This year’s upcoming water polo season is set to be a thrilling race in both the Empire league and the Garden Grove league.
Both Pacifica High and Garden Grove High will face steep opposition and both will look to get things going early in the season if they are to win their respective leagues.
Pacifica’s year in the Empire league will depend on how consistent their top players can be and how consistent their teammates can perform once the starters are subbed.
This year’s upcoming water polo season is set to be a thrilling race in both the Empire league and the Garden Grove league.
Both Pacifica High and Garden Grove High will face steep opposition and both will look to get things going early in the season if they are to win their respective leagues.
Pacifica’s year in the Empire league will depend on how consistent their top players can be and how consistent their teammates can perform once the starters are subbed.
Nicolas Levert and Aaron Bauer have ran things in front of goal so far for the Mariners in the team’s summer league at Oceanview High, and both have hopes for a league title, which isn’t far off at all.
“I would love to make it to CIF with the players we have,” said Bauer. “We might not have a star player but that doesn’t make up a team.”
Both Levert and Bauer displayed impeccable shooting skills during their many games over the summer, and both will be key for Pacifica if they are going to make a run for the league title. The abundance of shots that these two take will have to be bolstered by the accuracy of their teammates.
“I would like to rely on everybody and pass the ball more rather than just shooting,” said Levert. “We are only as strong as our weakest link.”
This year’s season kicks off Sept. 9 against Costa Mesa High. Last October, Pacifica walked away with a 9-7 win against the Mustangs, and things look like they could repeat themselves if they can keep their energy up in the pool.
The Mariners will face a start to the season that will test them against strong competition and away from home for the first four games.
Coach Eric Anderson and his Pacifica squad will have to come up with some crucial wins during its league games while looking to have success in such tournaments as the Costa Mesa Tournament on Oct. 10 and a Central OC tournament just a few weeks after.
In the Argonauts camp, their season in the Garden Grove League relies on a hard fought effort in the pool and out of it. Coach Dax Terrax, who’s an Argonaut alumnus, and his squad will be looking to make a name for themselves.
The Argos have had some success in the past making a run at the league last year and winning it in 2006. This year’s Argos squad will face a tough Garden Grove league, which will test it week after week.
Los Amigos will be among the team’s toughest opponents but Garden Grove may feel a bit at ease as it has earned a win in the past when it counted most. The team earned a crucial victory against the Lobos during Terrax’s first year as a coach, which secured them part of the league title.
This successful mentality from last year’s season will be what the Argos hope will carry over into their season and into another run at some silverware.
The depth of their squad and the experience that their returning senior and starting players offer is what the Argos will need to ignite their offense.
Garden Grove has been refining its offense during summer league games such as the Foothill summer series. The team has seen some hard teams with tough defenses but it always seemed like an Argos player always slipped by the defense and got a shot on goal.
The players’ ability to score when in go-ahead positions will need to be consistent and they will have to tighten things up on defense if they are going to keep teams at bay.
The Argos also play their first game of the season against Costa Mesa on Sept. 26. The Argos will need to get this first victory to create some momentum and then be consistent enough to keep it going.