FRESHMEN THE DIFFERENCE FOR RISING TEAMS YOUNG GUNS AID ALEMANY, OAKS CHRISTIAN.Byline: Nathan Brown Nathan Brown may refer to:
Oaks Christian of Westlake Village's Kelsey Farrar and Alemany of Mission Hills' Erin Manke might be 14-year-old freshmen, but they have played like veteran leaders this season for their girls' water polo water polo, swimming game encompassing features of soccer, football, basketball, and hockey. The object of the game is to maneuver, by head, feet, or hand, a leather-covered ball 27 to 28 in. teams, making immediate impacts and lifting programs that hadn't had much to celebrate in recent years. The Junior Olympians' skills and knowledge have been pivotal in vaulting vaulting Gymnastics exercise in which the athlete leaps over a form that was originally intended to mimic a horse. At one time, the pommel horse was used in the vaulting exercise, with the pommels (handles) removed. their teams to unprecedented successes, stepping into roles usually reserved for grizzled griz·zled adj. 1. Partly gray or streaked with gray: a grizzled beard. 2. Having fur or hair streaked or tipped with gray. seniors. Farrar, previously home-schooled, was pivotal in Oaks Christian's turnaround from a 5-20 record last season to 15-11 and the first Southern Section playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. appearance in the program's five-year history. Farrar set school records for goals (81) and assists (74) as the Lions posted their first winning mark. Their season ended with a 9-3 loss Tuesday at Oxnard in a Div A DIV Associate of Divinity . IV wild-card game. ``She's extremely mature for her age,'' Oaks Christian coach Laura Reardon said. ``She's got a solid background in the home, and she brings that to the team. She's been able to get the girls excited and motivated. They believe in her.'' Manke is the top scorer for a veteran Alemany team. Her 61st goal carried the Indians past Glendale 9-8 Tuesday in a Div. III wild-card game and into Friday's first round at Bonita Bonita (Spanish and Portuguese for "beautiful") is the name of:
Manke, who leads the team with 86 steals and has 35 assists, has been the difference between competing and winning. ``We knew that we were a pretty good team,'' Indians coach Gina Casey said. ``Erin gives all the girls confidence on the team. The girls listen and respond to her.'' Farrar and Manke are top club players, and both tried out for the Zone Team that competes around the country and against teams in Canada. Farrar's arrival was a pleasant surprise for Oaks Christian. Reardon was tipped off by Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. coach Mike Giles, also a top club coach, that her program would be getting a special player. ``(He) told me Kelsey was coming to our program,'' Reardon said. ``I thought, 'Yeah right. I'll believe it when I see it.' Then she showed up at our first meeting.'' Farrar, who lives in Malibu, chose Oaks Christian over Malibu although the Sharks were the stronger team. ``I looked at a bunch of schools,'' Farrar said, ``and (Oaks Christian) had the complete package: academics and athletics.'' She's been inspirational in·spi·ra·tion·al adj. 1. Of or relating to inspiration. 2. Providing or intended to convey inspiration. 3. Resulting from inspiration. in the pool, willing to do whatever is needed. Against Malibu, Reardon asked Farrar to move to goalkeeper to slow down the Sharks' attack. ``When we (run) bleachers in the morning,'' Reardon said, ``she's one of the first ones up there. She gives 110 percent all of the time.'' Said teammate Kelly Motley: ``She's a really good player, and ... I'm glad she came to Oaks, not Malibu. She's brought a lot to our team.'' Manke's prime motivation is her older sister, Jessica, a senior and Alemany's second-leading scorer. ``My goal,'' Erin said, ``is to play as much water polo as I can right now with my sister. This is the only time we'll be playing together on a team, so I want to make the most of it.'' Erin has the natural ability, but Jessica Manke, although knowledgeable, learns from her younger sister. ``I guess it's kind of weird, but she's shown me a lot.'' Jessica said. ``When I broke my arm a few years ago, she got to play more. She's learned a lot, and it's great playing with her. ... I feel like we can read each other's minds. We're always in a game when we're in together.'' Said Casey: ``The girls just feel more confident when they're in there (together).'' Alemany, always a playoff contender, has a solid senior core - Kaitlin Hobbs, Lauren Barlow bar·low n. An inexpensive, one- or two-bladed pocketknife. [After Barlow, the family name of its makers, two brothers in Sheffield, England.] , Jessica Jimenez, Shannon Rogers and Jessica Manke - and Erin's arrival has pushed the team to a new level and bodes well for the future. Nathan Brown, (818) 713-3607 nate.brown(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: Kelsey Farrar (with ball above) was pivotal in Oaks Christian's turnaround. Erin Manke (pressuring Harvard-Westlake's Meredith Butte Butte, city, United States Butte (by  t), city (1990 pop. 33,336), seat of Silver Bow co., SW Mont.; inc. 1879. It is a trade, ranching, and industrial center. , above right) is Alemany's
top scorer.
Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer John Lazar/Staff Photographer Box: GIRLS' WATER POLO PLAYOFFS |
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