WESTLAKE WALL—Warrior goalkeeper Maddie De Ronde stretches to save a score during practice. Westlake plays host to first-place Agoura on Friday at 3:15 p.m. JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers Farhad Ghaemi thinks highly of his Westlake High girls’ water polo team.

“This is probably the best Westlake water polo team (in school history),” said Ghaemi, the Warriors’ head coach.

“We don’t have one go-to player. But we have a good team with balance throughout the starting lineup. Every single player in the starting lineup is a threat. They trust each other. They believe in each other.”

Westlake has backed up its second-year coach by playing proficiently in the water.

The Warriors (13-5 overall, 3-2 in the Marmonte League) finished fourth among 29 teams at Newbury Park’s Mistletoe Classic—their best finish ever at the local tournament. They nabbed second in the 32-school Los Altos Tournament.

FIRE WHEN READY—WHS co-captain Amy LeFevre takes a shot. JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers Westlake, which plays Agoura at home on Friday, has never finished higher than fourth in the Marmonte, Ghaemi said.

The Warriors, however, have a strong shot at securing second place behind heavyweight Agoura. Newbury Park, Royal and Thousand Oaks are also challenging WHS.

Ghaemi thought this might be a rebuilding year for Westlake, which finished fifth and missed the postseason in 2009.

Not quite.

“The girls have stepped it up,” he said.

Several Warriors from last spring’s section champion swim team buttress a fast squad that shares the ball on offense and plays aggressive defense.

Senior co-captains Amy LeFevre and Jeanette Pasche illustrate Westlake’s balance and versatility.

LeFevre and Pasche share the team lead with 28 goals apiece.

“Amy is a great defensive player,” the coach said. “She always works hard. She’s not only athletic-wise talented; she’s mentally one of our toughest players. She has stepped it up offensively big time.

“Jeanette is all grit. She’s like a feisty animal in the pool. Everyone knows she’s tough.”

Pasche said hard work is translating into victories.

“We’re pushing ourselves to have higher standards,” said Pasche, a whole set. “We have high expectations of ourselves. We work together and have fun.”

LeFevre said the passing has been an integral part of Westlake’s attack.

“We’re connecting with each other on passes and shots,” the utility said.

The captains have plenty of help. Westlake is three-deep at goalkeeper.

Senior goalie Roxanne Mula set a school record for saves with 213 in 2008-09. The Warriors have so much depth that Mula shares time at the position with Maddie De Ronde and Krstyn Ormsby.

“All three are very athletic goalies,” Ghaemi said. “They’re fighting for time. I love it.”

Mula said the competition among teammates can be “nerveracking,” but it also has its rewards.

“I’m competing even in practice,” the senior said. “Obviously I’m trying my hardest. It can get tiring, but you have to keep working to get something you want. It’s definitely hard, but it’s worth it.”

Jordan Briers has recovered nicely from a preseason shoulder injury. The senior whole guard is a fine defender who is more facilitator than scorer on the other end of the pool, the coach said.

Briers said WHS has a good chance to qualify for the CIFSouthern Section Division 2 playoffs.

“I’m very confident we can,” she said. “We are having a great season.”

Briers enjoys playing a physical brand of water polo, a trait that helped her earn 54 steals on the junior varsity squad last year.

Savannah Miller, a sophomore, has used her exceptional speed to notch 20 goals and snag 38 steals. Athletic freshman Emily Kerchner is starting at whole guard.

Courtney Febres, a junior secondary whole set, is a fearless player with a solid outside shot.

“She’s like our little bulldog,” Ghaemi said of Febres. “She’s the meanest girl in the pool.”

Cassie Lang and Katie Wetherwax start for Westlake, while Heather Sweeney, Elena Pino and Michelle Harvey also contribute.

Players praised the 21-yearold Ghaemi, who was hired at age 19 to lead the team.

“Farhad has really built this program,” Pasche said. “Before there were a lot of coaching (changes). He’s brought stability. He invests a lot of time in the program. He clearly cares about us.”

Ghaemi, a 2006 WHS graduate and current Cal State Northridge student double majoring in business management and civil engineering, said the players are the reason for Westlake’s success.

“The girls deserve all the credit,” Ghaemi said.