Boys’ Water Polo Preview: Burroughs, Burbank looking to compete after moving down in CIF
Althought it came with a loss, the Burroughs High boys’ water polo team ended the 2015 season on a high note.
Playing in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs, the Indians narrowly missed pulling off a huge upset at No. 3 Santa Monica, losing, 14-12.
“That really kind of showed what we were capable of as a team and I know a lot of the guys remember that,” Burroughs Coach Jacob Cook said. “We are hoping to build on that this season.”
For the Indians and Bulldogs, playoff runs seem more viable after moving down to Division V.
“Division V is a lot more manageable for us,” Cook said. “We will be going against competition that is closer to us. I think getting to the playoffs and doing well is definitely something that we will be working toward.”
Here is a closer look at how the teams are shaping up.
BURROUGHS
The Indians went from last place in the Pacific League the previous season to placing third a year ago. The team also notched a victory in the playoffs, defeating Atascadero, 14-11, in a wild-card contest.
With a substantial group of returning players after losing just three to graduation, Cook is hoping his Indians will continue their upswing.
“I think we’re doing great now and we’re coming together as a team,” Cook said. “We have a strong team with a lot of talent on it and from what I see so far, it should shape up to be a pretty good year.
“We have 18 guys on the team right now, so the turnout has been great. It is a very hard-working group and they are a group that wants to get better. We’re looking to do well in our league and, hopefully being in a lower division, we can advance further in the playoffs.”
Burroughs has the luxury of having its top three goal scorers back from last season and just one is a senior. Returning are junior utility Marko Vucetic (team-high 73 goals), fellow junior attacker David Arakelyan (61 goals) and senior two-meter attacker Aram Nordanyan (64 goals).
“Those three guys right there should give us a lot on the offensive side,” Cook said. “Most of our main guys are still with us and I expect them to be able to step up for us this season.”
Also returning for the Indians are senior two-meter defender Jerry Solano and senior two-meter attacker LJ Burns. The squad has a new goalkeeper in junior David Jimenez.
“I expect the league to be tough this year with [Crescenta Valley] and Hoover, but those teams got moved up to Division II, so we don’t have to worry about them in our division for playoffs,” Cook said. “But for league, they both should be a pretty big challenge.”
BURBANK
The Bulldogs placed fifth in the Pacific League last season and did not qualify for the CIF playoffs.
Burbank also enjoys its share of returning players and coach Allyson Young likes what she sees so far with her squad.
“We had a scrimmage recently and the team was able to move around well and we looked pretty good,” she said. “It was better than I expected, so that was a positive thing.
“It’s a good group and the players have been working most of the summer together. Hopefully they will keep that work up during the season and I think if that happens, we should keep improving as a team. We have a lot of young players in our program and our varsity will have four seniors and two juniors and the rest are sophomores. Our [junior varsity] team has three sophomores and all the rest are freshmen.”
The team lost its best scorer to graduation, all-leaguer Evan Senane, who tallied 57 goals and 25 steals.
But Burbank does return its second-leading scorer, junior driver Andrew Senane, who had 28 goals and 26 assists.
Also returning is senior driver Alex Airapetyan.
“We are looking for Andrew to step up for us this season,” Young said. “He should be able to help lead our team a lot. Both Andrew and Alex have really stepped it up and we expect them to shine for us. ...They are two of the players who have been here the longest and the team is kind of looking to them.”
Last season’s goalkeeper, Peter Youssef, a senior, has been moved to the field and will be a utility player for the Bulldogs. Taking over in the cage is senior Misak Voskanyan.
“Misak is a really hard worker and he has been willing to do any workout that we’ve given him,” Young said.
Other key players are sophomore utility Artush Gasparyan and junior drivers Brandon Wilson and Daniel Azarian.
“In our league, you can expect [Crescenta Valley] to be good as always,” Young said. “But Hoover should be tough, as well as Burroughs because they’re our rival.
“If we play up to our potential, I think we should be up there in league.”
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Jeff Tully, jeff.tully@latimes.com
Twitter: @jefftsports