SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Water Polo

Eagles making waves in Grossmont South League

By Phillip Brents

EL CAJON, Oct. 21 -- Granite Hills' 12-11 victory against perennial Grossmont South League power Valhalla on Oct. 19 was the first registered by the Eagles against the Norsemen since 1993. It could foretell a changing of the guard among the league’s power base.

A subsequent 16-4 win against Mt. Miguel on Oct. 21 raised Granite Hills' overall record to 14-5. More impressively, the Eagles are not only undefeated in Grossmont South League competition but also against Grossmont North League teams as well.

The win -- Valhalla's first league loss in 11 years-- raised Granite Hills' overall record to 14-5. More impressively, the Eagles are not just undefeated in Grossmont South League competition but also against Grossmont North League teams as well.

Photo: Justin Lekos powers for a shot (courtesy GHHS)

The high-achieving Eagles are led on the deck by head coach Rhett Gaeir and assistant coach Josh Lehmann. Seniors include Andrew Kremensky, Carlos George and Dan Ederer. The team's junior corps is led by goalie Steven Atkinson and field players Sean Scenna, Brent Elow, Dan McMillin, Garrett Bryant and Justin Lekos. The sizable sophomore class includes Remington McKittrick, Sean Little, Alex Elgas and Dean Anderson. Freshman Jeremy Atkinson rounds out the varsity roster.

Kremensky, Ederer, Lekos and Daniel McMillin are all returning varsity players. Gaeir said Steven Atkinson has been a major addition to the team.

Granite Hills led the majority of the game against Valhalla, holding a 2-1 edge after the first period and expanding the lead to 6-4 at halftime and 10-7 through three periods. The Norsemen scored with 2:27 left in the game to get within two goals and again with two seconds remaining to get within one goal.

Kremensky and Ederer led the Granite Hills' scoring attack with four goals each, while Justin Lekos scored twice. Bryan Zitrin had five goals for Valhalla while teammate Jesse Fox had two goals.

"The Eagles were very fired up to play. I have never seen this team play with so much heart and desire to win. I am very proud of them for this accomplishment. They really deserved it," Gaeir said.

The undefeated league season (thus far) has been a long-term project, according to Gaeir. "We started working together last summer with a goal of going undefeated in league and becoming league champions. We also want to finish in the top four for CIF," the Granite Hills coach said. "We practiced or played four top five days a week all summer. Our strength is within our teamwork. We've got a lot a game experience as a group and work really well together."

Granite Hills opened the season with a 16-10 loss to Mt. Carmel (2002 CIF Division I champions) before scoring back-to-back wins against West Hills (9-8) and Clairemont (7-4). The Eagles suffered their second loss of the season to drop to 2-2 with a 13-8 setback to Palomar League power Torrey Pines before reeling off three consecutive victories, defeating Fallbrook (9-3), Valley Center (9-7) and University of Irvine (9-8 in overtime) in the Poway Invitational. Mt. Carmel finished third in the tournament, Torrey Pines fifth.

Granite Hills then journey northward to compete in the Newport South Coast Invitational Sept. 23-25, finishing 2-3 with victories against Murrieta Valley (8-2) and Long Beach Poly (9-3) and setbacks to Servite (16-4), Mission Viejo (8-3) and San Clemente (16-4).

However, the competition faced against some of the top teams in Southern California paid dividends as the Eagles entered conference play, defeating Grossmont (23-9), Mt. Miguel (18-2), Monte Vista (16-13), Helix (15-10), Steele Canyon (15-6), Valhalla (12-11) and Mt. Miguel (16-4).

Granite Hills' only other loss this season has been to Poway (13-7) on Oct. 1 in non-league play. The Eagles take a 6-0 Grossmont South League record and combined 8-0 Grossmont Conference record into their final four league games: Monte Vista (Oct. 26), Helix (Oct. 28), Steele Canyon (Nov. 2) and Valhalla (Nov. 4). The final league game against the Norsemen is scheduled at Montgomery Middle School, Granite Hills' home pool. Face-off is 5:30 p.m. for varsity action.

Granite Hills will also compete in the San Diego Open tournament (Nov. 1-6) prior to the start of the CIF playoffs (Nov. 11-20).

Granite Hills 2004 boys varsity water polo team with head coach Rhett Gaeir (photo courtesy GHHS)