Eastlake High School senior goalie James Derrod has been numbers watching since his freshman year. Now those numbers are about to catch up with him.
Derrod logged 286 saves as a freshman. After the season was over, he and his family multiplied that number by four and realized it would be enough to break the existing San Diego Section career record for goalie saves of 1,049, set by Monte Vista’s Gavin Glauser from 1995-98.
Derrod has since kept pace and the numbers have kept growing.
He enters Thursday’s season opener against Classical Academy in the Rancho Bernardo tournament seven saves shy of reaching 1,000 in his career. At 993 saves, he remains 57 saves short of setting the new CIF record.
It’s something Derrod has anticipated for quite some time and the significance of the pending achievement is not lost on him.
“It’s a big accomplishment,” he said. “It’s just exciting to be able to do it.”
At one point, the family thought that both he and his older sister Haley would concurrently hold the section saves record in both genders. Haley recorded 920 saves while patrolling the cage for Eastlake’s girls team from 2009-13, including 313 her senior season.
The record stood until Valhalla’s Zoe Johnson broke Haley’s career record last season by posting 12 saves in a triple overtime win over West Hills on Jan. 9 to increase her career total to 928 saves.
Both James and Haley Derrod own the distinction of holding the school record for career saves.
James passed the EHS boys record of 912 saves by Adolfo Moreno (1997-99) last season while making 356 saves his junior year. He made 351 saves his sophomore year.
Haley Derrod went on to play women’s collegiate water polo at Bucknell University, earning an All-Academic Award from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches in 2017. She finished her collegiate career seventh all-time on the Bucknell list for career saves with 241.
“I wanted to have it at the same time as her,” James said.
Derrod could also be chasing a state record for career saves, though statistics remain incomplete at this point.
The record in the Southern Section CIF record book is 1,203 saves by Joseph Moorman (M.L. King, 2009-12). The Southern Section covers all the schools from San Clemente up to Santa Barbara, which represents a who’s who of water polo schools in Southern California.
Assuming Derrod continues at his current pace, he should also break the SoCal record later this year.
Making the save
Derrod has played water polo since the youth grommet level (age 8) and has competed in nine USA Water Polo National Junior Olympic championship tournaments for the San Diego Shores club team.
Derrod captured third place with the Shores 16U-A team at last year’s Junior Olympics in San Jose and steered the team to fifth place in the 16U Platinum Division at this year’s tournament, which took place earlier this month in Irvine.
He earned status as a USA Water Polo All-American for his performance at this year’s tournament.
“I like to play really aggressive, come out and intimidate people, get as big as I can (to cut down shooting space) to make them shoot and block it,” he said.
Posting such imposing numbers has obviously caught the attention of college recruiters. “I’m talking to a few colleges,” he said, “a bunch of different colleges.”
He has enhanced any potential scholarship offers after being recently informed that he is a 2018-2019 Academic All-American award recipient by receiving a 3.60 GPA or higher while participating in a National USA Water Polo event.
The focus for now is on the current high school season and making history, not only for himself but for his team as well.
Eastlake coach Stuart Sokil is quick to note that no boys water polo team from the Metro Conference has won a CIF championship since Hilltop (his father’s team) accomplished the feat in 1980.
Two generations of players have since passed through the system.
“I think we have respect,” Derrod said. “Everyone is shooting to win Division II (this year). If we can go out and play together, we have a chance. I feel this team has a lot of want in it.”
Game on
Derrod logged his first game action of the 2019 season at the 14th annual Dick Draz Classic Aug. 10 at Granite Hills High School. He served first-half duty in the Eastlake cage in an eventual 8-5 win by Eastlake over Patrick Henry.
However, games at the Draz Classic do not count as scrimmages, games or a tournament, leaving Derrod’s numbers intact from last season.
Still, competing in the annual section preseason showcase event was definitely an enjoyable experience.
After playing the first half of the game, Derrod donned a different numbered cap and entered the game as a field player. He scored one goal, made one block and had one steal.
