CONTACT US

Contact Form

    News Details

    All-County Girls Water Polo Team: Orange Lutheran’s Lauren Steele is the O.C. player of the year
    • March 22, 2023

    Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

    ORANGE COUNTY PLAYER OF THE YEAR

    Lauren Steele, Orange Lutheran, Jr.

    Orange Lutheran goalie Lauren Steele never backed down from a challenge during her biggest moments of the girls water polo season.

    Penalty shot in league at Mater Dei … block. Late breakaways by Los Alamitos in the CIF-SS Open Division semifinals … block, block. Fast start by Foothill in the final … four blocks in the fourth period.

    Yet for all her responses in high-leverage situations, Steele made perhaps her most daring maneuver during her freshman year of high school in Connecticut.

    Orange Lutheran water polo goalie Lauren Steele named player of the year.
    (Photo by Greg ,Andersen, Contributing Photographer)

    Orange Lutheran water polo goalie Lauren Steele, left, named player of the year, and coach Brenda Villa named coach of the year.
    (Photo by Greg ,Andersen, Contributing Photographer)

    Orange Lutheran water polo goalie Lauren Steele named player of the year.
    (Photo by Greg ,Andersen, Contributing Photographer)

    Orange Lutheran’s goalie Lauren Steele reaches to slap the ball away from the goal against Foothill in the CIF-SS Open Division water polo championship in Irvine on Saturday, February 18, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

    Orange Lutheran goalie Lauren Steele (1A) stops a shot with her face against San Marcos’ during the finals of the Bill Barnett Holiday Cup girls water polo tournament at Newport Harbor High in Newport Beach, CA, on Friday, December 30, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Orange Lutheran goalie Lauren Steele (1A) blocks a shot from San Marcos during the finals of the Bill Barnett Holiday Cup girls water polo tournament at Newport Harbor High in Newport Beach, CA, on Friday, December 30, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    of

    Expand

    She moved to Southern California, in part, to play a higher level of water polo. She shifted her classes online to 5:30 a.m. and trained at 6-8 Sports’ academy in Fountain Valley.

    “Never looked back,” she said.

    This winter, Steele helped lead Orange Lutheran to its first Open Division championship. For for efforts, the UCLA committed junior is The Register’s player of the year for 2022-23.

    “She was the difference, I think, between us and other teams,” Orange Lutheran coach Brenda Villa said Steele, selected the Open Division player of the year.

    “She’s just a student of the game. She knows the shooters. She’s trained a lot. It amazes me that a kid from Connecticut has been able to jam in so much water polo.”

    Steele showed major progress in her second season at Orange Lutheran.

    The 6-foot goalie led the Lancers (27-3) to two tournament titles and the Trinity League championship during the regular season. They won the Barnett Holiday Cup and Irvine SoCal tournament.

    Steele was selected the outstanding goalie at the Irvine SoCal event and MVP of the Trinity League.

    She continued her sizzling play in the postseason, recording nine saves in the semifinals and 11 in the finals.

    Steele also set a valuable example with her composure and communication with teammates.

    COACH OF THE YEAR

    Brenda Villa, Orange Lutheran

    Orange Lutheran girls water polo coach Brenda Villa shared several lessons from her decorated career with her players but one proved especially valuable.

    The four-time Olympian stressed composure in her first season guiding the Lancers, a trait she often displayed on the pool deck with players, officials and opponents.

    It was Orange Lutheran’s ability to embrace that lesson that helped it rally from a four-goal deficit in the CIF-SS Open Division final to beat top-seeded Foothill 11-8. And it’s a big reason why Villa is the Register’s Orange County coach of the year.

    “Her calming us and reminding us, ‘OK, let’s go back on everything we’ve practiced this whole year’, that really helped us instead of just being mad at us,” Orange Lutheran goalie Lauren Steele said of Villa. “Staying level-headed and knowing, ‘OK, maybe I made a bad play on this play but I’m going to get the next one’ is huge and that’s what really helped us in the finals.”

