The Paly girls varsity water polo team won the championship in the Dennis Fosdick Peninsula Challenge tournament at Castilleja this weekend, after a 3rd place finish last week in the Clovis West Tournament.

The Vikes started off the Peninsula tournament by thrashing Aragon, 13-6. Outstanding offensive play by junior Remy Champion helped secure this victory with contributions of five goals as well as outstanding play on defense.

Other goals by sophomore Phoebe Champion, juniors Kristen Barta, and Brittany Webster, and seniors Emmy Scandling, Jennie Smith, Christina Partridge, and Emma Feeny contributed to the victory.

Paly’s next match in this tournament was against Menlo-Atherton. Paly had no problem with the Bears, crushing them, 13-2. It was Paly’s impenetrable defense that held Menlo-Atherton to only two goals.

Paly then battled cross-city rival Gunn High School, winning their third game of the tournament. The girls did not seem fatigued after three hard games, and went on to face Menlo School for the championship match. The Vikings authoritatively stomped the Knights of Menlo, 7-3. The win came from an outstanding team effort and well-executed plays.

"During the tournament we came out strong and well- conditioned, but there is still a lot to work on and improve," Remy Champion said. "The teams this weekend were not the top teams in our league, but I look to forward to good match-ups in the upcoming Saint Francis tournament [This weekend, Sept. 19th and 20th]."

Much of the Paly team was able to gain valuable experience at the Peninsula tournament, with the team playing it’s whole bench and subbing freely.

With 10 returning varsity players, five of them starters, the Vikes are a very experienced team. The girls are now 7-1.

Paly will face formidable opponents in the Saint Francis tournament this upcoming weekend at Saint Francis, starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. In the upcoming weeks, look forward to the girls’ first league game Oct. 1, when they will play Gunn at home.