SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Water Polo

2005 Season Scrapbook

Spartans may have numbers edge this season

By Phillip Brents

Posted Sept. 14, 2005

In the recent past, just finding enough players to suit up and put in the pool to field a complete team has often bordered on a headache for the Chula Vista High boys water polo coaching staff. But apparently not this year.

Photo: Lupe Corral, Heath McNerney, Shawn Baker and Brandon Miller.

The Spartans appear to be suffering from a numbers explosion. Head coach Rob Davidson hopes the increase in bodies also means an increase in the number of wins this season.

Chula Vista's roster includes 26 players and growing, Davidson noted with a smile. There is also a strong freshman base with a true junior varsity team on deck this season.

"Chula Vista seems ready to put its ironman days behind," Davidson said. "The team has a new outlook on games and should be turning heads."

Davidson has hopes the Spartans can make a name for themselves this year after suffering several heart-breaking losses late in contests last year.

Chula Vista in anchored by top returners Heath McNerney, Shawn Baker, Brandon Miller and Lupe Corral. All but McNerney, a senior, are juniors. McNerney (defensive two-meter guard) and Baker (offensive two-meter set) serve as co-captains and have CIF swimming experience. Miller is the team's goalie while Corral patrols the strong flat position.

Newcomers who hope to impact the team include Erasmo Ames and CIF swimmers Narciso Marmalejo and Rene Marmalejo.

The Spartans got off to a positive start with Monday's 17-3 non-league victory against Marian Catholic, which is fielding its first-ever team in the sport (at least in the last 20 years). McNerney scored six goals and contributed five steals and two assists in the win against the fledgling Crusaders while Baker had one goal, three steals and seven assists. Lupe and Artemio Corral also contributed to the offensive showing with two goals and one goal, respectively.

Chula Vista's 11-7 loss to Morse on Wednesday shows the team still has some work to do to be competitive with the section's more experienced teams. But where there are numbers, there is hope. That is something previous coaching staffs at the school have not necessarily been blessed with.

San Pasqual 9, Hilltop 3

Hilltop seems to have defense down this season, holding the Golden Eagles to a 2-1 lead through halftime, but still is searching to find its offense. Coach John Salts is aiming for the team to start coming together during this weekend's 32-team Poway Invitational. Such has been the case in past seasons. Nicko Fix had two goals for Hilltop in Tuesday's non-league contest but San Pasqual erupted with a5-2 third-quarter surge to pull away. Hilltop was hampered in any comeback attempt when it lost three players during the game to foul infractions. Ben Montes led the Golden Eagles (3-2) with five goals.

Also entered in this year's Poway Invitational, which concludes with games Friday and Saturday, are Bonita Vista and Eastlake. Bonita Vista opened its season with promise by defeating defending Grossmont South League co-champion Granite Hills, 10-9, on Sept. 8 behind five goals from Josh Harris.