“It was crazy fun,” he offered with a broad smile after the game.
“James is a very talented player all around,” EHS head coach Stuart Sokil said.
While Derrod will no longer be chasing his sister’s record, he will have the unique opportunity to play alongside his younger brother Zane this season.
Zane, a freshman, joined the Titans for the Draz Classic, recording two assists as a field player. Zane does not play in the net.
“Yes, he inspires me,” Zane answered when asked about the prospect of playing alongside his brother this year.
The Titans hope to have an inspired season in 2019.
Preseason showcase
This year’s Draz Classic featured 16 games over two days. Besides Eastlake, Olympian, Mar Vista and San Ysidro also participated from South County.
Mar Vista defeated Rancho Bernardo, 14-7, while Rancho Buena Vista slipped past Olympian 15-10.
Eastlake and Mar Vista shared last year’s Mesa League championship while Otay Ranch edged Olympian for the South Bay league title.
Sokil said that more than two dozen student-athletes tried out for 16 varsity spots on his year’s team, though the final number of roster spots may vary due to team needs.
Eli Stewart is one of three returning starters for Eastlake in 2019. Photos by Phillip Brents
The Titans return three starters from last year’s CIF playoff team: Diego Scheitt, Eli Stewart and Derrod, all seniors. Three other returners have varsity experience: Ezekiel Craig, Will Gammon and Carl Grosselfinger, also all seniors this year.
Josiah Schenk, Jacob Redden, Riley Anderson, Gio Scheitt and Zach Shields also saw time on last year’s varsity roster and expect to play larger roles this season.
It’s an experienced group.
“All these guys have played club regardless of what club they were on,” Sokil said. “Seven have at least three years of round-round experience. Pretty much everyone went to the Junior Olympics. We’ve had guys playing quite a bit.
“Because of that experience, we have higher expectations. The goal is to compete for the Division II championship, getting past quarterfinals. If we don’t win Division II that doesn’t mean we had a bad season. The main goal is to get everyone to play for each other.”
Will Gammon expects to be one of the Titans’ senior field leaders this season. Photo by Phillip Brents
Scoring was spread around in the preseason win over the Patriots. Gammon had two goals while Craig, Stewart, Diego Scheitt, Caden Alloway and Derrod each were credited with one goal.
Omar Mendiburo played the second half in the cage.
Eastlake built a 5-2 lead at halftime as the teams finished even with three goals apiece in the second half.
Mar Vista led by scores of 5-1 (first quarter) and 7-3 (halftime) before gong on a 7-2 second-half run to swim past RB. Ethan Hastings logged seven goals in the game while teammates Luke Wilson and Carlos Ibarra both scored three goals.
The Mariners finished 22-8 last season, including a 9-1 mark in Mesa League play, en route to recording a runner-up finish in the Division II championship game to Steele Canyon.
Eastlake finished 16-12 overall, 9-1 in league play, with a seemingly premature exit from the Division II playoffs following an 11-10 setback to 11th-seeded El Camino.
Christopher Salang keyed Olympian with five goals in its preseason match-up against RBV while Gavin Baldo was credited with three goals.
Additional photos: Eastlake 8, Patrick Henry 5 (Draz Classic)
Draz Classic spotlights East County programs
High school boys water polo fans got a preview of the 2019 season when the 14th annual Dick Draz Classic splashed down at the Granite Hills High School Aquatic Center Aug. 9-10.
Warm weather greeted players, coaches and fans over the two-day event that showcased 16 games and spotlighted eight East County teams. Action also got hot in the pool via a number of competitive match-ups.
As is customary at this point of the season, the goal for all teams, regardless of the sport, is to compete for their respective league titles and go deep into the San Diego Section playoffs.
Thus, optimism reigned at this year’s preseason gathering.
“We have a small, fairly inexperienced group but we have a ton of potential,” explained longtime Granite Hills coach Rhett Gaeir, who has coached at the school since 1995. “We have all the tools to be very successful this season.”
