WATER POLO
North Idaho 18U girls water polo team wins national Junior Olympic Championship: The North Idaho Water Polo (NIWP) 18U girls team recently won the 2024 Session III National Junior Olympics Tournament in Dallas.
At the state championships, the NIWP team started with two fairly easy wins on Thursday, August 1st: 20-2 against the Houston Hydra Empusa and then 22-4 against Zilla Water Polo. The two wins put NIWP in the Platinum Division (top division). The next day, NIWP played very well against a good Utah Kracken team, winning 19-5. Later that same day, the team faced a very disciplined Viper Pigeon Red, who outscored NIWP by one goal (5-4) after a low-scoring and very tough game. The loss in that game made the club’s goal of playing for the championship much more difficult – they had to win the next five games in a row to win the championship.
The next morning, NIWP played another strong team (Northwest Chicago-NWC) and tied 10-10 in regulation time, forcing a shootout. The shootout also ended in a tie, forcing a sudden death shootout. Alena Gonzalez did a fantastic job as goalie, blocking two attempts and converting all of her shots. Gianna Gonzalez scored the final goal needed after a missed shot by NWC to win the game 10.4-10.3.
NIWP then won two more tough, close games that day – against St. Louis Lions Black (13-10) and Storm (15-9). Three games in one day is a lot of water polo and the players were extremely tired by the end of the third game, all of which were challenging games.
However, winning those three games put NIWP in the semifinals. The next morning, the team competed strongly against the talented Houston Hydra Chimera (a much stronger sister team of the club’s first game), winning in a very close game that was 6-5 until the last minute. The win against Houston Chimera put NIWP in the national championship game against the highly regarded Viper Pigeon Pink (the “A” team of the Viper Pigeon Club).
Scouting had revealed that the Vipers were not only considered the best team in the tournament, but that they had not lost a single game throughout the entire tournament. They had a number of excellent shooters who could both shoot hard and hit accurate lobs over the top. VPP ran a modified M-Drop defense where they identified players who were not strong shooters. They then dropped those players to fill the gap.
They also used an early counterattack option – sometimes leaving the game as early as 10 seconds before the end of the shot clock. This puts pressure on the other team to score immediately or face an easy counterattack from the Vipers. NIWP’s attacking strategy was to have Gianna Gonzalez cover most of their match play, occasionally supported by Maren Hover, Simone Gonzalez and Addy Karoblis.
NIWP also positioned some of its strongest shooters (Maren Hover, Claire Thorpe, Greta Hover) on the wings (which is unusual, but had worked well for the guys against teams that pulled defenders from the wings). Jillian Provost and Simone Gonzalez primarily covered the gap while the rest of the team (Lauren Watson, Ella Mohr, Laura Mohr, Addy Karoblis) ran their piston/wedge defense (a partial drop defense to cover the gap).
One area that was challenging for NIWP throughout the tournament was shutouts – this gave the Viper Pigeons plenty of opportunities (nearly 20 throughout the game) to score in 6v5 play. However, NIWP’s 6-5 defense was outstanding as VPP blocked almost everything except weaker shots from the outside or passes from the inside that were blocked by Idaho’s inside players, while Alena Gonzalez did a fantastic job as goalie, blocking anything that got through.
The game was low scoring and very close in the first half as both teams struggled to score against excellent defenses. NIWP opened the scoring with an early goal, followed a few minutes later by a goal from VPP. The teams traded goals in the first half and the halftime score was 4-4.
Jillian Provost took an unfortunate elbow to the chin late in the first half, causing her to leave the game. NIWP was one player short and relied more heavily on the rest of the team to cover the play. Simone Gonzalez had led the scoring charts for NIWP, scoring three goals during the game (a personal best in the JOs). Her sister Gianna Gonzalez led the team with four goals (including two penalties) while forcing VPP to focus several of their players on her, often leaving other positions open.
In the third quarter (NIWP’s weakest quarter during the tournament), Gianna scored a goal to increase the lead to 5-4. During the break in the final quarter, players encouraged each other to redouble their efforts and finish the game, including Simone Gonzalez’s frequent refrain of “We can do it!”
The encouragement seemed to work as VPP failed to score in the second half while NIWP scored three more goals, including a dangerous corner kick from Claire Thorpe that made the score 8-4 with less than a minute to go. VPP had one more possession and Alena won the ball back to take the win.
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Information: 208-664-8176, extension 2019
Photo courtesy: Ella Wilson, 14, a rising freshman at Coeur d’Alene High, won the 2024 Idaho Junior Amateur Girls 13-14 Golf Championship at Teton Lakes Golf Course in Rexburg. Ella shot rounds of 77, 71 and 75 to win her age division by 24 strokes.
Photo by KELLY LUNDY Ian McKenna, coach of the 2016 Sting Soccer Club boys black team, teaches during the 30th annual 2024 Northwest Cup tournament last weekend in Spokane. On Friday afternoon, August 9, the Sting lost 4-2 to the Central Washington Sounders White Arroyo. Sting Black goals were scored by Jackson Martin. On Saturday morning, August 10, the Sting lost 11-2 to the 2016-17 Washington East Surf Soccer Club. Sting Black goals were scored by Jackson Martin. That afternoon, the Sting Black beat the 2016 Spokane Sounders Shadow Basel Valley 6-2. Black goals were scored by Eli Hocking, Jackson Martin, Wesson Malmstadt, Oliver Lundy and Peter Ward. On Sunday, the Sting Black beat the 2016 Basin Sounders Lombardini 5-4. The goals for the Blacks were scored by Kellen McLemore, Jackson Martin and Lincoln Triebwasser.
