A dominant senior leader and a strong supporting cast have Kentridge High School unbeaten and looking to make a bigger splash in the postseason this water polo season.
The Chargers – led by 6-foot-5 senior point Jonathan Borte, a scholarship-worthy talent – are 11-0, having separated themselves from the rest of the pack in the Puget Sound League’s East Division. Kentridge built its lead over one of its closest pursuers, Auburn Mountainview, with a 13-7 conquest of the Lions on Oct. 6 at the Lindbergh High School pool in Renton.
Kentridge stayed unbeaten, thumping Enumclaw 17-4 in a home match Tuesday night.
So far, co-head coaches Mike McKee and Greg Connell are enjoying the glow of a great run.
“This is the best team we’ve ever had here,” said McKee, who is in his sixth year with a program that has grown over the years. Kentridge’s fall roster is 20 strong.
Borte sets the tone, sharing the ball and getting his teammates involved in a well-balanced attack.
“He’s a pretty amazing athlete, a great player,” McKee said of Borte, a star performer seasoned with several years of club play. “When he came to our program, the program really took off. He’s pretty much changed the nature of our team almost immediately because he has played for so long and his skill set is off the charts.
“There’s a reason we are so good,” McKee added. “Jonathan is working more with his teammates, distributing the ball more.”
Seniors Nick Hass, Sean Gilman, Jake Davies, Jean Luc Quere and Derek Anderson have helped lead the way for Kentridge. In goal, sophomore Hans Erickson has been a pleasant surprise.
The Chargers, who finished a program-best seventh at state last year, are reaching higher this time around. To get there, ultimately a state berth, they must navigate a difficult regional playoff path against stout programs from the north and east sides of Seattle, programs rich in club-tested athletes.
McKee knows as much.
“But we feel pretty confident in how well we can do,” he said.
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