The Eagles swam past the Del Norte Nighthawks, 11-8, at the Draz Classic as Kobe Gaeir and Mason Smalls each scored three goals and Adam Plotts and Drew Stinnett both scored two goals.
Rhett Gaeir is joined on this year’s team by nephews Kobe and Austin Gaeir.
Austin Gaeir was credited with one goals in the preseason win over the Nighthawks.
Top returners include the Gaeir cousins, as well as Smalls, Stinnett, Plotts and Ryder Harris. All are seniors expect Stinnett, a junior.
Sophomore goalie Lucas Johnson headlines the team’s impact newcomers.
The Eagles coach has been impressed by Johnson’s work ethic. “He has one year of experience but has been improving every day,” Rhett Gaeir said.
The Eagles are shooting high this season after ending last year with an 8-7 loss to Patrick Henry in the Division II quarterfinal playoffs.
“We know our league is very tough and we want to be competitive within our league,” the Granite Hills coach said. “We want to win Division II CIF. There are a lot of teams in the division that are capable of winning it. The division is going to be fun this year.”
Add veterans
Joel Hull and James Searls are other longtime East County coaches who are returning to the bench this season.
Hull started coaching at Helix in 1992 while Searls is entering his 20th year at West Hills.
Helix finished 22-7 last season, winning the Grossmont Valley League championship while advancing as far as the Division III semifinals. The Highlanders won the Division III title in 2016.
Hull said he’d like to see more consistency from his group that has been bouncing back and forth between the Division II and Division III levels the past few years.
Hull said the team’s key to success this season will be from contribution throughout the lineup.
“We return two of our nine players,” Hull assessed of the team’s hit to graduation. “A lot are coming up from JV but a lot of them have played water polo before high school. We have a pretty even group. We can’t have one guy do everything. Everyone has to contribute.”
Top returners include Lucas Osborn and Lucas Theroux, two-meter guards Javier Gamez and Ryan Salas, as well as Baden Gloyer, Gavin McMillan and Kyle Lemler.
Theroux, Gloyer and McMillan each scored two goals in Helix’s 10-6 preseason win over Classical Academy.
The Highlanders will be vying for the league title with El Capitan and West Hills this season. El Capitan and West Hills finished in a tie for second place last year.
“I think all three of us have something to prove,” Hull said. “West Hills would like to say they have a chance. El Capitan always seems to sneak up on people. We know each other so well. Whenever we play them, it doesn’t matter who has the better record. It’s a dog fight.”
Searls noted his team, which finished 17-14 last season, features “a solid goalie (Noah Dare) and a lot of speed this year.”
Top returners include junior Tony Obregon and senior Ayden McClure from last year’s Division II quarterfinalist team.
The opening of the campus pool has definitely helped enhance the Wolf Pack program. “We have a more consistent group of kids coming out,” Searls said.
In other games during the preseason event, Steele Canyon doubled up La Jolla, 14-7, while Valhalla out-pointed Point Loma by a score of 10-6.
Steele Canyon won last year’s Division II championship after winning the Division III title the year before that. The Cougars are shooting for a three-peat this season at either the Division I or Open Division level.
The preseason win over La Jolla, a state qualifier last season, has already sent waves rippling throughout section pools.
Trevor Moore led the Men of Steele with seven goals in the preseason win over the Vikings.
Valhalla received five goals from Erik Nordquist in the win over Point Loma.
The Norsemen have since followed that up with regular season wins over Clairemont (19-8 on Aug. 19) and Scripps Ranch (12-6 on Aug. 23) to start the new season 2-0.
Metro Conference Preview:
Hilltop’s Isaih Macias takes a shot on goal in Thursday’s non-league game against Olympian at the Southwestern College pool. Photo by Phillip Brents
Hilltop Lancers are making waves with 3-0 start
Hilltop improved to 3-0 on the young season after defeating Olympian, 17-5, in a non-league game Thursday at Southwestern College. Sophomore Raul Rico led the Lancers with seven goals while senior Dominick Carlucci scored five goals.
