Girls battle in pool

Mike Sciacca

Now, it’s the girls’ turn.

With the Laguna Beach water polo boys’ 12-and-under team having

returned home Tuesday from competing at the Junior Olympics, the

spotlight now shines on the program’s 12- and 14-and-under teams.

Those two teams are currently in San Jose, where they opened play

Thursday in Junior Olympic competition.

Laguna’s 12-and-under squad is in the A bracket of the tournament,

along with Diablo and Davis.

The three teams played a round-robin schedule on Thursday.

Laguna’s 14-and-under team is in the J bracket, along with Diablo

and the North San Diego Stars.

The three J-bracket teams also played a round-robin schedule on

the opening day of the tournament.

The Junior Olympics continues through the weekend.

“I think both teams will be really competitive and solid in the

tournament,” Laguna coach Chad Beeler said. “The 12-and-under girls

are ranked No. 1 in the whole tournament, and the 14-and-under team

is ranked both first and fifth in their zone.

“There are high expectations for these teams, and I like our

chances.”

Beeler said that his 12-and-under team, along with Santa Barbara

and Commerce, are favorites for the division title.

His players agree.

“I think we can finish fourth-place and above,” said Jessica

Shusko, 11, a hole set who attends Thurston Middle School. “We’ve

played a lot of these teams before and we know that we can beat them.

“This is my first time at the Junior Olympics, and I’m looking

forward to seeing the other teams and comparing them to us. I

definitely see us right up there.”

Yoshi Andersen, 11, is a power driver. A teammate and classmate of

Shusko’s, she will be making her second trip to a Junior Olympic

tournament.

She has one particular goal in mind.

“I want to be able to beat Santa Barbara,” Andersen said of

Laguna’s rival, which has won all three matches this year between the

two teams. “There are a lot of good teams playing here, but we know

we can beat any of them. We just need to play well as a team.”

Laguna’s 12-and-under team is comprised of Shusko, Andersen,

Etianne Manetta, Riley Duncan, Ana Carrete, Kaitlyn Waidley, Page

Armando, Candyce Schroeder, Alia Manetta, Melena Masson and Jessie

Holechek.

Laguna’s 14-and-under team features Sarah Zuziak, Annika Dries,

Hannah Fait, Madison Duncan, Katharine Brown, Siena Martin, Dylan

Conroy, Arianna Ross, Arielle Palmer and Alexandra Ross.