Cuesta Women's Water Polo earned its third straight trip to the post-season under Coach Rachel Gruetzmacher after earning 4th place in the Western State Conference. The trip marked the Cougars 5th straight post-season berth, not counting the canceled 2020 Covid year, when they were 2nd in the State out of two teams in 2020 or the suspended 2021 campaign. On the season, the Poloists posted a 13-16 record and fell in the first round of the CCCAA State Playoffs to San Diego Mesa. The team was well represented on the all-Western State Conference teams with six Cuesta players earning honors, led by two-time All-State selection Chloe Porter (Santa Maria: Righetti HS- pict).
All State Driver Chloe Porter shined as one the of the State's best all-around players. Porter made everyone around her better and was a major factor in the Cougars' success. She repeated as a member of All-Western State Conference First Team and added all-Southern California Second Team accolades. Porter's two seasons, plus seven games in the suspended 2021 season, have earned her a spot among the all-time greats. This year she led the Cougars' offense with 63 goals and 58 fouls drawn (3rd all time), while also finishing 3rd on the team with 27 assists. Those accomplishments moved her onto Cuesta's all-time Top 10 lists for Career Goals, Assists and Fouls Drawn. She is at the 9th spot with 142 career goals, 3rd all time with 88 assists and her record 140 Fouls Drawn are 55 more than former record holder and two-time All-State performer Ashley De Goede. Porter is also one of the greatest clutch players in Cuesta history. She was always there when the Cougars needed that final goal. This season, Porter scored the game-winning goal in a tie-game four time this season, including three times in overtime.
Fellow Sophomore Presley Acosta (Visalia: Redwood HS), who was an all-WSC Second Teamer in 2022, joined Porter on the 2023 All-Western State Conference First Team. Acosta was one of the Cougars' most improved players and while Porter spent more time inside, she adjusted her perimeter game to become more of facilitator. Acosta still scored 29 goals, but also led the team with 40 assists (8th all time), while also dramatically increasing her steals (29-to-41) and fouls drawn (4-to-18)
2023 All Western State Conference Second Team selections Hannah Kempf (Visalia: Redwood HS)and Aubrie Kirkby Tatro (Arroyo Grande HS) were both crucial to the Cougars' defensive success this season. Last year, en route to the 2022 playoffs, the Cougars allowed 11.3 goals per game, but chopped that down to only 8.4 goals allowed per game this season. Kempf was the Cougars' primary defender in front of the net and matched up against the opponents' top scorer. Her speed and length helped her to a team-high 51 steals. On offense, Kempf also added 21 goals and ranked behind only Porter and Acosta with 29 assists. Kirkby Tatro was in the goal for all but two quarters on the season, but she did score a goal of her own during that brief respite from the nets. Her 223 saves on the season landed her in the 10th spot on the Cougars single season list and, curiously, the 9th spot on the career list. Kirkby Tatro's best game of the season was a key factor in the Cougars' returned to the playoffs. Her first collegiate game was a 12-7 loss to Golden West, but on the final day of regular season play the Cougars got a re-match against the Rustlers. Kirkby Tatro posted a season-high 18 saves in the double-overtime victory, 7-6, to vault her team into the post-season and her to #5 on the Cougars' single-game save list.
2022 All-WSC First Teamer Ryan Rascon (Santa Cruz HS) and Freshman Maddie Corrigan (Hollister HS) were both accorded Western State Conference Honorable Mention for their all-around play. Rascon, like Porter, began her Cuesta career during the suspended 2021 campaign. She earned all-WSC First Team honors last season and garnered all-WSC Honorable Mention this year. Rascon is renowned as one of the State's most tenacious one-on-one defenders. This season she also added 19 goals and 22 assists on the offensive side of the tank. Corrigan stepped right into a starting role and was 4th on the team with 26 goals, while also adding 20 assists.
2023 All State
Second Team Chloe Porter
2023 All-WSC Honors
First Team Chloe Porter
First Team Presley Acosta
Second Team Hannah Kempf
Second Team Aubrie Kirkby Tatro
Honorable Mention Ryan Rascon
Honorable Mention Maddie Corrigan
