Sports
Seminole’s Halle Zimlich girls water polo Player of the Year
The FHSAA state championship game illustrated how important Halle Zimlich was to Seminole High School’s girls water polo success.
Seminole was up 4-2 early in the third quarter of the state final against Gulliver Prep of Miami when Zimlich earned her third exclusion penalty of the contest. Players are allowed two ejections of 20 seconds each. A third ejection results in a player fouling out of the game.
She had a goal, assist and three steals at the time. Without Zimlich, the Seminoles ended up losing 8-5.
“It takes a team to do what we’ve done,” Seminole coach Ryan Ackerson said. “If there’s one player we wouldn’t want to lose in a game, it’s Halle.”
Zimlich, a junior, is the Sentinel Varsity Girls Water Polo Player of the Year for the second year in a row. She led the Seminoles to a 31-0 state championship season as a sophomore.
“She does things instinctively that you can’t teach,” Ackerson said.
The numbers speak for themselves. Zimlich was sixth in the state with 136 goals according to MaxPreps. She added 28 assists and 58 steals for a 28-2 team. That third stat is the underrated part of her game with Ackerson calling her “an extraordinary defender.”
Zimlich also stepped up as a leader, though she was still humble about it.
“The seniors had a huge role in our team as captains, but I also did as much as I could to be a leader on our team,” she said.
Sentinel Standouts
Mallory Baker, Lake Mary, Sr.
Buzz: She evolved from a stellar defender into a great all-around player. Scored team-high 97 goals, as well as 32 assists and 83 steals.
Bailey Dunn, West Orange, Sr.
Buzz: Racked up 71 goals, 53 assists, 107 steals and 31 ejections drawn in leading the Warriors to the state semifinals.
Maran Harris, Dr. Phillips, Sr.
Buzz: Goalie set school records with 320 saves and 1,033 for her career. Added 14 goals, 54 assists, 48 steals. One of eight goalkeepers selected for National Junior Training Camp.
Fiona Pando, Seminole, Sr.
Buzz: She was an all-around contributor for the state runners-up with 77 goals, 22 assists, 41 steals and 73 ejections drawn.
Vivian Swain, Seminole, Jr.
Buzz: Was catalyst for many of Zimlich’s goals with a national-high 109 assists. Also scored 79 goals and notched 60 steals.
Players of the year and Sentinel standouts are selected by the Sentinel staff with input from area coaches. Athletes represent schools eligible for the FHSAA state series from Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and southwest Volusia counties.
Seminole’s Adam Walker is Sentinel Varsity boys water polo Player of the Year
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
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