SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Water Polo

2004 Metro Conference Preview

Lancers set sights on South Bay League title

By Phillip Brents

CHULA VISTA, Sept. 8, 2004 – The battle lines appear to have been drawn in the water for the 2004 South Bay League championship: the Hilltop Lancers versus the Mar Vista Mariners.

Gone is the Metro Conference championship tournament. Instead, the conference will send two league champions – the Mesa League and the South Bay League -- to this year’s San Diego Section playoffs.

"For the past four years, this is what we have been building for," Hilltop coach John Salts said.

At right: Corey Fix.

The South Bay League will consist of five teams: Hilltop, Mar Vista, Southwest, Castle Park and Otay Ranch. Castle Park has revived its program while Otay Ranch is fielding a first-year team without any seniors.

The Mesa League will consist of Bonita Vista, Eastlake, Chula Vista and Montgomery.

Teams will play each league opponent twice with the order of finish in the final standings determining the respective league champion.

Bonita Vista defeated Hilltop, 10-3, in the finals of last year’s tournament while Montgomery topped Mar Vista, 12-9, for third place. Hilltop edged Mar Vista, 7-6, in an exciting overtime contest in the tournament semifinals.

Salts, however, is not so certain about the order of finish between the two longtime league swim rivals.

"We beat Mar Vista every game we played them last year but I wouldn’t put anything past Mar Vista this year, not with Julian Czerwiec on their team. He’s a dominant player for them and raises the caliber of the players around him," the Hilltop coach said.

The Lancers will counter this season with a junior-laden squad. The only three seniors in the starting lineup are defensive two-meter set Corey Fix, wing Hesam Jelveh and goalie Andrew Andriopulous. The bevy of juniors include flats Garrett Boyle and Greg Felix, wing Nicko Fix and offensive two-meter set Matt Chism.

Salts said Chism stood out offensively in the team’s two preseason scrimmages – an 8-3 victory against Mira Mesa and a 13-6 loss to San Pasqual – while Andriopulous was the defensive standout in the cage. Andriopulous also has tremendous arm strength as a shooter from midcourt.

Pictured at left: Matt Chism.

Varsity newcomers hoping to impress include Srihari Peesapati, Tyler Kamuria, Conor McQueen and Ian Barnes.

The Lancers, who have undergone rigorous training sessions that include chalk talks, dry land work, swimming conditioning and live intrasquad scrimmages, will find out if their hard work during the preseason has paid off with a game against Chula Vista Friday at the Parkway Pool. Face off is 5 p.m.