She Reaches Another High-Water Mark

For as long as there has been water polo for girls at Harvard-Westlake High, there’s been Jeanine Jackson.

The multitalented Jackson is a player a coach can and should build a program around. And that’s exactly what Rich Corso has done.

With Jackson leading the charge the last four seasons, Harvard-Westlake has been a perennial Southern Section force.

This season Jackson led the Wolverines to the Division III championship game against undefeated and defending champion Bell Gardens.

Although Harvard-Westlake lost in the final, 14-11, Jackson was named the division’s player of the year.

“Everybody talks about her five goals a game, but she’s an accomplished player,” Corso said.

“Defense is very important in her game and that’s what really set her apart from the other girls in [the Southern Section].”

Jackson, The Times’ regional player of the year for the second consecutive season, never settled for scoring in bunches.

Under Corso’s watchful eye, Jackson developed all phases of her game.

Hardly an unknown after three dominating seasons, Jackson was double- and triple-teamed repeatedly.

“It’s always a great compliment, [but] it’s not easy to play in those type of situations,” Jackson said. “Our team made it a lot easier for me this year.

“A team sport where the team is actually working as one is the greatest feeling ever.”

With help from teammates, the senior adapted easily to the pressure and finished second in assists.

“What she learned this year is not how important she is, but how important it is to share the ball,” Corso said.

“We’ve taken her as far as we can given the competition [level] and academic schedule [at Harvard-Westlake]. I feel really good about where we’ve gotten her to ability-wise. I think we’ve gotten her ready for the next level.”

Jackson, who is also a member of the U.S. Junior National youth team, will test Corso’s theory next season as a scholarship athlete at Stanford, one of the top water polo programs in the country.

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The Top 5

Final rankings of region water polo teams

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RK School Rec. 1 Harvard-Westlake 27-5 2 Agoura 21-7 3 Burroughs 23-6 4 Ventura 14-13 5 Glendale 21-7

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