SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Water Polo

2002 Eastlake High Titans varsity boys water polo team is off to a 3-0 start

Titans count on Clair-Williams -- and more in 2K2

By Phillip Brents

Posted Oct. 1, 2002

After three games -- all Eastlake High victories -- Titan senior Nik Clair-Williams had racked up 23 goals. For most players, that total amounts to a season's worth of scoring. For Clair-Williams, he's just warming up.

Regardless of whether the Eastlake scoring wizard is the most complete player in the Metro Conference is beside the point. With his quick-thinking moves to turn around defenders and an equally quick release on the ball, he is definitely the most exciting player to watch in the pool.

After scoring nine goals in a pair of wins against La Jolla Country Day (18-4 on Sept. 23) and Mar Vista (12-7 on Sept. 26), Clair-Williams keyed the Titans' latest victory with five goals and five steals in an 11-6 non-league win Oct. 1 against Mt. Miguel at the Southwestern College pool. Clair-Williams had three goals in the first quarter to help push Eastlake out to a 5-1 lead and had accumulated four goals and three steals by halftime as the Titans built an 8-3 advantage.

While Clair-Williams -- who is pursuit of team career and season scoring records -- may pile up the numbers, there was plenty of offense to go around in the contest against the Matadors (3-8). The Titans received goals from five other players, with senior Steve Sanchez chipping in with a pair of goals and seniors Alex Howell, Peter Silva, Jonathan Alvarez and James Laxson all contributing a goal apiece. Junior goalie Dain Laverty had 12 saves for the game.

What Clair-Williams simply has going for himself is his shooting accuracy as well as his ability to get open for shots. Speed will do that in regard to the latter attribute. Clair-Williams won the San Diego Section 50-yard freestyle title his sophomore year -- and is coming off a four gold medal performance at this summer's California State Games swimming competition. Place breakaway speed in the hands of a deft ball-handler with a rocket for an arm and the more front water shots, the more goals, it reasons.

Certainly, Clair-Williams' presence makes it easier for first-year Eastlake Lonny Wood, a water polo player himself while attending Chula Vista High more than a decade ago. Clair-Williams also acts as an assistant coach in the water.

"We just want to have a successful season. A successful season is going to come from dedication and focus," said Wood, an on campus teacher.

Relying solely on Clair-Williams is something that Wood realizes is a folly in helping shape this year's team. "There's always improvement to be made. I'd like to see them run more plays rather than focus on a couple strong shooters. What they've been doing has been working but I'd like to see them play a stronger offensive game. We're going to need that against certain teams," Wood said.

The Titans should win their share of games this season -- and look like a contender to qualify for this year's Metro tournament championship game. Clair-Williams is the team's strong flat this season. Laxson has assumed control of the two-meter set position while Silva counters as a two-meter guard on defense and point guard on offense. Rounding out the starting lineup, Alvarez is a strong wing and both Howell and Sanchez are weak flats. Howell is playing in the field this year after fulfilling duties as a goalie in past seasons. "I'm having fun this year," Howell said.

Mt. Miguel is not without its goals under second-year coach Edgard Espinosa. The Matadors are looking to surpass last year's win total and earn enough respect to qualify for postseason competition. "Our goal is to break our win total of last year. We won six games last year. It had been about eight years since the team had won that many in a season. Our goal is to get 10 wins this year," said Espinosa, who coached at Eastlake for eight years before helping breathe new life into the Matadors' program.

Seniors Jason Poovey and Eric Vryheid (the team's standout two-meter guard). serve as Mt. Miguel's co-captains this year. Chad Spring, the team's only junior, is averaging five goals per game. The rest of the Matadors' roster is filled with sophomores. Senior Nick Brown, the team's only returning all-league player, missed his eighth game this season because of injury when the Matadors faced off against Eastlake.

Dominic Crawford, newly inserted into the two-meter offensive slot, produced immediate dividends with three goals, one assist and one steal against the Titans. Spring also had three goals while recording one steal. Reserve goalie Chris Weeks had five saves.

Notepad

Mt. Miguel's wins have come against El Cajon Valley (15-3), Chula Vista (19-3) and El Camino (17-5).

Upcoming games for Eastlake include non-league matchups at Mira Mesa on Wednesday, Oct. 2 (6:30 p.m.) and at Grossmont on Tuesday, Oct. 8 (4:30 p.m.) before returning to Metro Conference play with a game against Montgomery on Thursday, Oct. 10 at Southwestern College (6:30 p.m.).