SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Water Polo

The youthful El Capitan team, already making significant strides, is building toward a bright future

Vaqueros making strides in Grossmont North League

By Phillip Brents

Posted Nov. 1, 2004

Parity has begun to rear its head this season among the Grossmont North League’s boys water polo teams. Santana and West Hills have split league games. So have El Capitan and Grossmont.

"Things are waking up," El Capitan coach Robin Sanchez said prior to the start of this year’s San Diego Open tournament. "The kids have been working hard. The coaches have been working hard. The parents have been working hard. It takes time to turn things around."

The Vaqueros have made significant strides this season. El Capitan finished 5-17 last year. The team took a 9-10 overall record into this year’s San Diego Open tournament that began with games on Nov. 1 and will conclude with medal-round games on Nov. 6.

Sanchez said the strength of this year’s youthful Vaquero squad is its ability to think and work as a team. El Capitan has just two seniors rostered on the varsity this year: Delton Arnold and Chris Mayes. The rest of the squad is comprised of seven juniors, including standout siblings Todd and Kevin Coyle, three sophomores and two freshmen.

Those type of numbers, with continued dedication to the program’s goals, should pay dividends in the near future.

"We’re playing like a team. We try not to capitalize on one guy. We have made improvement – from the No. 1 starter to the JV. All have made improvement for us. That has a lot to say for that," Sanchez said.

Besides the Coyle brothers, the Vaqueros’ junior class is rounded out by goalie Ricky White, Robert Duchene, Karl Ulm, Ty Zauss and Marshall Magers. Sophomores include Austin McBrady, Mike Breedlove and Jared Radtkey. Freshmen include Tucker Warford and Brian Vanvecton.