Boys End Successful First Polo Season With Two Wins

During the week that most teams were starting practice, the King H.S. boys' water polo team did not even exist. But once the go-ahead was given and the details worked out, the wheels turned and a week later they held their first practice at Ramona H.S..

Their first game was against Desert Hot Springs at College of the Desert in 115 degree heat. King won 19-4 behind seven goals apiece from Kevin Heitmann and Charlie Holderman, Ryan Biberston scored three more in the victory. Then they opened league play against Hemet and were witness to the high level that the Wolves expect to play, losing 7-15.

Traveling to Temescal Canyon, the Wolves played the first half well, but were unable to maintain their level of play, losing 9-19. Kevin Heitmann scored four more goals and Charlie Holderman added two more to his total in the loss.

Working on their defense during practice paid off in a rematch when Desert Hot Springs traveled to Ramona for their rematch. The Wolves held the Golden Eagles to only three goals. Heitmann scored eight goals, Biberston had four, Holderman two, and Zac Barkley and Jason Kelly had two goals each in the 19-3 victory.

During the Wolves next couple league games, Perris defeated King 17-3 at Ramona, the Wolves played at Murrieta Valley in a exciting night game but lost 3-12. The team then traveled to Temescal Canyon to play Elsinore H.S. playing well but falling 2-10.

The Wolves then traveled to Hemet to play West Valley. They played well, but lacked in the defensive department, getting beat 15-6 on a cold wet day.

The next game saw a change in the line-up, with a goalie change. Brendan Flaherty came out of the goal and Ryan Biberston started taking over control of the defense. The result was a 5-2 victory over Ramona.

Traveling to Hemet again to face the Hemet Bulldogs, the Wolves barely walked away without avoiding a shutout. Kevin Heitmann scored with 1:15 left in the fourth quarter to put King on the board in the 1-18 loss.

Back home, Temescal Canyon beat a illness ridden Wolf team 12-1. Then on the road at Perris, Brendan Flaherty scored his first goal in a6-17 defeat to the Panthers.

Their defense improving, the Wolves held Murrieta Valley to just nine goals, compared to their twelve in the first game, in a 2-9 defeat. Elsinore then traveled to Ramona and handed the Wolves a 1-11 defeat, but the team was improving. Their defense was getting stronger and they were handling the ball better. The result showed in the next game.

West Valley came to Ramona to play their second game of the year. The Wolves were down 5-0 after two quarters, but were working hard at both ends of the pool. During the second half, King shutout the Mustangs, while scoring five goals of their own to take the game into overtime. Elsinore scored during the first OT period and King answered during the second, taking the game into sudden death. :58 into the third OT period, Kevin Heitmann scored the winning goal and his third goal of the game. The Wolves came away with a 7-6 victory.

In the final game of the season, the Wolves faced a fired up Ramona team. The Rams opened up a 4-1 lead after three quarters, but Zac Barkley, Kevin Heitmann, and Jason Kelly each scored during the fourth quarter, while the defense stopped the Rams on every possession. King scored two more goals during the two over time periods, while continuing their defensive play to win the game 6-4.

Last modified: November 29, 2011