SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Boys Water Polo

The 2002 Valhalla High Norsemen boys water polo hopes to live up to tradition

15th San Diego Open tournament

Norsemen building for strong finish

By Phillip Brents

Posted Oct. 20, 2002

Kent Houston’s name has become synonymous with water polo at Valhalla High School. His standards are high – and the Norsemen have usually delivered.

Houston is coaching his 18^th season at Valhalla and has won 15 league titles as a head coach. His career coaching record stands at 103-1 in league matches following recent Grossmont South League victories against Mt. Miguel and Steele Canyon.

After a surprising runner-up finish at last year’s San Diego Section Division I championships in what amounted to a "rebuilding season," the Norsemen seemed on course to better that finish this season. While Valhalla has started slower than expected because of some unexpected departures in the player ranks, Houston still feels tradition is on his team’s side.

The Norsemen have made appearances in the last eight division championship games, winning four CIF titles.

"My expectations are the same every year. I expect to be successful. I expect to win league every year, contend for the CIF title and be in the CIF game. I don’t think we’re living up at this point of the season to the CIF part but I think we will at the end. I still think we’re one of the top teams in the county even though we haven’t proved it consistently," Houston said.

The Norsemen continued to pull on supporter’s heart strings after finishing third at the 15^th San Diego Open Tournament in finals held Oct. 19 at La Jolla High School. Valhalla came within a couple near misses of advancing to the tournament championship game following an 11-10 loss to La Jolla in the semifinals. The setback was both frustrating, yet offered some optimism at the same time, for the Norsemen’s postseason chances. Valhalla recovered from a 5-2 first-quarter deficit to lead 10-9 in the dying minutes of the game.

Bishop’s, the top-ranked Division II team in the San Diego Section, defeated Western League rival La Jolla, 14-8, in the tournament championship game.

The San Diego Open tournament, for which Houston serves as tournament director, magnified the Norsemen’s slow start – literally. Valhalla trailed Mercer Island, the two-time defending Washington state champions, 8-1 before rallying for a 17-12 victory in opening round play. The Norsemen trailed University of San Diego High 5-1 midway through the second period before scoring the game’s final nine goals in a come-from-behind 10-5 win.

Houston said his team played "three great quarters of water polo" in the semifinal loss to La Jolla – the last three quarters.

"That’s been our mode of operation this year. We’ve got behind early by giving up too many silly shots that are turned into counter-attack goals by the other team," Houston said.

Valhalla continues to be led by a trio of standouts – driver Ryan Way, two-meter set Clint McLaughlin and two-meter guard Jeff El-Hajj. All were named to this year’s San Diego Open tournament all-tournament team. Way led the Norsemen’s inspired comeback against La Jolla with seven goals.

The chemistry of the team, however, might be jelling at just the right time.

"We graduated some huge positions. The starting goalie we had last year did not come back. We have got three outstanding players. We have some help after that. Now we’re starting to connect," Houston said.

Players whom Houston singled out as helping step up to the plate the second half of the season include Bryan Zitren, Andrew Dupree and Mike Daly. Dupree had two goals in the semifinal loss to La Jolla, including the 10-9 go-ahead goal on a power play. Daly had set up Way’s seventh goal of the game as Valhalla took its first lead of the game at 9-8.

La Jolla stormed back to win the game on two final goals by Matt Marinkovich. The game-winner came with 1:30 to play on a penalty shot past goalie Chad Evenrud, who had backstopped the Norsemen’s second-half rally after being inserted into the game to start the third period.

San Diego Open tournament notepad

Mercer Island finished 4-2 in this year's tournament, tied with Valhalla for third place, following the Islanders' 13-7 loss to state power Bishop's in the semifinals. The Knights, who improved to 20-1 with the win, led 7-3 at halftime.

Mercer Island's overall record dropped to 20-2.

"I think we could have played better. Not playing teams of that caliber, it's hard to shift gears. That's a great team. They have a ton of experience," said Mercer Island coach Tim Reed of Bishop's.

The Islanders' lone loss last year en route to a 27-1 record was to the Knights, also in the San Diego Open tournament.

Tyler Kandel led Bishop's with four goals and three assists, followed by teammate Reid Joseph with three goals and Danny Kimmich and Julian Arthur each with two goals. Chris Neils led the Knights in the cage with eight saves.

Mercer Island started the tournament with a 17-12 loss to Valhalla but followed with four consecutive victories, defeating San Jose Los Altos, 14-12, Valley Center, 15-6 and Mt. Carmel, 16-11. Ben Easton led the Islanders with three goals in the loss to Valhalla (a game in which Mercer Island held an early 8-1 lead) while Mike Sturgis had five goals in wins against Los Altos and Valley Center and also led the team with four goals against Mt. Carmel.

Bishop's previously defeated Los Altos, 16-9, behind six goals by Kimmich and thee by both Kandel and Arthur, and topped Patrick Henry 21-9 on the strength of five goals by Kimmich, four goals each by Joseph and Feune De Colombi, and three goals by Sardo.

The Knights are gearing up for Friday's upcoming Western League battle at Coronado. The top-ranked Division II team in the San Diego Section, Bishop's has won nine Western League titles and two CIF championships. The Knights have appeared in nine division finals.

"We definitely have a strong nucleus of seniors and some underclassmen who give us some depth on our bench," said head coach Jim Fales, who started the Bishop's program 16 years ago. "We expect to get back to the championship game and have another go at it. I'm excited about that."

Kandel earned the tournament's Most Valuable Player award. Joining him on the all-tournament team for Bishop's were Feune De Colombi and Arthur. Berry, Lafrenz and Brady Botkin earned all-tournament honors for La Jolla.