GH polo on the edge of excellence

Wed, Nov 11, 2009    to del.icio.us

The walls of Grand Haven Fieldhouse are decorated with the past athletic team champions, ranging from crowning moments at district, regional, and conference competition.

Members of the Buccaneers' water polo squad have their sights set on so much more.

They hope to add their sport to the brief list of state champions in school history, joining the likes of such teams as the 1999 cheerleading team and the 1953 undefeated football squad.

As the No. 2-ranked Bucs (30-11 overall) prepare for the state tournament at Birmingham Seaholm High School on Friday, the three senior captains on the squad — Noah Veach, Sam Schulze and Jon Lown — realize just how close they are to reaching the pinnacle in polo. They are, in their minds, the hottest team in the state, as they enter the finals having completed a tremendous 19-2 record during the month of October and clinched the program's first-ever regional championship on Oct. 31. Grand Haven opens the state finals tournament against Ann Arbor Huron, and will need to win three games to be crowned state champions.

"We want to win it all," Schulze said matter-of-factly. "It's never been as open as it is now for us to grab a state championship. We all realize that.

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"This is the closest I've ever been to doing something like this," Veach added, sounding amazed by the possibility. "We know this opportunity just doesn't come along all the time."

Grand Haven coach Adam Briggs knows this too well. The last time his Bucs' team was this close to the top of the mountain, the year was 2005, and the team was led by a pair of Joes — Joey VerDuin and Joe Schmitt. The Bucs finished fourth in the state that season, the best finish in program history.

"If we get enough support in the program on a yearly basis, a top-four finish should be our goal every year," Briggs said after the '05 finals.

It wasn't that easy. While Briggs was intent on developing new, young talent, the Bucs experienced some growing pains the next three seasons. They struggled with finishes of 12-23 in 2006, 10-25 in 2007 and 19-21 last year.

A constant on those teams was the offensive firepower from Veach and Schulze, who were far and away the No. 1 and No. 2 goal scorers on the varsity team. The problem was, Grand Haven didn't have the depth it needed to contend with powerhouse programs like Rockford, the state champion from 2003-2007.

That has changed this season. While Schulze and Veach are still the top two goal-scorers on the team with 165 and 148, respectively, the Bucs have made the opposition pay if it focuses too heavily on either player. Offensive balance has been a thing of beauty in Grand Haven, as the Bucs have five other players with at least 10 goals, including 63 from senior Lown, and 33 from rising junior Cody Duston.

"It's so much different this year, because we've got some much production coming out of our offense," Veach said, who has tallied a stellar 476 goals during his career. "Before, it was just myself and Sam trying to create on our own."

"I think the biggest thing is the kids have learned how to create," Briggs said. "They're making their own moves, and realizing when they have a mismatch. This team's I.Q. is so much more advanced. They understand the fundamentals of the game so much better."

Players have taken it upon themselves to improve in the sport, with several playing in talent-filled out-of-state tournaments during the summer. Lown, Schulze and Alex Jandernoa played in the Junior Olympics near San Francisco, while a fourth, junior goalie Nate Koella, was a member of the United States Water Polo Olympic Development team for the 15-16 age group that competed in Mission Viejo, Calif.

Lown said the experience has been key for his development.

"It made a huge difference for me this season," Lown said, who leads the Bucs with 79 assists and is second with 86 steals. "I came into the year in good shape and it got my confidence up."

No player has taken a bigger step toward stardom then Schulze, who leap-frogged Veach as the team's top playmaker this season. Schulze said he woke up at 7:30 a.m. every morning during the summer to train for polo, as well as the upcoming swim season. His speed in the water has paid dividends as he's won almost half of his sprints for opening possession, while his shooting percentage is a solid 56 percent.

Briggs said he could see Schulze excelling at the next level in the sport, if he decides to choose that route.

"This season has opened his eyes to that possibility," Briggs said. "I know he's looking at both swimming and polo at the next level. But he's definitely shown he's a dominating offensive force for us."

Veach became the team's leading scorer as a freshman, a surprising fact considering he only became interested in the sport from watching Jandernoa play in middle school.

"I went to a couple of his games (in sixth grade) and became interested in it," Veach said. "Then I got Sam into it."

Veach's aggressiveness in the water is his strong point, as he excels at fighting off double teams in front of the net, forcing kick-outs and drawing steals. His 105 steals is a eye-opening stat on a squad that prides itself on aggressive defense. Strong goal keeping has also been an ingredient to success, led by Koella, or more recently, by Jared Sutherland, who has filled in while Koella has battled illness.

Veach said he'd rather try to play basketball at the college level, but the victories he's experienced in the pool far outweigh those on the hardwood.

"Beating (Rockford), especially in water polo is the coolest," Veach said. "It's even sweeter considering how amazing Rockford is (with their history)."

"The look on their faces when they lose is the greatest thing in the world," Schulze added.

The great feelings have multiplied in a season of firsts for Grand Haven — the first-ever wins over Rockford; the senior class' first tournament win, coming at Birmingham Groves on Oct. 3; the first finals appearance under Briggs at their home Shootout at the Shore on Sept. 12; and the first regional crown. Adding one more first to the list — a state title — would complete the Bucs' legacy.

"We know we've got the ability (to become state champions)," Briggs said. "We know we can play with some of the best teams in the state. The fear isn't there anymore when we face those teams. Now it's with someone else."