HRV girls water polo wins back-to-back state titles

“I never doubted that this team had what it took to win,” she said. “Our biggest hurdle was making sure that we didn’t get complacent and that we never gave any opponents the opportunity to get ahead of us. Being the defending champions was a new position for us, and it was one we didn’t take lightly. It’s a different space for us to come in with targets on our backs and being the team that everyone is gunning for, but the girls handled the situation with such poise and never let anyone put out their fire.”

Playing with that fire and passion is exactly what the team did. In their semi-final game against Ashland on Friday afternoon, Hood River didn’t give them anything. The Eagles started the game with a bang, netting six goals in the first quarter to Ashland’s two. The relentless push continued throughout the game, with the Eagles getting five more goals each quarter, while Ashland scored just once more the rest of the game.

“The collective effort on defense that game was really strong, and we only gave Ashland three goals all game. I think our opponents just struggle to find a way to score because we have six incredible defensive players in the field at any given time with senior Kat McElderry backing them up in goal, so it’s just hard for them to find a way to get the ball in the net,” said Dunn. The final score was Hood River 16, Ashland 3.

Scoring leaders against Ashland: Jamie Robinson (7), Rose Finstad (3), and Lauren Orr, Courtney Castaneda, Olivia Summerfield, Faith Ocheskey and Madaket Greenleaf (1).

Assist leaders: Ocheskey (6), Robinson and Greenleaf (2) and Ella Mudry (1).

Steal leaders: Robinson (5), Mudry (3), Ocheskey (2), and Kat McElderry, Orr and Greenleaf (1).

Goaltending statistics: McElderry, seven saves.

Returning to the pool on Saturday, the Eagles were set against fellow Mt. Hood Conference team Sandy. “Sandy is a team that we know really well, but that also means they know us really well,” said Dunn. “We actually practiced all week with Sandy in mind for that championship game, so we were excited to see that they beat Summit and matched up with us because we were completely prepared.”

The first quarter started out fairly tight, ending with the Eagles up 3-1. “In a State Championship game, things are going to be tighter. The girls knew that Sandy would come out hard, but they also knew they had better speed and stamina, so it was just a matter of wearing them down,” Dunn said.

Based on previous games against HRV, it is clear Sandy really only has one or two really strong quarters in them, so if they can’t get a lead early, then they probably can’t come out ahead. By halftime, Hood River was up by seven goals and Sandy was beginning to implode. It was clear that HRV’s speed was breaking them and they just couldn’t find a way to get the ball in the cage between the stifling defensive pressure and McElderry’s powerful presence in the cage. Sandy managed to get just five goals against Hood River all game, while Hood River really made it known that they were ranked first for a reason, finishing with 24 goals in the game.

Senior captain Rose Finstad said that “the championship game was a representation of how we played all year. We played together, we had fun, and we gave the other team no chance of beating us. It’s been amazing to be a part of how our team has grown the past four years, and I wouldn’t want to end my last season any other way.

“One thing that come out of this game that was cool is that every single senior on the team scored a goal in it, with the exception of our goalie Kat, who blocked a 5-meter penalty shot, which is probably just as good or better to a goalie,” Dunn said.

The final score for the state championship game was Hood River 24, Sandy 5. “We don’t typically like to run up a score in a game that much, but it seemed fitting to let the girls display their total dominance in their final game of the season at the state tournament venue. It’s the perfect chance for them to showcase their abilities and what they can do as a team.”

On winning state, senior captain Mudry said, “I couldn’t have asked for a more amazing end.”

Scoring leaders against Sandy: Robinson and Ocheskey (6), Finstad (5), Orr (3), Amber Kennedy, Castaneda, Mudry and Sarah Hall (1).

Assist leaders: Orr, Ocheskey and Robinson (4), Kennedy, Castaneda and Mudry (1).

Steal Leaders: Robinson (4), McElderry (3), Ocheskey and Mudry (2), and Orr and Hall (1).

Goaltending statistics: McElderry, nine saves.

“We accomplished a lot of goals this season, but it felt like the season would be incomplete without checking off one more — defending our state title. The team knew they had come too far and done too much to not finish on top, and they really pushed themselves hard and battled to make sure that we took that trophy home again,” said Dunn.

Not only did the girls bring back home the title this year, but Robinson also brought back with her another piece of hardware. “Hearing my name called for the 5A State MVP was great. I've worked super hard this high school season; I am beyond stoked to see it pay off not only by winning the championship with my team but with getting the MVP title; which I also couldn't have done without my team,” said Robinson.

The HRV girls finished the season with 26 wins and just one loss over the course of the season. That one loss was to last year’s 6A state champions, West Albany, in a sudden death overtime period.

“We played West Albany as our first time back in the pool after two weeks of practice and game cancellations from the Eagle Creek fire. It was a hard-fought game, but we just looked rusty and a bit out of shape since it was literally the team’s first time back in the pool. If we could get a rematch on that one, I know we could beat them,” Dunn said.

The complete domination of the HRV girls doesn’t just extend to 5A. The team beat some of the 6A teams that finished high in their division at state, too — league rival Barlow, who HRV beat easily both times, finished third, and Lincoln, who the team beat twice, finished in second.

After another dominant season, the Hood River girls water polo is a team still on the rise. Just four seasons ago, when the seniors this year were freshmen, the team lost all 18 games they played that season, but followed up the next season with a third-place finish at state. Now, four years into the program, they already have two state championships, along with two league titles in a conference mixed with 5A and 6A teams.

Senior captain Orr said, “I can’t believe how far this team has come in four years. I’m going to miss these girls, but I’m so excited to see what they do in the years to come!”

While the team loses several seniors this year, there is a lot of young talent on the team that is ready and able to fill in the spots next year. Finstad said, “I’m sad to be leaving this group of girls, but with the awesome coaches and talent that we have here in Hood River, I’m confident that they will continue on our championship legacy.”

Dunn added, “Losing this group of girls is going to hurt us, but I know we have a lot of other players who have been working hard to bridge that gap for next year. They are inspired by this group of seniors and motivated to keep adding on to our legacy. Hood River is going to be a big name in Oregon water polo for a long time.”

The team also received many accolades at the State Tournament:

State Tournament MVP: Robinson

First Team All-Tournament: Robinson, Finstad, Orr and Ocheskey

Second Team All-Tournament: Greenleaf

Honorable Mention: McElderry

“The State Championship was a true team effort and I am proud of every one of these girls,” said Dunn.