With Frank in Goal, the Ball Stops Here

Los Alamitos Coach Tony Martinho had a hunch about Jackie Frank’s water polo future when she was only 11.

Playing in an age-group level competition, Frank impressed him during one tournament.

“We used to rotate people in to play goalie,” Martinho said. “Jackie was a strong swimmer, but she was also about the only one who could throw the ball half-tank. By the end of the tournament, in the last game she stopped three four-meter [penalty] shots.

“She’s been in the cage ever since.”

That’s suited Frank just fine.

Frank is recognized as the top goalie in the county and her presence is one of the big reasons why the Griffins, who have three other returning starters, were the county’s preseason No. 1 team in the coaches poll.

Last season, Frank was named the Sunset League player of the year and helped the Griffins finish 24-0, winning the season-ending Southern California Championships tournament at Irvine High.

College coaches took note. Although schools including UCLA, USC, California and Hawaii recruited Frank, she decided to accept a scholarship to play at Stanford next season.

“It’s been a dream of mine to always go to Stanford,” said Frank, who has a 3.8 grade-point average. “It’s a good school, and Jenny Thompson has always been one of my idols.”

So it was no coincidence that Frank got to meet the Olympic gold medal swimmer and Stanford alum on her recruiting visit. So Frank just couldn’t turn Stanford down.

Frank has made a habit of rejecting opponents’ shots. But it was the Griffins’ offense that was turned away when Rosary posted a season-opening 4-0 shutout of Los Alamitos.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been on a team that was shut out before,” Frank said. “That game was really frustrating.

“We still want to win CIF and league, but that game showed us that we really need to get it together. I think we were sort of expecting that we could just go through the season and just win, like last season.

“But in the Rosary game, we weren’t even into it, and they’re a really good team. It just shows that everyone has improved a lot. All the girls are starting to catch up.”

Frank has enjoyed her head start on most girls’ water polo players.

“Back in 1991, Jackie was one of the faster kids on the team,” Martinho said. “So it was a hard decision to put her in the cage. Now the tendency for some is to put your worst swimmer there, but I think that’s a mistake.

“You need to put a good athlete there.”

Frank is such a good athlete that she can also help the Griffins outside of the cage.

“She’s big, strong and fast,” Martinho said. “She’s a fabulous field player.”

Martinho tried to use those assets against Rosary, putting Frank in the field in the fourth quarter and inserting junior Shaylea Moore in goal. But it didn’t work this time.

But with All-Sunset League players Shelli Linza and Amy Valois also returning with starter Natalie Fagan, expect the Griffins to rebound to make a run during the sport’s first officially sanctioned Southern Section playoffs.

“Last year we worked so hard and the team fit well together,” Frank said. “But we’ve only had a few practices together this year. Everyone isn’t in top shape yet.

“But we’ll get there.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

PRESEASON TOP 10

1. Los Alamitos: Four starters return from 24-0 team.

2. Capistrano Valley: Cougars could be county’s best.

3. Marina: Jenny Lamb leads talented unit.

4. Irvine: Vaqueros are young and balanced.

5. Newport Harbor: League runner-up to Irvine last year.

6. Rosary: Royals are young and improving.

7. Villa Park: Century’s best is deep and talented.

8. University: Erin Hayes leads PCL’s top team.

9. Santa Margarita: Must contend with Irvine & Newport.

10. Esperanza: Looking for third in tough league.

GIRLS WATER POLO

Players to Watch

* Laurie Ake, Magnolia, two-meters, So.

* Candice Chick, Marina, goalie, Sr.

* Jackie Frank, Los Alamitos, goalie, Sr.

* Jessamyn Grewal, El Dorado, driver, Sr.

* Caroline Guidi, Esperanza, two-meters, Sr.

* Erin Hayes, University, two-meters, Sr.

* Nicole Huszcz, Irvine, utility, Jr.

* Jenny Lamb, Marina, two-meters, Sr.

* Erin Lezak, Irvine, two-meters, Jr.

* Shelli Linza, Los Alamitos, driver, Sr.

* Alden Moore, Newport Harbor, utility, Sr.

* Kristyn Pulver, Villa Park, two-meters, So.

* Chelsea Rowlands, Capistrano Valley, two-meters, Sr.

* Ashley Stachowski, Capistrano Valley, utility, Jr.

* Julia Wald, Rosary, two-meters, Sr.

League Favorites

Century: Villa Park; Empire: El Dorado; Golden West: Rosary; Orange: Magnolia; Pacific Coast: University; Sea View: Irvine; South Coast: Capistrano Valley; Sunset: Los Alamitos.

Key Dates

Dec. 11-13, Villa Park and Magnolia tournaments; Jan. 8-10, Newport Harbor tournament; Jan. 15-17, Long Beach Wilson tournament; Feb. 5-7, Southern California Championships at Irvine High; Feb. 19-26, Southern Section playoffs; March 2-3, Southern Section finals.

1996-’97 Final Poll

1. Los Alamitos; 2. Irvine; 3. Marina; 4. Villa Park; 5. Santa Margarita; 6. Newport Harbor; 7. Rosary; 8. Edison; 9. Foothill; 10. Mission Viejo.

Notes

This is the first season that girls’ water polo will have sanctioned Southern Section playoffs. The Century, Sea View, South Coast and Sunset leagues will join the Moore League and compete in Division I and the rest of the county schools will play in Division III . . . The first week produced a shake-up in the rankings when Rosary shut out the preseason No. 1 team, Los Alamitos, 4-0. Also, Jenny Lamb scored in overtime to lead Marina over Capistrano Valley, 4-3 . . . Capistrano Valley, which finished second in league last season, received an influx of talent. Junior Ashley Stachowski, who played on the boys’ team last season, and sister Amber, a freshman, will give the Cougars a boost along with Chelsea Rowlands, who transferred from Mission Viejo after earning league MVP honors last season.