Tracy Press

Tracy High goalie Jake Finney deflects a shot. Press file photo.

West’s Katie Bertelson (right) pressures a Sonora player. Press file photo.

Tracy High’s Alyssa Britt (left) looks for a teammate. Press file photo.

West’s Richard Johannsen (left) fires a shot on goal. Press file photo.

While the league standings might not have shown it, 2007 was in many ways a red-letter year for the local water polo programs.

Tracy High swept the crosstown matchup early in the season, but, undaunted, the West girls recorded the first win over St. Mary’s in program history, and West boys player Richard Johannsen very likely set the school scoring record with 97 goals on the year. No historical totals were available.

Playoff qualifications will have to wait for another year. But with a crop of All-League players returning for next season, the outlook is rosy — and the outgoing seniors’ efforts were duly rewarded, as well.

Both of Tracy High’s four-year players, Neil Thakor and Alyssa Britt, received All-League nods in their senior seasons. Four-year West goalie Meghan Slayton was an honorable mention, and four-year swimmer Katie Bertelson was a second-team pick.

But it was Desiree Lundgren who had an “outstanding season,” West coach Al Carson said.
“She was much improved over her junior year,” he said of West’s sole first-team water polo All-Leaguer. “She really worked her tail off this year.”

Johannsen’s goal scoring was a constant for the Wolf Pack boys, with a season-high of 10 in a game to his credit. Sophomore Alistair Shaw’s selection to the second team bodes well for West’s defensive future, and honorable mention pick Andrew Ramirez, a junior, averaged seven blocks a game despite his small stature, West coach Bob Kuks said.

Tracy’s Thakor was a mainstay in the program, despite coaching changes and challenges in the pool during tough league seasons. He was named his team’s MVP on top of earning a second-team All-League nod and was the Bulldogs’ leading scorer.

Sophomore Jake Finney received his team’s best defender award as well as an honorable mention selection. Sophomore Wesley Merritt was voted most improved, and Tyler Trew and Ben Agee, a freshman and sophomore, received the coaches’ award.

Junior Devin Guardanapo and Tyler Davis were scholar-athletes, maintaining grade-point averages higher than 3.8.

Four-year varsity player and three-time All-League selection Britt netted the Tracy program’s only first-team selection and also earned her team’s MVP award. Nicole Brown and Melissa Schaf, second-team selections, also received the coaches’ award, and Erica Ribiero netted the team’s best defense award on top of an honorable mention pick.

Ashley Bongiovanni was an honorable mention All-League pick, and Katie Jessen and Katie Stutz were deemed most improved.

The Tracy girls also had a host of scholar-athletes: Lindsey Sharpe, Nicole Brown, Melissa Schaf, Jordan Turner, Katie Stutz, Emily Due, Lindsey Lynch, Danielle Rond, Lindsay Phelps and Kaitlin David.

Hope Connally was the JV girls MVP, and Renee Pombo and Bridget Emery were most improved. Conner Sharpe was JV boys MVP, and Chris Morri and Steven Andrade were most improved.

Tracy coach Keith Britt received the Tracy Press’s double-duty award for coaching both boys and girls teams.

At a glance
Water polo All-League selections

SJAA (Tracy High)
Neil Thakor, senior, second team
Jake Finney, sophomore, honorable mention
Alyssa Britt, senior, first team
Nicole Brown, senior, second team
Melissa Schaf, senior, second team
Ashley Bongiovanni, junior, honorable mention
Erica Ribeiro, junior, honorable mention

TCAL (West High)
Desiree Lundgren, senior, first team
Richard Johannsen, senior, second team
Alistair Shaw, sophomore, second team
Andrew Ramirez, senior, honorable mention
Katie Bertelson, senior, second team
Meghan Slayton, senior, honorable mention

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