The last three seasons have been kind to the Hilltop High School boys water polo team with three championship titles in the South Bay League. Two championships were shared (with Mater Dei Catholic and Mar Vista) but last year’s title came outright.
The sports resurgence within the Metro Conference has meant the Lancers have had to finally vacate their stay in the South Bay League and move up to the Mesa League, generally viewed as the more competitive of the two leagues.
Joining Hilltop in the move between leagues will be Mater Dei Catholic. Chula Vista moves from the Mesa League to the South Bay League to complete the conference realignment.
As a consequence, both the Mesa League and the South Bay League will sport five-team memberships this season.
Mesa League schools include Bonita Vista, defending league champion Eastlake, Otay Ranch and now Hilltop and Mater Dei Catholic.
The new-look South Bay League includes newcomer Chula Vista and holdovers Castle Park, Mar Vista, Southwest and Olympian.
Hilltop fared well against limited competition last year from the Mesa League, defeating Bonita Vista, 15-2, and dropping an overtime contest to Eastlake, all in non-league play.
“We are excited and looking forward to a new season in a new league,” HHS head coach John Salts said. “Being moved up to the Mesa League this year after three consecutive league banners in the South Bay League will be a new challenge for our squad. Mar Vista and Mater Dei have been strong challenges for us in the previous years and now we are looking to build on that and match ourselves against the stronger Mesa League.”
Top returners for the Lancers include a pair of first team all-league performers in wing/two-meter guard Stuart Sokil and two-meter set/driver Tanner Franklin, both seniors, and two second team all-league picks: two-meter set/driver Luis Ontiveros, two-meter set/two-meter guard Rodrigo Perez, also both seniors.
Junior wing Carlos Uribe is expected to move into the starting rotation this year, according to Salts, while two other players will also compete for a starting rotation spot: senior two-meter set/wing Miko Martinez and senior wing Giovanni Rude.
Both Martinez and Rude split time last season between the varsity and junior varsity teams.
Salts said there is a three-way competition for the starting goalkeeping job between sophomores Ben Goodwin, Josie Macias and Connor Kober.
All were members of last year’s JV and novice team.
Hilltop finished 15-8 last season, including a perfect 10-0 showing in South Bay League competition. The Lancers, however, were bitten by an untimely rash of illness in the opening round of the playoffs and dropped a disappointing 9-7 decision to the Steele Canyon Cougars.
Salts conceded the Lancers’ move to the Mesa League will present challenges.
“Obviously, Eastlake is currently the marquee team in the Mesa and we are working hard and looking forward to the match-ups,” the HHS coach said. “Last year’s one-game match-up went to the Titans with them edging us out 7-6 in overtime. That will be a motivating factor for our squad throughout training this season.”
Salts said the team’s expectations are the same each year: train hard, dedicate, focus and work to win a league championship and perform well in the section playoffs.
“Our outlook for this season is positive with seven returning varsity players — four starters and three reserves — from last year’s squad,” he said. “We have a solid core of players who have worked very hard for four years together both in season and together in the same club out of season.”
The summer was an active time of preparation for the upcoming season. Salts said 12 players made the trip to Coronado every day for 5:30 a.m. workouts with Coronado club teams. Another eight players also worked out daily with various other clubs in San Diego.
“Having this many players work out in various clubs throughout the summer will be a solid foundation for this season and our future,” Salts said. “We are relying on our senior class to set the tempo this season. With Sokil, Franklin, Ontiveros and Perez all heading into their third season as starters on the varsity squad, we are looking forward to their leadership and experience to guide the way.”
Salts said the off-season recruiting program was also successful.
“With close to 20 freshmen and a few sophomores and juniors mixed in should yield a large pool of talent over the next few years,” the HHS coach said. “We’re looking to see returning sophomores Mauricio and Marko Martinez (twins) as well as Andy Becerra lead our JV squad to another great season.”
Despite the move up to new challenges, the key operating word appears to be optimism.
“Overall, here at Hilltop we are proud of our water polo program and excited for a new season kick-off,” Salts said.
