As you pass by the pool you will hear the sounds of water splashing, balls are clanking off the metal goal posts.
The sounds you hear are the sounds of the men’s water polo team getting ready for the season to begin.
With quality players returning coach Stanbury has a shot at being a good team.
“I think we got a pretty good team,” Stanbury said. “So, I don’t know, we will see.”
Stanbury believes that the team will have a shot at doing fairly well in conference play.
“I think we have a good chance to be in the top four of our conference,” Stanbury said. “A lot of it depends on the other teams have. Whether or not we make the top eight in Southern California or make playoffs remains to be unseen, we got good players on the roster this year so we will see what happens.”
There are plenty of players on the roster worthy of recognition. Some players that stand out this year would have to be Daniel Wann who is one of their top players along with Daniel Burdick that represents the same.
“Cole Rubin and Youssef Saleh are great players as well,” Stanbury said. “Plus when you add a strong player in David Thomas this water polo team is a force to be reckoned with. Out of the entire team only one player will be returning this upcoming season.
The team will have a different look as they have one guy who is a returner from last year’s team.
I have basically one guy going to be returning from last year and that’s Sean Mitre,” Stanbury said. “He’s a lefty so he’ll help us in especially the six on five situations.”
There are two practices a day for the water polo team. There is one in the morning for an hour and 25 minutes which focuses in swimming and endurance.
Then there is another practice later in the afternoon that’s much more in depth with working on the legs, throwing and catching the ball without touching the bottom or sides of the pool for two straight hours.
“Of course other exercises would be play making strategy, situation strategy, and individual skills as well whether it be shooting or defending,” Stanbury said.
Games usually last around an hour or more depending on time outs. Like soccer after a goal is scored the players meet up in the middle to get the game going again.
However, just like basketball as there is a thirty-second shot clock and if a shot is not taken before the clock expires the ball will be given to the opposite team.
Coach Stanbury shows a lot of confidence in his team this year and look to be playing past the regular season.
Although the team will have a lot of young guys Stanbury believes the team will be able to compete against anyone.
“I think we got a couple of guys that can really play amongst the best in the state,” Stanbury said. “So, probably biggest thing is to get in enough shape so we can swim up and down the pool and keep up with whoever we face.”
The first game of the year will be against Fullerton at home at 3 p.m. Last year Fullerton was in the top eight in Southern California.
“Two years ago we had a very close game with them, last year we didn’t match up with them very well, and I’m thinking this year even if they’re as good as they were last year, we’ll match up with them. Going on assumption that most of their players are returning this year,” coach Stanbury said.
