I've always been proud of contributing to Gresham High School's first ever State Championship. Waterpolo is one of the most underrated games around, so I'd like to share my experiences on this page. Winning a championship was by far the greatest moment for me during high school.
It's been many years past, but the few memories I have will be shared below. I had both good and bad times playing the sport. Waterpolo is one of those non exposure high endurance sports that is fun to play and discover. I hope this four year account will be interesting and a learning experience for you. Enjoy! G---H---S---GHS!
This was my first year in high school. I always played sports when I was a kid. Unfortunately, my Mom enrolled me into kindergarden when I was still 4 years, so I was usually smaller than the other kids due to my youth. Well, this may have been what got me into waterpolo. I overheard some guys talking about it in Metal shop class and it sounded cool. I always liked swimming, so I thought why not. I was a soccer player before, but I basically sucked and couldn't run fast. I would have been killed playing football. Cross country? Yeah right!
I went to visit coach Scott of the Gresham waterpolo team. He was a former college waterpolo player himself and young. He had a fire about him and I could tell he was determined to make waterpolo a popular sport at Gresham. His way of making the sport popular was to make us champions one day. He had great leadership and motivating skills. His drive to succeed were incredible. Most importantly, he looked you right in your eyes and spoke to you. I felt I could trust him in making the team and me the best we can be.
Joining the waterpolo program was a good choice for me, also coach needed freshman players badly and even I was accepted. Looking back, waterpolo was the only sport I played where I was given plenty of playing time to improve. Coach liked me because I had good ball handling. However, my swimming and floating efforts failed miserably. Coach managed to give me around half of the game's playing time for developing my skills. At half a game, I was drinking plenty of pool water and becoming a drowning victim for the school.
There was this kid named Mike who could swim good and was also a little bigger than most of us. He bullied his way to the top. He took it on himself to weed out the weaker players and give them a week to improve. Of course, if he didn't think you improved, he told you to quit the team or get physical harm done to you. Well, I was his main target. He told me to quit and I didn't. Later came the balls flying from his hands, beaning me from the side when I wasn't looking. I was terrified and afraid of even my own shadow back in those days. I almost quit, but my Mom told me to call coach and tell him. I couldn't narc on Mike because that was uncool to young boys like myself. I figured as long as he was making my life a hell, to call coach. Coach was shocked and Mike was dealt with. You know, Mike ended up quiting anyway on his own later in the season!
Back then, some girl teams had no opponents, so once we had to play Tigard's girls varsity team. They totally killed us! They were stronger, faster, taught well by their coach.
Just to show how underdeveloped I was, I couldn't throw the ball out of the pool from the middle of the deep end.
To build up my swimming ability, I joined the swim team that following winter. Swimming was pretty tough on me. I developed planter warts on the bottom of my feet ( 4 total ) and had to quit the team into the season.
I believe the varsity team took 5th place at the state tounament that year.
Over the previous summer, I grew from under 5' to around 5'5". Now I looked long and skinny. My longer arms helped me with ball handling. We started to train a few weeks before the summer vacation ended. It seemed my training was helping me out. I could swim a little better, but more importantly, I learned to float using the egg beater. Basically, my legs were developing. Surprisingly, my experience from a year ago was of great benefit.
I played around one half to three quarters a game that year at JV level. To coach, a select few of us were allowed to develop for the next level of play--Varsity.
Coach had a pretty good varsity team, but not quite good enough to win the state tournament. Their team placed 3rd.
That winter, I swam again but was forced to quit as I developed flu's and colds. Basically, I was still a bit wimpy and all the training made me weak.
I was fully grown at 5'9". This year would be the best year for me in development. Coach was talking already about maybe winning a state championship. Only problem was 3 time state champs Cottage Grove.
I was getting pretty good this year. I was a good player at JV level, but lacking at varsity. Mainly my swimming skills were still lacking. I busted my butt in practice. This year, I made it a point to practice before school as well. Yes, 5:30 to 7am, and 3:00 to 5:00pm everyday! I used to step over to the fast lane and ask if I can swim there. This way I had to keep up.
