Tuolumne County Aquatics

(Most Recent Listed First)

2008:
10/21: Sonora HS Water Polo Team Keeps Hopes Alive
2007:
05/05: TCA Mini Meet
2006:
08/17: Western Zone Meet 08/16: TCA Mini Meet 07/30: TCA Age Group Open 07/28: Speedo Summer Championships 07/27: Junior Olympics LC 07/12: TCA Mini Meet 07/09: Tahoe Invitational	06/27: Lodi Mel Enze Memorial Meet 06/26: TCA Mini Meet 06/14: TCA Mini Meet 06/14: Summer Sanders 05/20: Clovis Invitational Meet 05/19: Woodland Long Course
2005:
12/20: Woodland Arctic Challenge 11/15: Former TCA Swimmer Interview 10/30: Ted Dorsey Fall Classic 10/27: Capital City Aquatics Meet 09/25: TCA 2005 Awards Banquet 09/25: Lodi Hot Dog Meet 08/25: TCA Mini Meet 08/17: Western Zones Results 08/10: Western Zones Intro 08/07: TCA Age Group Open	07/31: Sierra Nevada JO LC Championships 07/27: TCA Mini Meet 07/15: Tahoe Meet 07/15: TCA Mini Meet 06/27: TCA Mini Meet 06/10: Summer Sanders 06/05: Clovis Swim Meet 05/26: TCA Mini Meet 04/24: Western Spring Champs

Poloists keep playoff hopes alive

Published: October 21, 2008

Coming up with its most clutch performance of the season, the Sonora High School boys' water polo team defeated Tokay of Lodi 18-14 at Sonora Pool on Monday night.

Playing under the lights, the Wildcats (20-7, 4-2 Tri-City Athletic League) reversed an earlier 10-3 loss to the Tokay and kept their playoff hopes alive by moving into a second-place tie with the Tigers.

Each team has a game remaining against first-place St. Mary's of Stockton, with Sonora entertaining the powerful Rams next Wednesday.

"It's pretty much a must-win for us," Sonora coach Matt Personius said. "Tokay is probably going to lose to St. Mary's the next time they play, and if we lose to St. Mary's, too, we'll end up with the same record as Tokay."

That's not good for Sonora, because Tokay has has a three-goal advantage in head-to-head meetings with the Wildcats — having won by seven goals and lost by four. Only two TCAL teams will qualify for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Championships.

"We really needed to win by eight goals (Monday), and our guys knew that," Personius said.

Sonora jumped to a 7-1 lead in the first quarter and it looked like the needed rout might be on, but Tokay settled down and made the most of a 17-10 advantage in man-up situations.

"If not for that discrepancy, we probably would have won by a lot more," Personius said.

Josh Martin scored eight goals to lead the Wildcats, and Colton Griffiths, Christian Personus and Justin Andrade scored three apiece. Julian Personius also scored for Sonora.

"It was a good performance for us offensively," Matt Personius said. "I thought we dominated from beginning to end on offense."

Before meeting St. Mary's, Sonora must take care of business against visiting West of Tracy at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Other Sonora-Tokay action saw Tokay win the varsity girls' game 10-9 and Sonora take the frosh-soph girls' game 16-10.

Allison Freer scored four goals, Skyler Jensen three and Brooke Bates and Skyler Towle one each for the varsity (13-9, 3-3). In goal, Eliza Houghton made 11 saves.

Tokay, which beat Sonora 11-2 on Oct. 1, had to come from behind with five unanswered goals in the fourth quarter.

"This was so much better a game for the girls," Sonora coach JulieAnn Personius said. "They played very aggressive defense and smart offense, especially in the first three quarters. Skyler Jensen was really having a great game, but unfortunately fouled out into the third quarter.

"At that point our defense started breaking down and Tokay picked up the momentum," Personius said. "It was unfortunate how that last quarter went, but I am still proud of the girls' efforts. They gave Tokay quite a game."

Hailey Miller scored eight goals and Carina Wedel four in Sonora's frosh-soph victory