All-Area girls water polo: Emily Norton, St. Andrew's

Tuesday, June 07, 2011
by Paul Ivice

Water polo is sort of a family affair for St. Andrew's Emily Norton.

She and her twin brother, Greg, a key player on St. Andrew's boys team, began playing water polo in middle school.

Both are committed to Bucknell, where they will follow in the footsteps of their older brother, Stephen, who graduated last year, and their father, a Bucknell alumnus.

So it's no surprise that when Emily was asked to expand her role for the Scots by playing hole defense, the key defensive position other than goalkeeper, she didn't hesitate.

"We worked out a strategy where I would drive (the ball) so I could get closer to the cage (goal)," Norton said.

That strategy led to Norton scoring 74 goals, second on the team to junior Brooke Stegeman's 82. Norton also contributed 35 assists and a team-leading 121 steals.

Norton and fellow senior Nicole Jasbon helped lead a new wave of strong St. Andrew's players this season.

"The whole team dynamic changed after our two seniors from last year graduated," Norton said. "A younger group stepped up."

The Scots went 20-6 and won another district title, as Jasbon scored 61 goals and added 55 assists and 42 steals.

"We called (Jasbon) our quarterback because she has a lot of assists and always knew where the ball should go," Norton said.

As a team, Norton said, "we showed a lot of improvement, shooting and playing better."

The Scots made it to the state quarterfinals before losing in overtime to Winter Park.

FIRST TEAM

Nicole Jasbon, St. Andrew's, Sr.

Maria Marquez, Suncoast, So.

Keri Ciancio, Boca Raton, So.

Carly Block, Spanish River, jr.

Alisa Salim, St. Andrew's, Sr.

Madison Wharton, Suncoast, Sr.

Brooke Stegeman, St. Andrew's, Jr.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Valerie Newcomer

Suncoast

For the first time since she started Suncoast's water polo program eight years ago, Newcomer had a breakthrough season. The Chargers (12-6) reached the district finals for the first time. "We had more people showing up to practice so we could actually work on things," Newcomer said. "And more girls were playing club water polo, so they were practicing together and got better."

HONORABLE MENTION

Boca Raton – Brianna Ritota, Michelle Kilgallon, Sydney Polacek; Dwyer – Marisa Flit; Spanish River – Gabi Leeman, Lindsay Gerzina, Livia Souza; St. Andrew's – Jennifer Zink, Sarah Anderson, Emily Kraemer, Pauline Thiemann.