Catch them if you can! The Olympian High School boys water polo team is on an extended fast break to start the 2016 boys water polo season.
The Eagles, who shared last season’s South Bay League championship banner with the San Ysidro Cougars, improved to 4-0 this season after defeating Mira Mesa, 17-3, in a non-league game Sept. 22 at Miramar College.
“We are a very fast team that reacts quickly to the ball,” first-year Olympian head coach Rachael Medina explained. “We’ve learned that communication and patience bring results.”
Team leaders include two-meter set Brandon Sanchez and driver D.J. O’Brien, both seniors.
The Eagles started their winning streak by sinking the host Otay Ranch Mustangs by a score of 10-9 in a game Sept. 2 at the Loma Verde pool. Olympian then doubled its early win total by defeating host Oceanside by a score of 14-6 Sept. 7 at the Brooks Street pool.
The Eagles improved to 3-0 by defeating Bonita Vista, a finalist in last year’s Division III championship game, by a score of 13-12 in two overtime periods in a non-league played Sept. 14 at the Las Palmas pool in National City. Allan Contreras scored the game-winning goal.
Olympian opens South Bay League play Oct. 4 with a game against Southwest High School at the Parkway pool, then plays San Ysidro Oct. 6 at the same site. Both games feature 5 p.m. starts.
“We’re looking to win the banner outright this season,” Medina explained.
Beyond that the Eagles figure somewhere in the upper half of this season’s Division III rankings after qualifying for last year’s division playoffs (a 16-8 first-round loss to Mission Bay). Helix is a strong contender for this year’s CIF title with Point Loma – last year’s champion — moving up to Division II.
The Highlanders are 5-4 with wins over Hilltop (16-9), Mar Vista (12-3), San Dieguito Academy (15-10), El Camino (8-7) and High Tech High (18-4). The Scotties’ losses have come against Point Loma (9-5), Scripps Ranch (12-8) and Santana (9-5 and 14-9).
Other contenders, based on early season records, include San Dieguito Academy (6-1), Escondido (5-1) and Classical Academy (6-6).
Escondido edged Olympian, 11-10, in a preseason scrimmage after the Eagles trailed 9-2 at one point in the contest.
The seeds seem planted for late season success.
“We should place very high,” Medina noted.
Just how high is the exciting part.
