FALL SPORTS PREVIEW: BOYS’ WATER POLO

Boys’ water polo has started off their season by winning their first three games against Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Downey High Schools. Senior Cole Allyn expects the rest of the season to be similarly successful, as he feels that this season’s team has especially talented senior players.

“We have six seniors on the team and we usually only have two or three,” Allyn said. “[Having many seniors on the team] helps us because we have more physical strength and work better as a team since we have known each other for four years.”

This year, the team has put much more of an emphasis on defense rather than offense because the new team members are not as strong in that area. For example, two new freshman are smaller and do not perform as well on defense, but are skilled shooters.

In addition to the strategy change, the team has become a Division III team this year, which is the highest division it has been in six years. Senior Luke Martin is excited for this change and the new challenges that competing at a higher level will bring.

“The competition is really [intense] this year, especially from the all-boys schools,” Martin said. “However, we have the best chance to do well in Bay League and in CIF than we have had in a long time.”