Photo courtesy: The 2012 Sting Soccer Club boys academy team took second place at the Northwest Cup in Spokane last weekend. Front row from left are Connor McKenna, Blake Cline, Jimmy Greene, Mason Fantozzi, Colin Hutchins, Alister Campbell, Henry Bowlby and assistant coach Robin Bundy; middle row from left are assistant coach Scott McNiel, Zeek McNiel, Sander Bundy, Micah Brumbach, Breesen Ellis and Camden Nelson; and back row from left are Evan Peak, Cooper Nusser, Jake Young, Ben Thomas, Kai Peraldo and Max Shaporda. Not pictured is coach Nick Funkhouser.
Courtesy of the Coeur d’Alene High baseball team. Bam Fenter (left) and Gavin Helms have been invited to play on the Idaho class of 2026 team at the Baseball Northwest Championships, Aug. 8-11 in Vancouver, Washington. The Northwest Championships is a showcase tournament for college and professional scouts, featuring teams made up of players from Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Utah.
Photo Courtesy: The 2013 Sting Soccer Club girls team took first place in the U-12 Gold Bracket of the Northwest Cup in Spokane last weekend. The Sting defeated Three Rivers Soccer Club G13 2-0 in the finals. Front row from left are Nevie Sousley, Kinsey Kiefer, Kyal Carlson, Nora Schock, Peyton Cantrell, Emma Storlie, Evellyn Howard and Kaylee Evans; and back row from left are coach Tomas Barrera, Addison Salas, Hayden Hays, Felicity Miller, Kinsley May, Presley Hart, Nora Snyder, Sophia Quigley, Alexis Morisette, Amelia McGowan, Novalee Hoel and assistant coach Gary Evans.
Photo by KATHY STERLING. The Sting Boys Yellow U9 team plays in the Gold Division and opened its fall season last weekend at the 30th Annual 2024 Northwest Cup Tournament in Airway Heights at the Spokane Polo Fields. Friday night the Sting lost 16-2 to the Spokane Sounders Shadow Spokane B2016. Sting goals were scored by Atlas Lepley (1) and Elijah Cline (1). Saturday afternoon the Sting fell 16-0 to Three Rivers Soccer Club 3RSC B16 Inter Miami. Later that afternoon the Sting narrowly lost 5-4 to the Basin Sounders B2016 Lombardini. Sting goals were scored by Elijah Cline (2), Micah D’Alessandro (1) and Atlas Lepley (1). Sunday morning the Sting fell 11-2 to B16 Charlotte FC. Both Sting goals were scored by Elijah Cline. Pictured from left to right are Xander Rodrigues, Xavier Sousley and Micha D’Alessandro in the black jerseys, and Isaak Sterling and Atlas Lepley fighting for the ball.
Courtesy: The 2011 Coeur d’Alene Sting girls soccer team took second place in the Northwest Cup on Sunday at the Spokane Polo Fields in Airway Heights. On August 8, the Sting defeated the 2011 Spokane Sounders G South 3-1. Elle Sousley, Brinlee Plumb and Kynleigh Rider each scored a goal. On August 10, the Sting lost 2-0 to the 2011 Spokane Shadow G. Later that same day, the Sting defeated the 2011 Spokane Sounders G Samba 3-1. Gracie McVay scored a goal and Elle Sousley scored two goals for the Sting. On August 11, the Sting played a 1-1 draw with Storm FC G in the 11-12 season. Elle Sousley scored the goal for the Sting. In the final later that day, the Sting lost to the Spokane Sounders 3-0. Front row from left are Giuliana Petrillo, Chloe Quinn, Gracie McVey, Kynleigh Rider, Hailey Vaud, Brinlee Plumb, Avery Thompson and Hannah Burkwist; and back row from left are coach Mark Plakorus, Harper Wing, Alex Keating, Evelyn Haycraft, Jillian Speelman, Elle Sousley, Eloise Roger and Kenzy Rix.
Photo by KARI HYNES. The Sting Soccer Club 11 Girls Academy team competed in the 30th annual Northwest Cup last weekend at the Spokane Polo Fields in Airway Heights. The Sting kicked off the tournament on Friday night with a 4-0 win over the Spokane Sounders Shadow 11G GA team. Forwards Kylie Lorona and Presley Moreau each scored a goal and midfielder Lila Moreau scored two goals off assists from her sister Presley Moreau. On Saturday, the Thorns began their day with a 5-0 win over DPL successor team WE Surf SC Columbia Basin G11. Presley Moreau scored all five goals for the Sting, while teammates Constance Ovendale, Brightyn Gatten and Olivia Nusser assisted on three of the goals. The Sting finished their day with a 1-1 tie against Helena Youth Soccer G2011. Brightyn Gatten scored the lone goal for the Sting. On Sunday morning, the Sting again faced Helena Youth Soccer G2011, this time in the championship game, losing 3-0. Next up for the Sting is the start of their DPL season with a home game against CWS G11 DPL Storm on September 7. Front row from left are Aubrey Sargent, Mackenzie Dolan, Olivia Hynes, Presley Moreau and Riley Greene; middle row from left are coach Mark Plakorius, Olivia Nusser, Ava Langer, Payton Brennan, Brightyn Gatten and Emily Hackett; and back row from left are Kendallyn Bowlby, Zoe Lemmon, Vivian Hartzell, Kylie Lorona, Constance Ovendale and Lila Moreau.
