By Matt Phelps

The seniors on the Mercer Island High School boys water polo team have not known what it is to lose in Washington state. The group finished their high school career Sunday at the King County Aquatic Center with the state title held high over their heads thanks to a 19-7 drubbing of Bellevue High School. It is the sixth championship in a row and ninth over all for the program.

“This team and this class of seniors has had a lot of success,” said Islander senior Kyle Sterling. “I am just really happy because we won every year and this is a great way to go out.”

“This group of seniors has been with me for a while,” said Mercer Island boys water polo head coach Tim Reed. “Every senior class tries to one up the one before. But this senior group has set a high level. They have really worked hard to stay at the top.”

Mercer Island’s grip on the sport and the state title was no more evident than during the championship game — the only thing that stopped the team from scoring was their accuracy.

Of the 38 shots taken by the Islanders, 19 found the net, six were blocked by the goal keeper and 10 hit the cross bar or post. Despite that the Islanders had Bellevue drowning in goals from the opening tip.

A pass from Islander Tom Stowell to Sterling resulted in the first point of the game. Just 25 second later the duo hooked up again, this time Stowell scored the goal for the quick 2-0 lead.

The Islanders consistently worked a right-to-left passing pattern to score. Stowell set up Brian Chong for the team’s third right-to-left assist and goal of the game.

The domination that the Islanders have held in Washington state was no more evident by the body language of the coaches during the first quarter. Mercer Island head coach Tim Reed was laid-back. He leaned back in his seat with his hands behind his head in a relaxed position. In contrast the Bellevue coach was demonstrative, yelling at officials and his players, even pacing at times.

The Islanders were not just dominant on the offensive side of the ball. Islander Willie Horton made a thunderous block of a Bellevue shot before the Islanders finished the first quarter with two more scores — one by Jeff Welch and the other by Sterling.

“We just want to keep building the program every year and hopefully it will continue,” said Mercer Island senior goal keeper Teddy Trowbridge.

Bellevue finally got on the board to start the second quarter. Stowell was called for a foul and the Wolverines took multiple hard one-on-one shots-on-goal, scoring during their third try.

But the 5-1 was just the start for the Islander offense. Scores by Blake VanHartesvelt, Chong and Sterling extended the lead before the Wolverines made a run. But Bellevue’s two goals just irritated the Islanders, as they went on an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 16-3.

Bellevue would outscore the Islanders to finish out the game but the Mercer Island players knew the game was over.

The Islanders received more of a challenge from their first-round game against Sammamish Friday. Despite scoring in double figures, Mercer Island only won the game 10-5.

“Our bench players really came through for us in that game,” said Trowbridge. “This was a team effort.”

Shorewood came calling during the semifinal game on Saturday, but the Islanders were ready, crushing the north Seattle squad 15-4.

The state title is not the only thing that defines this Mercer Island team as the best in the state and maybe the best all-time for the program. Two weeks ago the team took second at the San Diego Invitational. The tournament is the most prestigious in the United States for water polo at the high school level. The previous best for an Islander team was third place.

The team will now reload for the 2006 season, as they did last year at this time.

“We just keep trying to stay strong after we graduate kids,” said Reed. “The competition is getting better. They are using better tactics.”

One of those players that will take over as a leader is junior Brian Chong.

“We worked hard all year and it really shows,” said Chong. “Next year we will do the same and we are going to be just as good.”