Girls’ Water Polo United by One Coach
JV coach Steve Kurihara takes on new varsity responsibility this season
By Colin Smith
JV coach Steve Kurihara takes on new varsity responsibility this season
By Colin Smith
The girls’ water polo team this year has a new varsity coach after junior varsity coach Steve Kurihara took on the responsibility of coaching both teams with the help of two assistant coaches. With a new set of players and a different coaching staff, this season of water polo is looking to be off to a great start.
Kurihara also moved up to varsity with players who have had him as their coach throughout all of high school and are looking forward to playing under the same coach again. One player who moved up to varsity this year, Heidi Spence, 11, is especially optimistic about this new change.
“I’m really excited about it because I love coach Kurihara and he’s taught me everything I know about water polo,” Spence said. “He’s helped me develop all of the skills that I’ve ever had playing water polo.”
Returning varsity player and team captain Michaela Harrel, 12, is excited about the team bonding opportunities between varsity and JV which Kurihara has presented with him taking on the responsibility of both teams.
“The past years that I’ve been on the team, at the practices, we pretty much just did the initial warmup together and then we split off and did our own thing, but now we do a lot more of the drills and exercises together,” Harrel said. “I think it’s really great for making a team bond between JV and varsity which we really haven’t had before.
Having both teams being mentored by one coach not only creates a stronger bond between JV and varsity, but also a more cohesive playing style on both levels which bridges the gap for players when they move up.
“It’s awkward if you’re moving a kid up from JV and then you don’t know any of the varsity kids and then it’s just a mess. I think that it’s definitely going to help with that,” said Harrel.
According to Kurihara, it’s a tough effort to coach both teams, but he’s risen to the occasion along with the help from two assistant coaches, Alisabeth Bacon and Beth Korbus.
“I have to split my time, so I do feel a little bit bad about that, because I would like to spend more time with both squads,” Kurihara said. “Even though there are challenges, I really enjoy doing this, as the team is a great bunch of girls out there, so it’s my pleasure to coach them.”
With a new coach and thrilled players, the varsity water polo team is working hard to overcome any challenges and face the season head-on. The next girls’ varsity water polo game will be at 7 p.m. on Sept. 25 at Evergreen High School.
Kurihara also moved up to varsity with players who have had him as their coach throughout all of high school and are looking forward to playing under the same coach again. One player who moved up to varsity this year, Heidi Spence, 11, is especially optimistic about this new change.
“I’m really excited about it because I love coach Kurihara and he’s taught me everything I know about water polo,” Spence said. “He’s helped me develop all of the skills that I’ve ever had playing water polo.”
Returning varsity player and team captain Michaela Harrel, 12, is excited about the team bonding opportunities between varsity and JV which Kurihara has presented with him taking on the responsibility of both teams.
“The past years that I’ve been on the team, at the practices, we pretty much just did the initial warmup together and then we split off and did our own thing, but now we do a lot more of the drills and exercises together,” Harrel said. “I think it’s really great for making a team bond between JV and varsity which we really haven’t had before.
Having both teams being mentored by one coach not only creates a stronger bond between JV and varsity, but also a more cohesive playing style on both levels which bridges the gap for players when they move up.
“It’s awkward if you’re moving a kid up from JV and then you don’t know any of the varsity kids and then it’s just a mess. I think that it’s definitely going to help with that,” said Harrel.
According to Kurihara, it’s a tough effort to coach both teams, but he’s risen to the occasion along with the help from two assistant coaches, Alisabeth Bacon and Beth Korbus.
“I have to split my time, so I do feel a little bit bad about that, because I would like to spend more time with both squads,” Kurihara said. “Even though there are challenges, I really enjoy doing this, as the team is a great bunch of girls out there, so it’s my pleasure to coach them.”
With a new coach and thrilled players, the varsity water polo team is working hard to overcome any challenges and face the season head-on. The next girls’ varsity water polo game will be at 7 p.m. on Sept. 25 at Evergreen High School.