Coach told us that he needed few more players at varsity level. Mainly to sit and watch as the starting squad was good already. He said he would watch the former JV's and choose some of them. That week during tryouts, magic happened. I was actually keeping pace with some of the senior players during swimming drills. I was later one of the few chosen JV players to also be on the varsity team. Coach approached me and told me his decision in me was a no brainer. More importantly, he was thinking for next year. He told me he wanted me to play JV and varsity for the season. 3 spots on varsity would be open the following year, and he was going to give me all the opportunity to fill one of them.
During the season, I almost played all of the JV games and sat out only when winded. As for varsity, I sat mostly and only played when we were blowing out the opponent. On many games, I played at least a quarter at varsity.
In order to seed at the state tournament, we needed to play a district tournament. Our district was weak with the exception of us. Coach held a meeting and basically said that in order to have a chance of winning state, he wanted to play his starters as much as possible during the district tournament. He had the idea that the starting core players may win it all if they played as much as possible together.
This was perhaps the first time I ever raised an eyebrow of doubt in coaches decision. What happened was we totally slaughtered each team. I only recieved a few minutes of playing time for the whole tournament. I don't like to destroy teams. I find it to be in poor sportsmanship. Also, it got boring sitting on the bench.
The state tournament was held in Corvallis, an hour's drive for us. This meant we had to shack up in a motel. We had a blast! Each room had 3 or 4 players. With 2 queen sized beds, one of us would have to share. I developed a head cold that day, so my roomates decided to give me my own bed. We had an ajoining door between rooms, so the guys from there came over to watch Saturday Night Live with us. So, that's 7 guys in our room at midnight! Sleep and tomorrow's tournament wasn't a thought.
At midnight or so, we got a knock on the door. 3 more of our guys entered with pillows and blankets. Their roomate Gardiner was laying prizewinning ripe farts all night. When the room became unbearable, they fled for their lives and joined us. They asked if they can sleep in our room where they can breath. So, with 11 guys, we watched SNL and whatever else was on. Coach came at around 2am and chewed us out royal for not wanting to rest for the tournament the next day.
It didn't matter, we took 2nd. Cottage Grove was still in championship form and would not fold. We hung in for 3 quarters keeping the score even, but eventually we tired out and the better team won. They also had the best player in the state that was playing out his last year. When the game was over, coach put in all the sub players including me. I actually played in 2 championship games during my high school days. Technically speaking of course.
That winter I joined the swim team and actually swam the whole season with the goal of becoming a starter on next years varsity waterpolo team. I swam morning and afternoon practices and became pretty fast in freestyle.
That spring, coach organized a waterpolo club which consisted of our team minus some of our seniors and some older previously graduated Gresham players. The older players played a great leadership role. Playing at this time was a blessing. I gave up playing baseball to play waterpolo. Again, a no brainer on my decision. I sat on the bench and sucked playing baseball. Waterpolo was my sport all the way.
We went on some weekend game trips which helped prepare for next year. We took a day trip to Cottage Grove and played their championship squad and former players. This was my first time playing with real good competition at leisure. I remember defending against their best player and him being slower than me. You see, if you don't swim all the time, you lose your quickness and endurance. This was also the first time I learned that much goes on under the water. The guy cheated like crazy! He grabbed feet and arms to keep me at bay. Referees see around 10% of what is happening under water.
The game did get rough at times. During a game in our pool, one of our opponents got dunked to the bottom of the pool. He jumped of the bottom of the pool and torpedoed me right in the nuts. Now, when you are egg beatering in the deep end, it looks like you are straddling the back of a Kleidsdale. His head hit me solidly forcing my nuts/whole package to push up and into my pelvis. Man did that smart! I couldn't move and instantly went to a fetal position like any guy who was punted in the nuts by pro football kicker. I doggie paddled to the side of the pool and called for a sub.