    Orange Lutheran water polo coach Brenda Villa named coach of the year.
    (Photo by Greg ,Andersen, Contributing Photographer)

    Orange Lutheran water polo goalie Lauren Steele, left, named player of the year, and coach Brenda Villa named coach of the year.
    (Photo by Greg ,Andersen, Contributing Photographer)

    Orange Lutheran coach Brenda Villa, center left, celebrates with her players after winning the CIF-SS Open Division water polo championship against Foothill in Irvine on Saturday, February 18, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

    Orange Lutheran players push their coach Brenda Villa into the pool after winning the CIF-SS Open Division water polo championship against Foothill in Irvine on Saturday, February 18, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

    of

    Expand

    FIRST TEAM

    Lauren Steele, Orange Lutheran, Jr., GK (Player of the year)

    Kamryn Barone, Santa Margarita, Sr.

    The Stanford signee earned CIF-SS Division 1 player of the year after scoring eight goals, including the winner in sudden-death overtime, against Long Beach Wilson in the final. She finished with 80 goals and 70 steals.

    Ryan Chalupnik, Newport Harbor, Jr.

    The center drew plenty of double teams but remained a dangerous scorer and led the team in drawn exclusions to help lead the Sailors to the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs.

    Allison Cohen, Orange Lutheran, Fr.

    The attacker was not only the Lancers’ top perimeter scoring threat but also a gifted passer and defender in their run to the CIF-SS Open Division title.

    Rachel Gazzaniga, Foothill, Sr.

    The USC-bound utility player and Crestview League MVP dominated at 2 meters and helped power the Knights to the Division 1 CIF Southern California Regional title and a runner-up finish in the CIF-SS Open Division.

    Olivia Krotts, Mater Dei, Sr.

    The Princeton committed center was a force at 2 meters and helped the Monarchs finish second in the Trinity League and reach the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs.

    Olivia Ouellette, Los Alamitos, Sr.

    The UCLA commit led the Surf League champion in scoring with 85 goals and also guarded 2-meters for one of the best defensive units in the county.

    Charlotte Riches, Laguna Beach, Sr.

    The Princeton-committed center scored 57 goals and drew 51 exclusions/penalty shots to help the Breakers reach the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs.

    SECOND TEAM

    Ava Knepper, Laguna Beach, Jr.

    Deirdre Murphy, Foothill, Jr.

    Sara Naulty, Orange Lutheran, Sr.

    Joey Niz, Los Alamitos, Sr., GK

    Anna Reed, Newport Harbor, Sr., GK

    Olivia Slavens, Los Alamitos, Sr.

    Sofia Umeda, Orange Lutheran, Jr.

    THIRD TEAM

    Aubrie Anderson, Corona del Mar, Sr.

    Sydney Chapman, JSerra, Jr.

    Gabby Gaetano, El Toro, Sr.

    Natasha Kieckhafer, Santa Margarita, Sr.

    Rachel Kirchner, Foothill, Sr., GK

    Helene Macbeth, San Clemente, Sr.

    Lauren Schneider, Laguna Beach, Sr., GK

    FOURTH TEAM

    Sophia Bunnell, Santa Margarita, Jr., GK

    Related Articles

    High School Sports |


    Mater Dei hires Chris Segesman as girls water polo coach

    High School Sports |


    Orange County girls water polo Top 10: Orange Lutheran finishes No. 1

    High School Sports |


    JSerra girls water polo team surges past Murrieta Valley to win CIF State Division II regional title

    High School Sports |


    Foothill girls water polo edges Orange Lutheran to win first CIF SoCal Regional title

    High School Sports |


    JSerra girls water polo sinks La Jolla for first CIF State SoCal Regional victory

    Presley Jones, Laguna Beach, So.

    Holliss Munchoff, Mater Dei, Sr.

    Kirra Pantaleon, Foothill, Fr.

    Maddy Scarth, Huntington Beach, Sr.

    Sofia Smith, Sunny Hills, Sr.

    Ashley Wallin, University, Sr.

    ​ Orange County Register 

    News