RIPON – The Ripon High water polo program has been able to make pleasant strides in its brief history. After a Sac-Joaquin Section berth a season ago, the once-coed program will take on the Valley Foothill League with both a boys and girls squad.

The Indians boys team will continue to be led by aquatics mainstay Eric Zador, and the girls will be led by first-year coach Kara Andrews. Andrews coached the East Union swim team a season ago, and now changes focus to the Lady Indians’ first-year program.

“I think the girls are really excited,” Andrews said during Wednesday’s workout. “Not all of them have been playing with the boys, but for the ones who were playing with the boys they get their opportunity to shine on their own.”

Andrews is expecting major contributions from freshman utility player Hannah Sweet and sophomore returner Emma Lewis.

Zador’s boys have reason to believe they may be in position to turn the corner, but will obviously face the expected challenges of competing in the VFL. The league has been split into two divisions, leaving only two playoff berth available for the taking.

“It’s still going to be those top-four teams at the top,” Zador said of the VFL outlook. “Oakdale is still pretty strong and I know Sonora lost a couple of kids, but I am not sure where they’re at right now. Kimball’s probably on the weaker end, but they do have a strong girls team.”

Everyone on the team is a returner excluding just two players. The Indians will definitely be a young squad competing with just one senior, yet the majority of the team is made up of juniors who’ve earned experience in the program’s beginning stages.

“We’re still a small program,” Zador admitted. “We didn’t lose anybody but we only added two freshman. Now with the girls with their own team things will be a little different. Most of our guys have been playing since they were 12 and 13, so we should be alright.”

The focus for the inaugural girls season will be slightly different then that of their counterparts.

“I definitely want everybody to have an understanding of the game,” Andrews said. “So that way, when they come back next year we just pick up from right there and go right into our season. As long as we end this season with everyone having a great understanding of the game, I’ll be happy with that.”

Both programs will get their seasons underway Saturday with a preseason scrimmage with Kimball High. Action will take place at Ervin Zador Aquatics Center beginning at 9 a.m.