Young at heart

Underclassmen give T.O. hope for future in the pool



COOL CUSTOMER—Thousand Oaks High girls’ water polo captain Keeley Kelsey scores a goal against Westlake on Jan. 8 on the road. Kelsey shares the captaincy with Samantha Katz and Hana Barcinas. Photos by MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers

COOL CUSTOMER—Thousand Oaks High girls’ water polo captain Keeley Kelsey scores a goal against Westlake on Jan. 8 on the road. Kelsey shares the captaincy with Samantha Katz and Hana Barcinas. Photos by MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers

GIRLS’ WATER POLO /// Thousand Oaks Lancers

Samantha Katz was unsure how this winter would play out.

The 2-meter defender and hole set is the lone senior—and one of five returners—on a Thousand Oaks High’s girls’ water polo team loaded with underclassmen.

With only three juniors—Hana Barcinas, Angeline Rosquette and Marina Zernik—on the 13-player roster, the Lancers share the average age of most frosh-soph squads.

What could have been a nightmare season has turned into an inspiring glimpse into the Lancers’ future, a hopeful Katz said.

“I’m surprised by what’s come out of everyone, including the freshmen on the team,” Katz said. “I’m really grateful for all the girls that joined this year. I want them to have a fun experience so they want to play next year.”

Thousand Oaks didn’t have enough athletes to field junior varsity, frosh-soph or freshman squads last year. The program added 12 freshmen this offseason, which allowed T.O. to trot out a JV squad.

SCRAP—Thousand Oaks’ Emily Baughn, right, battles for the ball with Westlake’s Emma Adams on Jan. 8.

SCRAP—Thousand Oaks’ Emily Baughn, right, battles for the ball with Westlake’s Emma Adams on Jan. 8.

The Lancers (5-10 overall, 1-3 in the Marmonte League) continue to battle through a tough league slate.

“We play competitively as a team,” said Katz, a 4.06 GPA honors student who wants to study business at Michigan State, the University of Miami or the University of Colorado Boulder after high school. “We’re all just looking for improvement. It’s not really about winning this season. It’s about having a team for next year.”

The Lancers came into the winter knowing Oaks Christian and Newbury Park would be trouble in Marmonte play, but second-year head coach Hector Antonio Pereles said every game is a learning experience.

“It’s good experience for this group,” Pereles said. “The program will be much better next year.”

The only coach in the past four years to return for a second season leading the Lancers, Pereles has high hopes for the future at T.O.

THE CHASE—Thousand Oaks’ Samantha Katz reaches for the ball against Royal on Dec. 4 on the road.

THE CHASE—Thousand Oaks’ Samantha Katz reaches for the ball against Royal on Dec. 4 on the road.

He said the only goals during this rebuilding year are to beat Westlake, a team the Lancers knocked off twice last winter, and Calabasas, a league newcomer that struggled in the Coastal Canyon League in previous years.

Thousand Oaks dropped its first showdown against Westlake 14-4 on Jan. 8 before taking down Calabasas 11-1 on Jan. 10.

The Lancers get their second chance at trying to upend Westlake on Jan. 24 at home. Thousand Oaks faces Calabasas at home in the regular season finale on Jan. 28.

“I’m hoping, by my senior year, that we’ll be a good competitor against Newbury Park,” said lefty sophomore attacker Keely Kelsey, the high school’s female athlete of the month for December. “It’s going to take a lot. I think we can do it.”

Kelsey, a varsity returner in her fifth season of playing water polo, and Barcinas, a 2-meter defender who played goalie last winter, are first-year captains.

“I help girls out and try to get them to love the sport like I love it,” Kelsey said.

 

 

Barcinas, a third-degree black belt in taekwondo, maintains a 3.7 GPA and serves as treasurer for the Environmental Club on campus. Watching the television show “NCIS” has inspired her to pursue a career as a forensic scientist.

Zernik, a sharp shooting attacker, and Adalynn Terentieff, a sophomore, are varsity returners.

Rosquette, the starting goalie, is a varsity newcomer.

Sarah Moore, a softball player with a strong arm, and Sophia Hoxworth are sophomores.

Emily Baughn and Payton del Olmo are freshmen to watch. Fellow rookies Kendall Ribbers, Chanel Brown, Sydney Miller and Kendall Culhane also contribute for Thousand Oaks.

With so much young talent gaining experience this winter, Barcinas said she’s looking forward to the future.

“I hope the younger girls come back next year,” Barcinas said. “I hope they stick it out through four years here.”