DOWNEY - The Warren High School girls' water polo team currently has an overall record of 6-4 and will begin league play in January.The four Lady Bear losses have come against Rosary (Division II #10), La Serna (Division IV #2), Redlands East Valley and Dana Hills. These teams represent some of the best water polo schools in all divisions of C.I.F. The Lady Bears began their water polo season with eight games in six days. "That was rough," Coach Cordero said. "Last minute scheduling changes forced that situation and we had to get through it." Warren won the Benson Tournament where Kayla Casas was named the Tournament MVP and Jocelyn Castro, Melanie Weyers, Star Meza and Whitney Pemberton were all selected for All Tournament First Team. In this tournament, the Lady Bears defeated Villa Park, Valencia, Dana Hills, Yorba Linda and Vallhalla of San Diego. Coach Cordero is very pleased with the play of her goalies Whitney Pemberton and Graciela Salinas and maintains "our team has been lucky to have two solid goalies who can compete at the level of play we are at." Cordero further said that Jennifer Ortega "has been doing a superb job as one of Warren's primary two meter defenders" and that "Ortega has been making very good decisions on defense and she is finding her groove as a shooter on offense." When the Lady Bears return from Christmas Break, they will play Mira Costa (Division III #4), Los Osos (Division 2 #2) and participate in the always competitive Coronado Tournament. The Lady Bears will then focus on the start of the S.G.V.L. season and prepare for the C.I.F. playoffs.

********** Published: December 20, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 36