Runners-Up

This is the story of the little team that could. A David and Goliath story (as Koop called it) if ever there was one. Sierra High School, with its poplation of 650 students, had cut Water Polo as a school sport this year. In light of this economy, it is just too expensive to run, generates no income, and the only competition comes from schools 3 times our size.

Despite thse obsticles, the athletes, parents, and community raised money so that this sport could exist. The athletes worked hard, played hard, and dedicated a lot of time to making it all worthwhile.

On November 15th, after an extraordinary winning season, the Varsity Girls' Water Polo team competed in the Division 2 Valley Finals. To get there and to secure a high seed and a home match, they had to beat our rivals Yosemite on their turf first. In a stunning comeback defeat, through cold and fog, these girls pulled it off. The first round of playoffs found us at home against the superpower, Garces (a private school out of Bakersfield)

A satisfying win put us at home again against Tulare Western. In a hard-fought, last-ten-seconds, one-point win...the girls earned their way to the Valley Finals.

Ultimately, the girls brought home a 2nd place trophy and this little team that should not have even existed this year showed everyone what you can do when you BELIEVE!