SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Water Polo

Time could be ripe for an upswing in Mar Vista's boys water polo program

By Phillip Brents

IMPERIAL BEACH, Sept. 5, 2003 -- The Mar Vista High School boys water polo program has grown by leaps and bounds since the sport was refunded by the Sweetwater district in 1987. The Mariners have experienced their glory days (reaching the San Diego Section Division II semifinals in the late 1990s) and lean times (winning just one game, excluding a forfeit two years ago).

It could be time for another upswing this season.

At right: Scott Knox in game action against Santa Fe Christian.

“This will be the most experienced team since I’ve been here. This is my third year,” said Mariners coach Chip Case. “A lot of these guys have played with me for two years. That’s when a lot of players begin to understand the game. I’m trying to get them into team bonding — what we lost in size hopefully can be made up in team unity.”

Mar Vista gave the first-year Santa Fe Christian Eagles a preview of what to expect in likely not the too distant future with Friday's 16-9 non-league victory at the Imperial Beach school.

“We wanted this first game to set the tone for our season,” said Case, whose squad scored the game's first four goals and led 9-2 at halftime.

Junior Julian Czerwiec (pictured at left) was a perfect six-for-six in shooting to lead the Mariners. Junior Max Craig scored four goals on five shots while senior Noah Stamm scored three goals on four shots. Kyle Stogsdall was perfect on his two shots in the game while junior two-meter guard Scott Knox (a Second Team All-Metro pick last season) made one goal on three attempts.

Mar Vista sophomore goalie Dane Bolding had six saves in his first start in the cage.

“Our defense was strong -- a lot stronger and more disciplined than in the past,” said Case, whose team build an 11-3 lead through three quarters before drawing talent from its bench players.

“We still need to work on our fast-break. We're coming together,” Case said.

Czerwiec, who may be one of the top players in the conference in his class, scored the first goal of the season for the Mariners, who received three consecutive goals from Craig in the two-meter set position to lead 4-0.

At right: Max Craig winds up for a shot.

Knox, the tallest player on the team, plays the unique position of two-meter guard (defense) and point (offense).

The Mariners — edition 2K3 — are also buttressed by returners Shan Stenval and Glen Tapia, both juniors, and newcomers Jeremy Greene and Don Sales (second in last spring's 200 IM Metro swimming championships), both sophomores, and Garrett Griffin, a freshman. Also available for future promotion form the junior varsity team is James Strait.

Mar Vista began the season with a pair of returners on the injured list: seniors Eric Cornwall and Pablo Picazo.

Cornwall could be challenging for time in the cage once he recovers from a wrist injury.

The Mariners finished 11-12 last season after winning just once in the water (in the last game of the season, at that) in 2001. Mar Vista advanced to the semifinals of last year’s Metro Conference tournament, falling 11-9 to eventual champion Eastlake.

“The first year we were able to win one game. Then last year we were able to win 11 games. We went a bit farther in the Metro tournament. I want a bit more for us this year. We’d like to be in the championship game this year,” Case said.

Mar Vista will get a barometer reading next week in the 32-team Poway invitational. The Mariners are bracketed in the same pool with Fallbrook, RBV, Scripps Ranch, Rancho Bernardo, La Costa Canyon and Mt. Miguel. Other Metro teams entered in the tournament include Bonita Vista, Eastlake and Hilltop. The Barons are pool alongside Carlsbad, Vista, Valley Center, Grossmont, Clairemont, Steele Canyon and Helix while the Lancers and Titans are grouped with La Jolla, Valhalla, USDHS, Santana, San Pasqual and Oceanside.

Opening round play starts Thursday, Sept. 18 Finals and other medal-round games conclude Saturday, Sept. 20

Mar Vista will then compete in the America's Finest City Invitational, co-hosted by Coronado and La Jolla high schools but played this season at La Jolla and Westview high schools.