Newberg girls begin quest for a water polo state championship

Newberg girls begin quest for a water polo state championship

Published 2:01 pm Thursday, August 21, 2025

Tigers begin 2025 season with a Sept. 3 contest against Grant

A small cadre of determined Newberg High athletes will attempt to improve on last season as the Tigers have taken to the pool in anticipation of the 2025 campaign for a state championship.

The girls water polo team began practices Aug. 18 and numbers only 11 players: three seniors, five juniors and three sophomores.

Coach Matt Bayha said the program suffered a downturn when no teams were allowed to play during the COVID-19 pandemic, causing a dip in turnout for the perennial powerhouse once the pandemic subsided.

Regardless, this year’s squad is laser-focused on improving on a 8-2 record finish (23-10 overall) in the six-team Three River League and a third-place finish with a 7-5 win over Grant in the state tournament in November. Thirteen teams competed for the title at the tournament.

Fellow Three Rivers League team Lakeridge, one of the two teams Bayha named to beat this season along with South Eugene, took the state championship in 2024.

The Tigers have returned two starters from last year’s squad — Sydney McDonald and Whitney Rubottom — with McDonald earning the distinction of being the team’s top scorer last season.

Bayha said a quartet of poloists are among the underclassmen he is expecting great things from as the season approaches.

“Kaiya Bizeau, Brianna Ferris, Leah Richman and Addyson Stewart are all returning juniors and Brooke Heidenreich (is) a returning senior, all of whom I am excited to see fill in the starting roles,” he said. “We also have a number of new players out from the swim team (that) I am excited to see pick up the game and compete with their speed and endurance.”

Normally, the Tigers would be approaching the high school season soon after having competed in club ball for the Newberg Water Polo Club.

“Only a few played club this past off season, but we will be counting on those players to pass on their knowledge and share their experience with the others,” Bayha said.

Gauging the team’s strengths, Bayha highlighted a skill particularly prized among water poloists.

“Strength would be all around speed from both returning and new comers,” he said. “Also the strength and leadership both offensive and defensively from Sydney McDonald. We also have a great voice and communicator as our goalie, Leah Richmond.”

Bayha said if the team had a shortcoming it would be unfamiliarity with each other, adding weakness would be game experience for some on the team who have not played together previously.

The coach has an optimistic prediction for the coming season, which begins Sept. 3 with a bout against the Grant Generals.

“We should be a competitive team that will see success and growth throughout the entire season and should stack up with the top teams in the state once again,” he said.