We also took a trip to Puallup Washington to play their state champs. We were missing some key players on this trip. We ended up losing to what I felt was a weeker team. Now, Washington must have different rules, because in the shallow end of the pool, they would jump up off the bottom of the pool while scoring. The referee didn't call them for the violation. Coach was beyond pissed. He was aninmated beyond anything I ever seen in him before. Lividly, he screamed at the refs and then drew an ejection warning. We all new that we were better but couldn't do anything about it. We were behind and I saw what was going on, so I recieved a pass and then stood up in the shallow end and scored. The ref didn't call a foul! As I swam back to half pool, one of Puallup's main players mentioned to me how I cheated by standing on the bottom of the pool. I told him that I'm a quick learner.
My chance for a starters position was great this year. To boot, I was one of two left handers on the team which was a critical position to fill. I was the faster of the two lefties, so I would later get the nod. Before summer training began, I was jogging on my own. My parents house was located in a hilly area which allowed me get even a better run in. Remember how I sucked at running? After the years of training in the pool, running was easy.
Guess what happened on the first day of waterpolo training? Coach informed us that we will run 2 miles each day for 2 weeks before entering the pool. My running beforehand helped as I was usually 3rd quickest. I couldn't compete with Jeff who finished Army bootcamp a week earlier and Chris who was a stud athlete.
We had 2 practices a day for those 2 weeks. I remember being so zonked out, that I would come home from morning workout and sleep until afternoon workout during the first week. Eventually, the soreness wore off and things became easy. Coach additionally spent some time during the summer and came up with offensive plays. We had time to study them in our off time as his main concern was to get us in game shape.
After the initial 2 weeks of training, coach arranged for us to have the Mount Hood Community olympic sized swimming pool 2 hours a day for a week. We practiced the entire time in the deep end. We didn't do any scrimmaging, only endurance drills and game skills such and passing, shooting, driving, v-backs, hands above the water, etc. Coaches goal was to have non stop movement on offense and hands out of the water defense. With our hands out of the water on defense, the offensive person cannot fake being pulled under thus recieving a foul call. We were in game shape at the end of this week.
After we returned from MHCC, coach had us practice our plays. They were excellent plays allowing us many alternatives and opportunites at offense. Most importantly, each player had a useful role in them. When we were up a man, we were deadly! The plays came with time during practice, but we learned. At this point in time, the starting team blossomed.
We had a Junior goalie named Cris M. He could tread out of the water to his bottom ribs. Our best player was Senior Cris A., the nicest guy you'll ever meet. A natural athlete, fastest swimmer, tall and lean, smart and overall leader and likeable guy. I was glad he was on my team! There was Junior Ken, who was also very fast. Senior Mike was pretty fast as well and supported our plays excellently by not being selfish. There was Keith, who for a sophomore blossomed over the summer and was fully grown. He was the surprise to the team as he became a legitimate starter. Jeff, the Army dude, was barrel chested and became our holeman, sharing the position with Ken. Jeff, I thought was better at ensuring the hole but was slower and Ken was fast with finesse, but lacked strength against the big boys. Coach did a good job at who to play at the right time. Then came me, the left hander. I swam around the speed of Mike, but didn't endure as long as he. I was a main supporter on offense, often times getting open to deliver a pass to the hole and then to our main scorers Cris, Ken, Keith, Anderson, or Mike. As this wore on, my defender would sluff off me to double team the middle. This is when I scored as I had a deadly shot from the outside.
Our first game of the season was against ranked Sheldon. They came to our pool for a visit. We beat them pretty handily and then realized we had something potentially very special. Later that day, they went over to David Douglas's pool. I remember during our game with Sheldon, The DD team sat and watched us play. We payed the DD pool a visit and watched them beat Sheldon easily as well. But, they broke out of their huddles with a team chant--"We're #1". That put fuel on the fire and their coach wasn't smart being so cocky. We pretty much new that David Douglas would be the team to beat as Sheldon already beat Cottage Grove but got beat by us and David Douglas.
