The Chula Vista High School Spartans make the move from the Mesa League to the South Bay League in all sports except football this school year, and it is one being looked on optimistically by resident student-athletes. After a long stay near the bottom of the more competitive Mesa League, the playing field should be more level against teams from smaller enrollment schools in the South Bay League.
“Our players are excited because they know the teams in the South Bay League aren’t as strong as those in the Mesa League, but they haven’t gotten overconfident,” said Spartan boys water polo coach Melissa Torres. “They’re taking it one game at a time.”
Taking it one victory at a time has led to a confidence-building 2-0 start to the 2011 campaign for CVHS.
The Spartans defeated the Olympian Eagles, 12-4, last Friday at the Parkway pool in their South Bay League opener after previously defeating Olympian in a non-league game on Sept. 7.
Ironically, the Eagles scored both the opening and closing goals in last Friday’s game. In between, Chula Vista out-scored Olympian 12-2.
Some debut.
Abraham Luna led the victors with five goals, including three in the first quarter as the host Spartans built a 5-1 lead.
Chris Conway and Aaron Smith, who both play on the school’s roller hockey team, each scored two goals while Cesar Godinez, Carlos Lizarraga and Ricardo Garcia each scored once.
Spartan goalie Roman Lizarraga blocked a five-meter penalty shot in the third quarter.
Torres, who played water polo at Montgomery High School and at Southwestern College, said her goal right now as a first-year head coach is for the team to improve its conditioning and skill-level.
“It looks like our main competition should be Mar Vista,” she said. “The team is looking forward to those games.”
Luna had seven goals in a preseason scrimmage against Southwest while Carlos Lizarraga scored four times. Both players are serving as co-captains this season.
Alex Quenga and Alan Gonzalez each scored two goals for Olympian in last Friday’s South Bay League game. The Eagles fell to 0-2 in league following an 11-10 setback to Southwest in their league opener.
Fall Classic
University City defeated Grossmont, 19-6, to capture the championship title of last weekend’s 22-team Fall Classic in finals at Grossmont High School.
Westview defeated Mira Mesa, 11-10, in the third place game while San Pasqual edged Mission Bay, 11-9, in the fifth place game. Canyon Crest Academy defeated Patrick Henry, 7-4, in the seventh place game to cap yet another close match-up in the medal round.
Grossmont, University City, Westview, San Pasqual, Patrick Henry and Canyon Crest all finished first in their respective pools while Mira Mesa finished second (to UC) in its pool and Mission Bay finished second (to Grossmont) in its pool.
Point Loma, El Camino, Helix and San Juan Hills also finished second in their respective pools.
Third-place pool finishers included San Dieguito Academy, Clairemont, San Marcos, Bonita Vista, Valley Center and El Cajon Valley.
Fourth-place pool finishers included Mission Hills, Mater Dei Catholic, High Tech High and Monte Vista.
In other final day games, Bonita Vista closed out El Cajon Valley, 18-3, while Mission Hills edged Mater Dei 8-7.
