not worried about drive or chemistry with her new team but rather having good practices and strong fundamentals.
“We have a strong group of seniors, and that combined with a new coaching style will allow us to have a good season,” said Lyon.
The coach follows two males who combined to hold the post for over a decade.
“They are going to have to learn how to take direction in a new way,” said Lyon. “Our motivation will come from team chemistry and positive encouragement.”
Lyon moved to Washington from California in 2006 with her husband. She coached club teams, a high school team to the state title and was an assistant coach for a national youth team. Lyon graduated from the University of California Santa Cruise and went to grad school at Stanford. She is currently a homeschool teacher. The coach’s ability to connect with kids and teach one-on-one will come in handy as the team’s roster went through some big changes. Gone are Katie Stadius and Georgia Gier. Both players were a force during the 2007 season and Gier’s 6-foot-2 frame is irreplaceable.
Along with Peterson, junior Christina Weed and sophomores Laura Horton and Hayley March will be looked to for leadership in and out of the pool.
“I am getting thrown into a teaching role for some of the younger girls,” said Peterson, who is a senior. “We like Bekki because, while we are not used to a female coach, she is still strong and decisive.”
One big change for Islander fans is the opportunity to actually attend some home games without taking out a loan for gas. Instead of playing all of their games at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, the team will split time between Edgebrook in Bellevue and Mary Wayte Pool.
“We should have about five games at Mary Wayte,” said Lyon. “That was a league decision because of the distance.”
Instead of having games on Tuesday nights at 8:30 p.m., all of the games have been moved to Fridays at either 5 or 6 p.m.
“It will be nice to have games that our fans can actually attend,” said Peterson. “Fan access is good for the future [of the program.]”
The future is now for Peterson and her team, which got off to a good start with victories over Eastside Catholic/Sammamish (CPA) on Friday, 12-8.
