Tournament Month continues for the Spartan Girls Water Polo Team. The Gessner Invite linked the Emmons Natatorium on the north side of the thoroughfare and Strake Jesuit Outdoor Pool to the south, with games being held at both venues, featuring 11 of the area’s top girls teams. These 3-day tournaments are organized to give plenty of playing opportunity in the weeks leading up to regulation UIL competition. The multi-game contests are just the ticket for the young Stratford girls team: introducing the high level of polo play in the Houston area, displaying the team’s strengths and discovering areas of weakness, and providing the opportunity for sportsmanship and team building. Conditions at the Strake outdoor pool were grueling, with high temps and an eye-squinting glare off the pool (for the athletes AND spectators), but the Spartans came to play -- four times: Dawson (Thurs), Cypress Creek (Thurs), Jersey Village (Sat), and Brazoswood (Sat).

Senior captains Emma Jackson and Lily Askounis continue to lead the team in offense and defense, Jackson schooling the pool with her impressive skip shot from 5 meters and Askounis muscling through the mire to gain her position. First-year Varsity goalies/sophomores Emmie Hanvey and Bella Smith showed physical and mental toughness throughout the tournament with brilliant defensive moves and monster blocks. Standout sophomores Elizabeth Conner and Molly Kate Minyard made strong contributions on both ends of the pool with Conner trademarking her left-side spin shot for multiple tournament goals and Minyard showing speed and strength on the opening swim-offs as well as recording a goal. Returning juniors Avery Garcia, Hana Riley, and Sarah Beth Roady are showing leadership, demonstrating defensive prowess and sparking offensive action, goals, and assists for all three this weekend. Returning senior Lindsay Wong and sophomores LC Nall and Lilli Oteiza are forcing turnovers and making connections by the cage. Freshman Jill Hyland popped in her first Varsity goal in the game against Cypress Creek and first-years Luisa Becerra and Piper Barrow made their Varsity debuts at the Gessner Invite. The best game of the tournament for Stratford was down to the wire: Spartans 9, Jersey Village 10

Up next: the Ben Garcia Memorial “Purple Monkey” Tournament in the Alvin area this weekend. The girls will face off against Deer Park and Shadow Creek on Friday afternoon. Who they play Saturday will be determined by their Friday record.