We cruised through the next few weeks beating the teams as they came. Then was our turn to play David Douglas at their pool. After they chanted "we're #1", the game began. We beat them pretty easily that night and they were quiet, momentarily. I remembered having a good game and stopping their All-American player on a couple occasions. I scored a nice goal and took a good shot at another one, but it was deflected. Coach huddled us and yelled directly at my for shooting that last shot. I didn't understand and was hurt, because I wasn't a selfish player and only took shots when it was good.
During my classes, real life was always there. Waterpolo was a wimp sport and football wasn't, according to the football players. I never argued that point because it was futile. Sure they had exposure and cheerleaders, but that's life in any high school. However, we were becoming known around school because the morning school announcements announced we were winning our games. Our football team that same year wasn't a powerhouse. I got flack from the football players often in one of my morning classes. One of the good football players mocked me and asked it I was a starter. I said yes, proudly. That afternoon, coach pulled a fast one on me by suggesting that each person on the team should have an equal opportunity at a starting position. He told me Gardiner will start in my place. There wasn't a doubt that I was a better player, but coach had some hidden agenda that day. What, will Gardiner be better by farting and clearing out the pool? This was the first time he played favorites with me. He actually did the same to others also. Of course, the football players said they'd be at the game that day. They showed up to see me on the bench. They took off minutes later which pissed me off royal. By the way, those scrub players stunk up the pool against Parkrose, and were down 5-0 minutes into the game. Coach then replaced all of them with the real starters. We won the game easily. Coach replaced me with one of his favorite buddies. I knew it and felt betrayed, because I felt we earned our roles on merit.
Anyway, At mid-season, we were still unbeaten and invited to Cottage Grove for a tournament. We ended up beating the defending champs easily, but Sheldon was greatly improved since the last meeting and forced us to play tougher. By this time, David Douglas's coach got his team into the "we're #1" chant again. Sheldon, played a wonderful, intense, inspired game and beat them! I felt bad for David Douglas's players, because they were now made asses twice in a season.
That tournament was our biggest test before the state tournament. We went undefeated the whole season. It started to seem that we lost our edge during the season and and into the district tournament. The tournament was held at Barlow. Again, we were seeded #1 in a weak district as we cruised to our wins. Reynolds took 2nd. I remembered not scoring a single goal, or for the matter, even getting the ball. I felt I had a bad district tournament but later it wasn't my doing.
We again got in game shape for the following week and only had afternoon practices. The state tournament was held in Beaverton's aquatic center. The tournament was double elimination which meant we could lose once and still win. It was a good thing too!
David Douglas came in with all Juniors and younger, and were a good team. There offense was centered of two All-American players. One, the deadliest weapon in the State was a tall, long armed, scoring machine. Often, he would get out of the water so high and with extra long arms, score at will. Kinda like an alley-oop play. Their weakness was a lack of experience, and their coach for using only three of their guys on offense.
Sheldon had twin brothers that looked like the Hanson brothers from that Paul Newman movie "hotshots". They were both All-American players, looked like computer nerds, but were strong like bulls as I found out later. Another player from their team was cool and a good support player. We talked during the mid-season tournament.
Cottage Grove lost too many players a year ago and were good all around for what players they had. They were around the 4th best team in state, but still needed to be beat. They were admired by us and the state for winning the last four championships in a row.
On Saturday, our first game was against Cottage Grove, the Champs. We beat them fairly easily, but I noticed they wouldn't give up for some reason and go away. This is what happens during playoffs, teams have nothing to lose and go all out. We only beat them by 3 or 4 goals which to me seemed close given the circumstances. My chances at goal were much better than at districts.
