Ex-JV stars get turn: Will they sink or swim?

During practice one afternoon, returning senior Luke Peltzer, of the Porterville boys’ water polo team, lobbed a pass into the 2-meter hole, which was caught and fired toward the net by... Kimber Methvin?

“Sure,” Porterville coach Mickey Goularte said. “We’ll take her on our team any day.”

The newest member of the San Jose State women’s water polo team isn’t defecting to play with the boys this year, but occasionally, the reigning EYL girls water polo MVP suits up to give the boys a few tips.

“She does, absolutely,” said Goularte, who replaces Greg Gillett as coach after Gillett stepped down to attend to family matters. “Kimber knows her stuff and she’ll turn around and tell them what they did wrong.”

And Goularte would have his boys — nine of whom are playing varsity for the first time this season — take any advice they can get.

“These are guys who’ve only played JV,” Goularte said. “And they still do JV things: the way they pass, drive, pick up the ball, shoot... A lot of that doesn’t fly on varsity.”

Goularte’s job is to maintain the success of Porterville’s program, which finished 10-2 in league play last year, but he’s certainly got the pedigree to do it.

last year, but he’s certainly got the pedigree to do it. Goularte has 20 years of coaching high school water polo under his belt, including one season at Exeter and 14 at Porterville. His last stint with the Panthers ended seven years ago when they were co-champions with Monache.

“That was a good year to finish but I keep coming back; I don’t know why,” Goularte said. “I mean, I enjoyed my time off, but I missed working with the kids.”

Peltzer and Dakota Schieler are the only two returning, so nine of the total 11 will need to adjust on the fly. Goularte hopes the two with the most experience will show the others the ropes.

Schieler fills in at the hole set for graduated All-Star Mike Duncan while Peltzer hopes to replace the production of another All-Star, Titus Moore.

“Everybody’s gonna be looking at those two,” Goularte said. “Dakota’s huge. He’s tall, he’s strong, he’s tough... he scares me. I almost have to worry about him being TOO physical.”

Schieler’s play is a welcome sight to Goularte, who thinks most of his boys are “too polite with each other” in practices.

Goularte hopes Peltzer can help pick up the team’s pace in the pool, a weakness he acknowledges the team could work on.

“Luke is my best driver,” Goularte said. “He’s the most active kid on the team. People will notice him right away.”

Besides incoming senior Joey McIntire, who earned the starting job at goalie, Goularte is waiting for the rest of the starting lineup to sort itself out. But the coach is careful not to make too much a distinction between starters and non-starters.

“With water polo, you’re playing the game with 10 or 12 players,” Goularte said. “Just because you’re in the water first, doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the last in the pool or get the most playing time.”

Goularte rattled off such names as seniors Alec MacIsaac, Blake Shannon, Derek Vanderstool and Bracken Rummel as well as juniors Jordan Reader and Jake Shannon — all as potential starters.

The team has already had its share of wake-up calls in summer scrimmages, but Goularte likes his team’s chances against league competition this year.

“Monache lost a lot of guys but (coach) Brandon (Weaver) does an excellent job with them and they’ll be a contender like they always are,” Goularte said. “But everybody’s in the same boat."

Blank slate

New starters line Porterville pool

2008 Record: 10-2, 2nd in EYL

Playoffs: Lost 11-8 to Golden West in Division II quarterfinals

Top Returners: Sr. Luke Peltzer, sr. Dakota Schieler

Departures: Dylan Walley, Titus Moore, Mike Duncan, Cody Olenberger, Kevin Marchiando

Key Newcomers: Sr. Alec MacIsaac, sr. Blake Shannon, sr. Derek Vanderstool, jr. Jordan Reader, jr. Jake Shannon, sr. Joey McIntire

Breakout Player: Jake Shannon