By Brenda Sexton

Staff Writer

Sumner and Bonney Lake high will combine girls water polo teams and coach Diana Ekstrom is looking forward to an exciting year.

Sumner School District budget cuts forced the two high schools to combine their club teams.

The team has renamed itself SBL and with 24 girls in the water, it is ready to put in 28-minutes of action for each of its 11 scheduled games.

Among the six returning players are leaders Stephanie Hamre and Ashley Alvarez who will serve as captains.

SBL will play in the East Division of the South Sound Girls Water Polo League. The team kicks off its season at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Auburn Riverside. The first home match will be at 3:15 p.m. March 19 with Auburn Mountainview.