An Early Test for Arlington, North

Still trying to find that water attraction in the city of Riverside? Try the Ivy League this time of year, when the girls’ water polo teams at Arlington and North high schools put on the best shows in town.

In the Southern Section Division V final last season, Arlington beat North, 10-8, in a thrilling overtime game, and the Lions are considered the top team in the division again this season, slightly ahead of North. The nice thing is, they won’t have to wait until the playoffs to size each other up as they meet Jan. 9 in a league game at Arlington.

“We’re looking forward to that game,” said North Coach Tom Finwall, whose team was 0-3 against Arlington in summer league play.

Both schools return the heart of the lineups from last season. Arlington is led by senior Jennifer D’Anna, a National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Assn. All-American third-team selection.

North is anchored by senior goalkeeper Kasey Weaver, an honorable mention All-American who shared Division V player of the year honors with D’Anna. Weaver hasn’t given up more than five goals in a game this season, including a shutout against Redlands East Valley, and has stopped four penalty throws.

Arlington is also supported by senior Megan Rosenberger, who scored four goals against North in February’s championship game, and junior goalkeeper Lauren Williams, who Arlington Coach Bill Grisham said has the potential to play at Weaver’s level.

The Lions are off to a 7-2 start, losing last week to sixth-ranked Corona del Mar. Arlington was short-handed against the Sea Kings after D’Anna injured her back rear-ending her boyfriend’s car as she followed him off campus.

North is paced offensively by senior Alaina Whitaker, a first-team all-section selection last season after scoring 100 goals, five against Arlington in the title game. The Huskies have won 10 of 11 games this season, their only loss coming against Villa Park. North was also missing some players in that loss, including Weaver, who chose to watch the Huskies’ football team play in the Southern Section Division V championship game that night.

North is coming off a 6-5 victory over Santa Ynez in the championship game of the Redlands tournament on Saturday. Santa Ynez is considered one of the top teams in Division III.

Like Arlington, the Huskies don’t play again until early January, shortly before they meet in their league showdown.

“The season is going good,” Whitaker said. “The Arlington game will be a lot of fun, something new happens every time.”

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Pooling resources: Whittier High has a new $1.3-million pool on campus this season. The school has been without a pool since 1995, when the previous pool was condemned after the Northridge earthquake.

“We finally got some funds to bring Whittier back up to par,” Coach Chris Schneider said. The pool’s addition seemed to inspire the Whittier boys’ team this fall. The Cardinals won their first Southern Section title since 1959.

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Home, sweet home: At Huntington Beach High, a new pool should be open for play on Jan. 7, said Oiler Coach Jeff Russ, allowing the school to host its first aquatics event in nearly 10 years. Russ believes the new facility will also revive the school’s aquatics programs.

“I’m thinking I can get more kids out for our sports and more exposure for our teams on campus,” Russ said.

The Huntington Beach Unified School District closed the school’s previous pool in 1992, citing high maintenance costs. That forced the Oilers to hold practices at Fountain Valley High and games at Golden West College.

Russ said he hopes to host some Sunset League games this season.