Reaching for the mountaintop

Published 1:35 pm Wednesday, September 14, 2016

BY SHAUN SCOTT
REPORTER NEWSPAPERS

The Mercer Island Islanders boys water polo team came agonizingly close to capturing a Washington state water polo state championship the past three seasons.

The Islanders finished in second place in 2013 and captured third place the past two years (2014, 2015). With the 2016 season getting underway in early September, Mercer Island’s experienced squad is determined to bring home a title from the state tournament this November in University Place.

The two squads that have derailed the Islanders’ quest for a championship the past three years were the Bellevue Wolverines and Curtis Vikings. Bellevue, which is located a short four-mile drive from the Mercer Island High School campus, is undoubtedly the Islanders’ biggest rival in the pool.

Nicholas LaCrampe, who is one of the Islanders’ five co-captains, said the majority of players on the Bellevue and Mercer Island varsity rosters know each other quite well. The rivalry matchup between these teams will take place on Sept. 20 in Bellevue.

“It is always fun playing Bellevue. That is the game we look forward to. We are also looking forward to the Curtis game. Both of those are going to be a test and are going to be very exciting games,” LaCrampe said.

Mercer Island three-year head coach Andrew Smith-Jones said he isn’t worried about what opponents like Bellevue and Curtis are doing at this juncture of the season and instead is intensely focused on ensuring his team competes at the most optimum level possible.

“I don’t think about any other school or any other team other than us. I’m only focused on Mercer Island water polo and what we’re going to get done,” Smith-Jones said. “It is really just doing what we need to do and doing that at a high level. Hopefully we can play the sport of water polo at a higher level than whoever it is that we are playing on that given night. Obviously, we want to get the result we want (championship) at the state tournament. That is where it really matters. We want to play competitively the whole way through and hopefully we peak at the right time and play the best water polo Mercer Island has to offer in early November.”

Captain Jacob Guedel said the tradition of excellence the Islander program has exuded over the past several seasons does nothing but help team chemistry.

“We are all very competitive people. We all want to win. Once a week we have team dinners and we hang out almost every day,” Guedel said. “The more you know each other, the [better] you are going to play together because you are comfortable with each other and can trust each other. It is going to be our teamwork that makes the difference. Other teams might be faster or stronger than us but we all trust each other and work well together.”

Fellow captain Eric Raisys believes his team’s dedication to physical fitness is what sets them apart from their competitors.

“We do a lot of spring workouts, We do a lot of squats, leg work, core work and we usually lift weights during the season,” Raisys said. “Legs and core are so important because that is where all of your shot (attempts) come from. We just need to continue to work our butts off and keep grinding to be in the best shape of our lives.”

Mercer Island’s defense is anchored by goalie Cole Nielsen. The 2016 season will be the third year Nielsen has patrolled between the posts as a last line of defense. Nielsen believes having a short memory is a requirement for being a proficient goalie.

“You have to always forget what happened in the last minute. You have to forget that goal that you let in. Everything is just a little amplified when you’re in goal. The goalie is one of the most vocal positions because you have the best of vision of everyone in the pool,” Nielsen said. “You’re the one who has to shift the defense if you see a hole or call out an offensive play. Ultimately, you are the overseer of the whole game.”