The next game was against David Douglas who beat Sheldon the same day. They hung with us the whole game and then pulled away at the end. One critical call came in the 4th quarter which sealed our loss. We were behind already and they scored again. Coach designed a play that would allow Chris A. a pick and clear a path to the goal while I would get open to pass Chris the ball. The play was executed perfectly and he scored immediately, however, the ref called it off claiming we were offside. We were robbed and never recovered afterward. The game was a disaster for me personally. It seemed our offense went to pot. They beat us badly, by 3 or 4 points, I can't remember exactly. It was our first defeat all year. I do remember getting our butts beat and the season was in real jeapardy for us. They were livid and full of themselves as they celebrated and chanted "we're #1". Our team went home pretty quiet, like small children when their favorite toy had been taken away.
I was pissed off to no end. I knew what had happened and it became clear it happened a while back. We had some players thinking for themselves and their all-star chances. They didn't make the right plays anymore. We were playing with three guys out of six. With those odds, David Douglas was a better team. I didn't really pay much attention before, because we always won. Now it became clear as day.
In the locker room before the bus ride home, coach must have noticed I was angry and came to me. It was kind of funny he spotted me in particular since all of us were bumming. For once since he knew me, he could see I was disturbed. He asked what was wrong. Usually, my nature even to this day is not make a big commotion, but I was seeing all my hard work end before me. I told him bluntly that I thought we would lose the state championship the next day and he needs to listen to me. I went on to explain we were playing 3 guys against David Douglas, open people weren't getting the ball when they were open. Basically, the selfish mentality was costing us. I told him everyone must contribute to win the championship and he needs to convey it to the particular people responsible. I don't remember who they were, but I told him. He really listened and never argued my assesment.
The next day, Sunday would be an uphill battle. Since we lost once, so we needed to win 3 games to meet David Douglas for the championship. David Douglas had to wait all day and rest, the reward for being undefeated on Saturday.
Before the trip to Beaverton Sunday morning, we met at our pool. I was found dipping my arms into the pool by a couple of my teammates. They asked why I was doing that. I explained that all my years of training was in that water and that by me dipping into it would ensure that the water would follow me into the pool in Beaverton when I play. So, four of us did the arm dipping experience.
Our first game of the comeback trail was against Reynolds. Coach played mostly subs and some starters in this game. I was one who played for most of the game. I saved as much energy as possible and was in the game to keep things from going crazy, similar to the Parkrose game. We won easily by several points.
Next, came Cottage Grove. They had an excellent coach. They played us with the heart of a lion. We beat them and were able to rest several players also. 1981 would have a new champion.
Our third game was against Sheldon. I dreaded going into this one, because they were hungry and wanted David Douglas. The game was a see-saw battle all the way. They really improved beyond belief. Getting past them was going to be real difficult. Ken was playing the holeman position because the pace of the game was at 90mph. Jeff couldn't swim so much. Ken was useless in the hole as he never got the hole position. Our offense evolved around it. Previously, I noticed Sheldon's goalie had a bad habit of slapping the ball down in front of him every time it came his way. With Ken being useless, I decided to try something different. I had control of the ball and figured that if I lob the ball to their goalie, he would slap the ball down to Ken so Ken could put the ball in the goal. The plan worked!
During the last quarter, some fumbled ball control led to Sheldon taking the lead 11-10. There wasn't much more time in the game. We had ball control on the perimeter. I was to recieve a cross pool pass from the left side, but one of those Hanson twins saw it coming and intercepted the pass while he being at full speed alone towards our goal. Now Chris M. was an excellent goalie, but he would have no chance with a point blank shot at goal. Realizing this would end our season, I swam my ass off after that Hanson lookalike. I must of been close to a record 25 yard state freestyle record, because I caught up to Hanson just as he stopped reached back to fire the ball. At the very last instant, with my left arm fully extented, I deflected the ball from his hand off to the side a few feet. Now, my muscles ached like never before so I could hardly move after spending every once of energy I had. Hanson, got the ball as I guarded him in position between he and my goalie. Hanson, sensing me up against him, lifted his left leg and literally turned me around so he and my goalie were face to face. He was strong like an ox! No matter how I tried to keep him from lifting the ball, he still continued as if I wasn't there. In a last desperate move, I literally grabbed his shoulders and lifted myself up on him and out of the water in the attempt to stop play with a foul but more importantly to stop him from getting a solid shot at goal. He managed to make a weak shot at goal and the ball flopped off to the side of goal. The foul was called and at that moment the rest of both teams came. Coach recognized the magnitude of what I did and said good job to me. I was doggy paddling out of bounds when we got possession because I couldn't move still. I heard Ken say to coach that Will is weening out. I yelled to coach to take me out. We went on to win 13-11.