Hilltop previously defeated Serra (15-8 on Aug. 14) and Chula Vista (22-2 on Tuesday) in a pair of non-league games at the Parkway pool.
All three wins to face off the 2019 season have come against Division III opponents.
The Lancers are fielding a young team this season, with just two seniors opposed to 10 sophomores.
Veteran Hilltop coach Ernie Medina said the biggest attribute of the team is its desire to absorb knowledge and get better.
“They’re coachable,” Medina said. “They’re improving We have a lot of work to do, but if we continue to stay focused, we’ll achieve success in what we want to do in Division III, which is to finish among the top four teams.”
The Lancers led 6-2 after the opening quarter and 12-3 at halftime before tacking on five more goals in the second half.
Carlos Mendez, Evan Rodriguez, Nic Garces and Aiden Garces all were credited with scoring single goals for Hilltop.
Baldo scored two goals for the Eagles, while Daniel Joiner, Salang and Arturo Agramondo each scored single goals.
Thursday’s loss dropped Olympian’s record to 0-3 following non-league setbacks to Helix (13-2 on Aug. 15) and High Tech High San Diego (18-1 on Tuesday).
In the season opener against Serra, Rico scored nine goals while Nic Garces had two goals. Carlucci, Rodriguez, Isiah Macias and Liam Romero all scored one goal. Senior goalie Alex Lizarraga was credited with 14 saves.
Seven players scored goals in the win over Chula Vista, led by Rico and Romero with five goals apiece. Aiden Garces and Carlucci both scored four goals while Nic Garces, Mendez, Rodriguez and Macias all were credited with one goal.
Saul Flores scored both goals for the Spartans, who trailed by a score of 20-1 at the end of three quarters.
Hilltop is off until Aug. 29 when it takes on Mt. Carmel in a non-league match-up. Medina said he expects the Sundevils to provide the toughest challenge for his team to start the new season.
Chula Vista hosts Serra in a non-league encounter Sept. 9 at the Parkway pool.
Additional photos: Hilltop 17, Olympian 5
Setting sail: Mater Dei Catholic
Mater Dei Catholic posted a 5-5 record last season in Mesa League play, finishing 12-15 overall, while logging a 16-10 upset win over seventh-seeded Clairemont in the opening round of the Division I playoffs.
New coach Jennie Charlesworth is optimistic about the team’s fortunes in the 2019 season.
“The Crusaders are looking to improve upon their 12-15 record from last season with the help of junior captains David Brown and David Dare,” Charlesworth noted. “David Brown will be a strong offensive force for the Crusaders and will be relied upon heavily to lead the team. David Dare is a strong overall player with quick defensive skills which will help junior goalie Armando Gonzalez defend the goal.
Junior lefty Caleb Robinson will play a key role for the Crusaders in man-up situations. Sophomore center Shoichi McCarter will be a strong force at the center position with senior Kyler Manou leading the way at the Crusaders center defense position. Mater Dei looks to improve on last years 5-5 record in the Mesa League and once again claim a CIF spot.”
The Crusaders have opened the season with a 3-3 mark, including a 2-2 showing at last weekend’s Rancho Bernardo tournament.
Scripps Ranch 9, Mater Dei Catholic 5
David Brown 5 goals; Armando Gonzales 10 saves
Santa Fe Christian 10, Mater Dei Catholic 9
Kyler Mamou 5 goals and 3 steals; David Dare 1 goal and 3 assists; Armando Gonzales 6 saves
Mater Dei Catholic 9, Ramona 4
David Brown 5 goals, 1 assist, 3 steals; Caleb Robinson 2 goals, 1 assist and 4 steals; Armando Gonzales 9 saves
Mater Dei Catholic 10, Mount Carmel 9 (OT)
Kyler Mamou 4 goals, 2 assists, and 3 steals; David Brown 3 goals and 2 assists; Caleb Robinson 2 goals (OT sudden death goal), 1 assist, 3 stolen balls and 2 field blocks; Armando Gonzales 17 saves, 1 assist and 3 steals
Mater Dei Catholic 21, Olympian 1
David Brown 6 goals, 3 assists, and 4 stolen balls; David Dare 4 goals, 2 assists, 1 stolen ball; Armando Gonzales 10 saves, 2 assists and 1 goal in field and 1 stolen ball in field; Kyler Mamou 3 goals, 2 assists, 3 stolen balls, 1 field block, 2 saves in goal.
