Merced County water polo star finishes prep career as 4-time champ, 4-time MVP
Kendall Thomas says she’s grateful for the experience of playing water polo four four years at El Capitan High School.
The Gauchos senior had one heck of a high school career.
Thomas helped lead the Gauchos to four consecutive Central California Conference championships. She finished as the Gauchos’ all-time leading scorer, compiling an astounding 519 career goals.
It’s no surprise the conference coaches named Thomas the CCC Most Valuable Player of the fourth consecutive season.
“Coming into this season everything was up in the air with COVID,” Thomas said. “I was grateful we got to play. I’m grateful for the people and I’m grateful for the experience.”
Thomas scored 94 goals in just 10 games this season, leading the Gauchos to a perfect 10-0 run through the CCC.
“Kendall is a great competitor who always gave her all,” said El Capitan coach Kristie Dunham, who was also named the CCC Coach of the Year. “She was a fantastic player and young lady, a true pleasure to coach. Kendall is very coachable, willing to do whatever I asked of her.”
Thomas says her senior season was different with a shorter season and no traveling to tournaments.
“We made the best of what we had and we had a great season,” Thomas said. “What I’ll miss most is how much fun it was. A lot of the girls who play high school are out there because they enjoy the sport. I enjoyed the people around me. Everyone out there wanted to have fun.”
Golden Valley senior Libby Hamilton was named the CCC Offensive Player of the Year. Hamilton became the Cougars’ all-time leading scorer with 277 career goals.
Buhach Colony’s Emilie Fears was named Goalie of the Year and Thunder teammate Emma Johnston was named the Defensive Player of the Year.
The all-CCC first-team selections were El Capitan’s Alexis Smith, Jenna Briggs and Sam Verrinder, Merced’s Ellie Hamm and Bailey Russel and Buhach Colony’s Sydney Abril and Jasmin Hicks.
The second-team picks were Buhach Colony’s Ayelen Colunga, Atwater’s Date Bringham, El Capitan’s Claudette Aseno, Merced’s Samantha Slocum, Syndey Hinman, Katelyn Brown and Golden Valley’s Alicia Major and Savonah Ward.
All-CCC Boys Water Polo
Merced High junior Easton Hamm was an offensive force for the Bears this season, scoring 67 goals in 10 games.
Hamm helped lead Merced to a co-Central California Conference championship with El Capitan and Atwater.
Hamm was named the CCC Most Valuable Player by the conference coaches. Merced took home two other top awards with Daniel Martin being named the Defensive Player of the Year and Logan McIntosh earning Offensive Player of the Year honors.
“It means a lot,” Hamm said. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. Daniel was the Defensive Player of the Year and Logan was the Offensive Player of the Year. They both helped me get it.”
Buhach Colony’s Ethan Kollmann was named the CCC Goalie of the Year.
Hamm comes from an athletic family. His older sister Ellie helped lead the Bears volleyball to a league championship and is headed to Cal on an athletic scholarship.
“I think we’re talented in the sports we play and we’re always competing with each other to get the highest achievements in our sports.”
Easton is drawing interest from colleges like Pepperdine, Cal, UCLA and Stanford.
Merced’s Kit Grattan, Atwater’s David Svendsen and El Capitan’s Hannah Ellett were all named co-Coaches of the Year after the three teams tied atop the CCC standings.
The all-CCC first-team selections were Atwater’s Trevor Knapp, Ambrose Soto and Austin Escobar, El Capitan’s Ryan Smith and Rob Carpenter, Buhach Colony’s Jacob Ingram and Merced’s Colin Foutch.
The second-team picks were Golden Valley’s Mateo Tangaan and Dominic Tangaan, Buhach Colony’s Drew Hill, Merced’s Owen Krieger, Atwater’s Justin Bizzack and Lucas Avila and Livingston’s Christopher Bettencourt and Matthew Cornejo.
This story was originally published June 25, 2021 at 6:03 PM.