Sheldon, you have my outmost respect! Had you beat us that day, you would be champs.
I don't remember how much time we had before we met David Douglas in the championship match, but it wasn't much of a rest. To be honest, after getting by Sheldon, I wasn't worried about them. It was a matter of taking care of business and playing like a team. I was ready and felt rested.
The game started and I remembered scoring one of the first goals and making some nice assists. I was doing a real good part in our teams effort. Again, the game was a see-saw battle. DD played some different stategy. They were picking off Chris A. who was guarding Carl, their All-American player and best scorer. This often left me with Carl. In order for Carl to lift out of the water, he ankored one arm. So, I grabbed that arm and lifted myself to deflect the ball coming to him. Remember, this was cheating on my part, but the ref cannot see underwater. He would try alternating his ankor arm and I would alternate grabbing. One time I slipped trying to grab his arm and he scored. Boy did that piss me off!
When something works once, you go for it again. I ended up guarding Carl many times after that. My pride was at stake, so I reverted to the best defense possible. Two hands out of the water, chest against the upper back to Carl. This would be better than grabbing his arm so I figured something out. He needed to by level when he planted his ankor arm. So, I pressed him forward constantly keeping him off balance. To conserve energy, I did this only when he was calling for the ball. He never scored again against me.
We finally broke the game open late in the 4th quarter and defeated David Douglas 9-5. Our principal was in attendance to see Gresham's first ever state championship. I never felt so good before and had tears in my eyes. The Douglas team came over and congratulated us for our win. They would win at least 2 championships after us.
Now, we had newspapers interviewing us and the whole nine yards. The school held a special assembly in the auditorium with cheerleaders and a standing ovation. It was weird having the football chearleaders cheering for us.
After the tournament ended, they had the all star selections. For those of you who play sports, don't be disappointed with the selections made because it's not worth it! All star teams in general are a piece of crap popularity contest, and I base it on my experience and what I see in pro sports as well! Remember Jose Canseco getting a MLB all star slot while we was back in the minor leagues? For kids, it's mainly a popularity contest involving the coaches children and family, favorite friends of family and important aquaintances, and of course, those who really deserve it. Too me, it's the single worst thing happening in organized sports. Period! All they do is teach kids that success isn't based on hard work and merit. Plus feelings are hurt on the other end of the fence.
Chris A. was the best player in the state followed by Carl from David Douglas. We had 5 selections total, I think. My respect for coach went down the toilet when Ken's name was called to the all star team. Did the fact that he had brothers and sisters on coaches previous teams and influence from his Dad over the years give him merit to be called an all star for that state tournament? I think not. Thanx for the slap in the face coach! I remember laughing out loud after Ken was named. Needless to say, both Ken and I disliked each other and it ate me up thinking he was honored higher than me and others more deserving. I'll give credit where credit is due, but it was a crappy selection on coaches part.
Looking back at it all now in 1998, not even waterpolo is immune to politics and catering to the favorites. Coach was very fortunate he had us to play for his team. Our team will always be one of the best or even the best team he'll have the pleasure of coaching. Am I bitter? Yes and No. No, because winning that state title was one of the best things that happened in my life, even to this day. Yes, because of the favortism coach did and for not giving those deserving the proper credit for their efforts. I'm sure he knows who they are. Lastly, I'm glad my waterpolo experience ended when it did. I retired as a champion!
If you ever visit the Gresham pool, you'll see the championship flag of 1981 hang and hopefully think of the blood, sweat and tears I put on it. I'll be proud with that!