Girls Water Polo: Kaipainen’s 10 goals helps send River Rats to State Tournament

The Huron girls’ water polo team qualified for the State Tournament with an impressive 17-2 victory over visiting Walled Lake on Friday.

Powerhouse junior/captain Emma Kaipainen scored an astounding 10 goals, and had 4 assists and 4 steals.

Junior/captain Zannah Baker had 3 goals, 2 assists and 2 steals, senior Dre Hubers scored twice and had 6 steals, while juniors Alli Sutton and Sophia Riegle added 1 goal apiece to the Rats’ total.

Huron triumphed handily over Saline 12-5 on Saturday morning, then lost the final regional game to Skyline 5-4 at Skyline and will head to East Kentwood on June 4 where they will face Rockford at 2:30 p.m. for the first of three State Championship games.

Kaipainen was named East Region MVP for the season by the Michigan Water Polo Association.  She will represent Huron on the upcoming inaugural “All-Star Classic” in mid-June, together with teammates Baker (named to second team), and junior Lydia Hargett (second team co-goalie). Hubers received an “Honorable Mention” from the MWPA for her excellent play all season.