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Tuesday, Oct. 06, 2009

Vikings' success is Taylor-made thanks to senior

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At 5-foot-6 and 135 pounds, Johansen water polo standout Taylor Hanson is hardly an imposing physical presence.

In the pool, however, few players come up bigger than the Vikings senior.

A member of The Bee's all-Stanislaus District water polo and swim teams last season as a junior, Hanson has been the driving force behind Johansen's 18-1 start, which includes an unblemished 7-0 mark in the Modesto Metro Conference. The Vikings beat Modesto 23-2 on Tuesday and are in first place, a game ahead of both Oakdale and Modesto.

If there's any pressure in living up to the lofty standards she's set the previous three seasons, Hanson isn't feeling it.

She says her teammates have everything to do with that.

"We have an entire team of good players. I know we have (hole-set) Gabi (Mantellato), who is a defensive standout, but everybody else is good, too. Everybody has a shot, everybody can swim, and everybody can play water polo at that level.

"There isn't a lot of pressure because I can rely on them."

Hanson has proved that the Vikings can rely on her as well.

"Taylor was a swimmer who discovered that she likes the team aspect a bit more," Johansen coach Brent Bohlender said. "Her strong swimming skills have allowed her to develop into a good water polo player."

Hanson compensates for lack of size with speed ("I'm pretty fast," she says without the slightest hint of braggadocio) and an accurate outside shot.

But it's at the defensive end where Hanson makes her biggest impact. As the Vikings' two-meter defender, Hanson has the most challenging and physical defensive position in the pool.

"Gabi is setting this year, so I'm guarding," Hanson said. "Over time, I've learned to guard-set, but now I have to actually do it."

Her swimming ability combined with her willingness to put her team's needs first has allowed Bohlender to use Hanson in many positions without her missing a beat during her four-year varsity career.

"She has seen her role change from the young player watching and learning to her junior year, where her role completely changed and she had to not only be a fast swimmer, but was relied upon for her outside shooting ability," said Bohlender.

"This year, she was fully prepared to become the center for the team (a role assumed by Mantellato). Being that her size is not that great, it would have been a difficult transition for her, but she was more than ready to accept the challenge.

"Through all the transitions she has had to take on over her four years, she has been more than willing to give it a try, and has done very well in each one."

Hanson credits Bohlender, who has coached her at the high school and club levels for the past six seasons, for her success.

"He's such an amazing coach," Hanson said. "He knows how to talk to individual players, and he gets to know each and every one of us. He knows how to motivate and how to teach us to do every drill and do the things we have to do during the game."

In May, Hanson was selected to the USA Water Polo Zone 8 18-under travel team — there are 11 zones stretching from Oregon to Bakersfield — which played Memorial Day weekend in Davis. She plans to continue her water polo career in college.

Hanson, who also excels in the classroom (she has a 3.5 grade-point average), has designs on becoming a high school teacher, though she hasn't decided on a subject.

She recently went on a recruiting trip to Cal State Bakersfield, and she's "been talking to Long Beach and UC Davis" as well.

The pull to Davis is strong. Hanson's older sister, Jodi, is a member of both the Aggies' swimming and water polo teams.

"We are really close, so it's been hard for her living away from me," said Hanson. "That's definitely a factor."

While Hanson could have the opportunity to say hello to her sister and UC Davis, she'll be saying goodbye to Brooke Fuller, her teammate for the past four years.

"We've been best friends since first grade, so it's gonna be a big change," Hanson said. "I'm really going to miss her and miss playing with her."

For now, Hanson said the focus remains on this season.

"We've played really well so far this season," said Hanson. "We've won all of our games in league and our only loss came in a tournament. Hopefully we'll be able to keep it going."