Athlete of the week: Water Dawg Holly Smith steps up her game

By Joe Naiman

Not only did Ramona High School water polo driver Holly Smith score 11 goals in Ramona’s Jan. 15 and 17 games, but many of them tied the game or gave the Bulldogs a lead.

Smith added assists and steals statistics to her goals during the week, and her achievements have earned her

Ramona Sentinel

Athlete of the Week honors.

“Holly’s been stepping it up here. She had a huge week this week,” said coach Donnie Williams.

Smith is a junior and was on Ramona’s varsity as a sophomore last year.

“She’s got a good talent for the game,” Williams said. “She’s probably got some of the best form we have as far as shooting technique.”

Seven of Smith’s goals were scored in Ramona’s 13-10 win Jan. 17 over La Costa Canyon, which gave the Bulldogs a four-game winning streak. That streak began Jan. 4 with an 8-5 win at Poway. Smith had two goals and nine steals against the Titans.

Williams’ attempt to avoid running up the score in Ramona’s 14-2 win Jan. 11 at Escondido limited Smith’s statistics, but the Bulldogs didn’t have such a luxury Jan. 15 against Oceanside. In the third quarter, the Pirates twice took one-goal leads, and both times Smith subsequently scored to tie the game. Smith had four of Ramona’s goals and two assists in the Bulldogs’ 7-4 win.

The first of Smith’s goals against La Costa Canyon gave Ramona its first lead of the game, a 2-1 margin in the first period. The Mavericks had a 7-6 halftime lead, but Smith scored the first goal of the third quarter and had Ramona’s first four goals of that period as the Bulldogs took a 10-8 lead.

Ramona led by an 11-10 margin entering the fourth period, and early in that quarter Smith scored her final goal of the game to give the Bulldogs a 12-10 lead. Smith also had four steals against the Mavericks.