Modesto Bee Logo

Oakdale probably glad Porter chose water polo | Modesto Bee

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Newsletters
    • Buy Photos
    • Submit a Photo
    • Search Archives

    • News
    • Politics
    • Local News
    • Crime
    • Bee Investigator
    • Education
    • Turlock
    • Oakdale
    • California News
    • Nation & World
    • Scott Peterson Case
    • Local Sports
    • Sports
    • High School
    • High School Football
    • High School Athletes
    • College
    • Outdoors
    • Camps, clinics listings
    • Pro Sports
    • NFL
    • MLB
    • Giants
    • A's
    • 49ers
    • Raiders
    • NBA
    • Politics
    • The California Influencer Series
    • Business
    • Biz Beat
    • Agriculture
    • Employment News
    • Real Estate
    • Living
    • Celebrations
    • Family
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Worship Directory
    • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV News
    • Contests
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • Modesto Bee Rewards
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Influencers Opinion
    • National Issues
    • State Issues
    • Submit a Letter
    • Mike Dunbar
    • Community Voices
    • Obituaries
    • View Obituaries
    • Place Obituary Ad

    • dealsaver
    • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ad
    • Pets
    • Garage Sales
    • Real Estate
    • Apartment and Rentals
    • Jobs
    • RVs/Motorhomes
    • Merchandise
    • Service Directory
    • Place an Ad
    • Place Celebration
    • Place Obituary Ad
    • Place Classified Ad
    • Place Legal Ad
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • See Legal Notices
  • Mobile & Apps

High School Football

Oakdale probably glad Porter chose water polo

By RICHARD T. ESTRADA

eestrada@modbee.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

September 17, 2008 06:38 AM

OAKDALE -- Garrett Porter never gave much thought to playing water polo before he arrived at Oakdale High as a freshman.

"I figured I'd play football, but I decided I wanted something different," the junior said. "I never played water polo, and I thought it might be a lot of fun to try."

Three years after the decision, Porter is still playing water polo and still having plenty of fun.

The goalie turned in one of his top performances of the season on Tuesday, limiting Ceres to three goals as Oakdale won 17-3 in the Modesto Metro Conference boys' opener.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Modesto Bee

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

Tyler Lee and Peter Siemsen scored four goals apiece for the Mustangs, who hope to improve on last year's third-place finish.

"We have a lot of the team back from last year, and we were good enough to make the playoffs, so we've got a shot at winning it," Porter said. "We've got speed so we can attack with a fast break, or we can pass it up the pool."

Oakdale was scoring in a variety of ways Tuesday, with eight Mustangs putting it in the net.

Porter's presence in the goal allows his teammates to take more risks on the offensive end, since they know he won't be intimidated should a foe counterattack.

"I was a field player as a freshman, but played goalie when our starter was gone or if we were in a tournament and playing a lot of games," he said. "I enjoyed it, having people try to shoot past me. You've got to forget about how much the ball might hurt if it hits you and just focus on keeping your body in front of it."

While Oakdale is a Valley Oak League school, it plays water polo in the MMC -- as does Ceres -- because its league doesn't have the sport.

Porter says the program will continue to flourish with a pool coming to campus. The district is building a $2.3 million aquatics center adjacent to the gym and the football stadium. It should be open in fall 2010.

The pool will be 25 yards wide and 34 meters long, allowing 14 lanes of racing across the width -- 25-yard pools are standard for high school events. Much of the pool will be 7 feet deep, making it convenient for water polo, too.

MODESTO 13, DOWNEY 6, at Modesto -- Quinton Bailey had a season-high seven goals, spreading his offense throughout the match, and the Panthers pulled away to win the MMC opener.

GIRLS WATER POLO

OAKDALE 14, CERES 8, at Oakdale -- Jessica Carwin, Alysa Parker and Fallon Clipper scored three goals apiece as the Mustangs used their balanced attack to win the MMC opener.

ATWATER 7, LOS BANOS 5, at Atwater -- Keziah Brigham made sure the Falcons opened Central California Conference play with a victory, posting 12 saves as teammate Megan Russell scored three goals.

