Despite another new face on deck, prospects good for CHS water polo

By Kyle Jorrey
jorrey@theacorn.com

LEADING THE WAY-Calabasas senior two-meter Amanda Brucia navigates toward the goal during the Coyotes 15-5 win over Culver City on Tuesday. She finished the game with a team-high seven goals.

Like most of her teammates, Calabasas senior water polo player Amanda Brucia has learned not to get too attached to her head coaches.

That’s because in her four years of competing for the Coyotes, Brucia has had four of them. And though many would think the struggle of having to start each year with a new leader and new system might get a little disheartening, Brucia has been able to take positives out of her team’s coaching carousel.

"It’s not so bad, it gives us something to talk about every year, and laugh about," said the senior, recalling one coach who performed yoga in the school’s parking lot. "We just go with it

. . . but really, I’ve had some great coaches, so I’m not complaining. I’m just thankful for the ones we’ve had."

This year the Coyotes head into the pool with new head coach, Erica Sigman, a junior on the Pepperdine club water polo team who was the team’s assistant coach last year under then-head coach John Ashby. Named just before the start of the season, Sigman’s last-minute hiring left the team a little behind schedule, but they’ve quickly made up for lost time.

"I know how hard it is to have momentum from the year before and then to get a new coaching staff, but they’ve handled it really well," Sigman said. "They haven’t complained at all. They take what they can get and they make the most of it."

Through seven games this season the Coyotes are 4-3, having won most recently at home against Culver City, 15-5. The team is led by seniors Sarah Gage, Stephanie Dennis and Brucia. Gage is a driver and plays two-meter defense, Dennis is the team’s goalie and Brucia is a two-meter and CHS’s top scorer.

"They make my job very easy," Sigman said. "If I’m trying to make an adjustment in the middle of the game and some of the other girls don’t get, these are the girls in the water who they turn to. Their team leadership plays a big role, especially Sarah Gage."

Other than these core seniors, the team is largely inexperienced and shorthanded.

Currently, the team has a total of just seven players, which means just one sub is available for the entire 32-minute game.

"I’ve played in six games and I haven’t subbed out once this season," Brucia said. "But it’s fine, it doesn’t bother me. Sure I get tired, but I just keep going because I want to win."

According to her head coach, if the team is going to win, Brucia will be a big reason.

"She’s very strong, and that’s what makes her such a great (two-meter), because there aren’t too many girls that are going to push her around down there," Sigman said. "But she can do anything, I can put her anywhere. She’s amazing."

The same goes for Gage, who specializes in two-meter defense.

"I saw a lot of potential in her, so I got in the water with her, helped refine her skills on defense, and she’s become so important to this team," Sigman said. "She’s a great asset defensively and a great complement to Amanda (Brucia). I’ve got Amanda on offense and Sarah on defense."

The team also has a stopper in the net.

"Stephanie (Dennis) is a great goalie," Brucia said.

Just 20-years-old, Sigman was concerned coming into the season that it might be difficult to get her new team to listen to and respect her because of the minimal age difference. But so far, they’ve shown respect.

"They are very good about keeping it in the pool. They know when I’m on deck, it’s all business. When I’m off the deck, then we can be friends," said Sigman, who got to know the girls last year as their assistant coach. "They’ve respected me as a coach and they are very motivated. When I tell them something, they’re willing to listen because they want to get better and they want to win."

For taking on a team in flux, Brucia said her new coach has done a terrific job.

"Siggy is just awesome," she said, referring to her coach by her accepted nickname. "She’s really pulling our team together and that’s what we needed. All the girls like her and we’re glad she’s here . . . We know Siggy and we know what she expects from us. We’re grateful to have her."

With such an inexperienced team, the Coyotes know that a league title might be out of reach, but that isn’t going to stop them from trying. Through just seven games, Calabasas has already lifted the expectations of their new coach.

"I wasn’t expecting too much coming into the season, but from what I’ve seen so far in our games, the girls have really stepped it up and kind of surprised me," Sigman said. "What’s been most impressive has been their ability to make adjustments—to take my advice in the middle of the game and then go out and do it. It’s made me very optimistic for the rest of the season."

Today, the Coyotes are on the road against Westlake.