After winning back-to-back Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championships, the Merced High girls water polo team was elevated to Division I this season. The Division I field means bigger schools with deeper and usually more talented rosters. The Bears are looking forward to the challenge.

 

“The team that we expect to be the number one D1 team (Davis of Yolo), we played them and we gave them a good run for their money,” said Merced coach Kit Grattan. “So I think we're ready.”

 

The Davis girls water polo team has set the standard in the Sac-Joaquin Section for decades. The defending Division I section champions are again ranked No. 1 overall in the section by MaxPreps. The Bears (7-3) are currently ranked No. 2 and played Davis tough, losing 11-10 in a tightly contested game on September 18.

 

With all but one player returning and the addition of two talented freshmen in Evalyn Drum and Marin McAuley the Bears appear ready for the challenge of taking on the Division I field when it comes time for the playoffs. 

 

“After that game, I think we can,” said Grattan, after playing Davis tough. “We have a chance, as good a chance as anybody else.”

 

The Bears are heavy favorites to win a third consecutive Central California Conference championships. Merced opened CCC play with a 15-0 victory over El Capitan, which came into Thursday’s game undefeated at 8-0 and ranked No. 5 overall in the section.

 

The Bears return CCC co-MVP Sarah Slocum, Defensive Player of the Year Dorothy Drury and all-CCC first-team selections Taylor Lung and Audrey O’Bruba. Drury led the Bears in scoring against El Capitan with four goals and Kate McIntosh and Zoey Hickman added three goals each. 

 

“I'm pretty excited,” said McIntosh about the challenges awaiting for Merced in Division 1 this season. “I think our team is going to go far this year. I definitely think we're going to make it to section finals, so we're definitely excited for that.”

 

“It's exciting to see teams that we haven't seen before,” added A’Bruba. “I feel like it gives us a lot of ambition and determination because we've never done it before. We’ve beaten D2, now we want to take over D1, because why not?”

 

The Bears have a balanced offensive attack with Slocum, Drury, McIntosh, Lung, Hickman and Olivia Westerberg all able to come up with big goals when called up. However, Merced’s ability to apply intense pressure on the defensive end will once again be a strength. The Bears are hoping tough tournaments in Modesto and a tourney against Bay Area opponents will help prepare them for a tougher playoff run.

 

“It seems like we're even better on offense than we were last year,” Grattan said. “We're more diverse, and everybody is contributing. But really, defense is the key to our success.”

 

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.