BOYS SOCCER

DOWNEY 4, ENOCHS 0, at Enochs -- Nick Cash had a goal in each half and the Knights (2-0 MMC) posted their second consecutive shutout with Canek Ambriz in the goal. Downey opened the MMC with a 1-0 upset of defending champ Modesto.

LIVINGSTON 2, HILMAR 2, at Hilmar -- Livingston goalkeeper Alonso Lara scored on a free kick from midfield, but the Yellowjackets rallied for a late goal and the draw in the Western Athletic Conference opener. With the Wolves up 2-1, Jordan Bettencourt's free kick deflected off a defender and Jonathan Sousa outran the keeper to the ball. Sousa flicked it into the net with 10 minutes left.

PATTERSON 9, ORESTIMBA 0, at Newman -- The Tigers (8-2, 1-0 WAC) showed they have plenty of offense, as Gustavo Molinda celebrated a hat trick in the first half and Rodrigo Aldana scored twice to increase his Stanislaus District-leading total to 18 goals.

GIRLS TENNIS

BEYER 4, JOHANSEN 3, at Beyer -- Katie Ballentyne, usually a doubles player, got the word at the last moment that she was playing No. 4 singles. The late notice didn't bother her, though, as she won 6-4, 6-2 to lift the Patriots (2-1 MMC). The regular No. 4 player caught her finger in a car door just before the match.

DOWNEY 5, DAVIS 2, at Davis -- If you like tennis, this was the place to be, as the Knights prevailed in an MMC meeting that featured four three-set matches. Downey won three of those four matches, and No. 1 singles Jordan Flora won 6-3, 6-4.

  Comments  

Videos

National Signing Day: Downey’s Bryce Peterson signs with UC Davis

Watch highlights of Hilmar’s 48-14 win over East Nicolaus in the CIF State Division 6-AA NorCal Championship

View More Video

Trending Stories

Suspect in bar shooting said he acted in self-defense: ‘The whole thing was provoked’

February 21, 2019 05:10 PM

Suspect in Modesto bar shooting arrested. Does he have a case for self defense?

February 22, 2019 09:19 AM

Update: Lockdown lifted at Modesto schools as police serve search warrant

February 21, 2019 10:06 AM

Motorist dies in north Modesto after swerving to avoid cat

February 22, 2019 10:21 AM

New charges against seven accused of aiding alleged killer of Newman police corporal

February 21, 2019 04:47 PM

Read Next

Ex-Central Valley High star Gardner lifts team to win, leads new league in rushing

High School Football

Ex-Central Valley High star Gardner lifts team to win, leads new league in rushing

By Brian Clark

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 18, 2019 08:38 AM

San Diego Fleet running back Ja’Quan Gardner, who played at Central Valley High in Ceres, CA, scored two TDs to guide his team to a win over the Atlanta Legends in an Alliance of American Football league game.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Modesto Bee

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Atwater, Modesto and Downey players garner Player with Drive scholarship awards

High School Football

Atwater, Modesto and Downey players garner Player with Drive scholarship awards

February 08, 2019 08:26 AM
From missing school to signing. Central Catholic’s Jacklich inspires those around him

High School Football

From missing school to signing. Central Catholic’s Jacklich inspires those around him

February 06, 2019 02:55 PM
Central Catholic grad Mundt offers insight into his Super Bowl experience

Super Bowl

Central Catholic grad Mundt offers insight into his Super Bowl experience

January 31, 2019 04:18 PM
There’s a shortage of high school referees. Some feel parents are to blame.

High School Sports

There’s a shortage of high school referees. Some feel parents are to blame.

January 26, 2019 02:38 PM
Ryan Green takes reins of Modesto Christian program. Will his QB son play right away?

High School Football

Ryan Green takes reins of Modesto Christian program. Will his QB son play right away?

January 22, 2019 01:55 PM
New Beyer football coach talks about why he wants to guide the Patriots

High School Football

New Beyer football coach talks about why he wants to guide the Patriots

January 16, 2019 12:23 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Modesto Bee App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
Advertising
  • Advertising Information
  • Place Obituary or Celebration
  • Place Classified, Legal
  • Local Deals
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story