Point Loma 13, Mater Dei Catholic 6
Dave Brown and Kyler Mamou each had two goals while Dave Dare and Caleb Robinson had one goal apiece. Caleb Robinson had 4 stolen balls and 3 field blocks. Dave Brown had 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 field block and 6 ejections drawn. Armando Gonzales had 12 saves, 1 assist and 2 steals.
Barons looking to build with new group
Top returners for Bonita Vista include senior co-captains Sami Metta and Archie Orozco. They inherit a team that has lost its major offensive weapon to graduation — Emiliano Castro — but one that has many newcomers ready to take up the challenge.
Promising newcomers include converted baseball player Cale Merton and freshman Kristian Gutierrez.
Bonita Vista opens regular season play Sept. 4 with a non-league game against Otay Ranch at the Southwestern College pool. Game time is 3:45 p.m.
The Barons hosted their alumni game last Friday, with the alumni posting a 16-6 win.
“The varsity was playing against grown men, many of whom had played in college,” BVHS head coach Betty Alexander noted about the annual fun-friendly event for the program.
Alexander remains optimistic about the varsity team’s fortunes this season.
“We will do well in our division but I see league will be difficult with Eastlake and Mar Vista having a lot of returners who have played club year-round,” she said.
Metta said he is looking forward to the challenge of creating a new identity for the 2019 group.
“I want to get a great team atmosphere going for this year,” he said. “There are a lot of new players. I want to help make them feel comfortable with the team. I want to make it fun. Water polo is about winning, of course, but it’s not as meaningful if it’s not entertaining at the same time.”
Cougars on the prowl
Tom Grahl is entering his second year as coach of the San Ysidro boys team. He has four returners to look on for experience: seniors Angel Zepeda and Eric Mar and juniors Ian Osuna and Pablo Wells.
The team’s impact newcomers is Korean exchange student Jung Huyn Hur, who has made strides in the sport despite being a non-swimmer to start the season.
“We may have a small team but we have a cohesive team, we stick together,” Grahl said.
Zepeda is the head of the school’s robotics team that placed second in California and 13th at the World Games last year. “We want to win the games we should win,” Zepeda said. “We want to do well in our division games. We want to get the most out of our games.”
The Cougars opened the 2019 season with a 13-7 win over Castle Park and dropped a 25-3 decision at Mt. Carmel, both in non-league competition.
South Bay League
Castle Park notched a third-place finish in the South Bay League standings last year while recording a 7-4 overall record (5-4 in league play) in a strong sendoff for longtime coach Calvin Stone, who retired at the end of the season.
Mark Esquivel, a former all-league performer at Eastlake, makes his coaching debut with the Trojans this season, and he’s excited with what he has to work with.
“Castle Park graduated a big senior class last season,” noted Esquivel, an all-league honorable mention selection in 2000 for the Titans as a senior. “I’m looking forward to growing the program, especially with a team with a lot of underclassmen.”
Top returners include sophomores Ryland Humphrey and Sebastian Silva and senior Emmanuel Navarro. Humphrey is the team’s impact player, having played at the varsity level as a freshman.
Otay Ranch defeated San Ysidro, 11-5, in a scrimmage and looks to once again be competitive as the defending league champion. Top returners for the Mustangs include senior Julian Orozco and junior Ivan Lopez. The team’s impact newcomer is sophomore goalie Miroslav Segedincev.
Administrative coach Barb Wheeler came away impressed from the scrimmage. “I think they looked pretty good as a team,” she said. “We still have some growing to do. The communication was better than it’s been in practice.”
Wheeler and the coaching staff will know more after the team plays its first regular season game.
