No rebuild for Lady Gators

But the Gators’ water polo program is not one to endure massive highs and lows from year to year. In fact, the pressure can be immense to maintain a program at the highest of levels year in and year out.

But Frank doesn’t look at it as pressure.

“I think that’s the fun thing about being in high school sports. It’s always a new group in front of you,” said Frank, who enters his eighth season with the SHP girls’ team and his 15th in the school’s polo program.

“I wouldn’t say ‘pressure.’ It’s more (about being) excited,” Frank continued. “Last year, we kind of knew what it would look like. … It’s exciting to see who steps into different roles (this year).”

The Gators graduated a number of key pieces, including Vivian Golub, the 2024 Daily Journal Water Polo Player of the Year and Natalia Szczerba, who was the 2023 Daily Journal Polo Player of the Year.

But the talent pipeline at SHP is never a trickle. Frank already has the pieces to replace those who graduated and they were already key cogs during last year’s dominant run. In addition, another handful of returners will see their roles increase in 2025.

The most important returning player may be senior goalie Ellison Brush, who was nearly impenetrable last season as a junior. The University of Southern California commit enters her fourth year as a varsity player and third year as a starter. Brush and backup Isabella Dova combined to allow just 5.5 goals per game in 2024, giving up double-digit goals just twice.

Brush will have plenty of help in front of her with the return of senior hole set Casey Coleman. She was more of a defensive specialist last year, but Frank will ask her to be more of a force on offense this season, something Coleman in more than equipped to handle.

“She was a stellar defender (last year),” Frank said. “This year we’re going to take the reins off (Coleman offensively).”

The offensive focal point for the Gators this season will be junior Kiernan Hogan, who was a key piece last year, as well. A driving wing, Hogan will kind of be the opposite of Coleman — Hogan, who was asked to focus mostly on offense last year, will be asked to play more on the defensive end this season, as well.

“She has a great instinct for the goal,” Frank said. “She plays both sides of the ball.”

Lauren Rossi and Cal McIlhenney, a pair of returning juniors, will take on expanded roles this season, while another junior, Caroline Selna, will take on a 2-meter role in her first season at the varsity level.

“(Rossi) came on at the end of last season. Last year, she was a young player we were trying to identify and as the season went along, she stepped up into something greater,” Frank said. “She’s a great goal scorer; smart with the ball. She’ll help with running the offense.”

McIlhenney gives the Gators another left-handed shooter, which is a rarity in water polo. Southpaws have an advantage because defenders and goalies aren’t used to defending left-hand shots.

“Any given year, there are five lefties out there and we have four of the them,” Frank joked. “It’s such a luxury.”

Frank said he doesn’t expect his squad to simply waltz to more titles this season. The Gators may have come back to the pack a little bit and there is still plenty of talented teams in both CCS and Northern California that would like nothing less than to take a bite out of the Gators.

But Frank welcomes the challenge, which is new every season.

“We’ve got some great pieces back. We’ll be constructed in a different way, but the hope is to execute at the level we have the last couple of years,” Frank said. “This year, it’s a more traditional season — we’ll grow into the season.”